Penn Vet Stories

Sasha was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a highly aggressive bone cancer in March of 2012. The prognosis for this disease is guarded at best and dogs that undergo amputation followed by chemotherapy, the standard of care for this disease, have a median survival of only one year. Most dogs die as a result of cancer metastases (spread) to their lungs or other bones.

Sasha finally succumbed to this disease in March 2014, adding another year to her life than expected.

Penn Vet’s New Bolton Center is recognized as a valuable ally of the dairy and agriculture industries in Pennsylvania. And this reputation, as well as Penn Vet’s reach and impact, are continuing to spread rapidly around the world.

• Registered Name: Cher Car's Dylan PennVetWDC
• Breed: Dutch Shepherd
• DOB: Aug 08, 2015
• Gender: Male
• Neutered: No
• Kennel: Cher Car Kennels
• Foster: Jeremy Cress, Stephanie Yuhasz and Jessica Monkoski
• Pedigree: Download Pedigree
• Legacy: Named in honor of Dylan (Handler Darren Bobrosky) who deployed to the World Trade Center following the attacks of 9/11.
• Job:

Dr. Lesley King, Professor of Critical Care, was a founder and pillar of critical care at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) and beyond. She was instrumental in the development of the veterinary intensive care specialty, particularly in expanding and refining mechanical ventilation.

Lewis, an eight-year-old Golden Retriever, qualified for the prestigious 2013 Master National hunt test in Kansas. As part of his final preparation, Lewis ran the first series of a master hunt test before the competition as a confidence builder. He nailed it.

As scientists probe the molecular underpinnings of why some people are prone to obesity and some to leanness, they are discovering that weight maintenance is more complicated than the old “calories in, calories out” adage.

For many dog owners, incessant barking is the bane of their existence. Some resort to using “shock collars” that deliver a jolt when their animal barks. The brainchild of Penn Vet student Lindsay Gallagher, however, may one day help pet lovers quiet their pets using positive reinforcement in the form of food rewards.

Philadelphia is one of the core locations for the Pets for Life program, an initiative of the Humane Society of the United States that provides free spay/neuter and wellness care for pets in under-served communities. Penn Vet has partnered with the program since 2013, an arrangement that enhances the education of veterinary students while providing animals with the care they need, but that their owners may not be able to afford.

Denali, a 10-year-old Spinone, was the first dog to enroll in Dr. Nicola Mason’s clinical trial for dogs with osteosarcoma who had not undergone amputation. Read Denali's story...

Avian influenza,a respiratory disease that affects many birds, including poultry, has been detected in the United States.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) recently has been detected in commercial poultry, backyard poultry flocks, and wild birds in several states.

No human infections have yet been reported in relation to this latest outbreak. Generally, human infections with avian influenza viruses are rare, and most often occur after people are in direct or close contact with an infected bird. Biosecurity is key in protecting flocks.

• Read more about avian influenza...
  
  

The 50,000 glass vials locked away in a building on Penn Vet’s New Bolton Center campus hold the keys to new research into Salmonella, the number-one cause of foodborne illness in the United States.  Read this story...

Ever since Rocky and Jenkintown Police Sergeant Richard Tucker were paired as working K9 and handler, Sergeant Tucker knew he could rely on his dog completely. But when Rocky became critically ill, Sergeant Tucker realized just how deep his bond was with his dog.

Through Penn Vet’s Center for Host-Microbial Interactions, researchers are exploring the microbiome of animals in order to benefit both animal and human health. Three new studies will explore how microbes impact alcoholic liver disease, infections caused by Salmonella, and periodontal disease. These projects are funded by a generous gift from Robert and Hope Sheft.