News
Peak posture
October 22nd, 2026
-
An artificial intelligence (AI) tool designed to assess ergonomic risks may help large animal veterinarians stay healthy — and longer — on the job. The dangers of poor posture aren’t typically included in veterinary students’ training, but Dr. James Carmalt (VetMB, PhD) knows from experience that the risk for ergonomic injury is high for veterinarians who work with horses, cattle …
-
Nurturing horse health
Horse health-focused scientists and graduate students at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) will receive more than $177,400 to support the college’s research projects and specialized training over the next 12 months. Of those funds, more than $106,540 supports five equine health research projects led by WCVM faculty members. The remaining funds — nearly $71,000 —are allocated to a …
October 22nd, 2026 Full story »
-
Horse Health Lines (Fall 2026) now online
The Fall 2026 issue of Horse Health Lines, news publication for the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s (WCVM) Townsend Equine Health Research Fund, is now online. Download the PDF of Horse Health Lines (Fall 2026) Click here to view digital version of Horse Health Lines (Fall 2026) Here’s a quick look at the stories inside this issue. Dr. Claire Card: distinguished …
October 22nd, 2026 Full story »
-
An enlightening award
Recipients of a new Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) student award receive a unique prize: the funds they need to attend a well-known horse health conference in British Columbia. Joel Bilyk of Nanaimo, B.C., and Kelsey Drinkall of Chetwynd, B.C., became the first recipients of the Delta Equine Seminar Award during the WCVM’s annual fall awards program in October …
April 22nd, 2026 Full story »
-
Bubbles and Biscuit: foaling models at WCVM
When Dr. June Donaldson (MBA, EdD) saw Bubbles the mare model for the first time, she did what anyone might do when reuniting with a beloved childhood horse: she kissed it on the nose. “I just walked right up and kissed her,” she says with a laugh. “It was just so touching.” The horse, of course, wasn’t real. But to Donaldson, …
June 20th, 2025 Full story »
-
Healing or harming?
Imagine you’ve been battling a relentless respiratory infection for days. Exhausted and desperate for relief, you head to the doctor, expecting a quick fix from a course of antibiotics. Instead, you discover that the bacteria causing your illness are resistant to every available drug, leaving you with no effective treatment options. This frightening scenario could become a reality due to …
March 03rd, 2025 Full story »
-
Head of the class
A recent pair of grants from Merck Animal Health Canada has helped the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) take strides to enhance its equine health teaching tools. Merck’s grants, valued at more than $50,000, highlight a longstanding partnership between the company and the WCVM. While Merck’s contributions have supported various initiatives over the years, the company’s most recent investment …
March 03rd, 2025 Full story »
-
Switching ‘off’ equine herpsesvirus
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). One of the most common EHV species is EHV-1, a highly infectious virus that can cause serious illness including respiratory disease, neurological disease, abortions and neonatal death. Current vaccines don’t prevent EHV-1 …
September 01st, 2024 Full story »
-
Pumping up equine health
Imagine being able to diagnose equine myocardial disease — diseases that affect horses’ heart muscles — quickly, accurately and right at the barn. That’s the goal of new research at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), where researchers will explore the value of implementing blood test that can produce results in just 10 minutes. Dr. Vanessa Cowan (DVM, PhD), …
September 01st, 2024 Full story »
-
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. The funding supports three equine health research projects, a summer research student award, two graduate tuition awards and a graduate research fellowship. While the bulk of the funding stems from the college’s Townsend …
September 01st, 2024 Full story »
