Dogs

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

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. 

Among dog breeds, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers (tollers) have an unusually high rate of Addison's disease, a condition in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough hormones, notably cortisol and aldosterone. In humans, Addison's disease is thought to occur when the body's immune system attacks the adrenal glands, making it a type of autoimmune disease.

Spooner was an active 2-year-old Australian shepherd/poodle mix when owners Judith and Brad noticed problems with his claws in 2022. His veterinarian suspected he had symmetric lupoid onychodystrophy (SLO), a painful, immune-mediated disease that causes brittleness of the claws with abnormal growth and ultimately loss of the claw.

The top-ranked UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine may be known for its specialty care, but they also offer primary care for your animals. The Primary Care Service at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, or VMTH, provides treatment to make sure that your canine or feline friend receives the routine care they need.

Bella, a 4-year-old female pit bull terrier mix, was diagnosed with an infiltrative lipoma in her right shoulder area in early 2025. Owners Paul and Kristy Lewis took her to two surgeons to discuss removal of the lipoma, a benign tumor of fatty tissue. Infiltrative lipomas can invade into local structures including the surrounding muscles. On Bella, the tumor was infiltrating the muscle down to the humerus bone and was continuing to grow. This made complete surgical excision nearly impossible.

Both surgeons suggested limb amputation.

By the time Wednesday, a now 9-year-old female German Shepherd mix, was rescued by Steve Napolitano in 2021, she had already been placed in a kill shelter and rejected by two families, only to be diagnosed with cancer after finally finding happiness in a safe home.

After seeing multiple specialists about the oral malignant melanoma diagnosed in her right jaw, Wednesday ultimately landed at the Oncology Service at the UC Davis William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital in early 2025.

“Case of the Month” – November 2025

Newborn puppies will often wrestle and roughhouse with each other. More often than not, it all results in good fun. But one such incident with 6-week-old Kailana indicated to her owners John Hartmire and spouse Christine Pobanz-Stelter that there could be something seriously wrong with their golden retriever.