News
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The feline diabetes puzzle
Kevin the cat has faced a roller-coaster of health problems during his five years of life. First, dental surgery. Next came pancreatitis, followed by a diabetes diagnosis. Kevin’s most recent health scare led to a late-night emergency visit to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM)’s Veterinary Medical Centre (VMC). Kevin was with a cat sitter when he stopped eating …
April 07th, 2022 Full story »
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Fine tuning ferrets’ pain control
There’s no room for assumptions in pain management — that principle has prompted a research team at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) to initiate a study investigating the efficacy of pain relief medications in ferrets. Ferrets are now considered the fourth most popular pet mammal, and veterinarians in the WCVM’s avian, exotic and wildlife medicine service regularly see …
November 10th, 2021 Full story »
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Canine pathogens on the Prairies
A new research project at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) aims to identify disease-causing organisms among dogs — an overlooked population on the Canadian Prairies. “This is a group of animals we really should be more interested in,” says Dr. Erica Sims, a WCVM graduate student who is leading the canine portion of the Companion Animal Surveillance Initiative. “These …
August 13th, 2021 Full story »
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Remote clinics return to the North
Despite challenges caused by COVID-19, the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) resumed its annual remote veterinary clinics for northern Saskatchewan communities this spring. The college’s team, along with community volunteers, held two clinics in Saskatoon and La Ronge in May and June after a one-year break. “I think being able to get there, honestly, was a bit of a …
July 10th, 2021 Full story »
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Bacteria and corneal ulcers
The cornea is a key component of the eye that allows it to focus on light, enabling people and animals to see clearly. But what happens if a dog’s cornea is no longer clear and healthy? Corneal health can be affected by diseases such as bacterial ulcerative keratitis, a common eye infection that causes inflammation and severe pain and can …
July 10th, 2021 Full story »
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Funds back training and new research
Two longtime research funds at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) are investing nearly $270,000 for supporting equine and companion animal health research, education and training for 2021-22. For more than 40 years, the Companion Animal Health Fund (CAHF) and Townsend Equine Health Research Fund (TEHRF) have supported pet health and horse health research, specialized training and awareness at …
June 16th, 2021 Full story »
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One lucky kitty
Eight months ago, luck had run out for a severely injured kitten found crawling outside a group home in Nipawin, Sask. When Lori Kott heard a meowing outside the group home’s window, she found a helpless and weak kitten with a badly injured hind leg. The local resident took the kitten to the town’s local veterinary clinic for help. Christened …
July 13th, 2020 Full story »
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‘Good samaritans’ give $1 million to animal care fund
Leslie (Les) and Irene Dubé will have an enduring effect on the lives of many pets and people, thanks to their gift of $1 million to the Good Samaritan Fund at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM). “We thought we would be there to try and help change [the lives of] as many of those loving pets as possible,” …
July 02nd, 2020 Full story »
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‘Tick pics’ aid surveillance
The arrival of spring brings warmer weather and longer days, but also increased risk of tick bites for humans and animals. A new online program, eTick, has expanded into Saskatchewan to track ticks. It will allow University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers like Drs. Emily Jenkins (DVM, PhD) and Maarten Voordouw (PhD) to monitor ticks and inform Saskatchewan residents of potential health risks. …
May 01st, 2020 Full story »
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Sights set on genetic test for eye disease
Researchers hope to extend the golden years for beloved pets by addressing a condition causing blindness in senior dogs. A Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) research team is working to pinpoint the genetic cause of pigmentary uveitis (PU), a painful, inherited condition that commonly affects golden retrievers. “When it gets to the point when it causes them to go …
November 18th, 2019 Full story »
