Our Accomplishments
The CCAH has supported several landmark programs and research accomplishments. Here are some highlights:
Program Building
- First companion animal hemodialysis program in the United States, and the first hemodialysis center worldwide for cats with kidney failure
- First residency program in the world for veterinary genetics
- First academic program in shelter medicine, dedicated to improving the health and adoptability of animals in animal shelters. For more information, visit the Koret Shelter Medicine Program website.
- First shelter medicine residency in the world
Research
- Discovered that low taurine levels in commercial cat food caused a devastating but common heart disease in cats. Once taurine was added to the diet, the disease was virtually eliminated.
- Pioneered foundational research into feline husbandry and infectious diseases, including feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) aka "feline AIDS"; feline coronavirus (FECV); feline calicivirus; and feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). (For more info on FIP, visit the "SOCK FIP" website).
- Identified optimal requirements, metabolism and toxicity levels for Vitamins A, B & K, as well as for choline and chloride for cats
- Described the ultrastructure of urinary calculi in cats
- Discovered how copper influences reproductive efficiency in queens
- Discovered nutritional requirements and kidney effects of folate and Vitamin D for growing kittens
- Determined causes/risk factors for, and the management of, cats living in multi-cat households or facilities
- Discovered decreased zinc in pregnant queens results in cleft palate in kittens
- Developed a panel of monoclonal antibodies for feline white blood cell identification
- Linked pregnancy failure in cats with low taurine levels
- Conducted molecular cloning of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (Feline AIDS)
- Identified a gene mutation responsible for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Identified a gene genetic mutation for polycystic kidney disease in cats
Infrastructure and Facilities
- Sponsored scientific conferences and events over several years on hypothyroid, alternative pets, genomics, feline inherited diseases, cancer, behavior and more
- Fundraised for, designed and built the CCAH facility, which includes both clinical and research space, outdoor dog exercise areas and sitting areas for pet owners
- Helped acquire the linear accelerator machine, and assisted faculty in fundraising for the suite and stereotactic radio surgery program for cancer treatment
- Fundraised and built the veterinary physical rehabilitation/integrative medicine facility
- Assisted with the hemodialysis unit renovation, which improves clinical and research applications and opportunities by upgrading to add blood purification and other capabilities