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Banned poison still endangers pets’ lives

May 26th, 2024

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 …

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Chocolate lab puppy sniffing grass
veterinarian weighing a canine patient

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 »

black lab licks new KONG toy

Toys support canine cancer patients

Getting a diagnosis of pet cancer isn’t easy for pet owners, but an organization called Kali’s Wish Cancer Foundation is offering to help with something that no dog can resist: toys. Kali’s Wish is the only Canadian organization aimed at supporting pets and their owners after a pet cancer diagnosis and during treatment. It was created in memory of Kali, …

February 18th, 2023 Full story »

Two younger puppies on a soft bed.

Preventing canine parvovirus

Canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2), more commonly known as “parvo,” is a highly contagious virus that attacks a dog’s gastrointestinal tract. Unvaccinated puppies younger than four months are in the “high risk” category for this often-fatal disease. The most common symptoms of parvo include vomiting, diarrhea, a loss of appetite and decreased energy. Continuous bouts of vomiting and diarrhea can lead …

October 18th, 2022 Full story »

Pet boom increases vet demand

As the only 24-hour veterinary hospital in Saskatoon and area, the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s (WCVM) Veterinary Medical Centre (VMC) is experiencing increased demand for its services. “The VMC emergency service has been busier, especially over the past year. This is not just a VMC problem but something we’re seeing across North America,” says Dr. Jen Loewen, a board-certified …

April 07th, 2022 Full story »

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 »

lucky-desk

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 »

reptile

Metabolic bone disease in reptiles

Today’s pet market offers more species of reptiles than ever before. But all too often, these popular pets are falling ill with completely preventable diseases such as metabolic bone disease (MBD) – a condition that often goes unnoticed until it’s too late. For owners, what’s challenging is that the disease’s clinical signs can look very different from one reptile species …

September 05th, 2019 Full story »

pot-pets

Marijuana and your pet

If you live with a pet, there is a good chance you consider it to be a member of your family. It is well established that companion animals, ranging from cats and dogs through to birds and rodents, can have a positive health benefit in our lives. When cannabis was legalized in the parts of the United States, there were …

February 08th, 2019 Full story »

Dr. Kevin Cosford

Keep pot away from pets

Sleepiness, lethargy, a “drunken” stupor – these signs are no laughing matter when it comes to marijuana and your pets. If you suspect your pet has ingested marijuana, whether in the form of an “edible” or the plant itself, it’s important to be upfront with your veterinarian about what has happened. This will allow them to avoid more extensive — …

April 03rd, 2018 Full story »