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pet health

CAHF research studies: 2024-25

May 26th, 2024

The Companion Animal Health Fund (CAHF) is investing more than $152,000 in 10 pet health research projects for 2024-25. Which glucagon formulation is better for treating severe hypoglycemia in cats?Drs. Elisabeth Snead and Jessica Lam, WCVM Insulin-induced hypoglycemia (IIH) is a common, life-threatening complication associated with the treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM), especially in cats. Glucagon is a hormone that …

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cat and dog
Easter lilies

Lilies real threat for cats

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, …

May 26th, 2024 Full story »

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 »

Veterinarian (male) examines a young lab-cross puppy

Diagnostic clues for Addison’s disease

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 …

May 26th, 2024 Full story »

Chocolate lab puppy sniffing grass

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 »

border collie dog

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 »

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 »

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 »

Pet research in motion

An investment of more than $150,000 from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s (WCVM) Companion Animal Health Fund (CAHF) will benefit scientists and graduate students whose research work focuses on improving pet health. This year, nearly $78,000 of the CAHF funding will support the work of six research teams whose members include WCVM faculty, graduate students, and collaborators on the …

July 18th, 2023 Full story »

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 »