Feline Pediatric Service

Clinical Trials Saving Kittens
Chunk was a tiny 21-day-old kitten when he first arrived at the shelter six months ago, weighing less than one pound. He was covered in ringworm, a fungal infection of the skin, and brought to the UC Davis veterinary hospital where he was enrolled in a clinical trial studying various treatments for the disease. There is little information published on ringworm in kittens, especially the application of certain medications. The disease is highly contagious, and treatment is time consuming. Because of this, many shelters are forced to euthanize kittens with ringworm. Read More

Antiviral Discovered to Speed Recovery and Reduce Corneal Disease in Kittens with Herpesvirus
A recent clinical trial conducted by the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine has shown that famciclovir, an antiviral used to treat feline herpes, hastens recovery in kittens with infectious upper respiratory disease. The results of the research also indicated that the drug may also reduce corneal disease in some of these kittens. Read More

New 3D-Printed Model Trains Caregivers How to Tube Feed Kittens
Tube feeding is a specialized skill required when caring for kittens under 4 weeks old, but caregivers often learn it on an ad hoc basis when a newborn is most in need. A professor of veterinary medicine and a team of development engineers aim to improve and increase access to the training of this technique with a 3D-printed kitten model they created at UC Davis. Read More

Community-Based Program Saves Kitten in Dire Condition
With its community-based programs, the UC Davis veterinary hospital is able to offer more care to pets from underserved communities and populations, as well as shelter animals and strays. Rupert, a male domestic shorthair kitten, recently benefited from multiple entities at the hospital and is now thriving in his new forever home. Read More

Study Shows Complexity and Treatability of Eye Disease in Kittens
Gratitude, a 7-month-old kitten, was brought to the UC Davis veterinary hospital from the Fieldhaven Feline Center with symblepharon in her left eye. She became part of a research project to help better describe the disease and its potential treatments. The publication of this important research gave a better evaluation of the signalment, medical and surgical treatment options, and outcome for kittens with the disease. Read More

Disease Discovery in Kittens May Affect Treatment
The two most common causes of death in kittens are diarrhea and severe upper respiratory tract infections. UC Davis veterinary scientists have made a small discovery that may give veterinarians a better understanding of one of those issues. Research has found that Tyzzer disease—which can affect the intestines and cause diarrhea—is more common than previously believed in orphaned kittens. Often associated with rodents, Tyzzer disease is likely spread environmentally to orphaned kittens, since most are born to feral cats. Read More

Collaborative Outreach Saves Kitten with Rare Disorder
When Lucy, a female tabby kitten, was not progressing as much as her littermate, her foster group, the Orphan Kitten Club in San Diego, was at a loss as to the problem. So, OKC’s founder, Hannah “Kitten Lady” Shaw reached out to Dr. Karen Vernau at the UC Davis veterinary hospital. Dr. Vernau’s experience with hundreds of kittens as a faculty mentor of a similar group, UC Davis’ Orphan Kitten Project, led her to believe that Lucy may have hypothyroidism. to establish treatment guidelines for managing kittens with hypothyroidism, UC Davis launched a clinical trial on hypothyroidism. Read More

Karen Vernau, DVM, MAS, DACVIM (Neurology)
Professor
Faculty Advisor - Orphan Kitten Project