What's New at UVS

Specialty Spotlight: Diskospondylitis – Signs, Diagnosis, and Treatments

Diskospondylitis – Signs, Diagnosis, and Treatments Christina Scanlon Isack, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology) Discospondylitis is an infection involving the intervertebral discs and surrounding vertebral endplates. This infection is most commonly secondary to bacteria, but we occasionally see fungal discospondylitis as well. Infection is generally thought to occur secondary to: Hematogenous spread (most common) with involvement of the urinary tract in many cases Foreign body migration, such as plant awns Iatrogenic infection following spinal surgery or a paravertebral injection (least common)  …

Specialty Spotlight: Nasal Disease in Dogs and Cats

Nasal Disease in Dogs and Cats Sara Arnold, DVM, DACVIM As the warmer months roll around, there also seems to be a recrudescence of nasal disease. The chronically sneezing, snotty dog or cat tends to be something that plagues owners and veterinarians alike. Many owners who present to our specialty hospital are looking for a nasal foreign body to be the source of all their evils, but (unfortunately for them and us) nasal foreign bodies are few and far between….

SUNY Delhi Tour for Science Program Students

We had a great time hosting students from the SUNY Delhi Science Program last week! They heard from several team members about a day in the life at a specialty and 24/7 emergency hospital and received a tour! We love the opportunity to help young professionals decide on their careers!

Specialty Spotlight: Clinical Approach to Lung Tumors in Dogs and Cats

Clinical Approach to Lung Tumors in Dogs and Cats Joseph Palamara, DVM, DACVS-SA Surgery of the lungs is typically pursued to address acquired pulmonary diseases, including lung lobe torsion, consolidated lung lobes and abscesses, traumatic and spontaneous pneumothorax, and primary/solitary pulmonary neoplasia. Primary pulmonary neoplasia accounts for 1% of canine tumors and < 1% of feline tumors. Adenocarcinoma represents about 60% to 70% of feline lung tumors, whereas carcinomas account for up to 97% of primary lung tumors in dogs,…

Specialty Spotlight: Considerations for the Senior Dog

Considerations for the Senior Dog Laura Perez, DVM, CVA, CCRT What is a senior pet? Unlike humans, where there is an accepted set age to demarcate a patient as elderly or geriatric, a sliding scale based on body weight can help assign age labels for dogs. For small dogs weighing less than 20 pounds, age 10-12 years is considered geriatric. For medium dogs weighing 21-50 pounds, this decreases to 9-11 years. Large breed dogs weighing 51-90 pounds are considered geriatric…

Specialty Spotlight: Feline Injection Site Sarcomas

Feline Injection Site Sarcomas Ariana Verrilli, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology) Feline injection site sarcomas (FISS) are malignant mesenchymal tumors of the skin that are associated with vaccination in 1-16 of every 10,000 vaccinated cats.  FISS have been associated not only with vaccinations but also with a variety of other substances, including injectable steroids and antibiotics, microchips, and suture material.  It is suspected that the post-injection inflammation results in malignant transformation of the local mesenchymal cells and tumor development.  Tumor development can…

Specialty Spotlight: Heat Stroke

Heat Stoke Danielle Berube, DVM, DACVECC As we head into the warm summer months, we need to be prepared for an influx of patients suffering from heat stroke. It is important to remember that although brachycephalic breeds and dogs with laryngeal paralysis have an increased risk, any patient can suffer from heat stroke in the right conditions. It is also important to keep in mind that patients can present with a normal body temperature, especially if the owners have started…

2022 CDPHP Workforce Team Challenge

We’re so excited the CDPHP Workforce Team Challenge was back in person this year! Every year, UVS joins the 3. 5 mile road race through downtown Albany and encourages staff to join the fun. We also design and provide yearly t-shirts for those that participate. This year, we won 1st place in the humorous category!  

Angel Fund Story: Tiffany’s Emergent Pyometra Diagnosis

Meet 7-year-old Tiffany the Pug! Tiffany was a recent patient at UVS through our emergency service. Her family was concerned that she had a decreased appetite and was lethargic for several days and now had a purulent discharge from her vulva. After the emergency room staff examined her and ran diagnostics, it was determined that she was suffering from a life-threatening illness called a pyometra and needed emergency surgery. A pyometra is when the uterus of an intact female dog…