Western College of Veterinary Medicine
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High-tech horse adds value to WCVM
A group of first-year veterinary students gather around a life-sized black plastic horse, holding up what looks like a large piece of intestine. “Wow! Cool!” exclaim several students as Dr. Julia Montgomery demonstrates the digestive system inside the equine model. This isn’t just any horse. It’s an advanced equine simulator, made possible by a $50,000 donation from the Equine Foundation …
February 06th, 2018 Full story »
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The vet behind the PowerFloat
Ask any horse owner or equine veterinarian about the PowerFloat, and they’ll tell you that the rotary dental instrument is synonymous with equine dental care — an essential tool that’s well known in the horse community. The PowerFloat was the brainchild of Dr. Dennis Rach, a Calgary-based large animal veterinarian who has always liked solving problems. Rach has been practising …
February 06th, 2018 Full story »
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Teamwork important for WCVM radiologist
Perseverance and dedication have led Dr. Lesley Zwicker to her role as the newest board-certified radiologist at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM). Zwicker has faced a long journey to get to this point – earning diplomate certification by the American College of Veterinary Radiology (ACVR) is a three-year process, which requires intensive studying and testing to meet the …
December 07th, 2017 Full story »
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Reining in equine obesity
Imagine you’re a draft horse. The year is 1927 and you spend most of your time hooked up to a plow in the field, burning calories and muscle. You dine primarily on grain. It’s important to keep your energy up because you work hard every day and your family depends on you. When the tractor comes along, your role on …
October 23rd, 2017 Full story »
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Horse Health Lines (Fall 2017) now online
The Fall 2017 issue of Horse Health Lines, news publication for the WCVM’s Townsend Equine Health Research Fund, is now online. You can also view the publication as part of the September/October issue of Canadian Horse Journal or check out the PDF version. Inside this issue, you’ll find the following stories: • Equine explorers: With the support of TEHRF, WCVM researchers will …
October 01st, 2017 Full story »
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WCVM opens equine ICU and foal centre
A new centre that will allow equine specialists to provide the best possible care for mares and foals and other sick horses is now open at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM). The new Rae-Dawn Arabians Equine Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Foal Centre was made possible by a generous gift from Murray and Shirley Popplewell, who are long-time …
June 08th, 2017 Full story »
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A life-saving gift
It was nearly 20 years ago when Murray and Shirley Popplewell visited the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) for the first time – but it’s a story they still tell. The couple had just witnessed the birth of their first Arabian foal. The foal lay on the ground, its head limp. Beginning to worry, they picked up the baby …
April 14th, 2017 Full story »
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Early detection of EMS has big benefits
Weight-related health problems are a growing concern in the world of equine medicine just as they are in the world of human medicine. Excess weight can lead to serious health complications such as the development of insulin resistance – a condition linked to type 2 diabetes in people and equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) in horses. Unfortunately, owners often don’t consider …
March 03rd, 2017 Full story »
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Drugs in my tack box
Much like human sport competitions, irresponsible medication use and a positive drug test can cause serious problems for both the horse and rider at equine events. “If you’re competing in a horse sport, the first thing you need to know is whose rules you’re running under,” says Dr. Trisha Dowling, a board-certified specialist in veterinary pharmacology and large animal internal …
February 12th, 2017 Full story »
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Planning key to protecting horse’s health
As a horse owner, you’re always on the lookout for potential risks to your horse’s well being at home and on the road. But what you may not realize is that the greatest threat could be standing right in the next stall. “The most dangerous thing to your horse’s health is another horse,” says Dr. Chris Clark, a large animal …
February 11th, 2017 Full story »
