Newsletter

Margaret Wilson (Maggie) has worked with the UC Veterinary Medical Center, San Diego for almost nine years, and loves that every day is a little different. As one of the clinic’s Client Services Representatives, she enjoys meeting pets and their owners and helping them navigate questions with the care team. “Visiting the clinic can be stressful for the pets and their owners, too. I enjoy working with them to make sure their experience is as smooth as possible.”

When Sarge, a Belgian Malinois, first joined Sydney and her husband Dahlton Seel's family, he was still young – under a year old. Dahlton trains dogs for families, and he bonded with Sarge immediately. Sarge was a happy puppy, and got along well with their other two dogs.

“Our work has so much variety to it. In one day, I could put it in a jug cap, place a catheter, I could draw blood, collect urine. I could be in the pharmacy coordinating medications. And I'm also calling clients to see how their pet is doing, checking in to see if they have any other questions about their recent visit.”

Time spent on his grandfather’s farm as a boy in Brazil led Andre Le Sueur to become a veterinarian. But that wasn’t enough – veterinary school sparked an interest in nephrology, which studies and treats diseases and conditions of the kidneys, and it took additional years to develop that specialty. Le Sueur served two years as a small animal internal medicine resident at São Paulo State University and then earned his master’s degree specializing in the field. 

A typical day for a veterinary cardiologist is usually not “typical” due to the variety of cases, says Dr. Timothy Hodge, DVM, DACVM, veterinary cardiologist at the UC Veterinary Medical Center, Southern California. This specialty is essential for diagnosing and managing different types of heart-related issues in companion animals, and sometimes in larger animals such as horses, and those at the San Diego Zoo. 

Thanks to the visionary philanthropy of Janice K. Hobbs, the Janice K. Hobbs UC Davis Veterinary Medical Center Southern California will consolidate and expand UC Davis’ veterinary presence in Southern California. With Hobbs’  generous contribution. the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine was able to purchase 5040 Shoreham Place in San Diego. Following renovation, the 23,000-square-foot facility will become the center’s new home. 

Dr. Cedric Dufayet can’t recall a time when he didn’t want to be a veterinarian. Now a nephrologist at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Center – San Diego (UCVMC-SD), he leads a specialized hemodialysis and urinary disease program, one of about 15 in the country, and one of just a few in the state. 

A transformational opportunity is here! 

When UC Davis opened the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Center San Diego in the early 2000s, the school had the foresight to bring on a pharmacist on site. Even to this day, having an on-site pharmacist is not common at most veterinary hospitals, mainly due to the cost to operate a pharmacy at a veterinary hospital and the small number of pharmacists with veterinary training.

“Our beloved Laska, a German Shepherd, was seven years old when she suddenly stopped eating and became very lethargic. She didn’t want to be near us. Something was very off. We brought her to our regular vet, who diagnosed her as having kidney failure. Attempts to treat her weren’t working. She continued to decline as she remained at the vet’s office.”