Small Animal

“Case of the Month” – March 2025

Ollie, a 7-year-old chocolate Labrador retriever, lives his best life with owners Sarah Christie and Dan York of Sacramento. He enjoys plenty of outdoor activities, especially on hunting trips with York or to the family’s second home in Del Norte County in northwest California. But a recent health scare with Ollie alerted Christie and York to a disease they never knew existed and will make their awareness of Ollie’s outdoor activities keener.

Cats are easily susceptible to the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 strain (bird flu). Cats with the disease should be seen by a veterinarian immediately, as an infection can often result in death. Dr. Jane Sykes, a board-certified internal medicine specialist with a special interest infectious diseases recently discussed bird flu in cats with some leading media outlets. These valuable resources discuss how cats get bird flu, how to prevent your cat from getting it, the symptoms to look for, what to do if you suspect your cat has been infected, and other bird flu-related FAQs.

Drs. Boaz Arzi and Maria Soltero-Rivera of the Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service recently attended the American Association for Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual conference where they presented on stem cell and other regenerative medicine therapies.

Dr. Soltero-Rivera presented the poster “Distinctive Characteristics of Extracellular Vesicles from Naïve and Cytokine-Stimulated Feline Adipose- and Placenta-Derived Stromal Cells” on her groundbreaking work with stem cells and regenerative medicine.

Recently, Dr. Karl Jandrey, associate dean and professor specializing in clinical small animal emergency and critical care at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, was interviewed on the “Speaking of Pets” podcast. Hosted by board-certified veterinary dermatologist Dr. Alice Jeromin and her sister Janet, an animal advocate, the podcast empowers pet owners with reliable, science-based information.

Dr. Boaz Arzi, professor and chief of the Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service, has been treating patients and conducting research for 18 years. He works extensively with stem cell therapy, to help pets have longer and healthier lives.

When it comes to cancer, Dr. Arzi is optimistic that stem cell therapy is going to be a big part of pet cancer treatment, either in the delivery of drugs or by regenerating organs or other structures in the body that have been damaged by chemotherapy or radiation.

“Case of the Month” – February 2025

Cub, a 2-year-old orange domestic longhair cat, was far too young to be acting so lethargic last May. He was sleeping more and was less active than the other cats in the household. His owner, Grace Jesensky, also noticed his breathing was abnormal, and his primary veterinarian suspected he had asthma.

The UC Davis veterinary hospital has launched a Neurosurgery Specialty Service aimed at adapting state-of-the-art surgical solutions to complex neurological conditions.

This new service offers state-of-the-art neurosurgical interventions and clinical trials, including:

“Case of the Month” – January 2025

When their dog Tashi started looking around aimlessly recently, owners Jerry and Arlet Nordeen thought something might be wrong with their beloved 7-year-old Shih-Tzu. When this progressed into bumping into furniture and being hesitant to jump, they took her to see a veterinary ophthalmologist who diagnosed her with detached retinas in both eyes which was taking her vision.

The UC Davis veterinary hospital has opened the Meadowview Foundation Dentistry and Oral Surgery Center (video tour) as the new home of its Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service (DOSS). The new suite is nearly 150% larger than the service’s previous space, allows faculty, residents, and staff to maximize their expertise and interest, and makes patient care more personal and accessible.

“Case of the Month” – December 2024

Otis, a 6-year-old pug, has not had the easiest road in life, but thanks to a devoted owner and a dedicated care team, his future seems brighter. Otis was rescued as a very young puppy by Jennifer Newman, an experienced pug owner.