Kudos are long overdue for pet owners and their contributions to veterinary medicine, according to the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine. To honor those who present their pets for treatment and offer medical ideas, the veterinary school has established the El Blanco Award, named for a white cat. El Blanco and his owner helped researchers discover a link between a dietary deficiency and a serious heart ailment. The award was presented for the first time Oct. 23 at UC Davis to Cyndi Olson Glassauer of Clayton, Calif. "Veterinarians owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to pet owners for the role they play in the diagnosis and treatment of their animals," said Dr. Fred Murphy, dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine. "The ideas and feedback that owners provide frequently enable veterinarians to pursue new or novel treatments and sometimes, as was the case with El Blanco and his owner, are the catalyst for significant medical discoveries." In 1986, Glassauer brought El Blanco to UC Davis veterinarians because a blood clot prevented blood from reaching his hind limbs. Veterinary cardiologist Dr. Paul D. Pion determined that El Blanco suffered from a fatal heart disease, dilated cardiomyopathy, which also afflicts humans and, at that time, annually killed tens of thousands of cats. El Blanco also had an eye problem, which had previously been diagnosed and was related to a deficiency of the amino acid taurine. Glassauer's questions about the possible link between taurine deficiency and dilated cardiomyopathy set in motion research by Pion and his co-workers. Their findings led to major advances in clinical veterinary cardiology, feline nutrition and formulation of commercial cat foods in the United States. They also contributed to the continuing investigation into the vital role taurine plays in normal heart function in all species, including humans. Discovery of the link between taurine and dilated cardiomyopathy made big news in the scientific community. El Blanco became the first pet whose photograph graced the cover of the journal Science when Pion published the research results. Although the discovery came too late to save El Blanco, other cats afflicted with this disease have been helped with taurine treatment, and the disease has been nearly eliminated through the reformulation of commercial cat foods. "The story of El Blanco and Cyndi Glassauer simply illustrates the advances that can be made when pet owners and veterinarians work as a team," said Murphy. Glassauer is a UC Davis alumna, graduating Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude in 1974 with a bachelor's degree in political science. The El Blanco award will be a perpetual honor, presented as deserving recipients are identified by the School of Veterinary Medicine, which funds the award.