Ryan P. Cavanaugh, DVM, MSc, DACVS-SA, ACVS Founding Fellow, Surgical Oncology

Associate Professor of Small Animal Surgery

Dr. Cavanaugh attended veterinary school at Colorado State University and upon graduation in 2003, was selected for a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. Dr. Cavanaugh then remained at the Animal Medical Center to complete a 3-year residency in small animal surgery and became board certified through the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) in 2008.

Upon completion of his residency, Dr. Cavanaugh pursued advanced surgical training by accepting a 1-year post-doctoral fellowship in surgical oncology at the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine. In 2012, he was recognized by the ACVS as a Founding Fellow in Surgical Oncology. Dr. Cavanaugh worked as a specialist surgeon in private clinical practice for 10 years prior to joining the faculty at RUSVM in 2017.

Education

Zoology Pre-health Professional, Northern Arizona University (BSc)
Colorado State University (DVM)
Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (MSc)

Research

Clinical oncologic and surgical diseases
Nutritional intervention studies

Certifications

Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons (small animal)
American College of Veterinary Surgeons Founding Fellow, Surgical Oncology

Publication Highlights

Schott CR, Dittmer KE, Meuten D, Barger AM, Cavanaugh RP, Oblak ML, Selmic L. Canine Appendicular Osteosarcoma Guideline, version 1.0. Veterinary Cancer Guidelines and Protocols. https://vcgp.org/ Accessed on (November 2024)

Cavanaugh RP, French H, Robinson N, Jacobs Z, Gilbert R. Structured intervention of early term preclinical veterinary students experiencing academic peril improves academic performance. J Vet Med Edu. https://doi.org/10.3138/jvme-2024-0030

Biancaniello CM, Rolph KE, Cavanaugh SM, Karnik P, Peda A, Cavanaugh RP. Readability of postoperative discharge instructions is associated with complication rate in companion animals undergoing sterilization. Vet Rec.2024;e3796. doi: 10.1002/vetr.3796

Cavanaugh RP. Postoperative Complications. Techniques in Small Animal Wound Management. 2024 Mar 29:53-71.

Rolph KE, Cavanaugh RP. Infectious causes of neoplasia in the domestic cat. Vet. Sci. 9(9), 2022. doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9090467

Cavanaugh SM, Cavanaugh RP, Streeter R, Vieira AB, Gilbert GE, Ketzis JK. Commercial Extruded Plant-Based Diet Lowers Circulating Levels of Trimethylamine N-Oxide (TMAO) Precursors in Healthy Dogs: A Pilot Study. Front. Vet. Sci. 9:936092, 2022. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.936092

Silkworth A, Rawlins G, Cavanaugh RP. Fibrosarcoma originating from the body wall (rectus sheath) in a dog - What Is Your Diagnosis? J Am Vet Med Assoc 259: Issue S1, 2022. doi: 10.2460/javma.20.08.0465

Cavanaugh RP. 2022. Alimentary tract - Gastric tumors. In Veterinary Surgical Oncology, 2nd edition, pp. 272-282. ST Kudnig and B Sequin, editors. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell Publications. ISBN: 978-1-119-09022-9

Cavanaugh RP. 2022. Alimentary tract - Liver tumors. In Veterinary Surgical Oncology, 2nd edition, pp. 282-296. ST Kudnig and B Sequin, editors. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell Publications. ISBN: 978-1-119-09022-9

Cavanaugh RP. 2022. Alimentary tract – Small intestinal tumors. In Veterinary Surgical Oncology, 2nd edition, pp. 306-314. ST Kudnig and B Sequin, editors. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell Publications. ISBN: 978-1-119-09022-9

Cavanaugh SC, Cavanaugh RP, Gilbert GE, Leavitt E, Ketzis J, Vieira AB. Short-term amino acid, clinicopathologic, and echocardiographic findings in healthy dogs fed a commercial plant-based diet. PLOS One. (10):e0258044. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258044, 2021.

Abramo N, Cavanaugh RP, Rawlings-Vaughan G, Bolfa P. Surgical management and long-term outcome of complete penoscrotal transposition in a dog. Vet Rec Case Rep. 2021;e37.

Cavanaugh RP, Karnik P, Corey T. Humeral fracture repair in an African green monkey (chlorocebus sabaeus). Vet Rec Case Rep. 8:e001212, 2020

Silkworth A, Cavanaugh RP, Bolfa P, Becker A. Cutaneous pyogranulomas associated with Nocardia jiangxiensis in a cat from the eastern Caribbean. Trop. Med. Infect. Dis 4:130, 2019

Amsellem PM, Cavanaugh RP, Chou P, Bacon NJ, et al. Apocrine gland anal sac adenocarcinoma in cats: 30 cases (1994 – 2015); A Veterinary Society of Surgical Oncology Retrospective Study. J Am Vet Med Assoc 254:716-722, 2019

Corbin EE, Cavanaugh RP, Schwartz P, Zawadzki KI, Donovan T. Splenomegaly in small breed dogs: A retrospective study of 45 cases (2004-2011). J Am Vet Med Assoc 250:1148-1154, 2017

Montinaro V, Massari F, Vezzoni L, Liptak JM, Straw RC, Allen L, Cavanaugh RP, Berg J, et al. Clinical Evaluation of the Coccygeal Axial Pattern Flap: A multi-institutional retrospective Study in 13 dogs. Vet Surg 44:642-647, 2014

Gardner H, Cavanaugh RP. Keratoacanthoma in the digit of a dog – What Is Your Diagnosis? J Am Vet Med Assoc 244:1031-1032, 2014

Covey JL, Farese JP, Bacon NJ, Schallberger S, Ansellem P, Cavanaugh RP, Milner RJ. Stereotactic radiosurgery and fracture fixation in 6 dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma. Vet Surg 43:174–181, 2014

Epple LM, Bemis LT, Cavanaugh RP, Skope A, et al. Prolonged remission of advanced bronchoalveolar adenocarcinoma in a dog treated with autologous, tumor derived chaperone-rich cell lysate (CRCL) vaccine. International Journal of Hyperthermia 29:390-398, 2013

Corbin E, Cavanaugh RP, Fick J, McAbee KP, et al. Foreign body reaction to a retained surgical sponge (gossypiboma) mimicking an implant associated sarcoma in a dog after a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 26:147-153, 2013

Haynes K, Cavanaugh RP, Steinheimer D. Osteoma in a cat – What Is Your Diagnosis? J Am Vet Med Assoc 241:1433-1434, 2012

Cavanaugh RP. 2012. Alimentary tract - Gastric tumors. In Veterinary Surgical Oncology, 1st edition, pp. 186-195. ST Kudnig and B Sequin, editors. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell Publications.

Cavanaugh RP. 2012. Alimentary tract - Liver tumors. In Veterinary Surgical Oncology, 1st edition, pp. 195-207. ST Kudnig and B Sequin, editors. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell Publications.

Cavanaugh RP. 2012. Alimentary tract – Small intestinal tumors. In Veterinary Surgical Oncology, 1st edition, pp. 216-223. ST Kudnig and B Sequin, editors. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell Publications.

Cavanaugh RP, Farese JP, Bacon N, Lurie D, Milner R. Oronasal fistula repair utilizing a temporalis muscle flap in a dog with severe trismus. Journ Am Anim Hosp Assoc 47:447-454, 2011

Boston SE, Bacon NJ, Culp WT, Bhandal J, Bruce C, Cavanaugh RP, Hamilton MH, Lincoln JD, Liptak JM, Scharvogel S. Outcome after Repair of a Sarcoma-Related Pathologic Fracture in Dogs: A Veterinary Society of Surgical Oncology Retrospective Study. Vet Surg 40:431-437, 2011

Cavanaugh RP, Aiken SA, Schatzberg SJ. Intraventricular tension pneumocephalus and cervical subarachnoid pneumorrhacis in a bull mastiff dog after craniotomy. J Small Anim Pract 49:244-248, 2008

Cavanaugh RP, Kovak JR, Barton LJ, Fischetti AJ, Bergman PJ. Evaluation of surgically placed gastrojejunostomy feeding tubes in critically ill dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 232:380-388, 2007

Cavanaugh RP, Bacon NJ. Canine Soft tissue sarcomas: What to do with dirty margins? Available at: http://www.vsso.org/Newsletter_files, Vol. 1, No.2, October, 2007

Cavanaugh RP, Fischetti AJ, Carey K, Sami VF. CT arthrogram of stifle showing occult OCD lesion – What Is Your Diagnosis? J Am Vet Med Assoc 230:1809-1810, 2007