Access to veterinary care critical to health of animals and people

Snarling, yelping and teeth gnashing was all I heard on one picturesque afternoon at my home First Nation in northern B.C. I was 13 years old, and my five-year-old sister and I were playing outside of my Nana’s house when Grizzly, our beloved family dog, was attacked by a pack of roaming dogs.

‘I hope to live up to the name of Dr. Langelier’

A familiar and endearing face was among those welcoming University of Saskatchewan student Rory Langelier to the veterinary profession on Sept. 23 during the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s (WCVM) annual white coat ceremony.

USask beef cattle ethologist receives bovine welfare award

Dr. Diego Moya (DVM, PhD), a beef cattle ethologist at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), has received the 2024 Metacam Bovine Welfare Award for his exceptional work in advancing the scientific understanding of bovine welfare and implementing improvements in the beef cattle sector.

Switching ‘off’ equine herpesvirus

The Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) has awarded US$99,846 over three years to University of Saskatchewan virologist Dr. Kristen Conn in support of foundational research targeting equine herpesvirus (EHV).

Horse Health Lines (Fall 2024) now online

The Fall 2024 issue of Horse Health Lines, news publication for the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s (WCVM) Townsend Equine Health Research Fund, is now online.

Horse health recharged

This spring, researchers and graduate students based at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) received over $132,000 in support of equine health studies and student training.

BIG project requires a large and diverse team

What do a veterinarian, an ecologist, a virologist, a conservation officer and a structural engineer-turned-veterinary-student have in common? They are all vital members of a diverse team that’s working toward the conservation of Canada’s once-great bison herds.

Workshops make equine anatomy come alive

Tired of memorizing the intricacies of equine anatomy? Put that textbook aside — Dr. Madison Ricard (DVM, PhD) offers an entertaining way to help make learning about horses’ limbs, organs and systems much more memorable for people of all ages.

NSERC awards more than $700,000 to WCVM research projects

University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers based at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) received over $700,000 in research funding through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Grants program.

To catch a cat killer

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.

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.

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.

Veterinary students assist in injured calf’s recovery

During a calving rotation at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE) this spring, a team of senior veterinary students from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) gained hands-on experience assisting a young calf with a fractured limb.

WCVM members excel in USask's 10th Images of Research contest

In its 10th year, the University of Saskatchewan's (USask) Images of Research contest once again highlighted the remarkable impact of its researchers, scholars, and artists, with standout submissions from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM).

WCVM vet student and faculty member part of national honours

In a celebration of outstanding achievement and dedication to the field of veterinary medicine, a University of Saskatchewan (USask) veterinary student and a faculty member of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) were among the recipients of awards recently presented by the Students of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (SCVMA).

Banned rodenticide 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.

USask mourns the passing of Dr. Leslie Dubé

The Saskatoon philanthropist, who died on March 13, 2024, at the age of 91, was bestowed with an honorary degree in 2007 for his many contributions to the University of Saskatchewan and to organizations across the province.

USask’s VIDO selected to join DIANA innovation accelerator

The University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) has been selected to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) program. VIDO is one of 13 new Canadian test centres chosen to be part of the network—and the only centre with biotechnology as its main focus.

WCVM alumnus honoured for dynamic career in beef industry

Dr. Allan Preston, a graduate of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) during the cattle organization’s annual general meeting in February 2024.

Making a difference for patients and families

USask alumni Tannis Nicholson (BusAdm’06) and Tyler Moss (BusAdm’08, CEBAC’11) are organizing a second memorial golf tournament to support the Comfort Care Fund at the Hospice at Glengarda

Preparing for the worst is the best plan for horse owners

No one wants a life-threatening disaster to occur at their barn or stable but very few horse owners make the time to develop a plan for preventing emergencies, says Dr. Rebecca (Gimenez) Husted, a primary emergency response instructor with expertise in large animal emergency rescue.

WCVM faculty awarded CIHR research funding

Through its latest round of funding, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research is investing $4,862,701 in 13 projects led by University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers and research teams — including scientists who are part of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) faculty. 

Husted wants to help save your horses and your barn

Ask Dr. Rebecca (Gimenez) Husted to describe her work and she’ll tell you that she’s “the chief cook and bottle washer” of Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue, Inc. (TLAER) — an organization that guides animal owners in handling and preventing emergencies.

USask veterinarian earns top research prize

Dr. Nathalie Reisbig’s research work on an often-overlooked part of the equine anatomy earned the Western College of Veterinary Medicine veterinarian a top prize of $10,000 at the Calgary International Equine Symposium in September 2023.

Horse Health Lines (Spring 2024) now online

The Spring 2024 issue of Horse Health Lines, news publication for the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s (WCVM) Townsend Equine Health Research Fund, is now online.

A growing fetus may lead to preterm labour

The statistics reflect a stark reality: about 15 million babies are born prematurely each year, with preterm birth accounting for 70 per cent of newborn deaths worldwide.

The limb chill factor: study explores cold therapy options for laminitis

University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers hope their recent review of previous studies assessing different types of cold therapies for preventing and treating equine acute laminitis will help veterinarians and serve as a starting point for the design of a new cost-effective cooling boot.

Bilyk gains coast-to-coast experience to prepare for vet career

While growing up in Nanaimo, B.C., Joel Bilyk was surrounded by a variety of pets that included cats, dogs, chickens and Lucy the lamb. His passion for animals was only reinforced during the summers when he helped his grandparents operate their thoroughbred racing stable in Langley, B.C.

Harmful algal blooms: alarming threats lurking in waters

Have you ever walked by a pond and noticed a thick green or bluish-green layer covering the surface of water? These thick layers are becoming increasingly common in oceans, lakes, ponds and other water bodies — threatening aquatic life and human health.

USask veterinary professor new CGPS associate dean

Dr. Jaswant Singh, a University of Saskatchewan (USask) veterinary professor and reproductive scientist, is the new associate dean, academic excellence and innovation, at the university’s College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (CGPS).

Agriculture Development Fund bolsters WCVM-based research projects

University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers who are also part of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) faculty have received over $1.75 million in financial support from Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) for livestock-focused research projects in 2024.

USask livestock and forage research receives nearly $6 million

Livestock-focused research projects spearheaded by researchers at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) and USask-affiliated centres received almost $6 million from the Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) and are supported by industry co-funders.

WCVM alumnus named member of Order of Canada

Dr. Lorne Hepworth, a 1971 graduate of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) at the University of Saskatchewan, was named a member of the Order of Canada in recognition of his contributions to agriculture and research.

Animals at heart of veterinary student’s life

After constantly pestering her parents, Abigail Cunningham was given her first pony: a small Shetland rescue pony named Princess Leah that eventually became the hero of a book she wrote and published when she was 11 years old.

Wildlife leader emphasizes collaboration with WCVM

Amid a growing need for wildlife health research and surveillance in Canada, the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC) wants the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) community to know that relationship building is more important than ever.