Updated Nov. 23 — Ontario’s government is considering new legislation to more clearly spell out who can provide what kinds of animal care in the province’s veterinary sector. The provincial ag ministry on Monday launched a round of public consultation on the Veterinarians Act, which governs licensing of veterinarians and accreditation of veterinary facilities in […] Read more
Ontario seeking new rules on scope of vet services
Changes also considered to veterinary sector oversight
New vet database already a hit with livestock owners
It doesn’t fix the vet shortage, but can help find species-specific veterinary care closer to home
Reading Time: 2 minutes Having trouble finding a veterinarian? Alberta Farm Animal Care (AFAC) recently created an online database of veterinary clinics in the province. The list is searchable in a radius of up to 200 kilometres and can be refined for specific species. “We often hear of people who have diverse livestock species like llamas, alpacas, honeybees, and […] Read more
Saskatchewan, Manitoba to boost vet college seat quotas
Each province adding five subsidized seats at WCVM
Updated, Sept. 30 — With livestock producers’ needs at top of mind, 10 more student seats at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan will be spoken for starting next year. The college and the Saskatchewan and Manitoba governments on Thursday announced the two provinces will each step up their funding […] Read more
Look deeper when dealing with a bucking horse
There’s almost always a root cause for this behaviour that must be addressed first
Reading Time: 3 minutes The non-professional bucking horse is a conundrum to the equestrian community and there is limited information on how bucking behaviour can best be investigated. Simply correcting the behaviour with assertive training methods, without understanding the root cause for the bucking, has limited success in preventing this unwanted and potentially dangerous activity. In fact, all horses […] Read more
Anthrax outbreak hits northern Alberta
Anthrax poses little risk to people, but the disease can decimate herds if not caught in time
Reading Time: 2 minutes Warnings have been issued about an anthrax outbreak in northern Alberta’s MacKenzie County amid hot, dry conditions that favour the disease. Anthrax in grazing beef cows has been confirmed on four pastures and on a bison ranch. Since the first report on July 14, 31 cattle and three bison out of about 1,700 at-risk animals […] Read more
Some tips for dealing with the seasonally ‘itchy’ horse
Allergies, biting insects and the myriad of things horses are exposed to can all be factors
Reading Time: 3 minutes There is an increased occurrence of the itchy horse during spring and summer associated with seasonal allergies. While there are no published data on the number of allergies in horses, it would appear numbers are rising and parallel similar findings in humans and dogs. The most obvious symptom of a seasonal allergy is itchiness. A […] Read more
Let’s do what we can to keep our animals safe from blue-green algae
Reporting suspected algae blooms and checking provincial advisories are both good steps
Reading Time: 3 minutes Over the years with increased phosphorus and nitrogen getting into bodies of water, there have been more blue green algae blooms and that means more contact with cattle, as well as dogs, birds, wildlife and, of course, people. With cattle, most of the time we get sudden death but also neurology cases. Wildlife, including birds, […] Read more
More money helps, but fixing rural vet shortage a daunting task
U of Calgary vet school is doubling enrolment but also working on ways to make rural practices more attractive
Reading Time: 3 minutes The shortage of rural vets is no secret to any livestock producer, but there is fresh hope that may change in the years ahead. Flush with major new provincial funding, officials at the province’s vet school say they have a plan to address the long-standing problem. It will start with a slight increase in veterinary […] Read more
Skimping on livestock care can be costly
Reading Time: < 1 minute Livestock producers are being urged to “think twice” before cutting back on health measures. While “there is pressure this spring to reduce input costs wherever possible,” short-term savings can backfire in the longer term, says a new blog from the Beef Cattle Research Council. “Skimping on your vaccination or vitamin and mineral programs may save […] Read more
More funds put up to boost Calgary vet school enrolment
Funding added for more staff, materials on top of infrastructure money
The University of Calgary’s faculty of veterinary medicine, fresh off a major capital funding boost in February’s provincial budget, now gets another $8.4 million over three years to help expand enrolment. “This targeted enrolment funding will go towards hiring on more faculty/staff to teach the increased number of students,” Sam Blackett, press secretary for Advanced […] Read more
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