UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Wildfire Assistance Activities

November 06, 2017

Continue to check this page daily for the latest updates on UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine activities surrounding the Napa area fires.

To date, the veterinary hospital has treated one dog, one goose, one chicken, two llamas, 14 horses, 25 cats, and 33 koi fish. Unfortunately due to the extent of their injuries, one goose, one chicken, one llama and five cats were euthanized with owner permission.

Many of the fire victims treated are from families who have lost everything. Please consider donating to the SVM Veterinary Catastrophic Need Fund to help treat animals affected by these wildfires.

November 3, 2017
Teams from the School of Veterinary Medicine continue their efforts to treat animals from the Napa area fires.

Today's fire-related activities:
• Boehringer Ingelheim made a financial contribution to help treat animals impacted by the wildfires.
• Communications team made several posts to website and social media.

November 2, 2017
Teams from the School of Veterinary Medicine continue their efforts to treat animals from the Napa area fires.

Today's fire-related activities:
• Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society made a financial contribution to help treat animals impacted by the wildfires.
• Communications team made several posts to website and social media.

November 1, 2017
Teams from the School of Veterinary Medicine continue their efforts to treat animals from the Napa area fires.

October 30, 2017
Teams from the School of Veterinary Medicine continue their efforts to treat animals from the Napa area fires.

Today's fire-related activities:
•    Hospital administration secured a medical supply donation from An-Vision.
•    Development Office secured a significant financial contribution from SVM donor Katherine Harvey Burr.
•    Communications team made several posts to website and social media.

Today's media activities:
•    The school's wildfire activities were praised in a Vacaville Reporter article

October 29, 2017
Teams from the School of Veterinary Medicine continue their efforts to treat animals from the Napa area fires.

October 28, 2017
Teams from the School of Veterinary Medicine continue their efforts to treat animals from the Napa area fires.

October 27, 2017
Teams from the School of Veterinary Medicine continue their efforts to treat animals from the Napa area fires.

October 26, 2017
Teams from the School of Veterinary Medicine continue their efforts to treat animals from the Napa area fires.

October 25, 2017
Teams from the School of Veterinary Medicine continue their efforts to treat animals from the Napa area fires.

Today's fire-related activities:
•    Hospital administration continued work to secure donations of medications, medical supplies, medical equipment, food and money from our corporate partners.
•    Communications team made several posts to website and social media (including efforts to try to find owners of three unclaimed hospitalized cats). After many unsuccessful attempts to locate the owner of one of the three unclaimed cats at UC Davis, they were able to locate the owner of one of the cats. The hospital now has two remaining unclaimed cats. Information on them can be found on our Facebook page: UCDavisVetMed.
•    The hospital took in one goose that was euthanized with owner permission due to the extent of its injuries.
•    The hospital took in one chicken that was euthanized with owner permission due to the extent of its injuries.

Today's media activities:
•    KFBK radio interviewed Dr. John Madigan about our wildfire activities

October 23, 2017
Teams from the School of Veterinary Medicine continue their efforts to treat animals from the Napa area fires.

Today's fire-related activities:
•    Hospital administration continued work to secure donations of medications, medical supplies, medical equipment, food and money from our corporate partners.
•    Communications team made several posts to website and social media (including efforts to try to find owners of three unclaimed hospitalized cats).

Today's media activities:
•    Dr. Jane Sykes was interviewed by ABC10 about hospitalized cats from the wildfires
•    Sacramento Bee ran an article about our wildfire activities
•    ABC10 ran an article about our wildfire activities
•    ABC10 ran a photo album of images of our care for animals from the wildfires

October 22, 2017
Teams from the School of Veterinary Medicine continue their efforts to treat animals from the Napa area fires.

Today's fire-related activities:
• Communications team made several posts to website and social media (including efforts to try to find owners of three unclaimed hospitalized cats).

Today's media activities:
• The hospital was featured in a Huffington Post article about pets in the wildfires

October 21, 2017
Teams from the School of Veterinary Medicine continue their efforts to treat animals from the Napa area fires.

Today's fire-related activities:
•    The hospital took in one cat with burns to her paws and face/ears.
•    Communications team made several posts to website and social media (including efforts to try to find owners of three unclaimed hospitalized cats).

Today's media activities:
•    Fox40 ran piece on the UC Davis Veterinary Catastrophic Need Fund

October 20, 2017
Teams from the School of Veterinary Medicine continue their efforts to treat animals from the Napa area fires.

Today's fire-related activities:
•    The hospital took in one cat with burns to her paws and face/ears.
•    The hospital took in two horses.
•    Hospital administration secured medical supplies donations from Zoetis, Merck, and Integra LifeSciences.
•    Communications team made several posts to website and social media (including efforts to try to find owners of three unclaimed hospitalized cats).

Today's media activities:
•    UC newsletter, Fiat Lux, included feature on our rescues and treatment of wildfire animals
•    Sacramento Bee ran an article featuring our fire related activities

October 19, 2017
Teams from the School of Veterinary Medicine continue their efforts to treat animals from the Napa area fires.

Today's fire-related activities:
•    The hospital took in one cat with burns to her paws and face/ears.
•    United States Equestrian Federation Equine Disaster Relief Fund made a financial contribution to VERT to to help horses that were impacted by the wildfires.
•    Hospital administration continued work to secure donations of medications, medical supplies, medical equipment, food and money from our corporate partners.
•    Communications team made several posts to website and social media (including efforts to try to find owners of three unclaimed hospitalized cats).

Today's media activities:
•    San Francisco Chronicle interviewed Dr. Esteban Soto about the koi rescue
•    UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences ran article on the koi rescue
•    CBS13 included burned cats in an unrelated segment they were filming

October 18, 2017
Teams from the School of Veterinary Medicine continue their efforts to treat animals from the Napa area fires.

Today's fire-related activities:
•    The school hosted Dr. Elizabeth Woolsey Herbert of the Adelaide (Australia) Plains Equine Clinic. She performed a wet lab on equine burn bandaging with 32 students, and will lecture tomorrow to more than 100 faculty and students, presenting "Findings and Strategies for Treating Horses Injured in Open Range Fires."
•    Texas Veterinary Medical Association made a financial contribution to VERT to to help horses that were impacted by the wildfires.
•    The hospital took in three koi fish rescued from a privately owned pond that had be abandoned. They are currently recovering at the UC Davis Center for Aquatic Biology & Aquaculture.
•    Hospital administration continued work to secure donations of medications, medical supplies, medical equipment, food and money from our corporate partners.
•    Communications team made several posts to website and social media (including efforts to try to find owners of three unclaimed hospitalized cats).

Today's media activities:
• Woodland Daily Democrat ran article on koi rescue

October 17, 2017
Teams from the School of Veterinary Medicine continue their efforts in the fire zone of the Napa area fires.

Today's fire-related activities:
•    The hospital took in nine cats, all with burns to their paws and face/ears.
•    The hospital took in one dog found in the fire zone, suffering from a broken leg after being hit by a car.
•    The hospital took in one horse.
•    Hospital administration continued work to secure donations of medications, medical supplies, medical equipment, food and money from our corporate partners.
•    Communications team made several posts to website and social media.
•    Teams deployed:

Dr. Claudia Sonder of the Center for Equine Health continues care efforts throughout the Napa area.

Today's media activities:
•    SVM provided photographs to The Horse magazine for a fire-related article.
•    UC Davis News ran an article on recent activities
•    Drs. Esteban Soto and John Madigan were interviewed by CBS13 about the rescued koi fish.
•    SVM released an article on the koi rescue.

October 16, 2017
Teams from the School of Veterinary Medicine continue their efforts in the fire zone of the Napa area fires.

Today's fire-related activities:
•    The hospital took in two cats, all with burns to their paws and face/ears.
•    The hospital took in 14 koi fish that VERT rescued from a privately owned pond that had be abandoned. They are currently recovering at the UC Davis Center for Aquatic Biology & Aquaculture.
•    The hospital took in one horse.
•    Communications team made several posts to website and social media.
•    Teams deployed:

Veterinary Emergency Response Team sent one faculty veterinarian and four students to perform search and rescue missions throughout Sonoma County.
Livestock Herd Health (Field) Service sent one resident veterinarian to the Solano County Fairgrounds.
Dr. Claudia Sonder of the Center for Equine Health continues care efforts throughout the Napa area.

Today's media activities:
• The Davis Enterprise photographed hospitalized animals

October 15, 2017
Teams from the School of Veterinary Medicine continue their efforts in the fire zone of the Napa area fires.

Today's fire-related activities:
•    The hospital took in six koi fish that VERT rescued from a privately owned pond that had be abandoned. They are currently recovering at the UC Davis Center for Aquatic Biology & Aquaculture.
•    The hospital took in one horse and treated one horse as an outpatient.
•    Communications team made several posts to website and social media.
•    Teams deployed:

Veterinary Emergency Response Team sent two faculty veterinarians and four students to perform search and rescue missions throughout Sonoma County.
Dr. Claudia Sonder of the Center for Equine Health performed search and rescue missions throughout the Napa area.

Today's media activities:
• The Horse magazine interviewed Dr. John Madigan about VERT's rescue efforts

October 14, 2017
Teams from the School of Veterinary Medicine continue their efforts in the fire zone of the Napa area fires.

Today's fire-related activities:
•    The hospital took in 10 koi fish that VERT rescued from a privately owned pond that had be abandoned. They are currently recovering at the UC Davis Center for Aquatic Biology & Aquaculture.
•    Communications team made several posts to website and social media, one of which has received more than 200,000 views on Facebook.
•    Teams deployed:

Veterinary Emergency Response Team sent two faculty veterinarians and four students to perform search and rescue missions throughout Sonoma County.
Livestock Medicine Service sent one faculty veterinarian to the Solano County Fairgrounds.
Dr. Claudia Sonder of the Center for Equine Health performed search and rescue missions throughout the Napa area.

Today's media activities:
• Sacramento Bee ran an article on the cats that were hospitalized last night
• East Bay Times interviewed Dr. Winston Vickers about a mountain lion seen in Fairfield, most likely fleeing the nearby fires

October 13, 2017
Teams from the School of Veterinary Medicine continue their efforts in the fire zone of the Napa area fires.

Today's fire-related activities:
•    The hospital took in eight cats, all with burns to their paws and face/ears.
•    The hospital took in two horses and treated one horse as an outpatient.
•    Hospital administration continued work to secure donations of medications, medical supplies, medical equipment, food and money from our corporate partners.
•    Communications team made several posts to website and social media.
•    Teams deployed:

Equine Field Service sent two resident veterinarians and two students to the Sonoma County Fairgrounds to assist with biosecurity measures due to a horse testing positive for equine influenza.
Veterinary Emergency Response Team remained on campus to coordinate resources for the weekend.
Livestock Herd Health (Field) Service sent two faculty veterinarians, one resident veterinarian and three students to the Napa High School Vintage Farm.
Dr. Claudia Sonder of the Center for Equine Health performed search and rescue missions throughout the Napa area.

October 12, 2017
Teams from the School of Veterinary Medicine continue their efforts in the fire zone of the Napa area fires.

Today's fire-related activities:
•    The hospital took in two horses suffering from smoke inhalation and burns. One horse tested positive for equine influenza and was immediately moved to the hospital's Isolation Unit.
•    Hospital administration secured a donation of an equine nebulizer from Flexineb.
•    Drs. Joie Watson and Gary Magdesian created a quick reference guide for horse owners to determine potential smoke inhalation damage. Guide posted to Website and social media, and given to clients who call to inquire.
•    Dr. Gary Magdesian created a quick reference guide for veterinarians on treatment of smoke inhalation in horses.
•    Communications team made several posts to website and social media.
•    Teams deployed:

Equine Field Service sent one resident veterinarian and two students to the Sonoma County Fairgrounds.
Veterinary Emergency Response Team sent one faculty veterinarian and three students to perform search and rescue missions throughout Sonoma County.
Livestock Herd Health (Field) Service sent two faculty veterinarians to the Solano County Fairgrounds.
Dr. Claudia Sonder of the Center for Equine Health performed search and rescue missions throughout the Napa area.

Today's media activities:
•    UC Davis News ran an article on today's activities
•    ABC10 filmed VERT in action performing search and rescue mission in Sonoma County
•    SVM/SOM professor Dr. Kent Pinkerton appeared on Capital Public Radio to explain the risks of inhaling during wildfire season

October 11, 2017
Once again today, the School of Veterinary Medicine was called upon to help treat animals in the fire zone of the Napa area fires. A team of large animal veterinarians, students and staff met early this morning, developed a gameplan for the day, and deployed to the zone.

Today’s fire-related activities:
•    Overnight, the UC Davis veterinary hospital took in two llamas and two horses. The animals were suffering from burns and smoke inhalation. Due to the severity of wounds, one of the llamas was euthanized with owner consent.
•    The hospital took in one horse.
•    Hospital administration working to secure donations of medications, medical supplies, medical equipment, food and money from our corporate partners.
•    Communications team made several posts to website and social media.
•    Teams deployed:

Equine Field Service sent one resident veterinarian and two students to the Sonoma County Fairgrounds.
A second Equine Field Service team sent one faculty veterinarian and one resident veterinarian to examine 23 horses that were evacuated from the fire area to Vacaville.
Veterinary Emergency Response Team sent one faculty veterinarian, one staff emergency responder and five students to perform search and rescue missions throughout Sonoma County.
Livestock Herd Health (Field) Service sent one faculty veterinarian, two resident veterinarians and two students to the Solano County Fairgrounds.
Dr. Claudia Sonder of the Center for Equine Health performed search and rescue missions throughout the Napa area.
Dr. Karen Vernau transported emergency medical supplies to Santa Rosa at the request of Sonoma County Animal Services and the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

Today’s media activities:
•    ABC10 ran an article on yesterday’s activities
•    Chronicle of the Horse included VERT in an article
•    UC Davis News ran an article on yesterday’s and today’s activities
•    Drs. Eric Davis and John Madigan were interviewed by CBS13, which aired on the 5pm and 10pm newscasts.
•    Dr. John Madigan was interviewed by the New York Times
•    Drs. Steve Epstein and John Madigan were interviewed by Capital Public Radio
•    Good Day Sacramento aired clip about the team’s activities

October 10, 2017
As wildfires rage throughout California, the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) is prepared to assist state/county officials and animal owners however necessary. The SVM has an experienced team of emergency response professionals ready to take action, both on campus and in the field.

“As a community, I know we all grieve the loss and devastation associated with the multitude of fires in Northern California that our regional neighbors are experiencing,” said Michael Lairmore, dean of the SVM. “As in times of natural disaster, we stand ready to assist with the animal victims and their owners caught in the path of these fires. We have a number of activities already underway and resources available to respond to official county and state requests.”

Steps the SVM has already taken in response to current wildfires:

•    The veterinary hospital’s Equine Field Service has responded to a request from Sonoma County and deployed a team to the Sonoma County Fairgrounds to provide veterinary care assistance (1 resident/3 students).
•    The veterinary hospital has engaged its Disaster Response Leadership Team and has initiated action to put the hospital on stand-by. Preparations to accept and treat animal fire victims are in progress.
•    The Veterinary Emergency Response Team (VERT) is on stand-by to deploy once an official state/county request is initiated. VERT will respect the first responders incident command and wait for official request for deployment to ensure the safety of all involved.
•    Dr. Claudia Sonder, the Center for Equine Health’s outreach director, who lives in the Napa area, is coordinating with local veterinarians to provide medical assistance in the field.
•    The SVM is coordinating with the California Veterinary Medical Association and will respond to requests for assistance.

SVM has multiple online resources for animal owners to prepare for and deal with natural disasters:

•    Equine Emergency Action Plan
•    “Disaster Planning” issue of Horse Report
•    Livestock Disaster Preparedness

Other non-SVM resources:

• CalFire
• Red Cross

"The School of Veterinary Medicine will help the best we can through multiple avenues and present a coordinated effort to ensure the best possible response," Lairmore added.

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