Community Comes Together to Help Dog in Need
“Case of the Month” – June 2025
Woodie, a 1-year-old pit bull mix, is now pain free and seeing better thanks to community-based veterinary programs that came together to care for him. Born with a dermoid mass in the corner of his left eye, Woodie recently underwent surgery at the UC Davis William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) to have the benign growth removed.
A dermoid is a misplaced collection of often hairy skin in an abnormal location on the surface of the eyeball or eyelid. There is no known cause for dermoids, but they are believed to be inherited, with some breeds more commonly affected. Small dermoids are often just a cosmetic issue, but larger ones, especially those with hair growth, can cause irritation or damage to the cornea. Pain and vision loss are possible complications.
Woodie’s owner, David Smith, first brought him to the PAWS (Pet Aid and Wellness Services) Clinic, founded by Sacramento County to help care for the pets of the county’s underserved populations. Dr. Cynthia Metcalf, county veterinarian at the Bradshaw Shelter, runs this mobile veterinary clinic.
“If we are able to help these pets with the care they need, then we’re also helping their owners with one less worry,” said Dr. Metcalf. “Sometimes, these pets are one of the few positive things in our clients’ lives. We want to maintain that healthy relationship between owner and pet, because we know the benefits that relationship can have.”
Before going to PAWS, Woodie underwent a previous surgery to remove the dermoid, but the incomplete excision resulted in the mass reappearing. Dr. Metcalf was not comfortable performing a second surgery, as the growth had increased in size. Thinking the case might be a good training opportunity for an ophthalmology resident, she contacted Dr. Cindy Karsten, the outreach veterinarian at the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program.
“Woodie’s case seemed like a perfect fit for our Accessible Veterinary Care (AVC) services at UC Davis,” said Dr. Karsten, who is also a member of AVC team. “I reached out to our group’s leadership who worked with the VMTH’s Ophthalmology Service to get Woodie an appointment.”
Faculty ophthalmologist Dr. Lauren Charnock and resident Dr. Erinn Mills examined Woodie and observed evidence of conjunctival inflammation, likely due to chronic irritation from hairs spreading out of the dermoid touching his eye. This was no doubt causing Woodie pain, and the dermoid was most likely the cause of Woodie running into objects and failing jumps, as reported by Smith.
It was elected to surgically remove the mass.
The following day, the Anesthesiology Service prepared Woodie for surgery, and Drs. Charnock and Mills removed the dermoid without complication and reconstructed Woodie’s eyelid margins. He recovered well and was discharged the next day.
Smith, who has owned Woodie since he was 8 weeks old, reports his companion is doing great.
“Getting Woodie was the best thing I’ve ever done,” Smith said while expressing gratitude for the care. “I consider him like my son.”
“Woodie’s case represents a wonderful collaborative effort by the VMTH, AVC, and one of our community partners to help a pet owner get his beloved dog the care he needed,” said Dr. Emily McCobb, the PetSmart Charities Endowed Chair in AVC. “I want to acknowledge and thank the many staff members at the VMTH who worked behind the scenes to make Woodie’s surgery possible.”
A portion of Woodie’s treatment was made possible through the hospital’s Compassionate Care Funds. These donor-supported funds play a vital role in ensuring that animals in the community receive care when financial barriers exist. Established through the generosity of compassionate benefactors, these funds reflect the heart of the veterinary school's mission: to make world-class care accessible to all animals in need.
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