Canadian researchers team up to fight canine osteosarcomaJune 14, 2018A group of researchers called the Dog Osteosarcoma Group–Biomarkers of Neoplasia (DOGBONe) at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, have joined forces to determine more accurate ways of measuring bone cancer, with the main objective of identifying biomarkers to assess patients with canine osteosarcoma. The presentation of osteosarcoma in dogs is remarkably similar to that of humans, according to the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC); so much so that computers are unable to distinguish between tumor samples from each species based on gene expression patterns. These similarities make canine osteosarcoma research all the more valuable, as any progress in developing better treatments for one species means progress for the other as well. "The dogs are a model for the worst of the human disease," said Geoffrey A. Wood, DVM, Ph.D., DVSc (pathology), of the OVC's Department of Pathobiology. "Right now, the information we find out in human osteosarcoma serves as a model for the dogs. There's an opportunity to go both ways between the species, for the benefit of both." The team consists of the university's top osteosarcoma researchers from across four departments at OVC, including co-leaders Dr. Wood and Alicia Viloria-Petit, Ph.D., MSc, BSc, of the Department of …
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Celebrity pig Esther helps campaign for large animal CT scannerApril 17, 2018Canadian social media starlet Esther the Wonder Pig has ignited a campaign to raise money for a large animal CT scanner for the University of Guelph's Ontario Veterinary College (OVC). The first of its kind Canada, the Pegaso CT scanner will provide diagnostic imaging for pigs, standing horses, and other large animals. Last fall, Esther, the 650-pound pig from Campbellville, Ontario, Canada, started experiencing health complications that caused her to seizure and hyperventilate. Veterinarians at OVC recommended a CT scan to better diagnose her condition, but told owners Steve Jenkins and Derek Walter a scanner able to accommodate an animal of her size was not available in Canada. Further, transporting Esther to the U.S. would involve a three-week quarantine upon her return. Fortunately, the pig recovered on her own and was able to forgo the scan, but Jenkins and Walter decided to ignite a fundraiser to save other large animal owners future distress. "We wanted to give large animals the same opportunities that we give to our typical companion animals," said Jenkins. "As soon as we realized there was nothing there for Esther, we started working to get a large-scale scanner in place. …
Canadian Kennel Club announces country's top breedsApril 10, 2018 The Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) released its annual list of the country's most popular dog breeds and, like the American Kennel Club's (AKC) list, Labrador retrievers maintained their position as leader of the pack, having held the honor in Canada since 1995. This year, the CKC welcomed a new breed to the official rankings of the country's best-loved: the Australian shepherd made the list for the first time in more than 25 years, taking the No. 9 position and bumping the Yorkshire terrier out of the top 10. "The Aussie can do it all," said Shawna Wiebe, president of the Canadian National Australian Shepherd Association. "They are a very intelligent, athletic dog in a moderate package. They can move from the herding arena, to the agility ring, to the rally ring, to the Frisbee field, with great ease." Australian shepherds are ideal for active families who are looking for a dog to keep up with them. The breed thrives in a home that is committed to socializing and training them, Wiebe added. German Shepherds, golden retrievers, and poodles remain in the CKC's No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 spots, respectively, while Shetland sheepdogs and …
Aquatic animal health seminar coming to PEIMarch 26, 2018 Registration is open for the eighth International Symposium on Aquatic Animal Health (ISAAH), which will be hosted in Prince Edward Island, Canada, Sept. 2-6. Held every four years, this marks the second time the event will be hosted in Canada and the first in the country's Atlantic region. Research institute PEI BioAlliance is partnering with the American Fisheries Society and the University of Prince Edward Island's Atlantic Veterinary College to host the symposium. This year's theme is Integrating Biotechnology in the Advancement of Aquatic Animal Health. Preconference workshops on diagnostic test evaluations, publishing piscatorial papers, clinical pathology, shellfish necropsy, and virtual microscopy will be hosted at the Atlantic Veterinary College on Sept. 2. Four of the workshops are targeted for veterinary continuing education credits for veterinarians, veterinary nurses, and veterinary technologists. ISAAH will include general education sessions on a range of topics, including coral diseases, virology, immunology vaccines, and microbiomes, as well as special sessions exploring co-infections in fish, gill health, sturgeon disease, and aquatic epidemiology. Organizers are seeking speakers for this event. (For more information, click here.) This year's keynote speeches will …
Ontario vet college ranked top vet science school in CanadaMarch 10, 2017UC Davis has been ranked No. 1 in the world in the field of veterinary science, but for our friends up north, University of Guelph's Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) has been named No. 1 in Canada. That's according to the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World Rankings, which recently released its results of how universities and colleges around the world rank in various academic subjects.Â
Ear Cropping Ban Spreads to Western CanadaOctober 28, 2015Veterinary regulators in British Columbia, Canada, this week banned practitioners from performing cosmetic ear cropping on dogs, a controversial surgical procedure that has been outlawed in some countries. The policy change brings the province in line with Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan. "Ear cropping is an unnecessary procedure unless carried out in cases of injury or for reasons of health concerns," said Larry Odegard, the CEO and registrar at the College of Veterinarians of British Columbia, which oversees the province's more than 1,600 practitioners. Canada's most populous province, Ontario, allows ear cropping, which traditionally has been performed on purebreds such as boxers, Dobermans and great Danes. The College of Veterinarians of Ontario has not banned the procedure despite the 4,400-member Ontario Veterinary Medical Association's position that cosmetic surgery is unnecessary and that breed associations should change their standards, OVMA spokeswoman Melissa Carlaw said. British Columbia veterinarians who defy the ear cropping ban will face disciplinary action on charges of unethical practice of veterinary medicine, the college reported. "The province's Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act authorizes the BC SPCA to investigate and recommend charges against any person, veterinarian or otherwise, believed to be carrying out such procedures," …
