School of Veterinary Medicine

Dog Adapts to Tongue Amputation after Accident with Toy

Arai, a 5-year-old female pit bull terrier, loves to chew on balls. Her owners describe her as a “100 percent ball dog.” So when she had a ball in her mouth for a few hours, they didn’t think much was out of the ordinary. When Arai wouldn’t drop the ball when it was time to eat, however, they knew something was wrong.

How Kittens Go From Clueless to Cute

Small Animal

Every year, hundreds of thousands of kittens end up in animal shelters, in need of permanent homes. But raising orphaned newborns into healthy, fluffy, frisky 2-month-olds ready to be adopted requires an enormous behind-the-scenes effort.

Surgery for Disc Disease Helps Return Dog to Mobility

Small Animal

Roxie, a 12-year-old female Shih Tzu, was having trouble moving her hind legs, to the point of becoming partially paralyzed. After being referred to the Neurology/Neurosurgery Service at the UC Davis veterinary hospital, an evaluation of Roxie showed her to have an arched posture, avoided moving her neck, and had some incoordination in her hind legs.

UC Davis Veterinarian Discovers Rare Blood Disorder in Cat

Small Animal

Miao Miao, a 4-year-old male domestic shorthair cat, was brought to the UC Davis veterinary hospital with persistent nosebleeds. Based on previous medical issues, his owners were aware that he had some variation of a blood platelet disorder (causing an inability to properly clot blood), but the exact make-up of that was never discovered.

Here’s How to Make Sure Your Pooch is Ready for the New Baby

Small Animal

Your dog is a member of the family, right? So when that family expands to include a new little human member, your pup is one of the many "loved ones" you'll need to prepare for the arrival of a baby.

Medical Management of Deep Ulcerative Keratitis

Small Animal

Researchers at the University of California, Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital recently performed a study to determine if intensive medical management offered a viable treatment alternative to surgery for feline patients with severe deep ulcerative keratitis.

Update from Nutrition Services on Concern Between Diets and DCM in Dogs

Small Animal

There are recent concerns about reports of heart disease in some dogs eating commercial diets. UC Davis Nutrition Support Services provides this statement to offer guidance to owners/veterinarians regarding the nutritional aspects of this condition and best practice information regarding blood testing for taurine status.

UC Davis Investigates Link Between Dog Diets and Deadly Heart Disease

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently issued an alert about reports of canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs eating certain pet foods containing peas, lentils, other legume seeds, or potatoes as main ingredients. UC Davis is leading the investigation between these dog diets and heart disease.

FDA Warns of Possible Link Between Food, Canine Heart Disease

Small Animal

Pet foods containing peas, lentils, other legume seeds or potatoes as main ingredients may be linked to cases of canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs, according to an alert to pet owners this week from the Food and Drug Administration.

Million Cat Challenge Receives $2.5M Grant From Maddie’s Fund

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Maddie’s Fund, a national nonprofit that supports the status and well-being of companion animals, is granting more than $2.5 million to support the Million Cat Challenge as it expands to into its next phase of animal lifesaving in shelters across North America.

Veterinarians and Physicians Team Up to Treat Brain Malformation in Dog

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Crash, a 6-year-old male German shepherd, was starting to tire more easily on his walks and seemed “spacey” and listless. An MRI revealed an intracranial arteriovenous malformation (AVM)-more commonly seen in humans-located within the brain and behind his eyes. Veterinary neurosurgeons collaborated with human specialists to treat his condition.

Stem Cell Therapy: Helping Cats with Unresponsive FCGS

Small Animal

A rescued domestic shorthaired cat named “Lily” has helped prove the efficacy of a game-changing treatment for feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS), or stomatitis for short. The lucky feline, adopted by Cyndi Luke of Davis, California, had been treated unsuccessfully for three years when she was recruited to take part in a stem-cell therapy trial testing a cutting-edge procedure for the painful oral condition.

UC Davis Neurosurgeons Successfully Remove Brain Tumor, Extending Dog’s Life

Small Animal

Dazzy, a 4-year-old male French bulldog, began having seizures and acting aggressive toward strangers – a behavior he had never previously displayed. His owners took him to see their primary veterinarian who ultimately referred them to a neurologist near their home in Southern California. An MRI performed by the neurologist revealed a left intra-axial cerebral mass, most consistent with a glioma (brain tumor).

First Pets Around the World

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The types of creatures children grow up with can depend on where they live.

Million Cat Challenge Reaches Goal Early

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The Million Cat Challenge has reached its goal of saving a million shelter cats in five years--a year ahead of schedule. After more than 1,000 animal shelters in North America joined forces to save the animals, the campaign announced last week that it has exceeded that number just four years after the campaign’s launch.