Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University

10/16/2026

News reports of a possible plague-related death in Russia have raised questions about the ancient disease. Felicia Nutter, associate professor of infectious disease and global health explains why plague persists, how it's transmitted, and why widespread outbreaks are unlikely today.

Read more: https://now.tufts.edu/2026/10/15/plague-rare-still-around-both-preventable-and-treatable


[📸: Shutterstock]

Yersinia pestis, the bacteria that caused the Black Death in the Middle Ages persists in the U.S. and abroad, but human deaths are largely avoidable.

10/15/2026

Assistant teaching professor Meera Gatlin interviewed by about the increase in rabies cases emphasizes simple precautions: avoid handling bats, vaccinate pets, and seek expert advice after potential exposure.

Read More: https://www.vinecitynews.com/latest/rabid-bats-orange-county-irvine-2026

Orange County has recorded 33 rabid bats in 2026, more than twice last year's total. An Irvine discovery prompts warnings as experts explain the increase.

10/13/2026

Lerner Clinic is offering free dog spays to students, faculty, staff, and community members through February.

“There's no charge to the client for the spay. Additionally, they can get any vaccines they need, like rabies and distemper, a heartworm test, and a microchip at a low cost. It’s heavily supervised and extraordinarily safe. It's a win-win in terms of helping the community by providing these services for no charge, and they're helping us in training our veterinary students by bringing the dogs.”

Dr. Laurence Sawyer, V99, director of Lerner Clinic

Read more: https://vet.tufts.edu/news-events/news/lerner-clinic-offering-free-dog-spays-through-february

10/10/2026

🐾 That’s a wrap on Cummings School’s 2026 Community Open House!🐄🦉

Thank you to everyone who joined us for a day of discovery, hands-on activities, and animal adventures! From meeting birds of prey and exploring our wildlife and equine facilities to visiting the farm, experiencing veterinary simulation, and connecting with our student clubs, there was something for everyone to enjoy.

We loved welcoming our community to campus and sharing the many ways Cummings School advances veterinary medicine, animal health, and conservation. Thank you to our faculty, staff, students, volunteers, and visitors for making this year’s Open House such a special day!

Healing animals.
Helping humans.
Changing lives.

[📸 : Jodi Hilton]

10/09/2026

Cornelia Peterson, assistant professor at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, studies ocular oncology, characterizing the mechanisms that lead to eye cancers in both humans and animals.

Learn More: https://now.tufts.edu/2026/10/07/she-scours-genes-find-whats-behind-rare-eye-cancer

A researcher’s longtime passion for eyes led her to investigate ocular oncology at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.

10/08/2026

Volunteers play an integral role at Tufts at Tech in serving the greater community. Twenty Cummings School students stepped up this summer to donate their time to help keep the clinic running smoothly, and in turn, gained valuable experience in community medicine and a glimpse into clinics.

"Summer volunteers are absolutely essential to our programming. Volunteers are coming in multiple days a week, working for free, and working hard. We are grateful for everything they’ve done and for having so many students to rely on to make sure our mission happens—that our community receives care.”

Dr. Kayla Sample, VI19, VR24
Assistant clinical professor of community medicine in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at Cummings School

Read More: https://vet.tufts.edu/news-events/news/student-volunteers-jump-fill-summer-gap-tufts-tech

[📸: Courtesy of Tufts at Tech Community Veterinary Clinic

10/08/2026

Rabies is rare but prevention matters. Assistant Teaching Professor Meera Gatlin shares how to protect yourself, your family, and your pets as rabies exposures rise nationwide.

Read More: https://now.tufts.edu/2026/10/01/how-protect-yourself-rabies

A public health expert and veterinarian explains what to know about pets and wildlife, given the increase in potential rabies exposures nationwide.

10/06/2026

Cummings School alumni and community members gathered at Batson River Brewing and Distilling for a reception during the New England Veterinary Conference. A little nor'easter wasn't enough to keep this dedicated community from coming together.

It was a wonderful evening of reconnecting, networking, and strengthening Cummings School's veterinary community. Thank you to everyone who braved the wind and rain to make it such a memorable event!

10/01/2026

The Office of Research at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University initiated a $50,000 voucher program for faculty researchers to collect pilot data utilizing the advanced technologies and specialized expertise of Cummings School’s Comparative Pathology and Genomics Shared Resource (CPGSR).

"The benefit of having the Shared Resource on campus is to be able to empower researchers—whether they are clinicians, residents, Ph.D. students, master's students, staff members, staff scientists, or technicians—to be able to build these skill sets and become comfortable using technology they haven't engaged with previously. It's about building connections and collaborations that may ultimately lead to other projects in the future.”
Dr. Heather Gardner

Read more: https://vet.tufts.edu/news-events/news/office-research-dedicates-50000-early-research-endeavors-campus

[📸: Jeff Poole, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine]

09/30/2026

If your dog is gagging, coughing, swallowing excessively, or regurgitating after meals, it could be acid reflux says Associate Clinical Professor Michael Stone in an article. Dr. Stone says that early recognition and veterinary care can help prevent complications and keep dogs comfortable and healthy.

Read More: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/acid-reflux-in-dogs/

School Internal Medicine

Acid reflux in dogs can be more than uncomfortable. Learn the signs, why it happens, and how to treat this in dogs.