SPRING 2010
IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE
FOR YOUR BEST FRIENDS
CAHF Research Fellow
Dr. Casey Gaunt
Ticks and mosquitoes introduce
new diseases to Prairie pets
What’s next in pet research at WCVM?
C O M PA N I O N A N I M A L H E A L T H F U N D • W E S T E R N C O L L E G E O F V E T E R I N A R Y M E D I C I N E
BITS & BITES
I N S I D E
4 New Season of Research Begins
The CAHF awards allocates more than $103,000 to support 10 pet
health research projects at the WCVM.
6 Vector-borne Diseases on the Move
A CAHF-supported study is investigating the prevalence of
Saskatchewan dogs’ exposure to vector-borne pathogens that cause
Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and other diseases..
9 A Fine Fellow
10
CAHF Research Fellow Dr. Casey Gaunt has packed a lot of work — including two research projects — into his three-year residency.
Acupuncture as an Alternative
Dr. Romany Pinto brings the therapeutic power of acupuncture to
patients at the WCVM Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
11 Recovering Pets Find Strength in Therapy
WCVM’s rehabilitation services help pets recover from surgery or
deal with arthritis.
13 Top Dog
WCVM’s Dr. Sue Taylor and her husband Garry are the proud owners of Canada’s number one Retriever Field Trial Dog in 2009.
Maria Styacko is a big fan of the Fund’s equipment “Wish List” for planning her annual CAHF donation.
14 Turning Wishes into Tools
ON OUR FRONT COVER: Small animal resident and CAHF Research
Fellow Dr. Casey Gaunt. Visit page 9 for more details.
ABOVE: Nine-week-old Jago was among the first litter bred by
Jahina Registered Rhodesian Ridgebacks in East St. Paul, Man.
Now three, Jago lives with his family on Vancouver Island.
Photo: Jeff Burtch, courtesy of the MVMA Great Manitoba Dog Party Photo Contest.
Vet Topics is published by the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s Companion
Animal Health Fund. Visit www.cahf.usask.ca for more information.
Editor: Dr. John Pharr
Managing editor: Myrna MacDonald
For article reprint information, contact
sm.ridley@sasktel.net
Comments? Contact:
Dr. John Pharr, Editor, Vet Topics
WCVM, University of Saskatchewan
52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4
T: 306-966-7060 • F: 306-966-7174 • john.pharr@usask.ca
To report a change of address or to request a withdrawal from the Vet Topics
mailing list, contact: sm.ridley@sasktel.net
KUDOS FOR FIRST-YEAR COURSE: “Biomedical Rounds,” a new
course for first-year WCVM students, has tied for second place in the 2010 Alan
Blizzard Award competition — a national program that recognizes successful
examples of collaborative university teaching and enhanced student learning.
The WCVM submission, entitled “Integrative teaching and learning to
bridge pre-clinical and clinical sciences in veterinary medicine,” is based on
the collaborative efforts of professors in WCVM’s Departments of Veterinary
Biomedical Sciences, Large Animal Clinical Sciences and Small Animal
Clinical Sciences. The course, which was developed and introduced as part of
the college’s revised curriculum, allows first-year students to apply what they’re
learning in the classroom to real clinical cases.
The WCVM initiative was one of 15 collaborative projects in the annual
awards competition that’s organized by the Society for Teaching and Learning
in Higher Education (STLHE).
DOG PHOTOS GALORE: Once again, the Manitoba Veterinary
Medical Association (MVMA) has generously provided the Companion Animal
Health Fund with a colourful collection of dog photos. The MVMA collected
more than 400 electronic images during its Manitoba Dog Party Photo Contest
in 2007 and decided to donate the contest entries to the Fund last fall.
This isn’t the first time that the MVMA has donated its contest photos to the
CAHF: the provincial association turned over shots from its 2005 photo contest
to the Fund several years ago. Four eye-catching images from the first batch of
donated photos are now featured in the CAHF dog notecard sets. Sale proceeds
from the notecards go directly to support CAHF research and training activities.
The Fund is extremely grateful to receive the collection — especially since
it depicts dogs of all breeds, shapes and sizes. With the owners’ permission,
selected photos will be used in upcoming issues of Vet Topics and other CAHFsupported projects (see above left for an example).
WCVM TO HOST CAMP FOR STUDENTS: This summer, young
students will delve into the science behind veterinary medicine during weeklong “VetMed” camps at the University of Saskatchewan. In partnership with
the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, the camps will be developed and
operated by SCI-FI Science Camps — a non-profit science and technology
youth and outreach program at the U of S.
During July and August, the WCVM will host five camps for elementary
students in Grades 5 and 6 and two camps for junior high school students in
Grades 7 to 9. Both camps are named after Dr. J.S. Fulton, who headed the U
of S Veterinary Sciences department and was the first to isolate the virus that
causes western equine encephalitis (also known as sleeping sickness) in the
1930s.
Since this is the first year for the VetMed camps, SCI-FI Science Camp
instructors will be working with WCVM representatives in May and June to
develop hands-on projects that will allow campers to explore the exciting
connections between the biomedical sciences and the world of veterinary
medicine. For more information or to register your child in the SCI-FI Science
Camp,reason
visit www.scifi.usask.ca.
One
that Dr. Janet Hill has taken
interest
in the WET
catLAB:
intestine
that
this
CAHF SUPPORTS
In March, 62 is
secondand third-year
veterinary students
took part in a CAHF-sponsored
lab that gave
complex
environment
canwetserve
asthem
hands-on
experience
with
emergency
procedures
in
small
animal
a reservoir for disease agents suchcare.
as
The Emergency Techniques and Procedures in Small Animals Wet Lab
Campylobacter
bacteria.
was jointly organized by the WCVM
Small Animal Club (SAC) and the Student
Chapter of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (SCVECC).
During the lab, students covered more than a dozen techniques including
emergency venous cutdown, peripheral and central venous catheterization,
intraosseous catheterization, bone marrow biopsy, tracheostomy tube placement,
urinary catheterization and nasal cannula placement.
The main student organizers were SAC vice president Anne Marie De
Leenheer and SCVECC vice president Karen Choptain who worked with Evan
Crawford (SAC president) and Karen Loge (SCVECC president) on the project.
Another vital partner was Dr. Jennifer Ogeer: the emergency and critical care
specialist wrote the wet lab’s manual and worked alongside all of the students
during the labs. Ogeer, who has helped veterinary students offer this successful
wet lab for several years, serves as faculty adviser for the SCVECC. Small animal
residents Drs. Fiona Tam and Marc Dhumeaux also assisted students as they
practised the procedures on feline and canine cadavers during the two evenings
of labs.
This is the first year that the CAHF has provided financial support for the
College’s network of student clubs that organize small animal-related wet labs.
Students used the new funds to purchase additional supplies that replaced some
of the clubs’ older and damaged equipment. The labs play a vital role in the
education and training of veterinary students, providing them with additional
opportunities to apply their knowledge, hone their skills and build their
confidence before entering their senior year.
Above: Third-year veterinary student Rachel Podborochynski
practises a technique during an emergency procedures wet lab at
the WCVM.
WCVM’S NEW DEAN
Dr. Douglas Freeman, the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s
sixth dean in its 45-year history, began his five-year term on March 1,
2010.
“I am thrilled to be the next dean of the Western College of
Veterinary Medicine. It is an outstanding veterinary school with
tremendous talent in a broad range of programs,” said Freeman. “I look
forward to working with the faculty, staff, students and friends of the
veterinary college in addressing current challenges and opportunities in
veterinary medicine.”
Freeman replaces Dr. Charles Rhodes, the WCVM’s dean since 2002.
Rhodes retired on February 28 after 39 years of service with the college.
During his 26-year career, Freeman has gained a valuable range
of experience as a veterinary practitioner, an administrator of clinical
and diagnostic services, a researcher and an academic department
head. For the past nine years, Freeman was a professor and head of
two departments — Veterinary Diagnostic Services and Veterinary and
Microbiological Sciences — at North Dakota State University in Fargo,
N.D.
Freeman completed a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, a
clinical residency and a Master of Science degree in theriogenology at the
University of Minnesota. He received a PhD in reproductive physiology
from the University of Idaho and is a diplomate in the American College
of Theriogenologists.
Freeman has worked in the clinical science and basic science
departments of academic institutions in the United States as well as
overseas. His experience also includes private veterinary practice and
veterinary professional services in the animal health industry.
During his term at North Dakota State University, Freeman served as
director of the NDSU’s Great Plains Institute of Food Safety for two years,
and led multi-disciplinary research programs in disease surveillance,
public health and food safety. He was selected as an American Council
on Education Fellow in 2006, and spent one year at the University of
Minnesota where he gained experience in academic leadership and
administration of the university’s Academic Health Center.
Western College of Veterinary Medicine • 3
Which anesthetic is best for laryngoscopic
exams?
Drs. Barbara Ambros, Tanya Duke, Sue Taylor and Casey
Gaunt
Laryngeal paralysis is a common respiratory disorder that
affects older medium to large breed dogs. Symptoms include
voice change and mild coughing but can elevate to respiratory
distress in more advanced stages.
Clinicians need to lightly anesthetize a dog and visually
examine its larynx to confirm diagnosis. While thiopental is
often used as an anesthetic drug for this procedure, the research
team will evaluate the use of two other options: alfaxalone and
a combination of propofol and diazepam.
Researchers will anesthetize eight healthy dogs on three
occasions to test each agent. Once each dog has reached a light
plane of anesthesia, a clinician will insert a videoendoscope for
the laryngoscopic examination. Researchers will use video and
still images to determine which protocol has minimal effect
on laryngeal motion and provides a fast, smooth recovery for
patients.
Can a knee brace help after orthopedic
surgery?
Drs. Kathleen Linn, Rhea Plesman, Cindy Shmon, Peter
Gilbert, Ajay Sharma and John Campbell
Partial or complete rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament
is a common cause of hind limb lameness in dogs. Surgery is
frequently recommended to re-establish joint stability and slow
the progression of osteoarthritis in the stifle (knee joint) that
becomes loose and unstable after a CrCL rupture.
A knee brace could be useful for short-term stabilization
during and after surgery and for protection of repairs in
active dogs after surgery. It may also be helpful in medically
managing dogs with partial CrCL ruptures.
In this study, researchers will measure the effectiveness of
one product — the A-Trac Dynamic Brace — for stabilizing
tibial thrust (forward movement of the tibia relative to the
femur) in at least 20 client-owned dogs. First, team members
will take X-rays as each dog stands with and without weight
on the affected limb. The process will then be repeated with
the brace in place. Afterward, the dogs will be sedated, and
radiographs will record joint stability as a test device induces
tibial thrust with and without the brace. Results will enable veterinarians to
determine whether to use or to recommend this particular brace.
NEW SEASON OF
Research Begins
Can serum biomarkers detect feline pancreatic
cancer earlier?
Drs. Elemir Simko, Melissa Meachem, Beverly Kidney, Elisabeth Snead
and Ryan Dickinson
Feline pancreatic cancer (FePAC) is an aggressive and life-threatening
disease that’s difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are often non-specific
and resemble those for pancreatitis — a more common and benign disease.
Since there’s no reliable diagnostic test for FePAC at its early stages, patients
are often treated for pancreatitis, resulting in late detection and widespread
systemic metastases.
Researchers have recently linked three proteins to pancreatic malignancy
in humans, and these proteins may potentially serve as biomarkers that
would diagnose pancreatic cancer at its early stages. Similarly, this project
4 • Vet Topics • Spring 2010
It’s
spring, and just as baseball players
practise their pitches and hits for the
season opener, WCVM researchers
are gearing up for a new season in the
research field. This year, 10 research teams
at the veterinary college received nearly
$103,000 in funding from the Companion
Animal Health Fund to investigate important
health issues that affect pets across Western
Canada and beyond.
Can these research players connect and hit
a few out of the field? Stay tuned for updates
on how these companion animal health
studies progress over the next season or two.
will seek plasma proteins which have the
potential to act as biomarkers for FePAC
and facilitate an early diagnosis in cats.
Early treatment could increase their
survival time and improve their quality
of life.
Researchers will acquire plasma
samples from 45 cats diagnosed
as healthy, having pancreatitis or
having FePAC. Comparative proteomic
investigation will be used to analyze
and compare the samples for differences
in plasma protein profiles. Proteins
detected only in cats with FePAC will be
identified by liquid chromatography mass
spectrometry. Future studies will examine
these proteins that may be potential
biomarkers for FePAC.
Bone marrow sampling:
what’s the best method?
Drs. Elisabeth Snead, Marc Dhumeaux,
Tony Carr, Susan Taylor and Ryan
Dickinson
BMA (bone marrow aspirate) and BMB (bone marrow biopsy) are two
complementary manual procedures that are routinely performed to obtain
bone marrow samples. These samples are valuable for making diagnoses and
for monitoring malignancies and therapies.
An automated driver that has been approved for humans allows samples
to be taken faster and less painfully. This study will evaluate a similar device
for cats. Researchers will also compare the quality of BMA samples taken
at two different sites (the iliac crest and proximal humerus) and will assess
standardized sedation protocol.
After preliminary testing and evaluation of the automated driver,
researchers will take blood samples from 12 cats before and after sedation.
These samples will be used to assess the effects of a standardized sedation
protocol. Clinicians will then perform the BMAs at the two different sites in
each cat using both techniques. Next, they will conduct BMBs at the iliac crest
using each technique. Using subjective and objective criteria, researchers will
compare the two methods for speed, ease of use, quality of samples and postprocedure pain levels.
How does intense exercise affect border collies?
Drs. Lillian Su, Cindy Shmon and Susan Taylor, WCVM; and Dr. G. Diane
Shelton, University of California
Border collie collapse (BCC), an exercise-induced collapse syndrome,
typically occurs within five to 15 minutes of dogs beginning strenuous exercise.
The animals appear to overheat, pant excessively and develop muscular
weakness and a stilted gait before collapsing.
Establishing the effects of exercise on normal dogs has facilitated the study
of collapsing syndromes in racing greyhounds and Labrador retrievers. But
normal post-exercise parameters haven’t been established for border collies nor
has BCC been fully described or evaluated.
Fourteen adult border collies with no known history of collapse will
undergo a complete physical, orthopedic and neurologic examination. For 10
minutes, each dog will be strenuously exercised as a video recorder documents
its gait, respiratory character and pace. Researchers will measure each dog’s
rectal temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate and urinalysis before and after
exercising. Dogs will also undergo DNA testing. This study aims to establish
baseline parameters for healthy border collies undergoing a standardized
strenuous exercise protocol and will be a starting point for future research on
the syndrome.
Are all cranial cruciate ligament rupture treatments
equally effective?
Drs. Peter Gilbert and Ajay Sharma
When a dog ruptures a cranial cruciate ligament in one of its hind limbs,
veterinary surgeons can stabilize the CrCL-deficient stifle by eliminating tibial
thrust during weight bearing. Tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO),
tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) and triple tibial osteotomy (TTO) are
all effective surgical treatments for CrCL ruptures, but the biomechanical
principles behind each procedure differ.
A WCVM research team wants to define the mechanism of action for
the TPLO and to demonstrate that it works similarly to the TTA and TTO by
creating a patellar tendon angle (PTA) of 90 degrees. They will also test the
argument that the results of all three procedures are similar and equally
effective.
Using radiographs, researchers will evaluate the patellar tendon angle
of 40 patients prior to surgery. Following a TPLO procedure, they will repeat
the radiographic evaluation. Defining the TPLO’s mechanism of action will
allow for further refinement of the technique, and researchers will confirm
whether or not the best procedure is the one most familiar and successful for
the surgeon.
Preceding page: Randean Rubiletz, a histology technologist with
Prairie Diagnostic Services, files completed slides. Histology will
play an important role in a new CAHF study that will determine
whether a congenital eye abnormality is distinguishable through
histologic testing. Above: Dr. Elemir Simko, a professor in the Department of
Veterinary Pathology, is heading a CAHF-supported study that’s
investigating a way of detecting feline pancreatic cancer in its
earlier stages.
Western College of Veterinary Medicine • 5
Can histology testing distinguish abnormal eyes?
Drs. Bianca Bauer, Bruce Grahn, and Lynne Sandmeyer
Glaucoma, an elevation in intraocular pressure (IOP), is the most common
blinding condition of dogs and is diagnosed as primary, secondary or congenital.
Pectinate ligament dysplasia (goniodysgenesis) refers to a range of congenital
abnormalities that predispose dogs to developing glaucoma, but the condition
needs to be better understood since not all dogs with the abnormalities acquire
the disease. A previous WCVM study has also demonstrated that the presence
of certain pre-iridal membranes may be associated with primary glaucoma
development.
Researchers will determine if goniodysgenesis is histologically
distinguishable and will compare the clinical diagnosis with the histological
diagnosis of primary and secondary glaucoma. They will also determine the
frequency and type of pre-iridal membranes in globes from normal dogs and
dogs affected with chronic primary and secondary glaucoma.
The globes of 30 dogs — 10 with primary glaucoma, 10 with secondary
glaucoma and 10 with no sign of the disease — will be evaluated. Test results
will advance diagnosis and treatment by expanding researchers’ understanding
of canine glaucoma and its underlying cause.
Can omega 3 help cats with chronic renal failure?
Dr. Anthony Carr, WCVM
Chronic renal failure, a common disease in elderly cats, significantly reduces
their quality of life and leads to complications such as anemia and cachexia —
general ill health and weakness. Omega 3 fatty acid supplementation has been
shown to benefit dogs suffering from heart disease and cancer and has provided a
variety of positive effects for humans with chronic renal failure.
Although omega 3 supplementation appears to be effective, no one has
studied its potential benefits in cats with spontaneous chronic renal disease.
Having a therapy that can reduce cachexia and slow the progression of anemia
should improve the quality of life and increase the survival time of affected cats.
In this study, Dr. Tony Carr will randomize 15 cats with chronic renal failure
into a placebo-controlled crossover study. Baseline information will be obtained
including a thorough history, quality of life assessment, physical exam and
variety of laboratory tests. After two months of eating the placebo or supplement,
each cat will switch to the opposite supplement for two months. Results of final
testing will show if omega 3 supplementation can benefit cats with chronic renal
failure.
Does low-dose ketamine work as a feline analgesia?
Drs. Barbara Ambros and Tanya Duke
Pain relief is an important component of veterinary medicine, and
improving knowledge regarding analgesia for perioperative pain in cats is
clinically important. Although ketamine has been widely used in veterinary
anesthesia, high dosages in cats have led to a prolonged recovery and high dose
ketamine infusions aren’t recommended in a clinical setting.
However, ketamine has many desirable characteristics when used in
low doses as an analgesic. In this study, researchers will test this further by
administering low dose infusions of ketamine to cats in three different dosages.
Scientists will assess each animal’s pain threshold by applying a mild, transient
heat or mechanical stimulus until a reflex response occurs — a technique used
in previous studies.
Besides recording skin temperature to measure thermal threshold and cuff
pressure to measure mechanical threshold, researchers will monitor the cats for
behavioural side effects. The information about appropriate use of ketamine is
important for determining effective pain control treatments in cats and the effects
of each dosage.
6 • Vet Topics • Spring 2010
Can researchers “turn off” cancer cell growth?
Drs. Vikram Misra, Kathleen Linn, Valerie MacDonald and Elemir
Simko
Cancer is devastating to both humans and animals, and although
tremendous progress has been made in treating primary tumours, cancer
cells still spread to other sites in the body causing secondary tumours.
An insufficient oxygen supply (hypoxia) has been found in most
tumours and is strongly linked with tumour development, growth, metastasis
and poor response to therapy. The unfolded protein response (UPR) is one
of three signalling pathways that regulate the cell’s response to hypoxia.
Developing unique drugs and gene therapy for suppressing the UPR could
effectively control the growth and spread of cancer in both animals and
humans.
In this study researchers will use the canine genome database to
develop and test genetic probes for monitoring components of the UPR in
dogs. They will then use these probes to examine components of the UPR in
various canine tumours and adjacent normal tissue. Investigators will also
monitor both normal and tumour cells infected with vectors that express
Zhangfei—a recently identified protein that may effectively turn off the
genetic response that activates UPR. V
Feline group funds WCVM study
The International Feline Foundation (TIFF) has awarded nearly $7,000
to support a WCVM-based study that will investigate a new option for placing
catheters in cats’ bone marrow cavities.
The study, which will be conducted by Drs. Elisabeth Snead, Marc
Dhumeaux and Tony Carr, had already secured support from the Companion
Animal Health Fund (CAHF) for the 2010-11 research year. But when the
team received its acceptance letter from the IFF, the researchers returned the
CAHF funds for future research. Established in 1995, the TIFF is a non-profit
organization that supports research into medical problems affecting cats
(www.theinternationallfelinefoundation.com).
The WCVM study will evaluate, for the first time, the use of a semiautomated drill device for intraosseous (IO) catheter placement in a feline
cadaver model. When veterinarians need emergency vascular access in a
patient, an IO catheter — a catheter placed into the bone marrow cavity
— may provide the quickest access in select patients (such as neonatal
animals).
However, since manual IO catheter placement can be time consuming
and requires experience, clinicians are often reluctant to use this option
to obtain vascular access. Instead, physicians and paramedics in human
medicine often obtain vascular access by using a small, needle driver device
to place IO catheters in their patients in an emergency setting. Now this
study will investigate the potential use of this device in cats.
As a first step, the team members will time and video record a student
with no prior experience as she performs IO catheterization by both a
manual and semiautomated method 10 times each. The success rate and the
ease of each procedure will be determined.
Next, 20 students and clinicians working within the Veterinary Teaching
Hospital will have three attempts to place an IO catheters with the needle
driver device while researchers record the ease and success of the procedure
for each operator.
Altogether, these findings will determine if the automated procedure for
placing an IO catheter can be done quickly with minimal trauma in feline
patients.
D
og owners on the Prairies don’t
need to worry about their pets
developing tick-borne diseases
like anaplasmosis, heartworm and Lyme
disease. Or do they?
That’s the question veterinarians
were asking after diagnosing anaplasmosis in several dogs being treated at
the WCVM Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
It’s one of several infectious diseases
that are transmitted by vectors — ticks
and mosquitoes — in certain climatic
regions. For now, Canada’s Prairie
region isn’t considered an area where
these vector-borne diseases are routinely
diagnosed in pets. But that seems to be
changing as new climate trends allow
disease vectors to expand into new
territories.
“We need to see how many more
cases are out there that we aren’t finding
Culex tarsalis is the prime species of mosquito that acts as a vector for West Nile virus in
Western Canada. Photo: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (Saskatoon Research Centre).
just because we aren’t looking for them
here,” explains Gaunt, a small animal
resident in the WCVM’s Department of
Small Animal Clinical Sciences.
With funding from the Companion Animal Health Fund (CAHF), Gaunt
teamed up with Drs. Sue Taylor, Elisabeth Snead and Tony Carr of the WCVM
to investigate the prevalence of Saskatchewan dogs’ exposure to vector-borne
pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi (agent of Lyme disease), Ehrlichia
canis (causing ehrlichiosis), Anaplasma phagocytophilium (bacterium that
causes anaplasmosis) and West Nile virus.
According to Gaunt, all of these diseases are treatable, and it’s critical
that both veterinarians and owners be on the lookout for their symptoms. For
example, dogs suffering from anaplasmosis and Lyme disease — both spread
by ticks — will often show signs of lameness and lethargy while coughing is a
common symptom of heartworm disease, a mosquito-borne infection.
Since similar symptoms can be triggered by other conditions, the WCVM
By Lynne Gunville
research team’s primary goal is to alert the region’s veterinarians so they will
perform the tests needed to accurately diagnose vector-borne diseases and to
As a first step, Gaunt says the team is collecting a large number of blood
treat affected pets as early as possible.
samples from dogs and surveying the animals’ owners about signs of systemic
illness, their dogs’ travel histories and other questions. Altogether, the WCVM
group plans to gather samples from 500 healthy dogs and from another 100
Blacklegged (deer) ticks in different stages of engorgement.
sick animals with confirmed diagnoses of polyarthritis, meningitis, thromboPhoto: Robbin Lindsay, National Microbiology Laboratory (PHAC).
cytopenia or endocarditis — all illnesses that may be related to vector-borne
diseases. Other Saskatchewan veterinary clinics are also helping to gather more
blood samples from their canine patients.
Word of the survey has quickly spread, and Gaunt has received numerous
emails and phone calls from owners wanting to participate in the study. “I
think that Lyme disease is something everybody’s heard of but don’t know
much about,” says Gaunt, “and a lot of people are very anxious to find out if
they need to worry about such diseases.”
Although they’re still gathering samples, the team has already confirmed
the presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilium and Borrelia burgdorferi in
dogs that have never travelled outside of Saskatchewan. They’re also testing
for the presence of antibodies against West Nile virus — an indication that the
dogs have been exposed to the mosquito-borne pathogen. “Dogs don’t seem
to get sick from West Nile disease like people and horses do, but it’s important
Continued on page 8
VECTOR-BORNE
ON THE MOVE
Western College of Veterinary Medicine • 7
Little Parasites on the Prairies
Findings from a recent study at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine
(WCVM) emphasize the need for Saskatchewan veterinarians and dog owners to
be more alert for potential symptoms of
helminths and other intestinal parasites
in dogs living on the Canadian Prairies.
“A goal of our study was to come
up with an appropriate health care
recommendation for pets in this
geographical area and climate,” explains
small animal resident Dr. Casey Gaunt.
Having grown up in Virginia, Gaunt is
familiar with tick-borne diseases and
intestinal parasites and wanted to investigate their impact in the Prairie region.
What Gaunt and his graduate supervisors, Drs. Sue Taylor and Anthony
Carr, found was a variety of parasites in Saskatchewan dogs. “Roundworms are
what we commonly find,” says Gaunt, “but others like hookworms, whipworms
and Alaria americana are things that we don’t expect to find here in the levels
that we did. The fact that they exist in local dogs is important information.”
Intestinal parasites such as Giardia and helminths including hookworms
and whipworms can lead to a host of medical problems in dogs including
vomiting, diarrhea and weight loss. The parasites can also move to humans who
come in contact with the infected dog or its feces causing symptoms in people
such as vomiting and diarrhea. In rare cases, larvae from the parasites can
move throughout the body causing damage to organs such as the eyes, lungs
and liver.
Funded by Bayer Animal Health, the WCVM research team obtained
fecal samples from healthy dogs brought to the veterinary college for routine
checkups and vaccinations and asked their owners to complete a questionnaire.
The researchers also collected random fecal samples from parks and walking
trails throughout Saskatchewan. Over 450 samples were sent to Prairie
Diagnostic Services — the provincial
veterinary laboratory — for testing,
and results were sent back to Gaunt for
statistical analysis.
What Gaunt found was that 4.4 per
cent of the dogs participating in the study
were positive for intestinal parasites.
The small animal resident considers the
results to be significant: “I’m satisfied that
our study helps veterinarians and owners
to realize that parasites do exist. We need to use appropriate drugs frequently
enough to manage their numbers.”
Future research could evaluate possible risk factors such as age or poor
health. Gaunt would also like to see a study where samples are gathered
throughout the year. “Most people think that our very cold climate kills these
things off. We collected fecal samples from May until October, so a future study
should go the remainder of the year to see how many are found in the other
months.”
Gaunt emphasizes that prevention through regular deworming is the key.
“The wide variety of parasites we discovered should impact on the frequency of
deworming in our area. In addition to regular vaccinations and deworming at
the veterinarian, medications can be sent home with the owners and given on a
monthly basis throughout the summer months,” says Gaunt.
“Just by decreasing the number of parasites, we will hopefully help to
improve both dog health and human health.” V
“Others like hookworms,
whipworms and Alaria
americana are things that we
don’t expect to find here in the
levels that we did.”
ON THE MOVE continued . . .
to test for exposure since Saskatchewan is one of the hot spots for the disease in
North America,” says Gaunt.
The researchers hope to have all samples collected by July 2010. In addition
to ongoing testing at the WCVM, Gaunt plans to send the samples to specialized
laboratories for confirmation. The next step is compiling the information.
“We’ll do statistical analysis to find out what’s relevant and important, and we’ll
go through the questionnaires to see if we can determine risk factors for the
diseases,” explains Gaunt. He adds that the relatively large sample is important
for establishing accurate, significant findings.
Gaunt foresees benefits for both veterinarians and pet owners in the
Saskatchewan region. Since veterinarians can easily test dogs for these
infections, he hopes the study will prompt clinicians to keep the diseases and
their symptoms in mind when evaluating patients.
He emphasizes, however, that prevention is key. “Preventing these diseases
once we acknowledge they’re truly here will probably become as important if
not more important than the actual treatment of the diseases,” says Gaunt who
comes from the eastern U.S. state of Virginia where preventive measures for
vector-borne diseases are routine to dog owners.
8 • Vet Topics • Spring 2010
“In areas where these diseases are prevalent or where the ticks that carry
these diseases are common, many people just apply preventive medications once
a month to prevent ticks from attaching to their dogs,” explains Gaunt. Topical
medications can be squirted onto the animals’ backs, or owners can use tick
collars and tick baths to prevent ticks from attaching to their dogs.
“It’s pretty simple and relatively inexpensive, so if we think that ticks are
occurring here during certain months of the year, then prevention is something
most people can manage and afford.” He adds that owners should also routinely
examine their animals’ fur whenever they’ve been in an area where ticks may
be present.
This study, the first of its kind in Western Canada, is already changing
perceptions among veterinarians and pet owners, and Gaunt hopes that it will
continue to increase public awareness of vector-borne infections. “Hopefully,
once our study is published, both veterinarians and dog owners will think about
these diseases. The dogs will be treated appropriately more quickly and they’ll
get better faster so they can go on and have good quality of life.”
PROJECTS
Dr. Casey Gaunt
A Fine Fellow
For Casey Gaunt, a job teaching at a horseback riding camp in his home state of Virginia was
what sparked his interest in veterinary medicine. His love of horses brought him to the VirginiaMaryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, but working with cats and dogs is what led to
Gaunt’s interest in small animal health care.
By his senior year, Gaunt had decided to pursue a clinical internship and residency in small
animal internal medicine: “I liked the variety of it and the fact that you have to do a little bit of
everything to be an internal medicine person.”
After completing a one-year clinical internship at the WCVM in 2007, Gaunt was happy to stay
on at the College for his internal medicine residency. “You get a lot of autonomy and ability to feel
things out for yourself here. There are people here who guide you and encourage you to go and find
new ways of doing things if that’s what you’re interested in.”
Gaunt’s performance and work ethic earned him the honour of being selected as the
Companion Animal Health Fund’s Research Fellow during the second year of his residency. Now a
third-year resident, Gaunt says it’s the variety of his work that he enjoys the most. “We really do have
a broad spectrum of cases here, and on any given day I don’t know what I’ll be working with next.
I also have the opportunity to work with students and interns along with other residents and local
practitioners.” Gaunt adds that he really likes the teaching opportunities and has enjoyed working
with the undergraduate students.
His research work with supervisors Drs. Sue Taylor and Tony Carr has also been rewarding.
Gaunt has undertaken two separate projects — both dealing with health issues that haven’t been on
the radars of Western Canadian veterinarians. For Gaunt, the interesting aspect is finding diseases
here that were not previously considered health risks in this region.
Although working on two projects at the same time has been challenging, Gaunt credits his
supervisors for their support. He also points out that the two studies were quite similar: “They both
involve taking samples and looking for various infections in dogs. I started them simultaneously and
took samples from the same population of animals — healthy dogs brought into the Small Animal
Clinic for wellness checks and yearly vaccinations.”
Gaunt’s residency and research experiences have led him to consider a career in academics at
some time in the future. But for now, he’s planning to work in a private practice once he completes
his residency in July 2010.
As he looks back on his internship and residency at WCVM, Gaunt says that it’s the learning and
developing self-confidence that has meant the most to him: “Knowing how to handle most situations
and learning how to be confident in what you do — that’s probably the most important thing that
I’ve learned.” V
EPIDURAL DOSING OF PAINKILLING
DRUGS: Results from a WCVM research study show that
epidural administration of buprenorphine — on its own
or in combination with another painkilling drug called
medetomidine — works well as a long-lasting analgesic in
cats with few side effects.
During the study, the research team worked with a
group of eight cats to test the epidural use of buprenorphine,
medetomidine and a combination of the two.
The study’s aim was to compare the time to onset as
well as the magnitude and duration of the effects of epidural
buprenorphine, medetomidine or both drugs combined.
The researchers measured the analgesic duration of
each treatment using a mechanical and thermal threshold
device that detects when a drug’s effectiveness is wearing off.
Results showed that a dose of 0.02 milligrams per
kilogram (mg/kg) of epidural buprenorphine alone
lasted for up to 24 hours — a longer period of action in
comparison to medetomidine and the combination dose of
buprenorphine and medetomidine.
The combination of buprenorphine (0.01 mg/kg) and
medetomidine (0.005 mg/kg) administered epidurally
had similar onset and shorter duration of action to
buprenorphine alone, but a longer duration of action to
medetomidine alone. The combination treatment also
produced fewer side effects when compared with epidural
doses of medetomidine.
Based on the study’s results, epidural buprenorphine
might be considered a useful analgesic technique in cats
under general anesthesia. It may also be suitable for intraand post-operative analgesia since it produced a shorter
onset and longer-lasting analgesia than the other dosing
routes.
• Steagall PVM, Millette V, Mantovani FB, Gilbert P, Luna
SPL, Duke-Novakovski T. 2009. “Antinociceptive effects
of epidural buprenorphine or medetomidine, or the
combination, in conscious cats.” Journal of Veterinary
Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 32: 477-484.
Related publications:
• Ambros B, Steagall PVM, Mantovani F, Gilbert P, DukeNovakovski T. 2009. “Antinociceptive effects of epidural
administration of hydromorphone in conscious cats.”
American Journal of Veterinary Research. 70(10): 11871192.
• Millette V, Steagall PVM, Duke-Novakovski T, Livingston
AJ. 2008. “Effects of mepreridine or saline on thermal,
mechanical and electrical nociceptive thresholds in
cats.” Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia (Short
communication). 1-5.
Western College of Veterinary Medicine • 9
W
hen a brown tabby cat named Leo arrived at the WCVM
Veterinary Teaching Hospital with chronic bladder
inflammation, his owner had already tried conventional
Western treatments with no lasting results and was looking to
acupuncture as an alternative.
That’s when they met Dr. Romany Pinto, one of the hospital’s
clinical associates who is also a certified veterinary acupuncturist
(CVA). After examining Leo, learning more about the case and
running some further diagnostic tests, Pinto began a course of
acupuncture treatments by inserting needles at specific points along
the cat’s back and his hind legs.
“Once the needles were in, we’d put him under a chair in the
exam room. His eyes would close and he’d relax for his 15-minute
session,” recalls Pinto.
After the second treatment, Leo’s symptoms began to disappear.
Now off all medications, the cat comes in for treatments every two
months. “From the traditional Chinese point of view, we were able to
get at the underlying cause of his disorder rather than just treat his
symptoms,” explains Pinto.
Leo’s story illustrates the therapeutic power of acupuncture —
an increasingly popular complementary treatment that Pinto studied
at Florida’s Chi Institute of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine
where she received her certification in 2008. Her training incorporated
modern medicine into the traditional Chinese approach to medicine
and taught participants how to put the two together.
“You end up with an integrative approach overall,” explains
Pinto, “and your diagnosis is based on traditional Chinese medicine
combined with the information from Western tools such as MRIs and
blood work. You’re using your Western diagnoses to help guide your
Chinese therapy.”
While useful for treating conditions such as arthritis and
chronic pain, Pinto finds acupuncture is particularly effective for
dogs recovering from back surgery. The acupuncture treatments can
help to control pain and they seem to decrease the time to recover
neurologic and motor function.
The therapy can be used in most species with some animals (such as dogs)
tending to be more tolerant than others. According
to Pinto, one of acupuncture’s mechanisms of
Q: How can pet owners
find a qualified veterinary
acupuncturist?
It’s becoming easier
to find clinics that
offer acupuncture,
but Dr. Romany Pinto
advises that you ask
for a recommendation
from your regular
veterinarian or look
for a veterinarian
who is designated a
Certified Veterinary
Acupuncturist (CVA). Visit
the International Veterinary
Acupuncture Society (www.
ivas.org) or the Chi Institute
(www.tcvm.com) for a list of
accredited practitioners.
10 • Vet Topics • Spring 2010
By Lynne Gunville
as an alternative
action is to cause endorphin release, and many animals actually enjoy it. But
if an animal can’t tolerate needles, Pinto tries laser acupuncture — a faster
treatment that focuses on the same points and can be used successfully in very
sensitive animals.
The initial acupuncture session takes about an hour, and Pinto begins by
asking questions to help her make a Chinese diagnosis, often relating to some
form of imbalance in the animal.
For example, she might establish whether the animal is heat-seeking or
cool-seeking by asking if it prefers the cold floor to a warm bed. She also asks
about medications and medical history: “I need to know all of the things a
regular veterinarian needs to know plus the answers to other questions that will
help me make a Chinese diagnosis.”
There are charts of known acupuncture points available, but needle
placement changes based on the specific animal and on the condition being
treated. “You use some points generally for arthritis, but your plan changes
based on the animal’s traditional Chinese diagnosis and on the animal itself,”
explains Pinto. She adds that many of the points have been translated from
human points, but others were derived specifically for animals.
The length of the actual treatment varies. Dogs generally take 20 to 30
minutes, but the time differs with every patient. Species such as cats and rabbits
Above: With veterinary technician Brenda Beierle’s assistance,
clinical associate Dr. Romany Pinto places needles at specific
points during a dog’s acupuncture treatment at the WCVM’s
Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
generally require less time. Pinto asks the owner to describe the animal’s
behaviour after the session to help determine the correct treatment length.
Typically, the animals are a bit mellow on the day of the treatment but back
to normal after that.
The number and frequency of treatments also varies. For example,
Pinto might treat an arthritis patient twice in the first week and then once a
week after that. After four to six treatments, there should be improvement.
“If we see progress in that time, we’ll usually continue treatment and
often start decreasing the frequency,” says Pinto. “I have an arthritis patient
who only comes in for acupuncture every five to six weeks now.”
While acupuncture offers several benefits, the big advantage, especially
with arthritis, is the prospect of reducing medications. Costly antiinflammatory drugs can have gastrointestinal and other side effects, so
decreasing or eliminating them can be beneficial for both pet and owner.
And in some instances like Leo’s case, acupuncture can offer pets and
their owners new hope when all traditional medical options have been
unsuccessful.
“We don’t fully understand all of acupuncture’s mechanisms of
action,” says Pinto, “but as further research is being done in the area, we’re
able to explain more and more. With acupuncture, we can sometimes treat
animals when there’s no definitive Western diagnosis, but the animal is just
not doing well. Sometimes we’re the last resort.” V
Lynne Gunville is a freelance writer and editor whose career
includes 25 years of teaching English and communications to adults.
She and her husband live at Candle Lake, Sask.
Searching for the perfect gift? For
only $20 each, the CAHF’s pet
photo notecard sets are ideal! Visit
www.cahf.usask.ca (click “Support
CAHF) to download an order form
or call 306-966-7268 for more details.
PET PROJECTS
PCR ASSAYS PUT TO TEST: A WCVM study has shown that the detection of
PCR (polymerase chain reaction) clonality during clinical remission is an effective
means of identifying relapsed or residual canine lymphoma.
Lymphoma is one of the most commonly diagnosed types of cancer in dogs.
While treatment of lymphoma with chemotherapy will achieve a complete clinical
response for many patients, the majority will experience a recurrence of their disease.
The main cause of these recurrences: residual neoplastic lymphoctyes that go
undetected by standard microscopy.
Since studies to detect minimal residue disease using PCR clonality in canine
lymphomas are rare, a group of WCVM researchers decided to explore the minimally
invasive diagnostic option. Most dogs involved in the study were patients at the WCVM
Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
MVetSc student Dr. Dhilini Thilakaratne used PCR assays to determine phenotype
and clonality from peripheral blood and cytology smears. The samples were collected
from 10 dogs diagnosed with lymphosarcoma before chemotherapy and during
remission. Results were compared to those from 13 dogs with reactive lymph node
hyperplasia.
Seven of the lymphomas demonstrated clonality from lymph node cytology or
peripheral blood lymphocytes before treatment. In six of the dogs with lymphoma,
clonality was demonstrated during clinical remission.
Based on these results, detection of PCR clonality during clinical remission
appears to be an effective means of identifying minimal residual disease in canine
lymphoma. WCVM researchers believe more research work is needed to determine if
molecular remission is prognostic or predictive for outcome in well-controlled and
well-defined populations of lymphoma subtypes.
PUBLICATION: Thilakaratne DN, Mayer MN, MacDonald VS, Jackson ML, Trask
BR, Kidney BA. 2010. “Clonality and phenotyping of canine lymphomas before
chemotherapy and during remission using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on
lymph node cytologic smears and peripheral blood.” Canadian Veterinary Journal.
51:79-84.
New Faces in Small
Animal Health Care
Clinical associate Dr.
Romany Pinto is just one of
several new small animal
health professionals who have
joined the Western College of
Veterinary Medicine as faculty
members or clinical associates in the past 18 months.
Here’s a list of new WCVM faculty in the Department of
Small Animal Clinical Sciences:
• Dr. Barbara Ambros is an assistant professor of
veterinary anesthesiology in the Department of Small
Animal Clinical Sciences. Ambros joined the College’s
faculty after she completed her combined MVetScresidency program in 2009. Ambros received her veterinary
degree (DrMedVet) from the University of Veterinary
Medicine in Vienna, Austria.
• Dr. Peter Gilbert is an associate professor of small
animal surgery in the Department of Small Animal
Clinical Sciences. Gilbert joined the WCVM faculty after
completing his combined MVetSc-residency program in
2009. Gilbert, who is from Australia, received his BVSc (Hons)
degree at the University of Queensland.
• Dr. Ajay Sharma is an associate professor of medical
imaging in the Department of Small Animal Clinical
Sciences. Sharma received his Doctor of Veterinary
Medicine (DVM) degree at the
Ontario Veterinary College and
completed a medical imaging
residency at Cornell University
before coming to the WCVM.
• Dr. Tawni Silver is an
associate professor of medical imaging in the Department
of Small Animal Clinical Sciences. A 1995 WCVM graduate,
Silver spent a number of years in private practice before
beginning a combined MS-residency program in medical
imaging at Colorado State University in 2005. She joined
the WCVM in October 2008.
The WCVM has also hired a number of clinical
associates in general and specialized areas of companion
animal health:
• Small Animal Clinical Sciences: Drs. Shannon
Beazley and Jennifer Dodd, veterinary anesthesiology; Dr.
Christine Lim, veterinary ophthalmology; Dr. Kristen Parker,
SmallAnimal Clinic; Dr. Romany Pinto, rehabilitation; Dr.
Suresh Sathya, small animal surgery; and Dr. Kurtis Swekla,
zoological, exotic and wildlife medicine.
To search for a WCVM faculty or staff member, visit
www.wcvm.com and click on “WCVM People” in the main
menu. Western College of Veterinary Medicine • 11
J
ust like their owners, pets need
to keep fit and to recover
mobility and strength after a
surgery or injury. WCVM’s Veterinary
Teaching Hospital offers a host of
services to promote fitness, speed
healing and enhance recovery.
Clinical associate Dr. Romany
Pinto, small animal surgeon Dr.
Cindy Shmon and surgery resident
Dr. Lillian Su are all certified canine
rehabilitation practitioners (CCRPs)
who develop programs to suit each
animal’s needs.
“We work with animals that have
had surgery or have conditions that
are being medically managed.
We also help arthritic or geriatric
dogs to maintain mobility and
regain strength, and we can help
all dogs with fitness and weight
management,” explains Pinto. She
adds that the therapy service can
accommodate some other species,
but dogs are their most frequent
clients.
Each client is treated differently.
The therapists pick and choose from
the modalities available to them
and come up with a plan that works
best for each situation.
“We start some manual therapy
such as range of motion exercises
almost immediately following
surgery. And as they heal, we start to
increase their exercise — often using
our underwater treadmill,” explains
Pinto.
“Being able to exercise in the
treadmill can be really helpful for
their mental well-being. They often
have a lot of energy and frustration
and aren’t yet allowed to run or
play. In these cases, rehabilitation
sessions can make the recovery
period much more tolerable for
both the dogs and their owners.”
Although the dogs are receiving
therapy for a variety of reasons,
Pinto says that most of them really
enjoy their treatments — especially
the one-on-one attention.
“We try to always finish on a
good note, and we increase the
exercises so they’re challenging
but not frustrating. We try to make
everything fun by using treats, toys
and praise as motivation.”
12
12 •• Vet
Vet Topics
Topics •• Spring
Spring 2010
2010
Recovering Pets Find
STRENGTH IN THERAPY
• The underwater treadmill accommodates all sizes of dogs. It’s especially helpful after surgery as
the water’s buoyancy decreases the weight on injured or weak limbs. The treadmill’s incline feature and
variable speeds allows the therapist to gradually increase exercise. The treadmill can also be used for
swimming with smaller dogs.
• The land treadmill is useful for dogs that are relearning to walk such as those that have been
paralyzed because of intervertebral disk disease. The therapist can stand behind the animal and help with
foot placement. The incline and decline features help to focus the strengthening on the front or hind limbs.
• Manual therapy: Massage is useful for increasing blood flow, reducing swelling and for loosening
up tight muscles. Animals may have sore muscles from manipulations during surgery, from holding up
a sore limb, or they may have muscle pain in non-injured limbs that have been compensating for sore
limbs. Other forms of manual therapy include stretching and range of motion exercises as well as joint
mobilization techniques.
• Therapeutic ultrasound can be used to heat deep tissues. It’s helpful when combined with massage
and stretching to break down scar tissue and relax tight muscles. Non-heating settings can be used to speed
healing.
• Low-level laser can also speed healing — particularly of wounds. There’s also some evidence for
healing of tendons and bones. It may also help to decrease joint swelling and can be used to stimulate
acupuncture points.
• Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) uses electrical stimulation to cause muscle
contractions. NMES minimizes muscle atrophy by getting the muscles to work. Different settings on the
same machine can be used for pain control rather than muscle contractions.
• A variety of exercise equipment: A ramp and stair system helps animals practice going
up and down stairs and provides an alternative to hill work in the winter months. Exercise balls and
wobble boards are used to build core strength and improve balance. A variety of other exercises, such as
sit-to-stand exercises, can be used to strengthen various muscle groups.
Above: Dr. Romany Pinto helps her dog Timber do some stretching exercises on an
exercise ball.
FTCH AFTCH NMH TaylorLabs True Blue — known to his
friends as Blue — is a black Labrador retriever that became top dog
in his field last year.
The impressive array of letters in front of Blue’s name indicates
that he’s a highly accomplished fellow in retriever trial and hunt test
circles: FTCH AFTCH NMH stands for Field Trial Champion, Amateur
Field Trial Champion and National Master Hunter. Blue was at the top of
his game in 2009, ending the year as the number one Retriever Field
Trial dog in Canada — the leader in the Open and Combined All
Age rankings. He’s the first Saskatchewan-based dog to earn this
honour since 1961.
“We’ve had good ones before, but Blue is in his own league,”
says Dr. Sue Taylor, a professor in the WCVM’s Department
of Small Animal Clinical Sciences. She and her husband
Garry own and train Blue. “He’s a thinking dog. He’s very
intense, which is what you need for field trials, but he’s
also an excellent hunting dog and a great pet.”
At retriever field trials, dogs work through
a challenging series of retrieving exercises
on land and in the water. Attributes such
as retrieving ability,
memory, intelligence
and athleticism are
put to the test. These are
highly competitive events with
amateur and professional participants
coming from across North America,
and last year, Blue led the way with a
big point edge over his rivals.
What makes his story even more
remarkable is that Blue overcame a
career-threatening injury that occurred
during training when he was a year old.
After surgery for cut tendons and arteries, Blue
underwent months of rest and rehabilitation
to restore the strength and range of movement in his
injured leg.
“We received lots of
excellent advice from people
By Roberta Pattison
at the College,” says Sue.
“But Blue’s people-oriented
personality helped too
— he adapted very well to
just hanging around. And
there doesn’t seem to be any
lingering effects of the injury.
One toenail sticks out at a
slightly different angle from
the others and has to be
trimmed more often, but that’s
about it.”
Blue will be six this year
and is in his prime as a field trial dog. “Most are at their best from five to seven
years, but the general wear and tear and working over rough terrain catches up
with them fairly quickly so they’re no longer competitive,” Sue observes. “Most dogs’
trial careers are over by the time they’re eight or nine.”
Blue’s mother Breeze is one
exception. “She only retired last
year at 12,” says Sue. “She’s really
amazing. She’s a smaller, slighter
type, which probably helped. Blue
isn’t all that big either at about 65
pounds, so that might help him too.”
A field trial dog’s training begins
with basic obedience at about seven weeks
of age. Field training — such things as
retrieving and an introduction to birds
— starts at five or six months. Training
for field trial competition requires a serious
commitment in time, energy and money.
“It’s extremely time-consuming,” says
Sue. “We train five days a week. Travelling
to trials is also getting more and more
expensive.”
Competition begins in earnest when
dogs are a year old although puppy classes
are also offered at trials. As Sue explains, young
dogs initially run as Juniors: “Blue was the top
Junior in Canada during his second year, which is
pretty amazing considering he’d missed his whole
first year due to his injury.”
Sue and Garry not only train and compete with
Blue, but are also his breeders. “We breed a litter
only when we want a new puppy. We’ll probably breed
our other Lab, Candy, next winter. It takes two years
to bring on the puppy we keep, so by then Blue will be
nearing the end of his competitive career.”
Last summer in Regina, the Taylors
competed with Blue and Candy at the
Canadian National Amateur Retriever
Championships where Blue was a finalist.
This year, the goal is to take Blue to the
Master National Hunt Test in Winnipeg, the
highest level of the hunt test
game.
“Hunt tests are very
different from field trials,” says
Sue. “The results are based
on qualifying scores while
field trials are head-to-head
competitions. Hunt tests are
more like actual hunting and
the tests are less technical and
less extreme. Dogs particularly
love hunt tests with all the
noise and excitement going
on.”
So who gets the privilege
of running Blue at trials? Sue laughs before answering. “If we’re both at a
trial, Garry runs him. Garry doesn’t go to as many trials as I do though, so
if he’s not there, I run him. Garry ran him in the Championships — but it
doesn’t seem to matter to Blue.” V
“We’ve had good ones before, but
Blue is in his own league.”
Western College of Veterinary Medicine • 13
Turning Wishes
INTO TO O L S
By Roberta Pattison
Saskatoon pet
owner Maria
Styacko helps
turn wishes
into urgentlyneeded
medical
tools for small
animal health
care at the WCVM.
M
aria Styacko always looks forward
to a special type of shopping
trip that she makes once a year.
But instead of browsing for new clothes or
books, the Saskatoon cat owner searches for
something that you can’t find at your nearest
shopping mall: medical equipment for pet
health care.
Maria’s search is part of her annual
donation to the Companion Animal Health
Fund — an organization that she has
supported for more than a decade. At first,
she used to ask that her money go toward
feline research, but when the CAHF restored
its equipment wish list, she liked the option.
“People can pick out something specific to
fund. For me, it’s more ‘warm and fuzzy’ than
giving money to research in general,” points
out Maria.
The CAHF Equipment Wish List provides
prospective donors with descriptions of
medical devices that are urgently needed
for small animal patient care at the WCVM
Veterinary Teaching Hospital as well as for
14 • Vet Topics • Spring 2010
companion animal health research at the College.
Each equipment listing also includes the estimated
cost so donors can choose an item based on what
they would like to give.
“The CAHF gets an extra benefit, I think,
because very often you look at the list and pick out
something before you notice that it’s a little more
money than you intended giving — but you end up
giving it anyway,” Maria says.
She also finds that she relates to certain items
based on her own experiences as a pet owner. For
example, one item Maria selected a couple of
years ago was a bassinet for cats recovering
from surgery. Last year, she paid for
the purchase of a Bair Hugger®
warming unit that uses forcedair warming to prevent
and treat hypothermia in
surgical patients.
“Those pieces caught
my eye because a few years
ago, my cat Marmalade
had surgery. When I visited
her in the days before
she could come home she
looked cold,” says Maria, who
has often relied on the WCVM
Veterinary Teaching Hospital’s
specialized people and services for her
cats.
As one example, she points to veterinary
ophthalmologist Dr. Bruce Grahn. About 10 years
$50,000 GIFT
SUPPORTS PET HEALTH
In December 2009, the WCVM’s companion
animal clinical and research programs received a
welcome boost from Sophie Katarynch of Winnipeg,
Man. The dedicated pet owner and longtime
supporter of the WCVM donated $50,000 toward
the purchase of new equipment that will be used
for companion animal-related clinical service and
research.
The contribution is part of the Sophie Katarynych
Fund for Companion Animals that was created four
years ago in memory of Sophie’s parents — Nykola
and Waselyna Katarynych of Radisson, Sask. The fund
was originally established with a $25,000 gift from
Katarynych.
This latest gift is one of many that Katarynych
has made to the veterinary college’s small animal
health programs over the past two decades.
Her contributions have enabled WCVM to buy
thousands of dollars worth of equipment including
a computed tomography (CT) scanner, a canine
aquatic treadmill, a bronchoscope, and a Bair
hugger patient warming system.
Through the years, Katarynych has shared her
home with a number of beloved Dachshunds.
Concern for their health sparked her interest in
supporting the College’s small animal clinical
services that have greatly benefited from
Katarynych’s support.
ago, one of her cats was referred to Grahn because of issues related to
herpesvirus — a viral infection that can cause chronic conjunctivitis in cats.
Incidentally, that particular hospital visit led to Maria’s discovery of the CAHF
when she read about the non-profit organization in a brochure.
Maria and her husband, Gord Stewart, share their home with two
Persians and two soft-coated Himalayans — two four-year-olds and two
12-year-olds. “Cats just fit our lifestyle a little better. My husband and I have
been married 27 years. We have no kids, so our pets are our family.”
Maria and Gord both come from farm backgrounds, so at first, he was
unsure about pets in the house. But he’s quickly adapted, and now, Gord is as
much a fan of the cats as his wife. “He’s also learned to accept that they will
do things like damage the furniture. We have an antique table, and of course,
the cats zero in on the central pedestal.”
Although Maria takes her pets to a local veterinary clinic for routine
care, she’s appreciative of having an advanced facility like the WCVM
Veterinary Teaching Hospital that serves as a referral centre and knowledge
base for veterinarians and animal owners alike.
“It’s great to have a facility like this nearby. We’ve talked about
retirement — going somewhere with a warmer climate. But wherever we
might go, a prerequisite is that it must have some place similar to the College
for the animals.”
Maria, who manages the finances for the
Royal University Hospital Foundation, also
recognizes the importance of maintaining and
supporting an organization like the CAHF for
the pet-owning community. To help out, she
tells everyone she knows about the Fund and
encourages people to donate — whether it’s to
When CAHF donors help to purchase new equipment at the
support research or to help purchase medical
Western College of Veterinary Medicine, everybody benefits.
equipment.
“So much good work is being done. You
WCVM clinicians and researchers gain access to vital pieces
don’t realize what goes on until you’ve been
there.” V
of equipment that help to improve the quality of health care
VISIT THE CAHF WISH LIST!
PRECEDING PAGE (bottom right):
Chiquita, an ICU patient at the WCVM
hospital, stays warm under a blanket
heated with a Bair Hugger. Above: The
Bair Hugger uses forced-air warming to
prevent and treat hypothermia in small
animal patients after surgery.
Photos courtesy of Dr. Tanya Duke, WCVM.
for their patients. Plus, veterinary students gain experience
and training on the latest technologies.
To learn more about the latest items on the CAHF Equipment
Wish List, visit www.cahf.usask.ca and click on “Support CAHF”
where you’ll find an updated list of medical equipment that’s
needed at the WCVM.
Western College of Veterinary Medicine • 15
We’re pouncing
on promising pet
health research.
Researchers at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine are
always on the hunt for new ways to improve the health of your
pets. Backed by the Companion Animal Health Fund, many of
these research pursuits have led to exciting breakthroughs in
health care for dogs, cats and exotic pets.
Help us come within paw’s reach of solving
critical health issues for pets. Donate to the
CAHF and support:
• Innovative pet health research studies
• Specialized training for graduate students
• Educational opportunities for veterinary students
• The purchase of vital equipment for pet health
care at the WCVM. Want to join the hunt? Contact the WCVM for more
details:
Lisa Green, Development Officer
Western College of Veterinary Medicine
306-966-7450 • lisa.green@usask.ca
www.cahf.usask.ca
Check out Vet Topics online at www.cahf.usask.ca
PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40112792
RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO:
Research Office, WCVM
University of Saskatchewan
52 Campus Drive
Saskatoon SK S7N 5B4
E-mail: wcvm.research@usask.ca
Want more pet health news
in your mailbox? Go to
www.cahf.usask.ca and
sign up to receive Vet Topics
e-newsletter online!
Printing Services Document Solutions & Distribution • 966-6639 • University of Saskatchewan