Reading Time: 2 minutes The province is giving more money to train large-animal vets, standing pat on its funding of ag research, and apparently making big gains in cutting red tape. The most eye-catching ag-related item in the Alberta government’s Feb. 24 budget was the pledge of $59 million over three years for “infrastructure to expand the veterinary medicine school […] Read more
Expansion of Alberta’s vet college hailed as ‘bold investment’
Pledge to give U of Calgary $59 million for expansion is a major ag item in provincial budget
Summertime is danger time for ticks
Check for ticks on yourself and your pets, say provincial officials
Reading Time: < 1 minute Authorities are warning Albertans to take the time and check for ticks — on themselves and their pets. The threat isn’t tick bites, but the chance a tick could transmit Lyme disease, said the registrar of the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (ABVMA). “There have been approximately 100 human cases of Lyme disease reported by Albertans […] Read more
Rabies case in farm cat prompts vaccination warning
Two people were recently bit by a farm cat that likely contracted rabies from a bat
Reading Time: 2 minutes A rabid farm cat that bit its owner and another person has prompted the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association to warn pet owners to vaccinate against rabies. The association said the Office of the Chief Provincial Veterinarian received notification of the positive rabies test on Nov. 13. “This nine-year-old, indoor-outdoor cat was born and lived on a […] Read more
Vet award winners announced
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Alberta Veterinary Medical Association has announced the recipients of its 2018 ABVMA awards. Dr. Robert (Bob) Jones has been named Veterinarian of the Year while Dr. Peter Martin will receive the Meritorious Service award when the association holds its awards banquet in February. The Young Veterinarian of the Year award will go to Dr. […] Read more
Opening up use of preg check ultrasound
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Alberta Veterinary Medical Association is again surveying its members on whether registered veterinary technologists should be allowed to conduct beef cattle pregnancy detection using ultrasound. In 2012, the association’s food animal advisory committee recommended such a move, but ABVMA members were not supportive. Last year, the committee again recommended allowing veterinary technologists to use […] Read more
There’s a story to tell about antimicrobial use — and it’s a good one
Beef 911: The industry and veterinarians are doing what they should be doing to minimize resistance
Reading Time: 5 minutes There have been volumes written about antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in recent years — this article will highlight some of the key points on how well the cattle industry is doing so far and what changes veterinarians may make in their recommendations going forward. For those of you who crave more detailed information, there are several […] Read more
Cora Scheele elected new AFAC chair
Reading Time: < 1 minute Cora Scheele of Linden is the new chair of the Alberta Farm Animal Care (AFAC) board of directors. “Alberta Farm Animal Care plays an important role in the province, representing all livestock sectors by communicating the industry’s best practices to producers and sharing our story with the public,” said Scheele, a hatching egg producer. James […] Read more
BE PREPARED: How new drug rules will affect your ranch
Now is the time to get ready for when a host of antimicrobials will no longer be available over the counter
Reading Time: 6 minutes The clock is ticking on new rules that will require a prescription for livestock drugs that can currently be bought over the counter. This blog from the Beef Cattle Research Council looks at how to prepare and why antimicrobial resistance needs to be on everyone’s radar. The article has been edited for length, but the […] Read more
Duane Landals named 2017 Carl Block Award recipient
Reading Time: < 1 minute An Alberta veterinarian has been named the recipient of a national award for outstanding contributions to animal health. Dr. Duane Landals of Onoway has been given the 2017 Carl Block Award by the Canadian Animal Health Coalition. For more than 37 years Landals has “contributed significantly” to veterinary medicine, both in Canada and internationally. He […] Read more
Veterinarians won’t be dealing doggy dope any time soon
Vets are being asked about giving cannabis products to pets — but there’s no research, it’s not legal, and it could be dangerous
Reading Time: 3 minutes High-strung heeler hounding you day and night? Crazy old barn cat climbing up the walls? You might be tempted to put on some Pink Floyd, dim the lights, and give them a little something to mellow them out. All of the attention on the pending legalization of marijuana has pet owners asking their vets about […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
