Fernando Leyva

Fernando Leyva, DVM, Diplomate ACVS-SA, CCRP, is a board-certified veterinary surgeon at Carolina Veterinary Specialists in Huntersville. 

Education

BS - University of Florida, Gainesville, FL – 2005

DVM - Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO – 2010

CCRP - University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN – 2021

Internship

Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Rotating Internship - Blue Pearl, Tampa, FL – 2010-2011

Surgery Internship - Long Island Veterinary Specialists, Plainview, NY – 2011-2012

Residency

Surgery Residency - Long Island Veterinary Specialists, Plainview, NY – 2012-2015

Professional Accomplishments

Dr. Leyva graduated from the University of Florida, where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Sciences. He attended Colorado State University where he received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. During veterinary school he was the recipient of the prestigious Thomas L. Surgeon Award for excellence in anatomy. Also, while in veterinary school, he completed an NIH sponsored research fellowship with the Neuroscience Department at Stanford University School of Medicine.

After graduating from veterinary school, he completed an intensive one-year small animal medicine and surgery internship at Florida Veterinary Specialists and Cancer Treatment Center (now Blue Pearl). He went on to complete a one-year surgery internship and a three-year surgery residency for certification in the American College of Veterinary Surgeons at Long Island Veterinary Specialists. In 2018 he was the recipient of The Spirit of The Bulldog Award by the Long Island Bulldog Rescue for excellent care and service. Dr. Leyva remained at Long Island Veterinary Specialists as staff surgeon, where he was also involved in training residents and interns for 5 years prior to joining Carolina Veterinary Specialists.

Dr. Leyva lives at home with his wife and cat, Primrose (AKA Rosie), a domestic shorthair. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his family, watching sports, spending time outdoors, hiking, and traveling.

Areas of Special Interest

Orthopedic surgery, soft tissue reconstructive surgery, wound management, and cardiothoracic surgery

Publications

Sung J, Loughin C, Marino D, Leyva F, Dewey C, Umbaugh S, Lesser M. MEDICAL INFRARED THERMAL IMAGING OF CANINE APPENDICULAR BONE NEOPLASIA. BMC Veterinary Research 15, 430 (2019).

Leyva FJ, Loughin CA, Dewey CW, Marino DJ, Akerman M, Lesser ML. HISTOPATHOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS OF BIOPSIES FROM DOGS UNDERGOING SURGERY WITH CONCURRENT GROSS SPLENIC AND HEPATIC MASSES: 125 CASES (2012-2016). BMC Research Notes 11, 122 (2018).

Toyoda, I., Bower, M., Leyva, F., Buckmaster, PS. EARLY ACTIVATION OF VENTRAL HIPPOCAMPUS AND SUBICULUM DURING SPONTANEOUS SEIZURES IN A RAT MODEL OF TEMPORAL LOBE EPILEPSY. Journal of Neuroscience. 2013; 33 (27):11100-11115.

Toyoda, I., Bower, M., Leyva, F., Buckmaster, PS. POSSIBLE MINI-SEIZURES IN A RAT MODEL OF TEMPORAL LOBE EPILEPSY. Program No. 672.04. 2011 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2011. Online.

Toyoda, I., Bower, M., Leyva, F., Buckmaster, PS. WHERE DO SPONTANEOUS SEIZURES INITIATE IN A RAT MODEL OF TEMPORAL LOBE EPILEPSY? Program No. 150.23. 2010 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. San Diego, CA: Society for Neuroscience, 2010. Online.

McCord, K., Davis, J., Leyva, F., Armstrong, P.J., Simpson, K.W., Rishniw, M., Forman M.A., Biller, D.S., Comparative Gastroenterology Society Members, Twedt, D. A MULTI-INSTITUTIONAL STUDY EVALUATING DIAGNOSTIC UTILITY OF SPEC cPL™ IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF ACUTE PANCREATITIS IN DOGS. [Abstract]. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 23 (2009): 734.