Laska Receives Lifesaving Care from UC Davis Center

“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.”

Thus began the journey of Laska, whose owners Sharon and Herb Lurie were heartbroken with the news of her sudden life-threatening condition. She was their first dog and constant companion. They had raised her since she was a puppy, trained her, and even worked with Laska to become a certified therapy dog to local hospitals and nursing homes. 

Laska enjoyed everything that nature had to offer. She frequently went on long hikes, and loved her beach and pool swims. She was an active, thriving dog – until one day, she wasn’t acting like herself. 

“She normally loves to hang out with friends and company when they visit,” Sharon Lurie recalled. “But that day, she went into another room and laid down when friends arrived. We knew something wasn’t right.” 

As Lurie watched Laska continue to decline, she recalled that UC Davis operated a UC Veterinary Medical Center in San Diego. She had attended the center’s opening a few years prior, upon the invitation of a friend. 

Laska was near death when she arrived at the center, and nephrology (kidney) specialists immediately got to work in an effort to stabilize her. UC Davis Veterinary Medical Center in San Diego’s Dr. Sheri Ross, DVM, was Laska’s veterinarian. She began dialysis treatment to try to clear toxins and take the burden off of Laska’s failing kidneys and allowed them to heal. 

“I’ll never forget the day when Dr. Ross called to tell us that the treatment was working,” Lurie said. “Dr. Ross was so invested in her care, she was crying happy tears knowing Laska would be ok. That’s the special thing about the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Center in San Diego – everyone truly cares about the patients that come in.” Following the course of dialysis treatments, Laska fully recovered and went on to live many more happy and active years.

Lurie went on to say how much Dr. Ross is missed at the center – Dr. Ross passed away in the fall of 2024, leaving a legacy of extraordinary care and expertise. “Dr. Ross treated every animal like they were her own,” Lurie said. “She and the UC Davis team saved Laska’s life.”

The exact cause of Laska’s sudden kidney failure was never uncovered, but it is assumed that she walked into something while on a hike and then licked her paws, bringing a toxin into her body. “One lesson that I learned through what happened to Laska is to make sure to wash her paws after she goes on any kind of hike,” Lurie said. 

An important piece of advice that Lurie would offer to any dog owner is to take their dog to veterinary care if anything about their behavior seems off. Laska’s owners being in tune with her was what saved her. “Notice when your dog’s behavior is different. Don’t ignore those behaviors, trust your instinct,” Lurie said. 

The dialysis equipment at the UC Veterinary Medical Center in San Diego is not commonly found in most veterinary hospitals in California or even in other states. Sharon and Herb Lurie sought to change that by providing funds for the clinic in San Diego to have another dialysis machine to serve more animals when dialysis is needed.  

“It is a fact of life for pet lovers that our furry friends are likely going to experience medical challenges at some point,” Lurie said. “We are fortunate to have the expertise of the number one ranked veterinary school in the country accessible to us here in Southern California.”

Sharon and Herb also look forward to the clinic’s expanded future as the Janice K. Hobbs UC Davis Veterinary Medical Center Southern California in 2026. “We have always been able to count on the team’s compassionate and expert care,” Lurie said. “This new facility will ensure that these outstanding veterinarians and support team will be able to serve more San Diego pets, with even more expansive specialty and emergency services, for many years to come.”

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To learn more about the Janice K. Hobbs UC Davis Veterinary Medical Center Southern California, or to make a contribution to support companion animals receiving care at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Center in San Diego, please visit: https://hobbs.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/about-center