Cornell University Hospital for Animals (CUHA) is a premier veterinary teaching hospital embedded within Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Recognized internationally for its expert care, advanced technology, and educational impact, CUHA provides a full spectrum of veterinary medical services — from routine wellness care to highly specialized diagnostics, surgery, and emergency medicine.
In this definitive guide, we’ll explore CUHA’s history and mission, clinical services and specialties, teaching and research roles, unique facilities like the Wildlife Hospital, and client resources. Whether you’re a pet owner seeking top-tier care, a prospective veterinary student, or a reader curious about veterinary medicine at one of the world’s foremost institutions, this article offers rich insights and practical details.
What Is Cornell University Hospital for Animals?
Cornell University Hospital for Animals is the clinical arm of the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, officially renamed to emphasize its mission of providing outstanding medical care for animals. Formerly called the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, CUHA serves as both a veterinary referral center and a training hub for future veterinarians.
Located on Cornell’s main campus in Ithaca, New York, the hospital combines multiple specialized units under one umbrella:
Companion Animal Hospital – for dogs, cats, and exotic small animals.
Equine and Farm Animal Hospitals – serving horses, agricultural animals, and other large species.
Ambulatory and Production Animal Medicine Service – providing on-farm care and herd health consults.
CUHA’s integrated structure enables collaborative diagnosis and treatment across disciplines, ensuring both routine and complex veterinary needs are met promptly.
History and Mission
The hospital’s mission has always centered around three pillars:
Patient Care: Deliver compassionate, evidence-based medicine to animals of all species.
Education: Train veterinary students, residents, and interns under faculty mentorship.
Innovation: Support clinical investigation and scientific discovery that improves outcomes for animal health.
In March 2000, the facility’s name was changed to Cornell University Hospital for Animals to better reflect its core focus on animal health—without detracting from its vital teaching role.
The hospital relocated to state-of-the-art facilities in the mid-1990s, consolidating various inpatient and outpatient services into a central, modernized complex that continues to evolve with technological advances.
Clinical Services and Specialty Care
CUHA offers comprehensive veterinary services, ranging from preventive wellness care to highly specialized diagnostics and treatment. Veterinary students work alongside specialists in all major disciplines, enabling both quality patient care and robust hands-on student learning.
Primary Care and Routine Services
The hospital provides routine veterinary services, including:
Physical examinations
Vaccinations and wellness protocols
Dental care
Nutrition counseling
Preventive medicine
These services form the foundation of lifetime health plans for companion animals.
Advanced Specialty and Referral Services
CUHA’s speciality services reflect the depth of expertise available through Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine. These include, but are not limited to:
Internal Medicine: Evaluations and treatment for complex organ-system diseases.
Cardiology: Heart care and diagnostic monitoring for heart disease.
Dermatology: Skin and allergy testing and treatment.
Behavioral Medicine: Addressing animal behavioral issues with evidence-based strategies.
Dentistry: Oral health treatments and advanced dental surgery.
Ophthalmology: Specialized eye care and surgical interventions.
Emergency Medicine and Critical Care: 24/7 services for life-threatening conditions.
Neurology & Neurosurgery: Advanced brain and nerve system diagnosis and treatment options.
Importantly, CUHA emphasizes informed consent and transparency: patients are only included in clinical research with explicit owner permission.
Companion Animal Hospital
The Companion Animal Hospital at CUHA treats thousands of pets each year, including dogs, cats, birds, and exotic small mammals.
Key features include:
Emergency triage via remote support platforms like VetTriage.
Referral services for intricate medical or surgical cases.
Collaborative care involving student veterinarians, residents, and faculty.
24/7 emergency services throughout the year.
The Companion Animal Hospital plays a critical role in educating future veterinarians by exposing students to real cases under expert supervision, equipping them with the technical skills and compassionate approach required of modern veterinary practice.
Equine and Farm Animal Hospitals
CUHA’s care isn’t limited to small animals. Its Equine Hospital and the Nemo Farm Animal Hospital provide cutting-edge medicine to horses, cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, and other large or production animals.
These units offer:
Neonatal intensive care and high-risk pregnancy monitoring.
Emergency and critical care for large species.
Diagnostic imaging and surgical suites designed for large animal anatomy.
Herd health consultation and preventive medicine strategies.
Working with large animals introduces additional complexities, and the hospital’s facilities and faculty are specifically equipped to meet those challenges while fostering student learning.
Teaching and Clinical Training
As a teaching hospital, CUHA is deeply integrated with Cornell’s D.V.M. curriculum. Veterinary students in their clinical years rotate through the hospital, applying classroom knowledge to real-life cases under faculty guidance.
Residents—veterinarians undergoing advanced speciality training—provide another layer of expertise, offering cutting-edge services in fields like oncology, neurology, and surgery.
Students and residents contribute directly to:
Case assessments
Treatment planning
Diagnostics (such as CT, MRI, and ultrasound)
Surgical procedures
Post-operative care
This model ensures that graduates leave Cornell equipped not only with theoretical knowledge but with deep clinical experience.
Advanced Technology and Veterinary Innovation
CUHA remains at the forefront of veterinary medicine through investment in advanced technology. Recent upgrades include cutting-edge imaging equipment such as the Siemens Naeotom Alpha photon-counting CT scanner, expanding staff capabilities in diagnostics for complex conditions.
These advancements benefit all patients—from trauma-related emergencies and cancer staging to musculoskeletal evaluations and surgical planning—and foster research that improves veterinary practices worldwide.
Wild and Exotic Animal Care: The Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Hospital
An important CUHA affiliate is the Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Hospital, dedicated solely to the care of injured or ill native wildlife.
This facility:
Treats over 1,000 wild animals annually.
Serves animals such as birds, reptiles, and small mammals.
Trains students and technicians in wildlife medicine.
Advances wildlife health through innovative research.
The Wildlife Hospital exemplifies CUHA’s compassionate reach beyond domestic animals, reinforcing the hospital’s role in broader ecosystem health and conservation education.
Client Services & Community Engagement
CUHA offers services that support pet owners and the community beyond medical treatment:
24/7 emergency care for all species.
Virtual pet loss support groups to help grieving owners navigate loss.
Discount programs for Cornell faculty, staff, and students.
Comprehensive client education and resources.
These offerings underscore the hospital’s commitment to not only animal health but also the well-being of families and caretakers.
How to Access Care
Making appointments at CUHA is straightforward:
Companion Animal Hospital: Call 607-253-3060.
Equine and Farm Animal Hospitals: Call 607-253-3100.
Emergency cases are evaluated immediately, and online resources help owners prepare for visits, understand services, and access additional support.
Official Cornell University Hospital for Animals Links
Hospitals overview (all CUHA units) – companion animals, equine, farm animals, wildlife, shelter medicine, etc.
https://www.vet.cornell.edu/hospitals Cornell Vet School
Companion Animal Hospital – dog, cat, bird, exotic small mammal care and emergency services.
https://www.vet.cornell.edu/hospitals/companion-animal-hospital Cornell Vet School
Client information & FAQs – appointments, what to expect, admissions, referrals, and policies.
https://www.vet.cornell.edu/hospitals/clients Cornell Vet School
Ambulatory & Production Animal (Farm) Referrals – advanced care, lab testing, and on-farm services.
vet.cornell.edu/hospitals/ambulatory-production-medicine/ambulatory-referrals-and-laboratory-testing Cornell Vet School
Exotic Pets Service – specialty care for birds, reptiles, and exotic companion animals.
vet.cornell.edu/hospitals/services/exotic-pets-service Cornell Vet School
Additional University Vet Med Resources
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine (main site) – home page for the college that houses CUHA.
vet.cornell.edu/ Cornell Vet School
Conclusion
Cornell University Hospital for Animals (CUHA) represents the very best of what modern veterinary medicine can offer—uniting compassionate animal care, world-class education, and cutting-edge research within a single institution. As the clinical heart of Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, CUHA goes far beyond being a typical veterinary hospital. It functions simultaneously as a referral center for complex cases, a hands-on teaching hospital for future veterinarians, and a research-driven environment where innovations in animal health are developed and refined.
What sets CUHA apart is the depth and breadth of its services. From routine wellness care to highly specialized treatments in cardiology, oncology, neurology, surgery, and emergency medicine, the hospital is equipped to handle cases of every complexity. Companion animals, horses, farm animals, exotic pets, and wildlife all receive expert attention from teams that combine advanced training with decades of clinical experience. This multidisciplinary structure ensures that animals benefit from collaborative decision-making and the most current evidence-based treatments available.
Equally significant is CUHA’s educational mission. Veterinary students, interns, and residents gain invaluable real-world experience by working directly with patients under the guidance of leading specialists. This teaching model not only strengthens clinical outcomes but also ensures that graduates leave Cornell with exceptional skills, confidence, and ethical grounding. The hospital’s role in shaping future veterinarians means its impact reaches far beyond Ithaca, influencing animal care standards worldwide.
CUHA’s commitment to innovation further strengthens its reputation. With state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging, advanced surgical suites, and ongoing clinical research, the hospital remains at the forefront of veterinary medicine. Discoveries made within its walls help improve treatment protocols, enhance animal welfare, and contribute to scientific knowledge that benefits both animals and humans.
The inclusion of the Janet L. Swanson Wildlife Hospital highlights Cornell’s broader responsibility to ecosystem health. By caring for injured and ill wildlife while training students in wildlife medicine, CUHA reinforces the idea that animal health is deeply connected to environmental stewardship and conservation.
Ultimately, Cornell University Hospital for Animals stands as a model of excellence where care, learning, and discovery intersect. For pet owners, it offers reassurance that their animals are receiving some of the best veterinary care in the world. For students and professionals, it provides an unmatched environment for training and advancement. And for the global community, it serves as a reminder of what is possible when compassion, science, and education work together in the service of animal life.
