News
Diagnostic clues for Addison’s disease
May 26th, 2024
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Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) have identified some unique characteristics that most dogs show when they’re critically ill due to Addison’s disease — insights that may help veterinarians identify severe cases more quickly. Addison’s disease (canine hypoadrenocorticism) is caused by a lack of cortisol and aldosterone, two essential hormones made by the adrenal glands. While the disease is …
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Banned poison still endangers pets’ lives
It’s been a year since Saskatchewan banned the use of strychnine to control rodents, but a University of Saskatchewan (USask) veterinary toxicologist is warning that the highly toxic poison continues to threaten the lives of animals in the province. Dr. Vanessa Cowan (DVM, PhD), an assistant professor at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), says the number of reported …
May 26th, 2024 Full story »
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CAHF unveils new pet projects
Thanks to a record number of grant applications, the Companion Animal Health Fund (CAHF) is investing more than $152,000 in 10 pet health research projects for 2024-25. These studies, which focus on a range of companion animal health issues, will be conducted by Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) researchers and their collaborators. Click here for more details about the …
May 26th, 2024 Full story »
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To catch a cat killer
Advanced imaging holds key to non-invasive diagnosis of deadly disease in cats. Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a life-threatening disease with an increased incidence in cats that have spent time in humane shelters or other multi-cat environments. It’s one of the most common infectious diseases in cats globally, and without expensive medication, the disease is virtually 100 per cent fatal. …
May 26th, 2024 Full story »
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Vet Topics (Spring 2024) now online
The Spring 2024 issue of Vet Topics, news publication for the veterinary college’s Companion Animal Health Fund, is now available online. Click here to view the Spring 2024 issue of Vet Topics. This issue includes the following stories: To catch a cat killer. Graduate student Dorsa Mehrabanpour describes the work of her research team whose members are hoping to use positron emission …
May 26th, 2024 Full story »
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Pet research in print
A roundup of WCVM-related companion animal research articles that have been recently published in peer-reviewed journals. Moreno D, Cosford K, Snead E, Carr A. “Assessment of hemostasis in hyperthyroid and euthyroid cats using two viscoelastic assays and platelet aggregometry.” Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Feb. 2024. DOI: 10.1111/jvim.17038. Zvionow P, Reyes DM, Aburto E. “Obstructive cardiac myxosarcoma of the right …
May 22nd, 2024 Full story »
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Program to define veterinary access to care
Over the next four years, the Northern Engagement and Community Outreach (NECO) program at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) will receive $860,000 from PetSmart Charities of Canada in support of efforts addressing access to veterinary care in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, British Columbia and Canada’s northern territories. The grant will support the leadership role of Dr. Jordan Woodsworth (DVM, PhD), director of …
May 21st, 2024 Full story »
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Gaining sled dog medicine experience
One of Emmalyn Elgersma’s favourite memories of the 2023 Canadian Challenge International Sled Dog Race took place around midnight while she and other volunteers waited for the first sled dog teams to arrive at the checkpoint in Missinipe — more than 150 kilometres (km) north of Prince Albert, Sask. High above, the northern lights danced across the clear, cold sky …
October 05th, 2023 Full story »
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Hard to swallow
When her four-month-old puppy named King began regularly spitting up his food after eating, Angela Seymour knew her little American French bulldog needed help from a veterinarian. “He was really sick, and I took him in,” says Seymour. The young puppy stayed at a veterinary clinic in Prince Albert, Sask., for several days. But when King continued having swallowing issues …
October 05th, 2023 Full story »
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Investigating healthier pet food
Yikai Ren’s thesis research focused on low-glycemic pet food made with Saskatchewan pulse crops. With people taking a greater interest in their pets’ health, products such as low-glycemic pet food are rising in popularity. A low-glycemic pet food is one that contains carbohydrates that are digested slowly, thus helping blood glucose levels remain stable. Stable blood glucose levels can help …
October 05th, 2023 Full story »
