Advanced Veterinary Surgery Center
Advanced Veterinary Surgery Center to Open
When your dog is uncomfortable and needs an orthopedic surgery, the last thing you want to deal with is a significant wait time for an appointment.
Unfortunately, due to an increase in pet ownership during the pandemic and a steady increase in caseload, the Small Animal Orthopedic Surgery Service has experienced a continual backlog of patients. To address this unprecedented growth and the need for more surgery space, the UC Davis veterinary hospital will open the Advanced Veterinary Surgery Center.
The Orthopedic Surgery Service’s average caseload has increased at a rate of 15%per decade for the past 30 years.
Ideally situated just steps north of the veterinary hospital, Advanced Veterinary Surgery Center encompasses 6,600 square feet of space including three large operating rooms. The center can accommodate a growing caseload associated with surgical treatment advances, as well as reduce the backlog of referred cases that cannot be accommodated in the hospital’s existing surgical suites.
“As the nation’s top-ranked veterinary school, we had a bold vision to create a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to providing life-changing surgical treatment for dogs, cats and other beloved companion animals,” said Dean Mark Stetter. “Our surgical specialists set the bar for innovative treatments, including total hip replacements with the ability to create custom, 3D-printed titanium implants if necessary. We are motivated to grow our capacity to lead a rapidly evolving field to even greater heights.”
Completed entirely with donor funds, the center will be able to help more dogs like Sky, a 2-year-old female Siberian husky treated at UC Davis. Sky’s right femur had dislocated from her hip joint, which showed chronic degenerative changes. Dr. Denis Marcellin-Little, one of the nation’s foremost authorities on hip replacement surgeries, used a stem implant in Sky’s femur that interacts with a cup implanted in her pelvis.
Performing Sky’s hip replacement in the early stages of her degenerative disease prevented further complications later in life. UC Davis is one of few veterinary facilities in the world that can perform this critical procedure. Advanced Veterinary Surgery Center will allow clinicians to bring exceptional care to more patients like Sky, while breaking new ground in surgical innovation.
When it opens in November, the center will provide the ability to treat more animals suffering from injuries or disorders of the bones and joints.
The Orthopedic Surgery Service’s average caseload has increased at a rate of 15% per decade for the past 30 years. Currently, there is a four- to six-week wait time for orthopedic surgeries to address non-life- threatening conditions.
The Center for Advanced Veterinary Surgery is positioned to be a premier destination for orthopedic surgeons and pets in need of their specialized care.”
—Dean Mark Stetter
Advanced Veterinary Surgery Center will provide orthopedic surgeons with even greater access to the most innovative technologies and surgical instruments to treat patients. It will accommodate advances in surgical instrumentation, anesthesia and monitoring equipment, and cross-sectional imaging equipment to support sophisticated procedures in small animals. The center will also enhance opportunities for the next generation of specialists through resident and fellowship training, amplifying UC Davis as the leading house officer program in the country.
“The Advanced Veterinary Surgery Center is positioned to be a premier destination for orthopedic surgeons and pets in need of their specialized care,” said Stetter. “Through the center, our world-renowned specialists will continue to expand the reach of exceptional surgical care and forge new paths to helping companion animals enjoy optimal health.”
To learn more about the Advanced Veterinary Surgery Center, please contact our Advancement team at 530-752-7024.