Dogs

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.

“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.

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.

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.

The Ophthalmology Service recently upgraded its surgical microscope, allowing the opportunity for a never-before-performed surgical procedure at the UC Davis veterinary hospital. This cutting-edge ophthalmic technology also opens more appointment opportunities, increased specialty training opportunities for residents, and an advanced approach to compassionate care.

When Sarah Lindley found a lump near her dog Bucky’s tooth, she didn’t think it was a problem. The lively husky mix, which she and her partner, Tom Yuzvinsky, consider part of the family, didn’t appear to be in pain. Still, she scheduled an appointment with her local veterinarian on the Central Coast.

“At first we thought something was stuck in his gums and he might lose a tooth,” Lindley said. “Then the biopsy came back as cancerous.”