Pet health studies gain vital support

Five research teams at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) have received over $93,000 in funding for research projects targeting a variety of health issues and questions in companion animals.

The WCVM’s Companion Animal Health Fund (CAHF) and another fund administered by the CAHF provided financial support for the research studies that are based at the veterinary college. For more details about each project, visit cahfpets.ca and click on “Research” to view current research projects.    

What is the risk of pathogens in imported dogs?

Dr. Tasha Epp, WCVM; and Drs. Sylvia Checkley, Chantal McMillan, Serge Chalhoub and Susan Cook, University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Which types of white blood cell subsets are present in chylous effusions of cats?

Drs. Nicole Fernandez, Melissa Meachem and Ryan Dickinson, WCVM; and Dr. Laura Black, SpecialtyVETPATH, Seattle, Wash.

Can red dye identify red blood cell count in dogs?

Drs. Jennifer Loewen and Nicole Fernandez, and Samantha Ekanayake and Madlyn Lung, WCVM

Which tissues are at risk during cancer treatment in dogs?

Drs. Monique Mayer, Sally Sukut, Koji Aoki and Brent Bobick, and Nava Hassani, WCVM; and Dr. Sheldon Wiebe, University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine

What is the effect of long-term prednisolone in dogs?

Drs. Elisabeth Snead, Mathieu Paulin, Suraj Unniappan, Anthony Carr, Kevin Cosford and Jennifer Loewen, WCVM

In 2022, the CAHF awarded its annual Dr. Michael Powell Award of Excellence to Dr. Mathieu Paulin, a graduate student and internal medicine resident in the WCVM’s Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences. Paulin also earned a CAHF tuition award, along with 11 other WCVM graduate students whose research studies target pet health.

Dr. Rina Nabeta is a Master of Veterinary Science (MVetSc) student who is supervised by Dr. Melissa Meachem (Department of Veterinary Pathology). Research focus: feline pancreatic carcinoma.

Christopher Zinck is a PhD student who is supervised by Dr. Maarten Voordouw (Department of Veterinary Microbiology). Research focus: Lyme disease and Borrelia burgdorferi.

Dr. Alexandra Frey Belotta is a medical imaging resident who is supervised by Dr. Sally Sukut (Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences). Research focus: veterinary radiology and radiation safety.

Dr. Kylie Pon is a MSc student who is also supervised by Meachem. Research focus: feline infectious peritonitis.

Shabnam Abdi is a PhD student who is supervised by Dr. Behzad Toosi (Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences). Research focus: comparative oncology.

Alexandra Foley-Eby is a PhD student who is also supervised by Voordouw. Research focus: Borrelia burgdorferi.

Dr. Bruna Hech Pereira de Souza is an anesthesiology resident and MSc student who is supervised by Dr. Barbara Ambros (Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences). Research focus: anesthesia.

Dr. Jennifer Pelchat is an anesthesiology resident and MSc student who is supervised by Dr. Shannon Beazley (Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences). Research focus: blood pressure of animals under anesthesia.

Elise Bokshowan is a MSc student who is supervised by Dr. Lynn Weber (Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences). Research focus: grain-free, legume-based diets for dogs.

Dr. Ariel Schlag is a small animal surgery resident and MSc student who is supervised by Dr. Cindy Shmon (Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences). Research focus: small animal surgery.

Dr. Jessica Sharpe is a MSc student who is also supervised by Toosi. Research focus: canine and human osteosarcoma.