Director's Message - Fall 2024

Cancer is a health risk for horses, as it is for most animals. The good news is that many equine cancers are treatable, especially when diagnosed in early stages. From chemotherapy to surgery, the UC Davis veterinary hospital is equipped with advanced diagnostics and therapeutic capabilities to tackle tumors in horses. 

Although there are many types of cancers, in horses the majority are associated with the skin. In this issue, we focus on the three most reported equine cancers – sarcoids, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. We are especially grateful to Dr. Emily Berryhill of the UC Davis Equine Internal Medicine Service for sharing her expertise on diagnosing and treating these types of tumors. We would also like to thank Dr. Lauren Charnock of the Ophthalmology Service and Dr. Rebecca Bellone, director of the UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, for providing added insights into cancer of the equine eye and genetic factors associated with equine cancers.

As with other health conditions in horses, early cancer diagnosis is essential to successful outcomes. We hope this issue provides you with tools to identify when lumps and bumps require a closer look and how to communicate effectively with your veterinarian.

As we say goodbye to another year, we want to thank you for your continued support of the Center for Equine Health. We have exciting plans for 2025 and look forward to continued partnerships in the new year!

Have a wonderful holiday season,

Carrie J. Finno, DVM, Ph.D., Diplomate ACVIM

CEH Director

Thank You to Our Collaborator

Dr. Emily Berryhill earned her DVM at UC Davis, where she also completed a large animal internal medicine residency. She is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and is currently an assistant professor in the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Berryhill’s research focuses on equine oncology and endocrinology.