News

The 60th Dental Squadron of Travis Air Force Base partnered with the UCC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine during a two-day symposium May 20-21, 2026, to provide Air Force dental residents hands-on training in canine dentistry and military working dog (MWD) care.

The training expanded military dental residents’ ability to identify and treat oral health conditions in MWDs, whose dental readiness directly impacts their ability to support force protection and detection operations across the Department of the Air Force.

This article first appeared on the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources blog

Farmers, ranchers and anyone else who raises cows, horses and other large animals in the Central Valley and across the U.S. face a major problem – not enough veterinarians to care for their animals.

This article first appeared in the Spring 2026 issue of Synergy magazine

Dr. Maria Vasquez already has a favorite aspect to her position in the small animal hospital—helping manage stress for clinicians and families with hospitalized pets. By getting more hands-on time with her patients, she provides an additional resource to medical teams and reassurance to clients that the best care is being provided for their beloved pets.

This article first appeared in the Spring 2026 issue of Synergy magazine

Luna is back to work as a certified therapy dog—bringing her calm nature to healthcare centers, schools, airports, and other places—after neurosurgery to remove a difficult-to-access brain tumor. The 9-year-old Maltese was the first patient enrolled in a clinical trial investigating fluorescence-guided surgery to remove canine brain tumors.

This article first appeared in the Spring 2026 issue of Synergy magazine

This article first appeared in the Spring 2026 issue of Synergy magazine

This article first appeared in the June 2026 issue of Southern California VMA's Pulse magazine

Since 2024, certain telemedicine appointments have been available at UC Davis and other veterinary clinics throughout California. This has allowed both specialists and general practitioners to reach underserved areas of the state or areas where specialty care may be scarce.

Researchers at the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine, led by Dr. Carrie Finno and graduate student Briana Brown, have reported the genetic cause of a fatal neurologic disease, equine juvenile spinocerebellar ataxia (EJSCA), in American Quarter Horse foals. A genetic test is available through the UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL).

“I instantly knew that we had to help however we could,” said Hodson.

Reed, a heavy equipment operator at the Potrero Hills Landfill in Solano County, and his co-workers couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw a dog—since named Fig—crawl out of a trash load that had just been dumped in the landfill.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026 who received their degrees from the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine in its 76th Commencement Ceremony held at the Mondavi Center on May 22nd. Among those graduating were 148 DVM students, 36 residents from the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital and 18 candidates in the Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine program.

A 2021 outbreak of leptospirosis that sickened more than 200 dogs in Los Angeles County reveals critical gaps in vaccination practices and raises broader concerns about the spread of the disease between animals and people, according to new research led by the University of California, Davis. 

The Center for Animal Locomotion and Innovation, or CALI, at the University of California, Davis, was flying high during its grand opening ceremony on Friday, May 8.  

A gate swings wide at the auction ring at the Yolo County Fairgrounds. A group of goats and sheep hesitate, then shuffle through. They move as a group; their bodies pressed against each other. Beneath it all is their ruminant instinct of wanting to return from where they came. Rancher Nathan Medlar, with NM Ranch in Auburn, has arranged these gates to accommodate that instinct.

UC Davis veterinary orthopedic surgeon Dr. Denis Marcellin-Little has been named the recipient of the 2026 Alan Ruggles Educator Award given by AO North America (AO NA). Presented recently at the annual OneAO event in Tampa, the award was one of several Educator Awards, honoring outstanding educators for their extraordinary contributions to medical education.

Neeru Khosla, a longtime supporter of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and a devoted animal advocate, has been named the 2026 recipient of the school’s El Blanco Award, recognizing individuals who exemplify the human-animal bond and advance veterinary care through service and philanthropy.

“We give this award every year to an individual who really recognizes the human-animal bond and helps us advance,” said Dean Mark Stetter during the ceremony on May 30, held as part of the school's annual Spring Showcase.