Animal Care & Welfare News

Dr. Cynthia Otto awarded for her work with the human-animal bond

Dr. Cynthia Otto, founder and executive director of the Penn Vet Working Dog Center at the University of Pennsylvania, has been named the winner of the 2018 Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award.

Angel's Long Way Home

Saturday, March 17, 2018, 6:00 AM. Earl Welsh was home getting his family ready for his teen daughter’s dance competition. Before they headed out for a long day, Welsh wanted to give Angel, their four-year-old Yorkie, some outdoor time. He and Angel headed into the quiet streets of Philadelphia for a walk. They would not come home together. Instead, Angel would end up in Emergency Services at Ryan Hospital. And Earl would face an agonizing decision about her life.

Surprise! It's Twins!

Excitement over a first pregnancy turned to concern for owner Adel Dukes Melson when her pregnant Holsteiner began showing signs of premature foaling. Weeks before the mare’s March 13 due date, her mammary gland started to develop and secrete milk, a typical indication that her body was preparing to soon give birth.

Innovative vaccine offers canine cancer patients a shot at a longer, happier life

Osteosarcoma is the most common bone cancer to affect dogs. It is a painful and aggressive disease. Affecting more than 10,000 dogs annually, predominantly larger breeds, it kills more than 85 percent within two years. 

Learn to Demystify Equine Lameness at May First Tuesday Lecture

Join Penn Vet New Bolton Center’s Elizabeth Davidson, DVM, ACVS, ACVSMR, and Liz Arbittier, VMD, CVA, as they present the first in a series of educational talks called "Mythbusting the Lameness Exam: Deconstructing Common Misconceptions" as part of the First Tuesday Lecture series.

New telemedicine app connects veterinarians and pet owners with behavioral expertise

Whether it’s excessive barking, aggression, or chewing up a favorite pair of shoes, many dogs exhibit behaviors that are less than ideal. But with only around 75 veterinary behavior specialists scattered across the United States, not many pet owners have access to expert advice on how to manage their pets’ behavior.

Augmented Reality at Penn Vet

Innovating Diagnostics for Equine Arthritis

Arthritis can sideline a sport horse. Catching and treating the joint disease early is key to keeping an athletic equine comfortable and active. But when arthritis affects a horse’s elegant and powerful neck, with its complex map of muscles and vertebrae, it’s hard to pinpoint.

Infectious Disease Experts to Explore “Bad Bugs,” Critical Care at First Tuesday Lecture

Join New Bolton Center’s Drs. Helen Aceto, Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Director of Biosecurity at the large animal hospital, and Rose Nolen-Walston, Associate Professor of Large Animal Internal Medicine, for an hour-long session on infectious diseases as part of the First Tuesday Lecture series.

New Guidelines Offer Vets and Owners the Latest on Preventing and Treating Strangles, 'Strep Throat in Horses'

To assist veterinarians, and owners, in understanding the most up-to-date clinical recommendations when it comes to treating strangles, Ashley Boyle, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine, took the lead in writing a new consensus statement, issued by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, on treating, controlling, and preventing strangles in horses.

Philadelphia Animal Community Comes Together to Rescue Abandoned, Wounded Dog

A female pit bull-type dog was found abandoned and stabbed in North Philadelphia on Monday, March 5^th. The dog, who has been named Woobie, was found near the Fern Rock Train Station suffering from multiple stab wounds. Through the coordinated efforts of the Animal Care and Control Team of Philadelphia (ACCT Philly), the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PSPCA) and the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet), Woobie is recovering with clinical specialists attending to her care, and experts investigating her case.

Pets pick up on their owner’s personality

When a baby is born, many new moms and dads pore over parenting books, striving to strike the right balance of firmness and warmth to raise their children into kind, intelligent, strong individuals. While nature plays a critical role, research supports the idea that parenting style and parents’ personalities do influence a child’s behavior.

Foaling Experts to Discuss Difficult Births

New Bolton Center’s foaling experts will share details on dealing with dystocia cases, highlighting their various specialties, as part of the First Tuesday Lecture series.

Spirited Chevy Keeps Her Sight

Thoroughbred mare Set Chivalry, known to all who love her as Chevy, is a large personality. “She’s so smart and has such a spicy attitude,” said owner Susan Lax of the 21-year-old retired dressage horse. “She’s just really the apple of my eye and so exhilarating to ride. I have had her since she was four, and she is a member of our family. I would do whatever is necessary to keep her healthy.”

Cloudy to Clear: Cataract Surgery Gives Diabetic Puppy New Sight

Like many puppies, Tucker loves a good chase. But the 9-month-old chocolate Labrador wasn’t always able to see a squirrel dart across his path or a ball thrown in his direction. Until recently, cataracts caused by juvenile onset diabetes limited the puppy’s vision in both eyes.

Update Regarding Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) Quarantine at New Bolton Center

The University of Pennsylvania’s large animal hospital, New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, continues to work with state authorities to respond to the EHV-1 situation identified on January 16, 2018.

Statement Regarding Equine Quarantine at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center

The University of Pennsylvania’s large animal hospital, New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, is under a self-imposed equine quarantine for Equine Herpes Myeloencephalitis (EHM). New Bolton Center has canceled all elective, equine appointments pending further instructions from the regional state veterinarian. 

Foal Meets World – Tackling a True Equine Emergency

It’s been 11 months in the making. Your mare has been carefully bred, appropriately vaccinated, and closely monitored. As her due date approaches, anticipation of the new arrival begins to soar, with a twinge of anxiousness closing in.

Itchy Izzu

At age seven, Izzu had already been an itchy dog for a few years. His chronic skin disease had been treated with antibiotics, antifungals, and steroids. He was frequently bathed with an anti-microbial shampoo. He was even placed on multiple diet trials to determine if he suffered from a food allergy.

Penn Vet Puts Service into Action

Penn Vet will host a free dog and cat vaccination and wellness clinic from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Monday, January 15^th at Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital at 3900 Spruce Street. The wellness clinic reflects the School’s commitment to honor Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy.