Latest news with #OntarioVeterinaryCollege
CTV News
7 days ago
- CTV News
Finding justice for the voiceless: How a University of Guelph veterinarian is pioneering a growing field
A mock crime scene was set up at the University of Guelph on Aug. 12, 2025 as part of a forensic veterinary science program. (Krista Simpson/CTV News) A veterinarian at the University of Guelph has become a pioneer in a field that taps into his medical knowledge to find justice for abused animals. Shane Bateman credits a conference with opening his eyes to the link between animal abuse and human violence. At the time, he was no stranger to the emergency room, having previously helped animals in dire straits. But his work took on new meaning at the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph, where he designed a program in forensic veterinary science. When working in the field, veterinarians use their medical expertise to determine how an animal was harmed, when the injury occurred and whether it was intentional. They then present their findings to a judge and jury during court proceedings. Through Bateman's program, a small group of students are being offered a week-long rotation featuring mock crime scenes populated with stuffed animals and cadavers. They also explore animal welfare laws throughout the country. At the end of the program, they are asked to answer questions as expert witnesses. forensic veterinary science University of Guelph A mock crime scene was set up at the University of Guelph on Aug. 12, 2025 as part of a forensic veterinary science program. (Krista Simpson/CTV News) Bateman also works with practicing veterinarians, teaching them the signs of animal abuse. This summer, he launched a continuing education series for equine vets who may encounter abuse in barns or stables. 'Veterinarians are in a powerful position,' Bateman said in a media release. 'But they need to know what they can do — and that speaking up is both safe and necessary.'
Winnipeg Free Press
02-08-2025
- Science
- Winnipeg Free Press
Paws for reflection
At what point in human existence did we turn our attention to relieving animals' illnesses and suffering? In Heal the Beasts, veterinarian Dr. Philipp Schott examines the history of veterinary science and highlights those who made strides in the field. Schott, who recently wrapped up his practice in Winnipeg, has written three short non-fiction collections filled with anecdotes about the weird and wonderful animals he's treated. The first of the books, 2019's The Accidental Veterinarian, was a bestseller and was translated into five languages. He's also the author of three mysteries featuring fictional vet and amateur detective Dr. Bannerman, as well as a novel about a German boy in the Second World War. Schott opens Heal the Beasts by stating that he's not a professional historian, but has a passion for history, veterinary medicine and storytelling. He draws on his ability in the latter to create vignettes based on the lives and experiences of people — both real and fictional — who helped establish the care and treatment of animals as a legitimate medical practice. These stories that open the chapters are an entertaining addition to the historical information provided chronologically. Tim Smith / Brandon Sun files About 80 per cent of veterinary students are women today, a much higher percentage than in law, dentistry and medicine. Animal healing traditions can be traced back to 2100 BCE in Mesopotamia, India, Egypt and China. In a Chinese legend, a horse doctor successfully cured an ailing dragon using an herbal remedy. Many early healing methods used on animals were quite bizarre, such as strapping a cat under a difficult horse and having a priest read psalms to a flock of sick sheep. Schott tells of Prince Rupert's poodle Boye, who supposedly had supernatural powers he used to protect his master during the English Civil War in the 1640s. Boye was rumoured to be Satan in disguise, and was shot and killed by a member of the opposing army. The value of horses, cattle, sheep, goats and pigs prompted owners to keep seeking effective cures for common illnesses. If local cattle herds were decimated by a plague called rinderpest, human starvation could occur. Dr. Giovanni Maria Lancisi, a personal physician to popes in the early 18th century, advised that sick animals be separated from healthy ones, their barns and stalls be cleaned and dead cattle be buried as deeply as possible. His recommendations proved wise. Schott says the focus of animal healers gradually shifted away from horses and livestock to dogs and cats throughout the 19th century as household pets became more common. This period was also when private veterinary schools opened in many countries. Upper Canada Veterinary School was established in 1862 in Toronto. It became the Ontario Veterinary College and moved to Guelph in 1922, where it remains today, graduating 120 Doctors of Veterinary Medicine annually. The life of a rural vet in England was depicted in James Herriot's books, the pen name of real-life vet Alf Wright. His books were turned into the popular TV series All Creatures Great and Small, and show the introduction of antibiotic use for animals. Unlike the cheerful vets in his books, Schott says Wright suffered from depression, a mental health condition that continues to be common among veterinarians. John Woods / Free Press files Philipp Schott Schott includes information on the first women who entered the veterinary profession. Today about 80 per cent of veterinary students are women — a much higher percentage than in law, dentistry and medicine. He attributes this in part to women's higher academic achievement allowing them to be accepted at veterinary colleges, the lower pay and prestige compared to other medical professions and the need for empathy. Heal the Beasts lacks the broad appeal of Schott's Accidental Veterinarian series, but provides interesting insight into how veterinary medicine and practice developed to support the animals we love and those that feed us. Andrea Geary is a freelance writer in Selkirk. Philipp Schott will launch Heal the Beasts on Thursday, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. at McNally Robinson Booksellers' Grant Park location. Heal the Beasts
Boston Globe
29-05-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
Canada wants to kill 400 ostriches. RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz want to save them.
Canada ordered the birds to be culled after the bird flu spread through Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, British Columbia, a town in the province's interior, north of Washington state. The plight of the wobble -- a term sometimes used to describe a group of ostriches -- has divided Canadians, but the birds have won allies across the border, namely top officials in the Trump administration. Kennedy last week urged Canadian authorities not to kill the ostriches but to do further testing to try to better understand the virus. Advertisement 'We believe significant scientific knowledge may be garnered from following the ostriches in a controlled environment,' Kennedy said in a letter to the head of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which ordered the culling. Oz, who oversees Medicare and Medicaid for the Trump administration, offered to relocate the doomed birds to his 900-acre ranch in Florida. John Catsimatidis, a billionaire Republican businessperson who owns a New York City radio station, made a plea to save the birds on his radio program, demanding 'truth, justice and the American way for the ostriches up in British Columbia.' But most veterinarians agree that keeping birds alive that may still have active infections and could spread the virus to others is a threat to public health. Advertisement An outbreak of the virus in the United States has killed millions of birds, spread to cattle farms and infected dozens of people since 2024, one of whom died. But a national campaign against the bird virus has been undermined by the political upheaval in Washington, which has led to funding cuts and the dismissals of scientists to detect the virus's spread. Canada's outbreak has been most prevalent in British Columbia, where the bird flu has killed 8.7 million birds since 2022 -- more than half of the national total. In December, a young ostrich at Universal Ostrich Farms fell ill with symptoms that looked like pneumonia. But testing revealed it was the H5N1 virus, and just over a month later, 69 of the 468 ostriches on the farm had died. Tests by officials from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed a few of the birds had died of the same virus. The agency ordered the farm's owners, Karen Espersen and Dave Bilinski, to eradicate the surviving birds, but they argued that the animals should be kept alive to test their antibodies in order to potentially develop treatments for the virus. The couple lost a legal battle in federal court to keep the birds alive. 'When they issue an order to euthanize all of our healthy ostriches,' it 'crossed the total moral line,' Katie Pasitney, Espersen's daughter, said in an interview. Shayan Sharif, a professor of immunology at the Ontario Veterinary College who specializes in bird flu, said, however, that the condemned ostriches were of limited scientific value because there had already been similar studies in other parts of the world. Still, he added, 'I know that those animals are near and dear to a lot of people, especially their owners.' Advertisement Pasitney, 43, grew up on the 65-acre farm, which has been raising ostriches for 30 years, at first for meat and oil derived from the bird's liver. More recently, she said, the farm has switched its focus to research, partnering with scientists to study the birds and their immune systems. Despite the potential presence of the virus, protesters have descended on the farm, which is under quarantine, holding news conferences and filming visits by food safety inspectors dressed in white coveralls and masks. Canadian officials have not given Pasitney a date for the cull, she said. In Canada, birds that need to be euthanized are typically put down using carbon dioxide gas. 'We have a duty to protect Canadians from the serious potential risks that avian influenza presents to our people and our economy,' the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said in statement. People opposed to the cull are using walkie-talkies to surveil the road leading to the farm for any signs of 'a dumpster and a convoy of vehicles coming out here to kill our healthy animals,' Pasitney said. Pasitney said she was moved by the support of Trump officials, and by a special guest who visited the farm, a 13-year-old girl. The girl's mother identified her as the teenager who contracted the first human case of bird flu in Canada, which was detected in November, and who wanted the birds to live. 'They're worth way more alive than they are dead because they have natural immunity,' Pasitney said of the remaining birds, but noted that a replacement flock of younger birds would be more susceptible to catch the bird flu. Advertisement She also said that exporting the flock was moot: The same agency demanding the bird cull would have to sign off on releasing the ostriches, and the family prefers to keep them on the farm. For his part, Oz told The New York Post that the ostrich farm presented an opportunity for researchers to study herd immunity of the birds by keeping them alive. 'The Canadians should stop putting their heads in the sand,' he said. This article originally appeared in
Telegraph
15-05-2025
- Science
- Telegraph
The reason your ginger cat is likely to be male
The ginger gene for cats has finally been found and explains why 80 per cent are male. For more than 100 years, scientists have suspected that the reason there are so many more male cats with orange fur lies in the X chromosome. Male cats only have one X chromosome, so it was proposed that even if they only inherited one copy of a 'ginger gene' they would still have orange fur, whereas females would need two copies because they have two X chromosomes. Scientists at Stanford University and Kyushu University in Japan have found that a mutation of the ARHGAP36 gene is responsible and it could also be linked to personality traits that owners have spotted in their pets. Ginger males are often dubbed 'Velcro cats' because they are affectionate and less aloof than other breeds. However, ginger females are often considered aggressive and irritable, particularly when being handled, and are unfriendly with strangers. According to Ontario Veterinary College, the pigment pheomelanin, present in cats with orange hues, is the same one that gives humans ginger hair, and science has shown that red-headed women have a lower tolerance to pain and discomfort. There is speculation that it affects female cats similarly, which makes them more cautious and standoffish, especially with people they do not know. Gene 'may influence more than coat colour' Prof Hiroyuki Sasaki, a geneticist at Kyushu University in Japan, said: 'Identifying the gene has been a long-time dream, so it's a joy to have finally cracked it. 'Since it is active in many areas of the body, including in areas of the brain and hormonal glands, it's possible that the orange variant may cause shifts in gene activity elsewhere, influencing more than just coat colour. 'For example, many cat owners swear by the idea that different coat colours and patterns are linked with different personalities. There's no scientific evidence for this yet, but it's an intriguing idea and one I'd love to explore further.' Prof Sasaki's team analysed DNA from 18 cats, 10 with orange fur and eight without. They found that all orange cats shared a specific deletion in the ARHGAP36 gene while the non-orange cats did not. Further analysis showed that the mutation was linked to reduced activity in many genes involved in melanogenesis, the process that produces pigment in skin and hair. The team believes the mutation may steer pigment production from dark eumelanin to lighter pheomelanin, creating orange fur. Different from tigers Female cats that inherit only one copy of the gene appear partially orange with a mottled pattern known as tortoiseshell, or with patches of orange, black and white known as calico. The findings were backed by a second study from Stanford which also identified the same gene and found it is completely different to the mechanism that causes orange fur in other species, such as tigers or orangutangs. Scientists believe that it was once rare in nature, but the adaptation may have made cats more appealing to humans, allowing the trait to proliferate with domestication. Orange cats are now widely distributed throughout the world. Dr Christopher Kaelin, a senior scientist in genetics, said: 'This is something that arose in the domestic cat, probably early on in the domestication process. 'We know that because there are paintings that date to the 12th century where you see clear images of calico cats. So the mutation is quite old.' The Stanford scientists believe that the differences in behaviour between ginger cats and other breeds may be less about genetics and more to do with them being largely male, but they could not rule out any impact from ARHGAP36. 'I don't think we can exclude the possibility that there is altered expression of the gene in some tissue we haven't tested that might affect behaviour,' Dr Kaelin said.
Forbes
24-03-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Cats Are Getting Bird Flu. Here's How To Protect Them
Wild birds can give cats H5N1 bird flu, which can lead to serious complications and death. The bird flu that is driving up the cost of eggs is also infecting cats, so cat lovers should take steps to protect them. The current strain of bird flu – avian influenza type A (H5N1) – is 'quite serious' for cats, according to Julie Levy, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, the Fran Marina Endowed Distinguished Professor of Shelter Medicine Education at the University of Florida. 'This new version that is connected with dairy cows is very severe,' she says. 'And the cats are striking because within days of exposure, they developed severe neurologic signs and died. It definitely seems to be that cats are especially sensitive compared to many other species.' The neurologic signs include staggering, blindness, confusion and paralysis. Cats infected with bird flu can also have respiratory signs that range from a mile upper respiratory infection to pneumonia, she notes. Currently in the United States, the Midwest and the West have the highest risk for cats contracting bird flu. Dozens of domestic cats have tested positive for H5N1 bird flu. Additionally, 20 big cats died late last year at Wild Felid Advocacy Center of Washington from bird flu. Dr. Levy suggests checking the USDA's map that reports confirmed cases of bird flu in mammals to stay abreast of outbreaks. She also recommends the Worms and Germs blog by Dr. Scott Weese at Ontario Veterinary College's Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses. The H5N1 bird flu virus is shed in feces, saliva, urine, nasal secretions and milk. So an important way to protect pet cats from bird flu is to keep them indoors. 'Reducing exposure to the outdoors is important because it's carried by wild birds – especially waterfowl,' she cautions. 'Getting exposed to wild birds or their feces around bodies of water is now a high-risk activity for cats that go outside.' Wiping the paws of an indoor/outdoor cat after they've been outside likely won't help, according to Dr. Levy. 'It's just not possible to get enough cleaning in there, and then they're going to get their fur contaminated and they lick their fur so quickly. That's something about cats: they're super fastidious about cleaning, so anytime they get a hair out of place or step on something, they're going to lick it off right away,' she says. Cats are fastidious about grooming themselves, which makes it easier for them to contract bird flu. Food is another big risk factor. Levy recommends only feeding cats cooked food. 'We are recommending not to feed raw milk or meat products, particularly poultry and dairy, and that includes 'freeze-dried' or 'high-pressure pasteurization.' Those are terms for raw food, and those have been shown to be capable of transmitting the virus,' she says. For instance, earlier this year, two cats died of bird flu linked to raw poultry pet food from Savage Cat Food (one ate the food, another had contact with a sick cat who ate it), according to the New York City Health Department. The company issued a recall. To protect outdoor, free-roaming cats, including those helped by Trap-Neuter-Return programs, Dr. Levy recommends feeding and caring for cats in a way that does not encourage them to mingle with wildlife. 'For example, if you put out too much food for the cats, especially if they're fed at night, the cats will eat and then they'll leave and then the raccoons will come or the other species will come, birds will come and share that space. And that is a way to spread disease,' she says. 'So we definitely want to feed the cats only enough that they will consume right away and not leaving plates or trash around that will attract wildlife.' She also suggests moving any feline feeding stations away from bodies of water, like ponds, as well as dairy cows and poultry like chickens, geese, ducks and turkeys. Backyard chickens can put pet cats at risk of contracting bird flu. While this might seem like a prime time to start raising backyard chickens for eggs, it's problematic for people trying to protect their cats – though it is possible, according to Dr. Levy. 'Follow the public health recommendations to confine the birds. Try to protect them from interacting with wildlife, especially wild birds, covering the tops of their coops and pens so that the wild birds can't get in and poop in there,' she says. Additionally, don't let backyard chickens roam free throughout the day, where they might encounter areas that wild birds have been. Of course, do not let cats mingle with backyard chickens. 'We want to separate the cats from them until this is over,' she says. If you suspect your cat has bird flu, call your veterinarian first – don't just show up. 'They need to prepare so they are safe. They're not going to have you sitting in the waiting room with the cat,' Dr. Levy says. 'They need to wear PPE like gloves, outer clothing, a mask, eye protection and shoe covers.' People transporting cats that potentially have bird flu should also wear an extra layer of clothes and PPE, she notes. While wearing protective equipment is advised to reduce the spread of bird flu, Dr. Levy stressed that people should not surrender their cats to shelters if they suspect they have bird flu or if they're afraid of contracting it. 'With cats and dogs, it's more likely that a person infected with influenza would infect the pet than vice versa,' she says. 'And the good news is that if these cats can be nursed through it, they only shed virus for a couple weeks, so it's really a short time of care before they're safe again.' She believes it's probable that shelters and veterinarians are seeing cats who are the most severely affected right now, so in the future, we might learn that some cats were infected but had minor signs or no signs and just recovered on their own. Protecting cats from bird flu protects them from serious illness and death while also diminishing ... More the chance for the H5N1 version to combine with another bird flu strain and potentially mutate into something worse. Ultimately, by protecting cats from being exposed to bird flu, we can also help prevent animals from being infected with two strains of influenza at the same time – which can lead to mutations that are much worse. Dr. Levy feels strongly that the public needs to know that bird flu is a 'real concern,' so we must do our part to protect our cats and communities from the virus. 'We can control a lot of the risk factors for cats,' she says. 'But what we can't do is control the migration of wild birds. So we have to be hypervigilant about protecting ourselves and our animals from exposure to wild birds.' Animal shelter experts from the University of Florida and other universities maintain a living document with guidelines and protocols for cats with possible H5N1 infections. The CDC shares updates on its bird flu page.
