Pet Health
Lilies real threat for cats
May 26th, 2024
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They’re among the world’s most popular ornamental flowers and are found in gardens or featured in seasonal bouquets — but beautiful lilies can also kill your cat. Both of the true lily plants, Lilium sp. and Hemerocallis sp., can result in acute kidney injury or toxicosis in cats and can be fatal if left untreated. True lilies include Easter lilies, tiger lilies, …
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Digging up danger
As dogs dig holes and sniff their surroundings during their daily walks, owners should be aware of a potentially fatal fungal disease that could infect their pets. Blastomycosis is a disease caused by Blastomyces dermatitidis, a type of fungus that lives in moist soils often found in eastern North America. The fungus is often found in the Prairie provinces — …
May 26th, 2024 Full story »
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Functional assessments aid puppy breeders
When puppies come to see Dr. Kira Penney at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) Veterinary Medical Centre (VMC), her keen eyes notice more than their cuteness. Penney is a clinical associate in the VMC’s pet rehabilitation service. As part of her work, she can provide dog breeders with orthopedic assessments of puppies to ensure that the young animals …
October 05th, 2023 Full story »
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Rodenticide puts animals and humans at risk
Animal owners and veterinary staff need to be aware that zinc phosphide, a highly toxic chemical compound, is now approved for use as a rodenticide in Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture recently approved the use of zinc phosphide instead of strychnine, which is no longer registered as a rodenticide in Canada, to control Richardson’s ground squirrel populations. In Saskatchewan, …
October 05th, 2023 Full story »
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Off-leash dog parks: a ‘ticking’ time bomb?
oFor many dog owners, warmer weather means that trips to the local off-leash dog park are a regular occurrence. But more time at the park may mean a higher chance of picking up a few passengers on the way — including ticks. Off-leash dog parks are becoming increasingly popular in cities and can be a great source of exercise and …
October 04th, 2023 Full story »
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A rare reaction for a rare cat
My cat Bart is my best friend. When I’m sad, he jumps to where I am and lies down for pets and cuddles. He goes crazy for chicken liver cat treats. And when I come home from a long day at university, he greets me at the door. Last year, I adopted Bart from a local pet shelter when he …
July 17th, 2023 Full story »
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Guide helps put welcome mat out for pets
A team of researchers at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) and the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) are part of an initiative to explore the benefits of welcoming companion animals in places where they wouldn’t normally be allowed. PAWS in Places, led by Dr. Colleen Dell (PhD), is a collaboration between Royal Canin, the WCVM and the USask One …
February 18th, 2023 Full story »
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WCVM link to border collie research
University of Minnesota (U of M) scientists’ new findings about border collie collapse (BCC) have a direct link to previous studies conducted by Dr. Susan Taylor, a professor emerita of the WCVM’s Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences. The Companion Animal Health Fund (CAHF) supported some of these initial BCC research investigations. The U of M research team’s genetic work, …
April 07th, 2022 Full story »
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Cracking a multi-species mystery
A team of University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers have cracked a multi-species mystery, documenting the flow of a common canine pathogen from a dog to a human. This finding is the first documented, symptomatic urinary tract infection (UTI) in a human patient caused by transmission of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius bacteria from a dog. Led by Dr. Joseph Blondeau (PhD) of the USask College of …
April 07th, 2022 Full story »
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Anesthesiologists essential to patient care
Rounds, where each patient’s plan for the day is reviewed, begin at 8 a.m. The room is full of scrubs and sneakers and coffees. A dozen fourth-year veterinary students at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) are taking their clinical rotation through anesthesia for four weeks; each has a case plan written up that is presented to the panel …
April 18th, 2017 Full story »