About Research at AMC

Research is a fundamental component of the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center’s founding mission. AMC is proud to advance veterinary medicine by pioneering new discoveries and progressive treatments. Through our Caspary Research Institute, AMC veterinarians work to understand the origins of diseases, to develop preventive measures, and ultimately to achieve cures. AMC doctors conduct clinical investigations of naturally occurring diseases in pets, often in collaboration with physicians studying the same illnesses in humans, to enable more effective diagnoses, advance medical and surgical treatments, and prevent disease in animals and humans alike.

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AMC Research Spotlight Archive

Research Spotlight

New Insights into Canine Stomatitis Treatment

Diseases of the teeth and gums are some of the most common medical conditions diagnosed in both dogs and cats. These conditions cause discomfort and affect a pet’s overall health if left untreated.

A canine dental exam performed at AMC

Most pet families readily recognize the clinical signs associated with these disorders, including:

  • Bad breath
  • Red or swollen gums
  • Tartar buildup on the teeth
  • Drooling or bloody saliva
  • Dropping food while eating

Because oral disease affects so many dogs and cats, research that improves diagnosis and treatment of can benefit animals and their families.

A recent study from AMC’s Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service –  “Surgical outcomes in canine lymphoplasmacytic stomatitis: a retrospective study of 42 dogs (2012-2022)” – studied treatment outcomes for dogs with oral inflammation, also known as stomatitis.

In cats, stomatitis typically requires extraction of most, if not all, teeth to control inflammation and pain. In this study, the AMC team hypothesized a more conservative treatment protocol could resolve the inflammation in dogs.

All dogs studied had a biopsy of the mouth to confirm the diagnosis of stomatitis, along with a comprehensive oral health assessment and treatment (COHAT). A COHAT is AMC’s standard dental procedure, which includes dental x-rays, cleaning, treatment of periodontal disease and extraction of painful or devitalized teeth.

The results of this study were welcome news for dogs and dog owners. The authors confirmed their hypothesis when 62% of the dogs experienced resolution of stomatitis from a COHAT alone, without the need for more extensive tooth extractions.

This data suggests that a conservative treatment approach may successfully manage stomatitis in many dogs.

Research like this contributes to the evolving body of knowledge around veterinary dentistry and helps guide thoughtful treatment decisions that support the health and well-being of pets. Pet families may also appreciate an added benefit: a marked reduction in doggy breath!

Research Spotlight

AMC Hosts First-Ever Resident Research Poster Session

June 25, 2025, marked an exciting research milestone at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center: the debut of our Resident Research Poster Session. While original scientific research is a key component of our postgraduate residencies, for the past 39 years, residents have presented their research through oral presentations.

Thanks to our new conference space, we reimagined the format this year—offering a dynamic, in-person poster session where our 13 graduating residents showcased their research summaries in poster form and engaged with AMC staff during a lively two-hour reception. The event was a resounding success, and the energy in the room was palpable.

Click to View Larger Images

Exploring the Research

This year’s studies fell into three major categories:

  1. Improving Patient Care
  2. Describing Diseases
  3. Presentations of Unusual Cases
View the Full List of Studies

Alphabetized by Researchers’ Last Name

  • Dr. Kelly Chambers | Impact of Feline pRBC PCV and Storage on Transfusion Efficacy: A Pilot Study
  • Dr. Nathan Cherzan | Morbidity of Splenectomy as a Second Procedure with Liver Lobectomy
  • Dr. Lindsay Courtney | Primary Immune-Mediated Thrombocytopenia in 17 Cats: A Case Series
  • Dr. Zoe Daniels | Retrospective Evaluation of 19 Dogs and 7 Cats Diagnosed with Otogenic Meningitis and Treated with Medical Management
  • Dr. Richa Dheendsa | Outcomes Following the Use of Self-Expanding, Covered, Retrievable Metallic Stents for Canine and Feline Nasopharyngeal Stenosis
  • Dr. Hunter Enderle | Canine Myxomatous Valve Disease: Prevalence and Gross Pathologic Features of Mitral, Tricuspid, Aortic, and Pulmonary Valves
  • Dr. Abby Goldberg | Post-Mortem Evaluation of Esophageal Diameters in Dogs and Cats: A Descriptive Study in 352 Animals
  • Dr. Owen Hurst | Central Diabetes Insipidus and Brain Herniation Secondary to Cryptococcus in a Dog
  • Dr. Audrey King | Short Colon Syndrome in Cats
  • Dr. Rachel Lordahl | Improving Readability and Accessibility of Veterinary Oncology Discharge Documents
  • Dr. Ada To | Outcomes of Surgical Repair for Acquired Oronasal Fistulas Secondary to Periodontal Disease in Dogs: A Retrospective Study
  • Dr. Danielle T.H. Tran | CT Features of Rounded Atelectasis in Chronic Inflammatory Pleural Effusions in Cats and Dogs
  • Isaiah Wardsworth | Acute Liver Failure Following Fatal Zinc Phosphide Poisoning in a Dog
Improving Patient Care

One standout example was a study titled “Post-mortem Evaluation of Esophageal Diameters in Dogs and Cats: a Descriptive Study in 352 Animals.” While it doesn’t sound like this information would improve patient care, knowing the diameter of a normal esophagus helps veterinarians choose the correct size of instrument when treating esophageal disease, ultimately improving outcomes.

Describing Diseases

Another study, “Short Colon Syndrome in Cats,” describes the clinical features, ultrasound, CT scan, endoscopy and biopsy results from cats with a shorter than normal colon. This work helps to alert veterinarians to this emerging syndrome.

Presentations of Unusual Cases

Reflecting AMC’s unique and expansive caseload, two studies featured unusual conditions encountered in our emergency service—allowing us to create new knowledge from the patients we care for every day.

Celebrating Excellence: The Connie Leifer Resident Research Award

The three co-winners of the Connie Leifer Resident Research Award

At the close of the poster session, AMC Senior Veterinarians voted for the best poster presentation. The selection was difficult, and there was a three-way tie for the annual Connie Leifer Resident Research Award, which was presented at our annual graduation ceremony the following night. The 2025 award winners were:

  • Dr. Hunter Enderle for his study “Canine Myxomatous Valve Disease: Prevalence and Gross Pathologic Features of Mitral, Tricuspid, Aortic, and Pulmonary Valves”
  • Dr. Rachel Lordahl for her study “Improving Readability and Accessibility of Veterinary Oncology Discharge Documents”
  • Dr. Danielle T.H. Tran for her study “CT Feature of Rounded Atelectasis in Chronic Inflammatory Pleural Effusions in Cats and Dogs”

View the Posters

You can see all the posters presented at AMC’s Resident Research Day in the slide show below.

2025 AMC Resident Research Posters

Hear AMC Residents Talk About Their Research

AMC Resident and Faculty Publications 2025

Previous Years: 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020

Peer-Reviewed Publications

(AMC personnel in bold.)

  1. Chambers K, Prittie J, Mastrocco A. Phlebitis in Veterinary Patients. J Vet Emerg Crit Care (San Antonio). 2025 Nov-Dec;35(6):619-636. doi: 10.1111/vec.70061. Epub 2025 Dec 7. PMID: 41355288.
  2. Li Q, Homilius M, Achilles E, Massey LK, Convey V, Ohlsson Å, Ljungvall I, Häggström J, Boler BV, Steiner P, Day S, MacRae CA, Oyama MA. Metabolic abnormalities and reprogramming in cats with naturally occurring hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. ESC Heart Fail. 2025 Apr;12(2):1256-1270. doi: 10.1002/ehf2.15135. Epub 2024 Nov 5. PMID: 39499136; PMCID: PMC11911622.
  3. Hurst O, Mastrocco A, Prittie J, Hadala A, Weltman JG. Retrospective Evaluation of the Severity of Creatine Kinase Elevation in Canine and Feline Trauma Patients as a Predictor of Morbidity and Mortality. Vet Med (Auckl). 2025 Jul 31;16:17-23. doi: 10.2147/VMRR.S517141. PMID: 40765574; PMCID: PMC12323786.
  4. Landfield BG, Appleman EH, Daverio H, Guarino C, Moore ME, Gioia G. Extended Survival in a Dog With Disseminated Protothecosis. J Vet Intern Med. 2025 Sep-Oct;39(5):e70231. doi: 10.1111/jvim.70231. PMID: 40859823; PMCID: PMC12381570.
  5. Magidenko SR, Berent AC, Weisse C, Mejia J, Lamb K. The Subcutaneous Ureteral Bypass 3.0 device shows improved short-term outcomes compared to the 2.0 device for treatment of benign ureteral obstructions in cats. Am J Vet Res. 2025 Mar 7:1-10. doi: 10.2460/ajvr.24.09.0255. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40054427.
  6. Ford J, Bell C, Donovan TA, Martel D. Surgical outcomes in canine lymphoplasmacytic stomatitis: a retrospective study of 42 dogs (2012-2022). Front Vet Sci. 2025 Dec 9;12:1681133. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1681133. PMID: 41445593; PMCID: PMC12723868.
  7. Robveille C, Maggi RG, Lashnits E, Donovan TA, Linder KE, Regan DP, Woolard KD, Breitschwerdt EB. Molecular detection of Bartonella spp. DNA in dogs with hemangiosarcoma. PLoS One. 2025 Apr 22;20(4):e0321806. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0321806. PMID: 40261912; PMCID: PMC12013947.
  8. Suleiman BA, Shalmashi P, Won D, West C, Ghali H. Industrial engineering solutions enhance operational efficiency in human and veterinary hospitals: a scoping review. Am J Vet Res. 2025 Nov 25:1-11. doi: 10.2460/ajvr.25.07.0265. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41289687.
  9. Hohenhaus AE, Hudak D, Donovan TA, Bertram CA, Daverio H. Standardized classification of synchronous gastrointestinal small cell lymphoma and gastrointestinal mast cell tumors in 15 cats. J Feline Med Surg. 2025 Jul;27(7):1098612X251341769. doi: 10.1177/1098612X251341769. Epub 2025 Jul 20. PMID: 40685558; PMCID: PMC12277675.
  10. Nguyen MT, Weisse C, Kaneko S. Hepatic Dearterialization for Nonresectable Liver Tumors in Five Dogs and Two Cats. J Vet Intern Med. 2025 Mar-Apr;39(2):e70023. doi: 10.1111/jvim.70023. PMID: 40072274; PMCID: PMC11898840.
  11. Berent A, Weisse C, Milligan M, Mejia J, Woods S, Lamb K. Long-Term Outcomes After Prophylactic Infusion of 2% Tetrasodium Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid in 95 Subcutaneous Ureteral Bypass Devices in 66 Cats With Benign Ureteral Obstructions. J Vet Intern Med. 2025 Mar-Apr;39(2):e70006. doi: 10.1111/jvim.70006. PMID: 40011049; PMCID: PMC11864850.
  12. Roman M, Spector D. Evaluation of risk of dehiscence in dogs and cats after gastrotomy. Can J Vet Res. 2025 Oct 1;89(4):144-148. PMID: 41070221; PMCID: PMC12507053.
  13. Noriega JR, Quesenberry KE, St-Vincent RS, Donovan TA. Medical Management of a Cervical Thymoma by Radiation Therapy in an Indian Ringneck Parakeet (Psittacula krameri). J Avian Med Surg. 2025 Jun;39(2):109-117. doi: 10.1647/AVIANMS-D-24-00015. PMID: 40638141.
  14. Watko R, Huguet E, Hernandez JA, Russell LA, Stieger-Vanegas S, Mai W, Cromwell ER, Loeber S, Grosso FRV. CT and MRI Features of Aortic Body Paragangliomas in 44 Dogs. Vet Radiol Ultrasound. 2025 Nov;66(6):e70106. doi: 10.1111/vru.70106. PMID: 41268639.
  15. Stockman TI, Kowaleski MP, Hicks JM, Berns CN, Saunders WB, McCarthy RJ. Inter- and intra-rater agreement among novices and comparison to an experienced consensus using the Gächter scale for the evaluation of septic joints. Front Vet Sci. 2025 Jul 15;12:1577046. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1577046. PMID: 40735284; PMCID: PMC12306484.
  16. O’Mara LA, Fischetti AJ, Spector DI, Weltman JG. Accuracy of Computed Tomographic Signs for the Detection of Severe Adhesions in Dogs with Abdominal Masses. Vet Radiol Ultrasound. 2025 Jul;66(4):e70058. doi: 10.1111/vru.70058. PMID: 40707425.
  17. Guzmán-Sánchez M, Wee C, Troxel M, Brisson JO, Donovan TA. Progressive paraparesis in a Weimaraner mixed-breed dog. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2025 Jul 25;263(11):1451-1455. doi: 10.2460/javma.25.03.0174. PMID: 40712650.
  18. Greenfield ZP, Berent AC, Weisse CW. The use of a percutaneous cystostomy tube as an adjunctive treatment option for dogs with idiopathic functional outflow tract obstruction. J Vet Intern Med. 2025 Jan-Feb;39(1):e17275. doi: 10.1111/jvim.17275. PMID: 39701563; PMCID: PMC11658826.
  19. Weisse C, Berent A, Rosen RJ, An A. Procedural descriptions and survival times for hepatic arteriovenous malformations (HAVM) in animals receiving primarily conservative treatment, arterial embolization, or dominant outflow vein occlusion. Vet Surg. 2025 Oct 28. doi: 10.1111/vsu.70037. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41157918.
  20. Langlois TJ, Mastrocco A, Prittie JE, Weltman JG. Abdominal fluid score as a predictor of transfusion needs and outcome in cats following trauma. J Vet Emerg Crit Care (San Antonio). 2025 Jan-Feb;35(1):28-33. doi: 10.1111/vec.13437. Epub 2025 Jan 22. PMID: 39840657.
  21. Chang JS, Berent AC, Weisse CW. Cystoscopic-Guided Laser Ablation of Intramural Ectopic Ureters in Male Dogs: A Retrospective Study of 18 Cases (2011-2023). J Vet Intern Med. 2025 Sep-Oct;39(5):e70243. doi: 10.1111/jvim.70243. PMID: 40927962; PMCID: PMC12421311.
  22. Gallant C, Phipps W. Prevalence and severity of laryngeal collapse in dogs undergoing surgery for brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome: 80 dogs (2018-2022). Front Vet Sci. 2025 May 16;12:1601466. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1601466. PMID: 40454170; PMCID: PMC12122423.
  23. Jordan H, Fox PR, Schober KE. Echocardiographic diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy confined to the left ventricular apex in a cat. JFMS Open Rep. 2025 Oct 3;11(2):20551169251386731. doi: 10.1177/20551169251386731. PMID: 41394092; PMCID: PMC12699017.
  24. van der Weyden L, Bertram CA, Dinhopl N, Triebl M, Donovan TA, Compérat EM. Urethral sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma with heterologous elements in a dog. J Comp Pathol. 2025 May;219:31-35. doi: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2025.04.005. Epub 2025 Apr 28. PMID: 40300500.
  25. Covo MS, Cazzolli DM, Etedali NM. Use of Activated Carbon Hemoperfusion and Hemodialysis in the Treatment of a Meloxicam Overdose in a Dog. J Vet Emerg Crit Care (San Antonio). 2025 Nov-Dec;35(6):789-794. doi: 10.1111/vec.70062. Epub 2025 Nov 28. PMID: 41313643.
  26. Doherty R, Berent AC, Weisse C. Use of a Modified Transhepatic Rendezvous Technique for Stenting of Malignant Biliary Obstruction in 2 Cats. J Vet Intern Med. 2025 Jul-Aug;39(4):e70178. doi: 10.1111/jvim.70178. PMID: 40613763; PMCID: PMC12231240.
  27. Feyler J, Côté E, Weisse C, Dawson S. Computed tomographic angiographic study of common carotid artery anatomic relationships in the dog. Can Vet J. 2025 Mar;66(3):298-307. PMID: 40070940; PMCID: PMC11891798.
  28. Donovan TA, Miller A, Armien AG, Summers BA, Lampron R, West C, Rissi DR. Diagnostic dilemma: Papillary third ventricular neoplasm with concurrent choroid plexus and ependymal features in a cat. Vet Pathol. 2025 Jul;62(4):502-509. doi: 10.1177/03009858251324636. Epub 2025 Mar 19. PMID: 40105263.
  29. Hansen GC, Yao Y, Fischetti AJ, Gonzalez A, Porter I, Todhunter RJ, Zhang Y. Next-generation machine learning model to measure the Norberg angle on canine hip radiographs increases accuracy and time to completion. Am J Vet Res. 2025 Jun 16;86(9):ajvr.25.02.0044. doi: 10.2460/ajvr.25.02.0044. PMID: 40523643.
  30. Kraszewska K, Janus-Ziółkowska I, Fox PR, Schober KE. Left ventricular non- compaction cardiomyopathy in eight guinea pigs (Caviaporcellus). J Vet Cardiol. 2025 Jun;59:31-42. doi: 10.1016/j.jvc.2025.02.002. Epub 2025 Feb 20. PMID: 40112630.
  31. Greenfield, Z.P., Etedali, N.M., Cimino, D.M., Halstead, S.K. and Willison, H.J. (2025), The use of membrane-based therapeutic plasma exchange for the management of acute canine polyradiculoneuritis and reduction of antigen-specific IgG in one dog. J Small Anim Pract, 66: 747-750. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsap.13885
  32. Bertram C, Donovan T, Fick RHJ, Kiupel M, Aubreville M. (2025). Deep learning-based atypical mitotic figure count predicts survival in canine cutaneous mast cell tumours. Journal of Comparative Pathology. 220. 19. 10.1016/j.jcpa.2025.03.072.

Book Chapters

  1. Wong M, Leibman N. Pediatric Oncology. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2025 Sep;55(5):883-893. doi: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2025.05.002. PMID: 40973424.
  2. Donovan TA, Kelly KM. Cardiovascular System. In: Maxie MG, ed. Jubb, Kennedy, & Palmer’s Pathology of Domestic Animals: Vol. 3: 7th ed. Philadelphia (PA): Elsevier; 2026:1-122.
  3. Alvarez LX, Medina C, Niebaum K, Lenfest, M. Ch. 12 Physical Modalities. In: Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, 3rd ed. 2025. Wiley, Hoboken, NJ
  4. Alvarez L and Cappucci D. Rehabilitation and Integrative Medical Nursing. In: Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses, 11th Ed. 2025. Elsevier. St. Louis, MO.
  5. Alvarez LX. Movement Is Medicine: How Rehabilitation Revitalizes Aging Pets. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2025 Dec 23:S0195-5616(25)00164-0. doi: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2025.09.032. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41444085.

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See our 2023 Resident Veterinarian Research Studies