Dogs

12 Research Breakthroughs Improving Lives, Our Economy and Our Future

Since the university’s inception in 1908, faculty and students at UC Davis have pushed the boundaries of knowledge to deliver discoveries that not only enrich lives but also drive economic growth, prosperity and security in California and throughout our nation.

Our research shapes industries, creates well-paying jobs and prepares the next generation of leaders and innovators.

We deliver breakthroughs that advance healthcare, our food supply, energy solutions, education and more.

Abandoned Dog Hit by Car Recovers from Back Surgery

 

When Flynn, an approximately 1-year-old male neutered Great Pyrenees, arrived at the UC Davis William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH), he had visible tire tracks across his back leg and abdomen. The City of Stockton Animal Services Center reported he was run over by a car and thrown into a ditch. Knowing Flynn needed specialty care, the Yolo County Spay and Neuter Group agreed to take him and immediately brought him to UC Davis.

Dog Beats Cancer Odds After Successful Completion of Clinical Trial

“Case of the Month” – April 2025

 

In February 2023, Lola, a 9-year-old golden retriever, was diagnosed with oral melanoma, an aggressive cancer in her mouth that had already spread to her lungs. Lola’s veterinarian told her owner, Allison Roth, that Lola most likely had less than six months to live. She was referred to the Oncology Service at the UC Davis William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital for treatment options.

Meet Handsome: First Participant in Groundbreaking Study

Handsome is not your typical ten-year-old Doberman pinscher. Not only does he have a very strong vocabulary (his owner Judith Friedman said he can be very demonstrative when he needs something), he is also the first participant in a clinical trial through the UC Davis Veterinary Center for Clinical Trials (VCCT) that has the promise of treating metastatic cancer in dogs.

UC Davis Welcomes Equine Surgeon and Orthopedic Researcher Dr. Heidi Reesink

 

The UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine is pleased to welcome Dr. Heidi Reesink as a Professor of Veterinary Orthopedics. A board-certified surgeon, Dr. Reesink will have a clinical appointment with the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital’s (VMTH) Equine Surgery and Lameness Service, as well as a research laboratory within the school’s J.D. Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Laboratory.

Continued Philanthropic Support Helps UC Davis Provide Highest Quality Cancer Care

 

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.

Among the Academies: Transforming Lives Before Birth

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.

Dog’s Close Call with Salmon Poisoning Disease Shocks Owners but Raises Awareness

“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.

The Essential Guide to Pet Emergencies with Dr. Karl Jandrey

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.