News

Diamond, a 12-year-old pit bull terrier, receives ongoing cancer treatments at UC Davis thanks to support from Petco Love. Diamond was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma, an aggressive cancer that formed a mast cell tumor in her right cheek with metastatic disease to her mandibular lymph nodes. She has undergone seven rounds of palliative radiation treatments to reduce the size of the tumor and improve her quality of life. The radiation treatments delay the tumor from becoming larger and more uncomfortable.

As one of the world’s first fetal surgeons, Diana Farmer has long been focused on the smallest of patients.

She specializes in treating birth defects inside and outside of the womb, treating congenital anomalies and cancer and performing airway and intestinal surgeries. In the late 1990s, she became the first woman in the world to perform open fetal surgery.

The Equine Surgical Emergency and Critical Care Service at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital recently welcomed Dr. Sandra Valdez as a Clinical Professor. Dr. Valdez brings a wealth of experience from around the world as an equine veterinarian and surgeon for the past 30 years.

“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.

Dr. Carter Judy has joined the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital’s Equine Surgery and Lameness Service as a Clinical Professor. A renowned and well-respected equine surgeon, Dr. Judy has spent the past 22 years as a surgeon at Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center in Los Olivos, California. 

At UC Davis, veterinary technicians and assistants play a critical role in the school’s ability to provide the best learning environment for students, exceptional compassionate care for patients, and a thoughtful caring experience for clients. They are vital to the success of the UC Davis William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.  

On March 14, 2025, the UC Davis veterinary hospital hosted the 46th annual Gerald V. Ling Veterinary Intern and Resident Research Symposium (VIRRS). The day-long event featured short presentations of research findings from house officers (residents, fellows, interns) to fellow house officers, faculty, staff, students, and guests.

The global leadership of the University of California, Davis, in the fields of veterinary science, and agriculture and forestry continues to be recognized in rankings released today (March 12).

Quacquarelli Symonds, or QS, considered one of the most influential international authorities on university rankings, placed UC Davis second in the world in both subjects in its QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025. The campus was first in the nation in the two subjects.

The nearly 200 participants at the UC Davis Equine Health Symposium clearly agreed on one thing – they learned a lot. For the second year, the event featured tracks in English and Spanish covering topics ranging from equine reproduction to preventive care. It brought equine enthusiasts representing a wide range of age groups and experience levels together for lectures and hands-on learning opportunities.

Los casi 200 participantes en el Simposio de Salud Equina de UC Davis coincidieron claramente en una cosa: aprendieron mucho. Por segundo año, el evento contó con charlas en inglés y en español que abarcaron temas variados desde la reproducción equina hasta el cuidado preventivo. Reunió a entusiastas equinos que representaban grupos diverso de diferentes edades y niveles de experiencia. Este Simposio contó con charlas y demostraciones prácticas interactivas.

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.

Good news first: Avian flu does not currently pose a widespread risk to human health. But as it burns through California’s poultry and dairy industries, it’s sickening farmworkers, hitting the state’s agricultural economy hard and jacking up the price of eggs for all.

Debbie Bernice Wilson, beloved daughter, sister, and friend, passed away Jan. 9, 2025, after years of bravely struggling with health and physical issues. She served the School of Veterinary Medicine as executive director of development for most of the past decade. 

Dr. Douglas Mader, Class of 1986, was recently honored with the UC Davis Lifetime Achievement Award. Mader is a triple board-certified veterinary specialist and has been a veterinarian for nearly four decades. He is an internationally recognized expert and lecturer in exotic animal medicine and has written three medical textbooks, numerous book chapters and dozens of peer-reviewed scientific publications. Mader has also written over 1,500 newspaper and magazine columns and articles.

Associate Professor Crystal Rogers is one of eight faculty members who comprise the newest class of UC Davis Chancellor’s Fellows, given to early career academics doing exemplary work in their fields.