As the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) celebrates its 60th year in 2025, the regional veterinary college looks ahead to meet the changing needs of its provincial partners and stakeholders across Western Canada and the North.
University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers who are affiliated with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) have been awarded more than $2.46 million in financial support from Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) for livestock-focused research projects in 2025.
A collaboration between researchers at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) and Prairie Diagnostic Services Inc. (PDS) has resulted in the creation of an innovative genomic sequencing tool for detecting multiple pathogens associated with bovine reproductive failure.
Bats are evolutionary marvels that have spent millions of years refining their genetic makeup. This lengthy genetic fine-tuning has likely allowed them to achieve impressive traits that make bats one of the most unique mammals in the world. And while it may seem like we don’t have much in common with bats, these unique creatures actually offer a lot of insight into how humans may get sick and even how we age.
While the world continues to recover from the last pandemic, a major investment from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) could help the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) prepare the world for the next infectious disease crisis.
Most mornings you can find University of Saskatchewan (USask) graduate student Victoria Gonzalez working in one of the level 2 laboratories at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM).
By September 1965, the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) had its first class of veterinary students, its first faculty members and its first dean — but it was still waiting for its own permanent building at the University of Saskatchewan (USask).
The University of Saskatchewan (USask) officially became home to a college of veterinary medicine in August 1963 — but the university's close links with animal health and veterinary science began much earlier in its 108-year history.
When the Western College of Veterinary Medicine's first class of 33 students met for the first time in September 1965, it was the fulfilment of a dream that was decades in the making.
One year after the Western College of Veterinary Medicine's new building officially opened in 1969, veterinary students were eager to open the college's doors to the public and share information about their new profession.
While the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) is widely recognized for its role in educating veterinary students, the college has also played a part in ensuring that Western Canada's practicing veterinarians continue to enhance their training throughout their careers.
As the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) prepared to open its doors in 1965, Dean Larry Smith and his admissions committee pored over 93 applications and chose the WCVM's first class of 33 students.
During my 10 years of experience as a paramedic on the frontline of human health care, we’ve gained some new tools and technologies that help us do our jobs. But what remains the same is the number of options for treating patients who are severely bleeding from trauma.
When Matthew Wilson’s father took him kayaking along the coast of British Columbia, that holiday adventure ignited a new interest in his life — a fascination with the ocean and its unique ecology and biology.
Banning of dog breeds brings up important questions: are dog breeds causing the problem? Or is the problem caused by owners who don’t properly train their animals — or don’t train them at all?
A group of Canadian pork industry partners have committed more than $1 million over five years to extend the critical role of a research chair in swine welfare at the University of Saskatchewan (USask).
USask graduate student research investigates canola meal as sustainable fish meal alternative.
Dr. Kenneth Mould (DVM), alumnus of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) and a retired Manitoba veterinarian, has been appointed a member of the Order of Canada.
When the University of Saskatchewan's (USask) Board of Governors began searching for the first dean of Western Canada's veterinary college in 1963, their list of criteria was long.
As Western Canada's new veterinary college came to life in the mid-1960s, a critical consideration was ensuring that future veterinary students had exposure to hands-on clinical experience with a diverse range of animals and cases.
USask alumnus Dr. Tyson Buyer (BSA’12, DVM’16) started his business to help bring breeders together.
A decade ago, Erin Wasson was completing a Master of Social Work degree program at the University of Regina (U of R) when two of her mentors approached her with the idea of establishing a veterinary social work program at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM).
While the holidays are a joyous time for many people, the extra hustle and bustle of large gatherings can make it easy for household pets to get into trouble unnoticed.
While the WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre (VMC) has been planning a construction project that will significantly enhance its technological resources, the hospital's leadership team has secured an alternative provider for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diagnostic services.
Enzzo Cepeda is no stranger to change. At the age of 14, he and his family moved from the largest city in South America — São Paulo, Brazil — to Winnipeg, Man., where the population and the climate were radically different from anything Cepeda had ever experienced before.
Nearly a decade ago, Dr. John Harding (DVM) noticed an alarming trend across Canada. As the country’s swine veterinarians grew older and reached retirement age, the number of young veterinarians interested in taking their place in the swine industry was dwindling.
When the BC SPCA gave shelter to a group of savannah cats a few years ago, Ashley Sum Yin U was among the people who pitched in to help the animals.
As demand for animal health care in rural areas and underserved communities grows, the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) is leading efforts to address these needs through innovative admissions strategies.
The next phase of a University of Saskatchewan (USask) research initiative aims to sequence the entire genome of beef cattle for the selection of optimum physical and behavioural traits and create a Canadian genetic database — two ambitious goals that will have a significant impact on the country’s beef cattle industry.
Two Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) veterinary students are preparing for a busy week filled with hands-on experiences and animal health awareness during the 2024 Canadian Western Agribition.
USask graduate and veterinary toxicologist Dr. Barry Blakley (BSc’70, Sc’71, DVM’75, MSc’77, PhD) made a big impact in his profession and in the classroom. After passing away in March from pancreatic cancer, his legacy continues through ocular donations and student scholarships.
A unique scholarship at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) highlights the value of veterinary students enjoying other passions outside of veterinary medicine.
Twelve graduate students connected to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) celebrated a major milestone this fall, joining a group of 944 University of Saskatchewan (USask) students at convocation ceremonies held in mid-November.
Veterinary researchers at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) are working on a safer and easier option for administering a drug that reverses the effects of xylazine in police dogs and other canine working animals that accidentally ingest or inhale this potent sedative.
Boden Marley has his mom to thank for helping him to realize his dream of getting accepted into the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM).
When Bev Hughes takes her dog Tyme in for appointments at her local veterinary clinic, she always asks the attending veterinarian one question: “Where did you go to veterinary school?”
Jen Svilik’s interest in human medicine led her to the Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences degree program at the University of Ottawa, but as she went on to pursue public health studies in France, her viewpoint expanded to encompass human health as well as the well-being of animals.
In a new study targeting a deadly disease in lambs, scientists at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) are evaluating various vaccine protocols and their antibody concentrations to help sheep producers make better-informed decisions about disease prevention.
A generous donation of $1 million from Ellen Remai, through the Frank and Ellen Remai Foundation, will support the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), a world-class research facility at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), with an aim to stop emerging infectious diseases and future pandemics.
A recent graduate of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) has established a new veterinary scholarship that pays tribute to her parents’ selflessness in immigrating with their family to Canada.
Growing up in Canada’s North meant that a large part of Claire Campbell’s childhood was spent outdoors, and her memories read like a page out of a travel brochure.
Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) are exploring an innovative approach to swine influenza research that uses tissue explants as an alternative to conducting live animal trials.
They’re quiet hunters, they’re the inspiration for one of the world’s most popular superheroes and they’re all over Halloween decorations – but how much do we really know about bats?
This summer, I teamed up with honey bee researchers at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) to learn more about the foraging habits of the pollinator species on the Prairies where canola is a dominant source of high quality nectar.
Growing up in England, Christopher Keane had often considered a veterinary career. But that idea was shot down when he was told as a teenager that he didn’t have the capability to become a veterinarian.
As manager of health services in a busy veterinary teaching hospital, Lindsey Fenez is used to covering a lot of ground during her workdays at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM).
More than 50 years after launching their veterinary careers at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), members of the college’s Class of 1973 gave a special gift to their alma mater that will support the hands-on education of future veterinarians.
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.
To Arisia Swystun of Saskatoon, Sask., the sights and sounds and smells of a busy emergency veterinary hospital are as familiar as the back of her own hand.
Jackson Goudy, a fourth-year veterinary student at the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), received a top scholarship from the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) for his outstanding efforts in building a future in bovine veterinary medicine.
What was it like to be a veterinary student in the 1960s compared to students today at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM)?
Since classes began at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) in mid-August, staff and students may have wondered if they’re seeing double when they pass by first-year veterinary students Kaylee and Madisyn Fulcher in the hallway.
University of Saskatchewan (USask) undergraduate students presented their summer research projects as part of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s (WCVM) annual undergraduate research poster day on September 4.
Vaping while pregnant may disrupt the intricate and captivating process of testis development by exposing the testis cells to toxicants.
A University of Saskatchewan (USask) study flags accidental ingestion of human drugs as one of the most common causes of poisoning in dogs that are brought to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine's (WCVM) small animal emergency service.
Rheana Gilbert, a first-year veterinary student at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), was a young girl when she began helping with everyday chores on her family’s cow-calf operation in Rose Prairie — a small rural community located north of Fort St. John, B.C.
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.
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.
University of Saskatchewan scientists are studying how therapeutic acute intermittent hypoxia (tAIH) works to promote spinal cord plasticity after an injury and identifying molecules and pathways activated by tAIH.
The University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) has been awarded a major new research contract in the global fight against infectious diseases.
In a research journey that has taken her all the way to Europe, a University of Saskatchewan (USask) doctoral student is investigating the functions and effects of different infectious diseases in animals – and how these could potentially be combatted with vaccines.
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).
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.
A University of Saskatchewan (USask) leader in beef cattle health and welfare has been awarded the 2024 Canadian Beef Industry Award for Outstanding Research and Innovation.
Six universities across Canada have partnered to develop a cutting edge One Health training, mentorship and education program.
An antimicrobial resistance research project initiated through a collaboration between British Columbia’s veterinary diagnostic laboratory and the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) all began with a personal connection.
A University of Saskatchewan (USask) research team has confirmed that the presence of bacteria — primarily Brucella ovis — is the culprit behind poor semen quality found in male sheep (rams).
Dr. Alannah Friedlund (DVM) has gained firsthand experience treating all kinds of bloody, nasty cuts, gashes and slices on horses’ legs during her time at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM).
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.
From a young age, Dr. Olamide Adebiyi (DVM, PhD) has loved animals and teaching — two interests that eventually led to her career in veterinary medicine and academia.
Pauline Sang’s selfless spirit and devotion to animal welfare advocacy brought joy to everyone around her during her lifetime.
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.
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.
Imagine being able to diagnose equine myocardial disease — diseases that affect horses’ heart muscles — quickly, accurately and right at the barn.
As a student at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), Yas Ranjbar knows how important diversity and inclusion is to the strength of a community.
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.
For Dr. Tasha Epp (DVM, PhD), the rewards of teaching all aspects of epidemiology and zoonotic disease to undergraduate veterinary students and graduate students at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) are twofold.
After years of “living and breathing horses,” Laura Callaghan is savouring her new role as an equine field service intern at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM).
Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) are turning science fiction into science fact by exploring xenotransplantation – the transplantation of organs from one species to another.
Two Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) researchers are among seven University of Saskatchewan (USask) members who have received a total of $1.7 million for innovative new research projects.
Dr. Maya Kliewer (DVM) of Saskatoon is this year’s recipient of the Faculty Gold Medal, the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s (WCVM) highest honour for a graduating veterinary student.
A group of 13 University of Saskatchewan (USask) graduate students with links to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) are among the 3,600-plus students who took part in the university’s spring convocation ceremonies in early June.
Tiny fruit flies are helping Dr. Adelaine Leung (PhD) learn more about how a molecule found in flies as well as people could eventually lead to better, sex-specific approaches for preventing and treating obesity in humans.
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.
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.
A University of Saskatchewan (USask) research team’s discovery of the additional health benefits of an appetite-suppressing protein has doubled the potential for scientists to find new avenues for treating obesity and metabolic disorders in animals and people.
Dr. Scott Dos Santos (PhD), whose health-focused doctoral studies were based at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), is one of two University of Saskatchewan (USask) graduate students to receive a Governor General’s Gold Medal — Canada’s most prestigious academic honour.
A University of Saskatchewan (USask) research team has developed an aerosol vaccine that is proving effective in protecting young broiler chicks against necrotic enteritis, a deadly disease in poultry and a One Health issue affecting both animals and humans.
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 Spring 2024 issue of Vet Topics, news publication for the veterinary college's Companion Animal Health Fund, is now available online.
French chemist, pharmacist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur once said, “Chance favours the prepared mind only” when describing discovery through research.
Members of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s (WCVM)’s research community excelled at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) 2024 Life and Health Sciences Research Expo on May 2.
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.
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.
A cancer researcher and faculty member at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) has received a University of Saskatchewan (USask) award for his exceptional efforts in student mentorship.
When University of Saskatchewan (USask) veterinary microbiologist Dr. Joe Rubin (DVM, PhD) and graduate student Dr. Roshan Madalagama (BVSc, PhD) first connected, they never knew that their working relationship would eventually span over 10 years and two continents.
The honorary title of distinguished professor recognizes exceptional achievements in research, scholarly, and artistic work.
