William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital

Small Animal Clinic

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UCVMC - San Diego

Small Animal Clinic

Clinical Services

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Behavior: The Behavior Service includes highly-qualified board-certified specialists and residents in the nation's largest veterinary behavior program. Common problems that we see are: aggression; separation anxiety; house soiling; urine marking; fears and phobias; as well as species-specific problems, such as feather-picking in birds.

We derive our humane behavior modification techniques from the fields of applied animal behavior and veterinary medicine, and apply these scientific principles to help owners solve their pets' problem behaviors. Appointments include obtaining a complete history, arriving at a diagnosis, discussion of the prognosis, and explanation of the individualized treatment plan. Our goal is to help clients understand their pets' behavior, as they strive to reach their goals

Behavior

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The Companion Avian & Exotic Animals - Aquatic Animal Health Service: provides specialized diagnostic testing, medical care, and surgical options for pet birds, reptiles, and small exotic mammals (mice, rats, guinea pigs, chinchillas, and rabbits). The veterinarians of the Companion and Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine and Surgery Service also work in conjunction with other specialty services within the VMTH (i.e. behavior, cardiology, dentistry, dermatology, neurology, oncology, and ophthalmology). This cooperative approach allows exotic patients and their owners to have the option of being evaluated by experts in the discipline of interest while still being managed by clinicians who have extensive expertise and experience in exotic animal medicine. The Companion Avian and Exotic Pet Service also provides care for injured and sick wildlife and works in conjunction with the California Raptor Center to rehabilitate injured birds of prey for release back to the wild.

Companion Avian & Exotic Animals - Aquatic Animal Health

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The Cardiology Service of the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, provides diagnostic and patient care services to animals with cardiovascular disease, and consultation to other VMTH services and referring veterinarians in California and elsewhere.

Cardiology (Heart)

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Community Medicine: The Community Medicine Service is the primary care service for the Small Animal Clinic of the UC Davis William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Appointments are available for all aspects of small animal primary care, ranging from pediatric appointments, annual wellness examinations and common problems to geriatric care and end of life care and decisions. The objectives of the Community Medicine are to expose students to various conditions they will most frequently encounter in general practice while providingexcellent patient and customer care. In addition, we have the unique benefit of being part of one of the largest veterinary teachinghospitals in the world and have direct access to leading specialists in all aspects of veterinary medicine.

Community Medicine

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Dentistry & Oral Surgery: The Dentistry & Oral Surgery Service offers the whole range of dental services for dogs and cats. As all procedures are performed under general anesthesia, all patients receive a comprehensive general medical examination prior to the dental procedure.

Routine periodontal treatment includes full-mouth radiographs, periodontal charting, supragingival and subgingival scaling, and polishing. Root canal treatment is routinely performed for saving fractured teeth with exposed pulp or abscessed teeth. Malocclusions are treated by orthodontic means if they cause pain and discomfort.

Difficult extractions are be facilitated by utilizing surgical extraction techniques. Advanced surgical techniques are used to repair accidental jaw injuries or conditions such as cleft palate.

Rabbits and rodents are welcome patients at the Dentistry & Oral Surgery Service and advanced dental procedures, such as occlusal adjustments and sophisticated extraction techniques, are available.

Dentistry and Oral Surgery

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Dermatology: Skin diseases are very common in dogs, cats and horses, and it can be frustrating for owners to determine the most effective therapy. Dogs and cat suffer from a wide range of skin conditions that include allergies, reactions to flea bites and other external parasites, infections, chronic ear infections, skin cancers, immune-mediated skin diseases, solar damage or hair loss. Working closely with owners to determine the cause of the problem, faculty and resident veterinarians in the Dermatology Service perform thorough evaluations to determine the best course of treatment. Together, client and clinician can identify, manage and provide treatment or a combination of therapies tailored for each animal.

Dermatology (Skin)

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Emergency Medicine: The Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care Service provides immediate initial recognition, evaluation, and care of patients with acute illness and injury, and ongoing care for critically ill or injured dogs and cats 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Veterinarians are on duty around the clock to receive emergency patients. Our board-certified faculty educate, instruct, and assist veterinary students, graduate veterinarians, and veterinary nurses to provide the highest level of care.

The Emergency Service is always open to provide emergency care for dogs and cats. Appointments are not needed for the emergency service, but we ask that clients call ahead if possible: (530) 752-1393 or after hours call (530) 752-0186.

Emergency Medicine / Critical and Intensive Care

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Genetics: The Genetics Services offers help to companion animal owners interested in finding out more about inherited diseases, especially in their purebred dogs. Appointments and telephone consultations will assist veterinarians and clients with the diagnosis of inherited diseases. Laboratory support for the Genetics Service will come from the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (School of Veterinary Medicine) where karyotyping, parentage analysis and some disease testing is performed. There are now more than 100 DNA tests available in dogs to help eliminate inherited diseases. The Genetics Service will provide counseling to clients who have concerns about inherited diseases in their pets. The Service will also provide support to veterinarians who have questions about this rapidly growing field.

Genetics

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Hemodialysis and Renal Medicine: Hemodialysis is an exciting and growing specialty in 'high-tech' veterinary therapeutics. With Modern technology and techniques, hemodialysis is safe, effective and indispensable for the management of life-threatening uremia in dogs and cats. There is no alternative therapy as effective for animals with uremia, refractory acute renal faiure, life-threatening overhydration, or acute poisoning.

Hemodialysis and Renal Medicine

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Internal Medicine: The Small Animal Internal Medicine Service offers specialized knowledge, advanced diagnostics, and a high level of experience with the treatment and management for a variety of internal medicine problems of dogs and cats. Faculty members on the service have advanced knowledge of small animal endocrinology, gastroenterology, respiratory disease, infectious and immune-mediated disease, and diseases of the kidneys and lower urinary tract. Faculty and residents work as a team with other specialty services in the VMTH (including radiology, cardiology, surgery, critical care, oncology, dermatology, neurology, ophthalmology, and behavior) to obtain the highest level of care and expertise possible. The Service offers a variety of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic procedures including laparoscopy, rhinoscopy, bronchoscopy, gastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, proctoscopy, vaginoscopy, cystoscopy, lithotripsy, urodynamic studies (including urethral pressure profilometry), feeding tube placement, joint taps, and bone marrow aspiration and core biopsy.

Internal Medicine

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Neurology/Neurosurgery Service: The Neurology/Neurosurgery Service at the UC-Davis VMTH provides specialized veterinary care for animals with neurological diseases. This includes disorders of the brain, inner ear, spinal cord, and vertebrae, as well as diseases affecting muscles, nerves and the neuromuscular junction (neuromuscular disease). The service is run by a team of attending veterinarians and residents specializing in the neurological diseases of animals. We provide diagnostic testing, medical care, and surgery for dogs and cats, as well as a consultation service for horses, food animals, exotic species and laboratory animals. We also provide 24 hour emergency care for animals with immediate neurological and neurosurgical needs. The Neurology/Neurosurgery Service also works co-operatively with other specialty services within the VMTH (i.e. emergency medicine and critical care, radiology, anesthesia, cardiology, oncology, internal medicine, surgery and ophthalmology). This team approach allows animals with neurological and neurosurgical problems to receive state of the art care throughout their hospital stay.

Neurology/Neurosurgery

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Nutrition Support Service: The Nutrition Support Service consults with the small animal receiving services of the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital to provide nutritional recommendations and feeding plans for their patients. The Service provides similar consulting services to veterinarians outside of the university. The Nutrition Support Service also sees appointments for owners who wish to consult a nutritionist. The clinical scope of the Nutrition Support Service includes commercial diet recommendations, critical care nutrition, customized weight loss programs, nutritional consultation for metabolic diseases, and the evaluation and formulation of computer-generated, home-prepared therapeutic diets.

Nutrition

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Oncology (Cancer): The Oncology and Radiation Oncology services handle all aspects of the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. We are also dedicated to the teaching of veterinary students and the advancement of cancer therapy through basic science research and clinical trials of new cancer therapies. The Oncology Service includes the medical oncology unit and the radiation oncology unit.

Oncology (Cancer)

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Ophthalmology Service: The Ophthalmology Service provides advanced diagnostics, medical and surgical care to patients with a variety of ocular disorders. Specialized testing includes slit lamp biomicroscopy, gonioscopy, electroretinography and high-frequency ocular ultrasound. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, cataracts, glaucoma and ocular neoplasia are among the more common conditions we are presented with. We also provide CERF examinations to breeders who wish to monitor the incidence of eye disease in their pedigrees. We provide care to dogs, cats, birds and other exotic species. Our team of faculty, residents, and technicians provides a team approach to each patient's care.

Ophthalmology (Eyes)

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Reproduction: The Reproduction Service operates within the Small Animal Internal Medicine department, and offers services involving canine and feline reproduction. These include ovulation timing, breeding management,artificial insemination, pregnancy evaluation, obstetrics, pre breeding and infertility evaluations. The service also works with disorders of the reproductive organs of pets (vaginitis, prostate disorders, mammary disorders). Pediatric patients with congenital disorders can be evaluated on the service. Working in coordination with our veterinary school geneticist, the Reproductive Service also offer genetic screening (usually orthopedic) and counseling.

Reproduction

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Shelter Medicine: Welcome to the Koret Shelter Medicine Program at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

Our goals are:To advance shelter medicine as a veterinary specialty through research, specialty training and education, and performance of veterinary service in animal shelters
To improve the quality of life of animals in shelters through improvements in veterinary preventive medicine and management of disease.

Shelter Medicine

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The Small Animal Surgery Service at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital is comprised of both orthopedic and general/soft tissue surgery services, as well as selected procedures of the back and neck. This service also works co-operatively with other specialty services: radiology, anesthesia, cardiology, internal medicine, neurology/neurosurgery, dermatology, ophthalmology, clinical pathology, microbiology, and emergency medicine and critical care. Urgent referrals and emergencies are seen throughout the day by special arrangement. The hospital is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for general emergencies. Please phone (530) 752-1393.

Surgery

Support Services

Anatomic Pathology

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Anatomic Pathology: The Anatomic Pathology Service provides comprehensive professional necropsy and biopsy diagnostic services while educating future pathologists and veterinarians. The Anatomic Pathology Service includes highly-qualified, board-certified pathologists and residents in one of the nation's largest veterinary anatomic pathology residency programs. We see patients of all types from tarantulas to elephants. Deceased animals are examined grossly and microscopically to determine the cause of death and characterize other underlying diseases. Biopsies are examined to determine the nature of the disease, so that appropriate treatment can be administered. Both biopsy and necropsy cases provide valuable teaching material and advance veterinary medicine by contributing new knowledge of the diseases of animals.

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Anesthesia and Pain Management: The Small Animal Anesthesiology Service is dedicated to its mission of educating future veterinarians and residents in the discipline and practice of anesthesiology and providing superior clinical service to our patients and referring veterinarians. We manage most of the patients that are anesthetized at the VMTH and provide dedicated attention to each patient before, during and after anesthesia. Our faculty members have all completed advanced training in veterinary anesthesiology and supervise the care provided by residents, technicians and senior veterinary students. We are also dedicated to the management of perioperative pain and use many different approaches and collaborate with the primary clinicians to ensure the comfort of our patients.

Anesthesia and Pain Management

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Clinical Laboratory Services: The Clinical Laboratory Services of the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital support our hospital's veterinarians as well as veterinarians of California, the United States and other countries. Tests take placein several locations at the hospital for hospital patients, outpatients and cases from referring veterinarians. We also perform testing for scientists working on special projects and studies.

Clinical Laboratory Services

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Diagnostic Imaging: Diagnostic imaging provides imaging services for all species of animals, including companion, large and exotic animals. Our service provides high quality, compassionate clinical care to patients through the use of medical imaging technology. Our services include digital radiography, fluoroscopy, computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MR), ultrasonography, and nuclear medicine.

Diagnostic Imaging

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Nursing Care: The Small Animal Nursing Service provides paraveterinary technical support to all of the Small Animal Clinic Specialty Services 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. Nursing staff perform the treatments, husbandry and monitoring required to care for your pets throughout their visit. The staff is made up of Registered Veterinary Technicians, Veterinary Technicians, and Assistant Veterinary Technicians focused on the minute to minute care of each patient.

Nursing Care

Pharmaceutical Services

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Pharmaceutical Services: Pharmaceutical Services provide systems based services including drug procurement, drug preparation, drug distribution, drug information, and drug dosage monitoring services for all patients seen at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH). All veterinary orders/prescriptions for medications are reviewed for appropriateness of therapy and entered into a pharmacy database. This database is available to veterinarians 24 hours/day and provides all prescription information. A central distribution area (the Main Pharmacy VMTH) and a Satellite Pharmacy (Center for Companion Animal Health) support the delivery of product-related and clinical services to patients and other veterinary health care providers of the VMTH and to veterinarians and others at other locations.

Clinical Pharmacy Specialists provide direct patient care throughout the institution. Clinical Pharmacists maintain faculty appointments throuh the Department of Medicine and Epidemiology and are active, integral members of the veterinary service teams. They assist them by providing services including; drug selection, drug dosing, drug information, medication counseling, and other patient focused services to optimize drug therapy outcomes.

Physical Rehabilitation

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The Physical Rehabilitation Service, opened in 2004, is modeled after a physical therapy department in a human medical center. The physical therapist works closely with the clinicians of the small and large animal services to provide supportive treatment for inpatients and outpatients.

Services that refer patients include: Orthopedic and Soft Tissue Surgery, Neurology/Neurosurgery, Medicine, Oncology, Intensive Care and Companion Avian & Pet Exotics. The physical therapist completes a functional evaluation and designs a plan of care to restore, maintain, or enhance an individual's physical function after injury, surgery or disability. Clients are actively engaged in the rehabilitation process and are invited to attend the sessions. Treatment frequency and duration varies as each patient is offered an individual treatment plan. Animals are treated throughout their life spans. A senior dog program addresses mobility issues. The goal of the service is to provide a guided, safe return to the highest level of function for all animals using evidence based practice.

Transfusion Medicine

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Transfusion Medicine: The UC Davis Transfusion Medicine Service provides an array of specialized blood products for many of the species treated at the VMTH. This new service works with large and small animal faculty, staff, and students to better improve the transfusion process from donor to recipient. State-of-the-art equipment allows for greater precision and quality in the products provided for patient care. Currently the Transfusion Medicine Service provides blood products for: dogs, cats, horses, cows, goats, sheep, pigs, llamas, and donkeys.

The Transfusion Medicine Service is currently recruiting out of clinic canine blood donors. This functions similarly to a human blood donation program. These donors will will allow healthy dogs to donate blood and become heroes in the canine community.

Looking toward the future of medical treatment, the Transfusion Medicine Team is conducting research in the field of animal adult stem cell collection, storage, and therapeutic usage.

UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine