UC Davis
veterinary science discoveries

Our groundbreaking treatments in veterinary medicine not only save animal lives, but also astound with their creativity. We pioneered healing mammals using fish skins.

Image
A woodcut illustration of a running horse

Treating animal burns
with tilapia skins

Wildfires in 2017 prompted UC Davis veterinarians to try a unique treatment — fish skins — to heal the severe burn wounds of two bears and a mountain lion cub. The groundbreaking technique was previously used in Brazil on humans but never before on a wild animal.

Image
The hands of a veterinarian apply a talapia skin to the burned paw of a mountain lion

More from UC Davis