Penn Vet Kicks Off Construction of New $2.8 Million Richard Lichter Advanced Dentistry and Oral Surgery Suite

The project will revolutionize the oral health, specialty care patient experience for small animals

Using fMRI, new vision study finds promising model for restoring cone function

School of Veterinary Medicine and Perelman School of Medicine researchers identified a retinal disease to evaluate the success of gene and cell replacement therapy.

Three takeaways on respiratory illness in dogs

Deborah Silverstein of the School of Veterinary Medicine advises dog owners to stay calm but take certain precautions.

Dr. Susan W. Volk, Named Corinne R. and Henry Bower Professor of Surgery at Penn Vet

Andrew M. Hoffman, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM, Gilbert S. Kahn Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn Vet) has named Susan W. Volk, VMD, PhD, DACVS, a renowned veterinary surgeon-scientist, the Corinne R. and Henry Bower Professor of Surgery.

Dr. William Beltran named One of Eight Penn professors elected 2022 AAAS Fellows

Penn Vet’s Dr. Nicola “Nicky” Mason Appears on 60 Minutes

The interview highlighted Dr. Mason’s role in leading clinical trials that evaluated a novel Listeria-based vaccine to treat pet dogs with osteosarcoma, a common canine bone cancer.

A FLASH of radiation may lead to new cancer care for people and pets alike

Led by the Perelman School of Medicine’s Keith Cengel and the School of Veterinary Medicine’s Brian Flesner, a new study is evaluating the safety and efficacy of treating oral cancer in dogs with a palliative radiation in just two clinic visits.

Dr. William Beltran Named Corinne R. and Henry Bower Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine

Andrew M. Hoffman, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM, Gilbert S. Kahn Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn Vet) has named William Beltran, DVM, MSc, PhD, DECVO, an internationally recognized veterinary ophthalmologist, the Corinne R. and Henry Bower Professor of Ophthalmology.

NIH-funded canine immunotherapy data center charts a path toward transformative therapies

With support recently for five more years, Nicola Mason of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Qi Long of the Perelman School of Medicine hope their work leads to new insights in cancer care for people as well as pets.

Cooler temps and northern climes associated with increased diabetes diagnoses in dogs

Mirroring a finding in humans, diabetes diagnoses in dogs were more common in colder areas of the U.S. and during winter, according to a new study led by Penn Vet researchers.

Progress toward a stem cell–based therapy for blindness

A multi-institutional effort led by researchers at Penn Vet is taking steps to develop an effective technique to regenerate photoreceptors cells and restore sight in people with vision disorders.

Olive, the Tiny Little Fighter

Knockout rounds and a big win in a puppy’s fight for life.

Correcting night blindness in dogs

Researchers in the School of Veterinary Medicine and colleagues have developed a gene therapy that restores dim-light vision in dogs with a congenital form of night blindness, offering hope for treating a similar condition in people.

Penn Vet’s William Beltran to Study New Stem Cell Therapy for Retinitis Pigmentosa with Second Round Funding from Fighting Blindness Canada

Dr. William A. Beltran and Dr. David M. Gamm have been awarded CAD$725,000 from Fighting Blindness Canada’s Restore Vision 20/20 program to continue their ground-breaking research into cell replacement therapy for retinitis pigmentosa, an inherited retinal disease.

The People Behind the Surgeries and Lifesaving Procedures

Surgeons, animals, owners — and two complex surgeries with joyful results

Novel gene therapy platform speeds search for ways to cure blindness

A newly developed single-cell RNA sequencing technique enables researchers to quickly identify an optimal vector for delivering therapeutic genetic material to treat vision disorders, and perhaps other genetic conditions.

People Behind the Surgeries and the Lifesaving Procedures They Love

Penn Vet is known for pioneering veterinary surgical procedures. Two recent, complex cases put that expertise on display, with joyful results.

This Penn heart patient is a 9-year-old boxer dog named Sophie

For Karen Cortellino, her 9-year-old dog Sophie is more than just a companion.

“There’s this bumper sticker that says, ‘Rescue dogs: Who rescued who?’” says Cortellino, a physician from New Jersey. “That’s exactly how I feel.” Eight years ago, she adopted Sophie, a boxer, two weeks after the death of the family’s first boxer, and “she’s been Mommy’s baby ever since.”

Identifying a gene for canine night blindness

Creating an effective gene therapy for inherited diseases requires three key steps. First, scientists must identify and characterize the disease. Second, they must find the gene responsible. And finally, they must find a way to correct the impairment.

Is treatment forever? Success of gene therapy for inherited blindness depends on timing

Nearly two decades ago, a gene therapy restored vision to Lancelot, a Briard dog who was born with a blinding disease. This ushered in a period of hope and progress for the field of gene therapy aimed at curing blindness, which culminated in the 2017 approval of a gene therapy that improved vision in people with Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), a rare, inherited form of blindness closely related to the condition seen in Lancelot. It represents the first FDA-approved gene therapy for an inherited genetic disease.

Companion Animal Ryan Hospital Opens Its New 2.7 Million Emergency Room

A ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 16^th celebrated the opening of Ryan Hospital’s Richard Lichter Emergency Room at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet). The project was generously funded by Richard Lichter, a member of Penn Vet’s Board of Overseers, and co-chair of The Power of Penn Vet Campaign. His gift was made in memory of his beloved Golden Retriever, Cosette.

Learn About Cutting-Edge Cancer Care for Cats and Dogs

The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) will present a free panel discussion for pet lovers on caring for companion animals diagnosed with cancer to be held at Penn Vet’s New Bolton Center on Wednesday, March 20, 2019.

Penn Vet Launches Mobile Clinic

In 2016, there were 50,000 animal intakes in the Philadelphia region’s animal shelters. The University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) Shelter Medicine Program provides clinical care support to several of these shelters and works to reduce the number of animals entering them to begin with. The program is about to increase its regional reach and impact with the Penn Vet Mobile Clinic, a new 40-foot-long facility-on-wheels that will help more vulnerable animals.

New Penn Vet Lecture Series Brings Companion Animal Expertise to New Bolton Center Community

Starting this October, the expertise of Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital comes to New Bolton Center in a new series that connects the surrounding pet-loving community with the latest breakthroughs and techniques for small and companion animals.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Taking Blood Using ‘Push-Pull’ Method Gets Accurate Results With Fewer Pokes

A new study by University of Pennsylvania veterinary researchers has found that blood samples collected from an intravenous catheter using a special “mixing” technique are as accurate as those collected via venipuncture, in which a needle is used to access the vein directly.

New online course teaches pet first aid

You may know CPR, but do you know how to give it to your cat?

Researchers on the Front Line in a ‘Gangbusters’ Year for Lyme Disease

Before winter had even ended, the warnings came in: 2017 was going to be a bad one for Lyme disease. Anecdotally, the experience of Anne Norris, an infectious disease physician and associate professor of clinical medicine at Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine, backs this up.

Look to Lactate to Help Predict Ill Cats’ Prognoses, Penn Vet Study Says

Many factors go into evaluating the prognosis of a critically ill animal, usually involving a combination of objective metrics, such as blood pressure or blood oxygenation, and more subjective clinical signs, such as alertness or lethargy.

New Penn Vet Mobile Clinic to Serve the Community and Area Shelters

Penn Vet has successfully raised $1.5 million to launch its Mobile Unit Initiative, thanks to support from foundations including the Bernice Barbour Foundation, PetSmart Charities, and the John T. and Jane A. Wiederhold Foundation, as well as generous individual donors. Run by Penn Vet’s Shelter Medicine Program, the initiative will provide advanced care for animals in shelters and underserved areas in the Philadelphia region, as well as opportunities for community engagement.

Dr. Michael Mison Named Director and Chief Medical Officer of Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital

The University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) announces the appointment of Dr. Michael Mison, DVM, to Ryan Hospital Director and Chief Medical Officer. Mison also will continue in his role as Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery.

Metropolitan Veterinary Associates and Emergency Services Joins Penn Vet Affiliates Program

Metropolitan Veterinary Associates and Emergency Services (MVA) in Valley Forge, PA, is the first specialty veterinary practice to join the Penn Vet Affiliates network. Recognized for its clinical excellence, MVA will now have increased access to Penn Vet specialists, clinical trials, advanced equipment, and diagnostic laboratories.

Dr. Oliver Garden Joins Penn Vet as Chair of the Department of Clinical Studies-Philadelphia

The University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) announces the appointment of Dr. Oliver Garden, BSc, BVetMed, PhD, as Chair of the Department of Clinical Studies-Philadelphia.

Penn Vet Program Saves 100th Shelter Dog in Need

A five-month-old Cane Corso named Sidon was saved by Penn Vet’s Shelter Dog Specialty Medical Treatment Project, making him the 100th dog aided by the program since its launch in March 2015. The life-saving program is made possible through the generosity of the Richard Lichter Charity for Dogs.

Halloween Treats Can Lead to Horrible Tricks in Pets

Dr. Kenneth Drobatz, Chief of the Emergency Service at Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital, offers the following tips to keep pets healthy and out of the emergency room this Halloween:

Tips to Keep Pets Healthy This Summer

With the official start of summer just around the corner, veterinarians at Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital offer the following tips to keep pets healthy and cool during the hot days ahead.

Canine and Children Craniofacial Patients Meet

During the fourth annual Best Friends Bash, craniofacial patients from The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) meet canines who have undergone similar procedures.

Cancer Care for Shelter Dogs

Petco and Blue Buffalo Foundations support Penn Vet cancer care and the critical role that universities and research centers play in understanding and eradicating pet cancer.

Dr. Lesley King, Pioneer in Critical Care

Dr. Lesley Geraldine King, MVB, originally from Dublin, Ireland, and a resident of Coatesville, PA, died May 14, 2016, at the age of 51, after a long illness.

Protect Cats from Lethal Lilies

Lilies are highly toxic to cats and can cause kidney failure. All parts of the plant are considered poisonous, so lilies should be kept away from cats at all times.

Saving Our Most Vulnerable Dogs

Thanks to the Richard Lichter Charity for Dogs, at-risk canines are getting much needed and expensive care at Penn Vet's Ryan Hospital.

Canine Breeder Excellence Seminar

The Canine Breeder Excellence Seminar, sponsored by Penn Vet and the Theriogenology Foundation, gives breeders the opportunity to learn from top experts in canine health.

Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital Welcomes New Clinicians

The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) announces the appointment of Dr. Anna Gelzer as Associate Professor of Cardiology, Dr. Marc Kraus as Attending Cardiologist and Outpatient Medical Director for Ryan Hospital, and Dr. Jennifer Mahoney as Clinical Assistant Professor in Medical Oncology.

Important Tips from Penn Vet to Keep Pets Safe in Cold Weather

The cold weather is here and extra care needs to be taken to keep companion animals comfortable and healthy throughout the winter season. Dr. Kenneth Drobatz, Chief of the Emergency Service at Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital, offers the following tips:

Important Tips from Penn Vet to Keep Pets Safe During the Holidays

Dr. Lisa Murphy, Penn Vet’s Associate Professor of Toxicology, and Dr. Kenneth Drobatz, Chief of the Emergency Service at Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital, offer the following tips to keep pets healthy and out of the emergency room during the holidays.

Ryan Hospital Increases Access to Specialty Care through Launch of Affiliates Program

Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital is forming a network of referring veterinary practices in the region known as “Penn Vet Affiliates” to allow for increased access to Penn Vet specialists and clinical trials and to recognize clinical excellence. Mount Laurel Animal Hospital has been named the first Penn Vet Affiliate member.

Important Tips from Penn Vet to Keep Pets Safe on Thanksgiving

Dr. Kenneth Drobatz, Chief of the Emergency Service at Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital, offers the following tips to keep pets healthy and out of the emergency room this Thanksgiving:

Saving Lives by Saving Limbs

With a generous grant from the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association and the Kislak Family Foundation, Penn Vet is helping to save the limbs – and lives – of animals at shelter organizations. Through this pilot program, “Saving Lives by Saving Limbs,” surgeons and students repair the fractured limbs of animals at risk for amputation or euthanasia.

Important Tips from Penn Vet to Keep Pets Safe on Halloween

Dr. Kenneth Drobatz, Chief of the Emergency Service at Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital, offers the following tips to keep pets healthy and out of the emergency room this Halloween:

Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital: Open for Pets During the Papal Visit

Hospitals across the Philadelphia area are making special arrangements to help human patients in need of care during the upcoming Papal visit. But what about our animal companions? The Emergency Service at Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital will be open 24 hours a day throughout the Papal visit to care for pets in need.

Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital Welcomes Three New Clinicians

The University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) announces the appointment of Brady Beale, VMD, as Staff Ophthalmologist, Elaine Holt, DVM, as Clinical Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, and Michael Mison, DVM, as Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery.

Penn Vet and Francisvale Partner to Maximize Welfare and Adoptablility of Pets

Behavior problems are the leading cause of pet relinquishment. In order to maximize the welfare and adoptability of pets in need of forever homes, animal behavior experts from Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital are partnering with the team at the Francisvale Home for Smaller Animals.

Canine Craniofacial Patients Help Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Craniofacial Patients Embrace Differences

It has been well-documented that the human-animal connection provides a powerful healing bond. This bond will be evidenced at the third annual “Best Friends Bash” on Wednesday, July 22, 2015, as craniofacial patients from The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) meet eight canines who have undergone similar craniofacial procedures or overcome other health challenges. The event coincides with National Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness & Prevention Month.

Andrew R. and Mindy H. Heyer Lobby Opens at Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital

Clients and pets alike can enjoy the newly renovated lobby at Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital. Andrew and Mindy Heyer generously funded the $1.5 million, six-month renovation project. New features include:

Penn Vet Recognizes National Kidney Month

In recognition of National Kidney Month in March, Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital reminds pet owners that animals can suffer from a range of kidney ailments, including kidney failure, toxicity, and infection. Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital is the nation’s only academic veterinary hospital offering comprehensive services and certified specialists in urologic and kidney care for companion animals.

Penn Vet Researchers Identify Effective Treatment for Niemann Pick Type C

Niemann Pick Disease type C, or NPC, is a disease most people have never heard of, affecting just one person in 150,000. Yet the disease is a devastating one. Frequently diagnosed in children in their elementary school years, sufferers usually die by the time they’re 20. The disease is sometimes referred to as “childhood Alzheimer’s” because of the progressive mental and physical decline seen in the children it afflicts.

The “Barth” Memorial Fund for Mitral Valve Disease Research Established at Penn Vet

A $450,000 gift from Bruce Wiltsie and William Davenport will support Penn Vet research in the treatment of canine Mitral Valve Disease (MVD). Named in honor of their beloved dog, Barth, who passed away from MVD, the “Barth” Memorial Fund for Mitral Valve Disease Research will enable experts at Penn Vet to investigate new medications to stop or reverse the process of the disease. This work also has important implications for non-surgical treatment of MVD in people. 

Five Penn faculty elected to the National Academy of Medicine

Five faculty members from Penn have been elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), one of the nation’s highest honors in the fields of health and medicine, including Penn Vet's Dr. William Beltran.

The Future of Veterinary Education

The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine has announced a leadership gift of $5 million from Gail P. Riepe, CW’68, and Jim Riepe, W’65, WG’67, HON’10, to build a new clinical skills center on the New Bolton campus, located in Kennett Square, PA. The gift, a part of The Power of Penn Campaign, is the largest of its kind to the New Bolton facility.

Glowing dye may aid in eliminating cancer

"Clean margins” are a goal of cancer excision surgery. If even a small piece of cancerous tissue is left behind, it increases the likelihood of a local recurrence and spread of the disease, possibly reducing overall survival time.

Helping pets cope with quarantine, and reopening

Stay-at-home orders and social distancing mean many of people have been cut off from friends and family. But certain relationships have become more intimate amid the pandemic: those between people and their pets. 

Penn Vet Launches New Telehealth Platform, Expands Access to Leading Pet Behavior Expertise

With less than 100 veterinary behavior experts practicing in the United States, having direct access to reliable, scientifically-sound advice on managing unsavory pet behavior can prove challenging. But thanks to a newly launched, web-based application from the Penn Vet, Intellivets, and Connect for Education (C4E), pet owners and primary care veterinarians alike can now enjoy expert insight from the comfort of their home or clinic.

Ryan Hospital Designated a Certified Level I Facility by the Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Society

The Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Society (VECCS) has named Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital a Level I Facility, making it the first university-based hospital to receive the prestigious designation.

Penn Vet’s Shelter Canine Mammary Tumor Program Sees 100th Dog

The Penn Vet Shelter Canine Mammary Tumor Program has reached a milestone. A Chihuahua named Brownie is the 100th dog to join the program, which was founded in July 2009 and provides care for shelter dogs while advancing knowledge of both canine and human breast cancer. Brownie came to the program from the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) and is currently in foster care with a PAWS volunteer, while waiting for her forever home.

Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital Designated One of the Nation’s First Veterinary Trauma Centers

The American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (ACVECC) has approved Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital as one of nine designated Veterinary Trauma Centers in the U.S. – and the only recognized 24/7 Veterinary Trauma Center within a 100 mile radius of Philadelphia. This prestigious distinction reflects Ryan Hospital’s comprehensive depth of resources available to animals suffering traumatic injuries.

Mark “Bo” Connell joins Penn Vet as Executive Director of Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital

On November 14, 2012, Mark “Bo” Connell assumed the position of Executive Director for Penn Vet’s Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital for companion animals at Penn Vet’s Philadelphia campus.

Lilies Lethal to Cats

With Easter rapidly approaching, the veterinarians at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine would like to remind pet owners that Easter lilies are highly toxic to cats, with the potential for causing kidney failure. All parts of the plant are considered poisonous, so lilies should be kept away from cats at all times.

Penn Vet Hosts Free Lecture, “Understanding Canine and Feline Cancer Treatment Options”

On Saturday, March 9 the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) will host a free, open-to-the-public lecture called “Understanding Canine and Feline Cancer Treatment Options” at Penn Vet in Philadelphia, PA. Beginning at 10:00 AM, Dr. Erika Krick, assistant professor of oncology, will talk about common cancers of dogs and cats and will describe symptoms, methods of diagnosis and treatment options. Dr. Nicola Mason, assistant professor of medicine and pathobiology, will talk about current clinical trials at Penn Vet that are studying new treatments available for the canine cancers lymphoma and osteosarcoma.

CurePet and Penn Vet Announce Adoption of Cloud-Based Practice Management and Electronic Medical Records System Across Top University's Facilities

CurePet, Inc., developers of cloud-based software for the veterinary health industry, today announced that after a two-year study, the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine has chosen CurePet’s innovative software for both its Philadelphia and New Bolton campuses.

Penn Vet Ophthalmologists to Conduct Free Eye Exams for Service Dogs

The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s Ryan Hospital is once again participating in the National Service Dog Eye Exam sponsored by the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) and Merial.

Dr. Alexander Reiter to Discuss Dental and Oral Disease in Cats and Dogs During Free Animal Lovers Lecture Presented by Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital

On Saturday, June 15 at 10:00am, Alexander Reiter, associate professor and chief of dentistry and oral surgery at Penn Vet, will present a special lecture, Commonly Encountered Dental and Oral Diseases in Cats and Dogs, as part of the Animal Lovers Lecture Series at Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. The series offers free lectures to the public on canine and feline topics the second Saturday of the month. The lecture will take place at the Hill Pavilion located at 380 South University Avenue. Due to limited seating, reservations are recommended and can be made at (215) 746-7460 or johnrc@vet.upenn.edu.

10 Important Tips from Penn Vet to Keep Pets Healthy This Summer 2013

With the official start of summer just around the corner, veterinarians at Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital offer the following tips to keep pets healthy and cool during the hot days ahead:

Dogs with Craniofacial Defects Help Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Patients Embrace Differences During “Best Friends Bash” at Penn Vet

On the evening of Wednesday, July 17, 20 craniofacial patients from The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) had the opportunity to meet four canines with similar conditions at the first ever “Best Friends Bash” at Penn Vet.

Foundation Fighting Blindness Presents Board of Directors Award to Penn Vet Researchers Targeting Vision-Saving Treatments and Cures

The Foundation Fighting Blindness, a national non-profit organization dedicated to vision-saving research, recognizes the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine's Gustavo D. Aguirre, V.M.D., Ph.D. and William A. Beltran, D.V.M., Ph.D. with its Board of Directors Award. Bestowed annually upon an investigator or group of investigators, this award pays tribute to outstanding progress in research that is advancing treatments and cures for retinal degenerative diseases. The honor was presented to Drs. Aguirre and Beltran in front of more than 600 people at the VISIONS 2013 national conference this summer in Baltimore, Maryland.

Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital Launches Comprehensive Cancer Care Program

Few things are as devastating and scary for pet owners as a cancer diagnosis for their beloved pet. Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital is changing the face of cancer medicine with a Comprehensive Cancer Care Program – a multidisciplinary approach to evaluate and treat cancer patients. Through this groundbreaking program, the best minds from all aspects of cancer care collaborate and offer solutions that are individually tailored for each patient, resulting in better care, more efficient service, and a more complete approach.

Treatment in a FLASH

Radiation therapy to treat cancer can be grueling, requiring consecutive days of therapy over days or weeks. "When you talk to patients about coming in for 35 treatments, or seven weeks of daily therapy, usually their face kind of sags in disappointment or perhaps apprehension,” says Keith Cengel, a radiation oncologist at Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine.

Pediatric Puppy Leads Her Litter

English Bulldog Missy recently gave birth to her first litter. All puppies were healthy except one, who had a potentially mobility-limiting limb deformation. In just a few weeks, the tiny little bulldog would be the first of the brood to walk.

Cat-tastrophe

At only two months old, Bridget the kitten has had a lot of close calls. She was thrown from a stranger’s car off the South Street bridge in Philadelphia—where she landed, miraculously unharmed—and was rescued by her current foster owner, Ariel Smith, who named her after the ordeal. After a few weeks in the relative safety of Smith’s apartment, though, Bridget ran headfirst into yet another death-defying situation.

Physical Rehab Helps "Rock Star" Ranger Walk Again

One day, your young dog is wagging and running around; the next, he’s barely able to move. Cory Laslocky lived through this nightmare a few months ago.

Shelter Medicine Program Expands Shelter and Community Outreach

Every year, 6.5 million stray or surrendered animals enter shelters, 1.5 million of them are euthanized. In Philadelphia, the city’s shelter alone admitted 19,000 animals last year.

Enter Penn Vet’s Shelter Medicine program with a mission that includes keeping animals from ending up in shelters at all. The program helps improve the lives of the city’s most at-risk animals. And early next year it will start covering more ground with a mobile clinic.

Specialized Surgery Gets Goliath Back to the Farm

Steve and Leah Jefferson were looking for a way to protect their 38 chickens from roving coyotes on their 10-acre farm in Martinsburg, West Virginia. Goliath was their answer. The Great Pyrenees joined the family in the spring of 2017, when he was just eight weeks old. The Jeffersons quickly realized the “flock dog” would be spending as much time indoors as out.

Joey the Senior Cat Triumphs Over Illness with Help from Friends

For most of his life, Joey was a happy, healthy cat—never sick and always in charge. With nary a sniffle, the scrappy domestic short hair has lived with his owner Amanda Arrowood since he was found as a kitten in West Philadelphia. But, at the age of 13, Joey started losing weight and suffering from chronic diarrhea.

Progress in addressing a severe skin disease that affects dogs and humans

Think of the skin as a kind of raincoat for the inner organs. With its densely packed layers of cells and lipids, it keeps foreign substances from leaking in and keeps water from leaking out, preventing dehydration. But in certain skin disorders, this barrier breaks down, and problems arise.

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. 

Treating Orthopedic Injury Makes Dog and Owner Comfortable

During a casual conversation, a dog park friend once advised New York City resident Leslye Alexander to take her dog Olivia to Penn Vet in an emergency. “I never thought I would need it,” said Alexander. “But then Olivia was injured.”

Dr. Michael Mison Answers Ten: Surgical Oncology, Ah Ha Moments, and Summiting Kilimanjaro

As a child, Dr. Michael Mison’s parents encouraged him to be a physician. Drawn to animals and science, Mison knew early on that he would indeed go into medicine but focus on animals instead of humans.

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.

Augmented Reality at Penn Vet

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.

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.

Dingus Revisited - Comprehensive Cancer Care at Ryan Hospital

Dingus, a 17-year-old cat, was already being treated at Ryan Hospital for small cell gastrointestinal (GI) lymphoma. Diagnosed in November 2016, he had responded well to medication, but through the following summer Dingus was slowly losing weight. He came back to Ryan for an examination where an abdominal ultrasound showed his intestinal tract was normal, but revealed something else.