VMTH

“Case of the Month” – May 2024

Dr. Allison O'Donnell is familiar with the UC Davis veterinary hospital, having received her veterinary degree from the school in 2023. Unfortunately, she and fiancé Matt Cardinale had to experience the hospital as clients recently when their dog Squid, a 5-year-old female husky/terrier mix, was trapped in a house fire and suffered carbon monoxide poisoning.

Dr. Sam Barringer (DVM ’91) was named the 2023 Consultant of the Year by the Academy of Veterinary Consultants (AVC), a national organization of livestock practitioners who provide high quality continuing education on topics related to livestock health.

The American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine (ACVPM) recently performed an on-site visit at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and granted full certification to two livestock residency programs. Veterinarians completing three-year residencies in Livestock Herd Health and Reproduction (LHHR) and Dairy Production Medicine (DPM) are now recognized by ACVPM for attaining eligibility to take their certifying examinations at the conclusion of their programs to become board certified in preventive veterinary medicine.

Hunter, a 9-year-old cocker spaniel, lives a great life with his owners Brian Boitano and Franc D’Ambrosio. But when D’Ambrosio noticed an abnormality while performing a routine anal sac expression, they took Hunter to their veterinarian who diagnosed apocrine gland anal sac adenocarcinoma (AGASACA). While AGASACA represents 17% of all perianal tumors in dogs, it only makes up 2% of all canine skin tumors.

Dr. Boaz Arzi, chief of the Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service, has been accepted for membership into the American Academy of Craniomaxillofacial Surgeons (AACMFS). The Academy, consisting almost entirely of human medicine surgeons, approved his membership at its recent annual meeting. Dr. Arzi has met the criteria to become inducted into the AACMFS as an Associate Active Fellow.

“Case of the Month” – April 2024

Veterinarians at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine have gained patent pending status on a jaw joint replacement implant for cats and dogs with end-stage temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. The group’s TMJ replacement (TMJR) prosthesis could revolutionize treatment for pets with non-functioning TMJs, either due to injury or disease. Initial research on the TMJR was recently published in the American Journal of Veterinary Research.

What should a business owner do when a favorite employee gets cancer? What if that employee is a cat? When Horatio, “Assistant Manager Cat” of Seventh Son Brewing Co. in Columbus, Ohio—loved by guests and staff alike—was diagnosed with fibrosarcoma, the brewery took an unconventional approach to help both Horatio and the species. Seventh Son opened a GoFundMe for which 50 percent of the proceeds go to Horatio’s treatment, and the other 50 percent to the UC Davis Feline Cancer Research Fund and an Ohio organization dedicated to saving pets' lives through funding veterinary care.

Dr. Nicole Mikoni, a resident in the Companion Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery Service, was awarded the 2024 American Association of Veterinary Clinicians (AAVC) Resident Award. The recognition is given annually to a resident in their final year of training who has achieved a high degree of excellence in their chosen specialty.

In nominating candidates, faculty mentors take into consideration activities, awards, and productivity of the resident during their training process.

The UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital has expanded its Orthopedic Surgery Service to open the Center for Advanced Veterinary Surgery. Modeled after human health inpatient/outpatient facilities, the center provides advanced surgical capabilities for animals suffering from injuries or disorders of the bones and joints, while increasing case volume and training capacity.

The standalone center is located just steps from the veterinary hospital and encompasses 25 rooms and 7,300 square feet of space, including three state-of-the-art operating rooms.