Veterinary Medical Centre
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 …
-
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 »
-
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 »
-
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 »
-
To catch a cat killer
Advanced imaging holds key to non-invasive diagnosis of deadly disease in cats. Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a life-threatening disease with an increased incidence in cats that have spent time in humane shelters or other multi-cat environments. It’s one of the most common infectious diseases in cats globally, and without expensive medication, the disease is virtually 100 per cent fatal. …
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 »
-
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 »
-
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 »
-
CAHF research summaries (2023-24)
Is methadone effective in managing ferrets’ pain?Drs. Barbara Ambros, Jane Shin, and Isabelle Desprez, WCVM; Dr. Heather Knych, University of California, Davis There’s very little scientific information about pain relief in ferrets, and veterinarians often rely on pain management protocols developed for other animals to treat this species. What’s challenging is that no one has specifically studied how ferrets react …
July 07th, 2023 Full story »
