Think you know your canine and feline blood types? Blood transfusions in veterinary medicine are more complex than they might seem—especially when it comes to matching the right donor with the right patient. From blood types in dogs and those in cats, understanding blood compatibilities of each species can be lifesaving. Take our quick quiz and test your knowledge of veterinary transfusions.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is an uncommon cardiac disease, with a prevalence of significantly less than 1% of patients. Patients that are afflicted with IE have historically had a very poor prognosis, with a reported fatality rate of up to 78%, however, over the last 5 decades, patient survival has increased significantly. In the 1980s patient survival from IE was documented to be 20%, whereas in 2005, survival was found to have increased to 44%. This is likely due to better imaging...

The drug overdose crisis documented in the United States is highly likely to be mirrored in Canada, and in both cases shifting illicit substance use over time is an ongoing trend. From 2000–2006, cocaine was the leading cause of overdose deaths in the United States. In 2007–2013 prescription opioids became the most common cause of overdose deaths, followed in 2014–2015 by heroin use. Fentanyl products have now largely taken over as the most common cause of overdose from 2016 to the present....

This video is Part 2 of our 4-part series, Navigating parasite control in a changing world. Do shifting weather patterns in Canada call for a reassessment of tick and flea prevention? Weather events in 2024, including record-breaking warm temperatures, have created conditions that favour the survival and development of ectoparasites.Watch this 6-minute video by Victoria Wagner, DVM, MSc Parasitology, candidate of the ACVM (Parasitology) to learn how Canada’s unpredictable weather is...

Each year, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) compiles its data to identify trends and raise awareness about the top toxins that pets are exposed to. In 2024, the APCC handled over 451,000 calls about toxic substances, plants, and poisons affecting animals—an increase of nearly 4% from the previous year. Think you know what mischief pets got into last year? Take our quick quiz to discover the top 10 toxins that posed a risk to pets in 2024, based on the Animal Poison Control...

Antimicrobial resistance is an ongoing problem in both human and veterinary medicine. Minimizing the proliferation of antimicrobial resistance in both pets and humans has to be a major mandate for both small and large animal veterinarians. Resistance in Escherichia coli is a significant issue in both veterinary and human medicine. Research has validated that E. coli resistance is commonly related to human and farm animal interactions. Resistant E. coli transmission between pets and humans is...

This quiz is Part 1 of our Navigating parasite control in a changing world series, designed to help veterinary professionals rethink parasite control. Geographic and temporal tick risks are evolving in Canada.1 Veterinary professionals play a key role in educating their clients on tick risk and prevention strategies; this helps pet owners know how to best protect themselves and their pets. However, recent survey results have highlighted significant gaps between veterinary recommendations and...

Pimobendan has been proven to increase the lifespan of dogs with chronic degenerative valvular disease (CDVD) leading to congestive heart failure (Stage C). Such use is the current labelled indication for pimobendan in dogs in Canada. Use of pimobendan in patients without congestive heart failure, but with significant cardiomegaly (Stage B2) has been shown to extend the asymptomatic phase of the disease by an average of 15 months (EPIC study). Use of pimobendan in this setting is considered to...

Watch this video as Dr. Kathryn Reif, associate professor in the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Pathobiology, discusses the growing threat of ticks and tick-borne diseases to pets and humans. She reviews a recent study comparing three isoxazoline drugs for their speed of kill, particularly for eliminating the Lone Star tick. Given the increasing prevalence of ticks and their pathogens, she underscores the importance of using effective tick control products to...