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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Imagine being able to diagnose equine myocardial disease — diseases that affect horses’ heart muscles — quickly, accurately and right at the barn.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
If you haven’t caught up with the latest buzz, a bacterial illness called European foulbrood disease (EFB) is having a devastating impact on honey bee populations across North America.
A combination of ecological and biological methods in studying wildlife helped University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers track a parasite dangerous to humans. As USask spotlights World Health Day on April 7, we take a closer look at this One Health Signature Area of Research project.
Volunteering with the PAWS Your Stress program is ‘very rewarding’ for USask graduate Doreen Stumborg (BA’09, MFA’20) and her dog, Laddie
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).
The 2024 Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) Graduate Student Research Poster Day on April 3 attracted 52 entrants — a record number for the college's annual celebration of graduate research.
Samantha Nixon of Winnipeg, Man., was one of 10 North American veterinary students who each received a $5,000 scholarship on Feb. 26 during the American Association of Swine Veterinarians’ (AASV) annual meeting in Nashville, Tenn.
Dr. Nathan Erickson (DVM) of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) has received the 2024 Veterinarian of the Year Award from the Western Canadian Association of Bovine Practitioners (WCABP) and Boehringer Ingelheim Canada.
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.
The first time a professor/friend at Sydney University introduced me to the world of extracellular vesicles over coffee, I was captivated by these small, bubble-like structures that carry crucial materials and aid various body processes.
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.
Scientists are recognizing the importance of considering personality in research — even when studying invertebrates.
Pain in the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) — the two joints that connect the lower jaw to the skull — is a common human health issue with up to 60 per cent of adults experiencing symptoms of TMJ disease at some point in their lives.
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.
Since the community of microorganisms (or microbiome) living in your gut can influence digestion and overall health, eating yogurt or taking probiotics can improve your gut function. But what about the microbiome in the uterus: could the bacterial composition inside the womb influence pregnancy rates?
Canadian beekeepers lost a third of their bee hives during the 2022-23 winter due to a “perfect storm” of factors that killed off millions of honey bees across the country.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
Dr. George Mutwiri (DVM, PhD) has been appointed to a three-year term as executive director of the School of Public Health (SPH) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask).
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.
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.
An art exhibition featuring representations of the bond between dogs and humans, and based on work led by a University of Saskatchewan (USask) researcher, will be unveiled at Wanuskewin before touring the province for two years.
The United Nations has declared 2024 as the “International Year of the Camelid” in recognition of the animals’ contributions to maintaining healthy ecosystems around the world.
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.
Two outstanding nominees from the University of Saskatchewan (USask) are honoured as part of National Philanthropy Day celebrations on Nov. 16.
An aspiring veterinarian from a very young age, Christine Yang recalls that her happiest childhood moments involved taking care of the family dog and visiting the Taipei Zoo during her summer trips to Taiwan — the country of her birth.
A group of higher education students based at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) will receive their graduate degrees and certificates during the University of Saskatchewan’s 2023 Fall Convocation ceremonies on Nov. 8.
Producers use vaccination schedules to vaccinate their sheep against diseases caused by the bacteria Clostridia, but what’s largely unknown is the best time to immunize for clostridial diseases.
Precision technological advancements such as the use of cameras in livestock production could provide beef cattle feedlot employees a “bird’s eye view,” allowing them to monitor and flag any cattle showing signs of illnesses such as bovine respiratory disease.
The College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (CGPS) in collaboration with the Office of Vice President Research (OVPR) hosted the USask Graduate Research Showcase on October 6th, 2023. The event welcomed distinguished guests and elected officials to network with some of CGPS’s top research talent to discuss how emerging research at USask works to advance Saskatchewan’s economic and social growth.
A Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) veterinary pathologist wants “to get the poop” on developing new biomarker-based diagnostic tests for broiler chickens by running laboratory tests with their feces.
Everyone knows the deadly disease that is cancer, but ironically, what makes cancer so deadly is how little is known about it.
University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers based at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) received over $900,000 in research funding through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Grants program.
After a summer spent immersed in research, University of Saskatchewan (USask) students showcased their project findings at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s (WCVM) annual undergraduate research poster day on September 6.
A veterinarian, beef cattle specialist and cow-calf producer from the University of Saskatchewan (USask) is leading a nationwide cow-calf surveillance initiative with the support of other researchers on campus and across Canada.
Equine veterinarian Dr. Claire Card (DVM, PhD) at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) and members of her research team are re-evaluating a decades-old bone formation (ossification) scoring system used to assess newborn foals.
A University of Saskatchewan (USask) post-doctoral fellowship is supporting the research of vascular health in congenital heart disease.
Dr. Emily Snyder’s curiosity over the years has led her to a place where improving the health of beef cattle is of utmost importance.
As antimicrobial resistance becomes a more urgent issue in animal and human health, western Canadian swine health scientists are seeking alternatives to antibiotic drugs for treating diarrhea in grower-finisher pigs.
The Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) has invested over $140,000 in support of equine health-related research and graduate students for 2023.
Last summer, I had the chance to delve into the fascinating world of veterinary ophthalmology research while investigating the microbiome — or community of microorganisms — that’s found on the corneas of dogs.
When spring rolls around, honey bee farmers open their hives and expect to see a mass of happy buzzing bees.
An emerging parasite known as Echinococcus multilocularis has been increasingly appearing in coyotes in Western Canada as well as in new regions of North America in recent years.
Dr. Antonio Facciuolo (PhD) from the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) has new support to develop a vaccine against Johne’s disease — a chronic intestinal disease of cattle that's significant to the beef and dairy industry.
Researchers have made progress in improving human organ transplants in Canada over recent years, but it’s far from perfect.
A research team at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) is working to find a reliable method of sedating North America’s fastest land mammal: the pronghorn.
Dr. Jaswant Singh (PhD) is the new research mentor who will lead the new Faculty Mentorship Program to provide support for early and mid-career researchers at the University of Saskatchewan (USask).
The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) has recognized three veterinarians from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) for their exceptional achievements in improving health care for livestock and companion animals in Canada.
When Dr. Madison Ricard (DVM) set out to see if the bacterium Chlamydia is potentially linked to equine abortions among western Canadian horses, the PhD student wasn’t expecting to find much evidence of chlamydial infection based on the lack of research in the area.
Dr. Jordan Woodsworth, a veterinarian and alumna of the University of Saskatchewan (USask), has received the 2023 Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) Humane Award for her dedication to animal welfare in Canada.
University of Saskatchewan (USask) professor Dr. Barbara Ambros has earned the 2023 Canadian Veterinary Medical Association’s (CVMA) Small Animal Practitioner Award in recognition of her significant contributions to the advancement of small animal medicine and small animal practice.
University of Saskatchewan (USask) professor and researcher Dr. John Campbell is the 2023 recipient of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) Merck Veterinary Award.
Growing up around dogs, cats, turtles and chickens at his family’s home in Japan, Dr. Arata Matsuyama (DVM, PhD) knew from a very early age that he wanted to work with animals in veterinary medicine.
