Research News

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WCVM faculty present pet research in Turkey
Two medical imaging specialists from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) travelled to Turkey to present some of their latest research at an international veterinary radiology conference in late August. The International Veterinary Radiology Association (IVRA) is a worldwide organization of veterinarians and others interested in the medical imaging of animals that meets once every three years. This year, …
December 05th, 2012 Full story »

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Diagnostic precision for pancreatic cancer
Feline pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a rare and fatal malignant cancer of the pancreas in cats. Symptoms of the disease appear very similar to pancreatitis and are generally non-specific, making it a challenge to diagnose. “In some cases, it can be difficult to establish a diagnosis before death,” says Dr. Melissa Meachem, a Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) graduate student …
September 19th, 2012 Full story »

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Study sets standard for knee assessment
Wearing a knee brace is a simple and easy method to conservatively manage a knee injury in people. But how useful are these orthopedic devices in dogs that injure their knee joints? “Right now, there’s no peer-reviewed research that actually shows they work even though there are a lot of claims that they do,” says Dr. Rhea Plesman, a small …
July 17th, 2012 Full story »

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Find takes scientists from cold sores to cancer
A few years ago, Dr. Vikram Misra and his research team were studying how herpes simplex virus (HSV) can determine when their host is stressed. The virus responds by reactivating and causing cold sores to recur on or around the lips of people infected with HSV. “As many already know from personal experience or observation, once someone gets a cold …
June 26th, 2012 Full story »

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Study first step toward novel therapy
Cancer — it’s a diagnosis that no pet owner wants to hear and no veterinarian wants to make. What can be even tougher is coming up with a prognosis and an appropriate treatment plan for oncology patients. Dr. Kirsty Elliot hopes she can help to improve the odds for pets with cancer. As the oncology resident explains, her research may help …
June 26th, 2012 Full story »

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Funds back baker’s dozen of research projects
Researchers at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) have received more than $183,000 in grants to support a baker’s dozen of vital research projects that will enhance equine and companion animal health care in Canada. “The calibre of the submitted research proposals was very high this year — making it difficult for the funds to make a final selection …
March 27th, 2012 Full story »

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Blood pressure drops in dieting dogs
For years, Dr. Tony Carr has suspected that obese dogs have higher blood pressure than dogs with normal weights. It’s a logical theory since hypertension is a prevalent concern for most overweight humans, but still, no one had ever proven that link in spontaneously obese dogs. Based on findings from a canine weight loss study, Carr’s hunch appears to be …
December 29th, 2011 Full story »

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Scientists cook up pea-based dog food
University of Saskatchewan researchers who are cooking up new ways to enhance the health benefits of peas in dry dog food have received more than $107,000 in research support from Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Development Fund (ADF). Dr. Lynn Weber of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and Dr. Murray Drew of the College of Agriculture and Bioresources are co-investigators on the …
March 09th, 2011 Full story »

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Genetic mutation in labs identified
Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine and the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine have identified a genetic mutation in Labrador retriever dogs that is highly associated with exercise-induced collapse (EIC) syndrome. The findings published this week in Nature Genetics are expected to help dog breeders gradually reduce the number of Labradors with the …
September 25th, 2008 Full story »

