Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is one of the most significant illnesses impacting the health of pre-weaned calves. It’s the #2 killer of pre-weaned calves and of particular interest to dairy farmers in California, the nation’s #1 milk producer. Producers now have a new diagnostic tool in hand—a phone app that leads them through a scoring system for BRD—that aims to improve the health of pre-weaned calves on California dairies.
Each year, the School of Veterinary Medicine honors distinguished graduates with Alumni Achievement Awards.This award is the highest honor bestowed by the school.
Dr. Danika Bannasch, a renowned geneticist from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, recently received an International Canine Health Award for her role in transforming dog health. As some of Europe’s most prestigious veterinary honors, the awards were organized by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust.
The hospital is currently in the process of implementing a modern, sustainable Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) that provides cutting-edge clinical, teaching, and research imaging functions for clinicians, students, faculty, staff, referring veterinarians, and clients. The hospital’s current PACS is aging and does not allow clinicians to utilize it to the best of its abilities.
Earlier this year, K9 Officer Cort of the Fairfield (CA) Police Department was stabbed while apprehending a suspect. California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers were on site and immediately called their air division that had a helicopter in the area. CHP flew Cort to the UC Davis airport where campus police transported him about a mile to the university’s veterinary hospital.
Aero, a 7-year-old German shepherd-Belgian Malinois mix, is back in action with the Anderson (CA) Police Department as a narcotics-detecting K9 officer. Four years ago, however, he was forced to prematurely retire after a mysterious illness caused his energy levels to plummet and his muscles to atrophy. His handler, Officer Mike Hallagran, did not think Aero would survive.
Bobby, a 12-year-old male miniature Schnauzer, developed cataracts in both eyes, presumably brought on by his diabetes. While he could still sense light in his eyes, the cataracts clouded his vision to the point of essential blindness. Navigation of his home was accomplished by memory and by utilizing a heightened sense of feel, especially on the staircase. His owner, John Yeung, was eager to have Bobby’s vision restored, so he sought out the help of UC Davis alum and former ophthalmology resident Dr. Kristina Burling, a board-certified ophthalmologist. Since 1994, Dr. Burling has owned and operated Animal Eye Specialists in Campbell, California near Yeung’s home in San Jose. Dr. Burling successfully performed cataract surgery on Bobby’s left eye. However, the cataract removal on his right eye had to be abruptly stopped mid-surgery due to an underlying systemic disease that caused Bobby’s heart rate to fall dangerously low. Dr. Burling made the smart decision to stop the surgery, as Bobby was no longer in a healthy enough position to proceed. That's when UC Davis stepped in to help.
Dr. John Zimmerman ’60, DVM ’62, cannot thank the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine enough for its impact on his life. After graduation, he worked in dairy production medicine and equine medicine for two years in Los Angeles before establishing the Sonoma Marin Veterinary Service in Petaluma, California, where he has been practicing for 57 years.
“Veterinary medicine has been a great career for me because it is a good fit,” said Zimmerman. “I like cattle and ended up coming back to my hometown. It’s given me a wonderful life.”
It’s fitting that Dr. Sara Thomasy is an ophthalmologist. Her eyes light up when she talks about the breakthroughs being made at UC Davis thanks to recent acquisitions of state-of-the-art imaging equipment. Eight new pieces of imaging equipment and one new piece of laboratory technology, made possible by grants from the Center for Companion Animal Health, now allow the Ophthalmology Service to provide new levels of care.
Dr. Jamie Peyton, chief of Integrative Medicine Service at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, was named a recipient of the 2019 Chancellor’s Innovation Awards at a ceremony at the UC Davis Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts May 30. It is the fourth year for the awards, which recognize the important contributions of faculty, community partners and industry leaders in helping to establish UC Davis as a global leader in innovation.
The Center for Equine Health is home to a dementia research program by the UC Davis School of Medicine and Connected Horse. Read more about the project and watch a video from PBS on the equine therapy program.
In his annual State of the School address on May 23rd, Dean Michael Lairmore congratulated the school for passing accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association with flying colors. He also highlighted the school’s continued #1 ranking by US News & World Report and #2 world-wide by QS World Rankings.
Congratulations to the Class of 2019 who received their degrees from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in its 68th Commencement Ceremony held at the Mondavi Center on May 24th. Among those graduating were 140 DVM students, 30 residents and 11 students in the Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine program.
In Mexicali, Mexico, an uncontrolled epidemic of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, one of the deadliest tickborne diseases in the Americas, has affected more than 1,000 people since 2008.
Less than half of the people in Washington and British Columbia have heard of the Salish Sea, even though they live alongside it.
Environment/Wildlife
Alumni in the News
We are proud of our alumni! Check out recent news articles written by or about our alumni.
Equine surgeon and professor Dr. Larry Galuppo '90, prepares to inject millions of stem cells into a 5-year old horse that suffers from joint damage as part of the stem cell therapy provided by the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.UC Davis leads the way with stem cell therapy on horses
