Vanessa Cowan BSc, PhD, DVM

• BSc Honours in Toxicology, 2014, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
• PhD in Toxicology, 2020, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
  • Dissertation: Investigation of the subclinical toxicological effects of ergot alkaloid mycotoxin (Claviceps purpurea) exposure in beef cows and bulls https://harvest.usask.ca/items/e0b760b1-16d7-495a-a43b-9d07dfc5df03
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, 2023, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Canada
• Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Toxicology (DABVT), 2026

• OrCID ID: 0009-0004-2991-0662
• Web of Science ResearcherIDLUY-0400-2024
• Google Scholar profile: ‪Vanessa Cowan - ‪Google Scholar

Previous projects

• Characterizing mycotoxin concentration in commercially available pet foods in Canada
• Comparison of pharmacokinetics of intranasal versus intramuscular atipamezole and efficacy of reversing xylazine-sedation in healthy dogs

Ongoing projects

• Surveillance of lead poisoning in Saskatchewan cattle: evaluating performance of pooled blood samples as a cost-saving measure and determination of timelines of lead decline in blood
• Efficacy of intranasal atipamezole and naloxone to reverse xylazine and opioid sedation in dogs
• Investigating the effect of endurance exercise in horses on cardiac troponin I release using a human point-of-care test
• Effect of isoflavone supplementation on ergot-induced vasoconstriction in beef cattle

• Enhancing understanding of how long lead persists in blood and/or tissues of lead exposed cattle
• Mycotoxin exposure and poisoning in livestock and companion animal
• Characterizing trends of common toxicoses of companion animals and livestock in western Canada
• Enhancing diagnostic methods for poisoning in livestock
• Use of intravenous lipid emulsion in treatment of veterinary toxicoses
• Metal associated toxicoses: copper associated hepatopathy in cats and dogs, hemochromatosis in animals
• Evaluation of livestock health problems associated with poisonous plants in western Canada
• Alternatives to poisoning for control of Richardson’s ground squirrels
• Trace mineral status of livestock in relation to immunosuppression and reproductive efficiency

  Please reach out to discuss potential collaborations.  

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• Selected Publications

  • Sauder, T., Ricard, M., Loewen, J., *Cowan, V. A retrospective case series of companion animals hospitalized for ethylene glycol poisoning at a Canadian veterinary teaching hospital. Canadian Veterinary Journal 2026;67:553-562.
  • Arends, A., Koziy, R., Aburto, E., *Cowan, V.E. Hemochromatosis of unknown origin in a young adult dog. Canadian Veterinary Journal 2026;67:406-413.
  • Yoshida, S., Laudhittirut, T., Cowan, V., Meachem, M., *Cosford, K.L. Potential Acute Hepatic Injury in Two Cats with Exposure to Human Topical Diclofenac. Canadian Veterinary Journal. (Accepted November 5^th, 2025).
  • *Cowan, V.E. Occurrence of acute lead toxicosis in western Canadian cattle herds: a decade of diagnostic case records (2014-2024). Canadian Veterinary Journal 2026;67:81-89.
  • Brookhart, M., Dimmers, G., Goldsmith, D., Janzen, E., Cowan, V.E, Reggeti, F., Uzal, F., Olchowy T.W.J., Morrison, B., Zachar, E., Remnant, J., Rogers, L., *Waine, K. Tongue lesions in feedlot cattle. Canadian Veterinary Journal 2025;66:997-1003.
  • Wilson, D.J., Huang, Y., Davis, J.L., Cowan, V.E., *Wilhelm, B.J. Emergence of calf mortality due to hepatic necrosis in Western Canadian beef calves. Canadian Veterinary Journal 2025;66:1199-1205.
  • Kennedy, J., Chicoine, A., Loewen, J., Parker, S., *Cowan, V. Pharmaceutical exposure and toxicosis in dogs: a retrospective study of 223 cases from a Canadian veterinary teaching hospital (2018-2023). Canadian Veterinary Journal 2025;66:1218-1228.
  • *Cowan, V.E. Strychnine poisoning in non-target species in Western Canada: a retrospective case series (2014-2023). Canadian Veterinary Journal. 66(2). Published online February 3^rd, 2025. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39898164/
  • Cowan, V. E., Koziy R.V., Zemlak, L., Campbell, J.R*. (2024). Suspected fenugreek toxicosis in herd of Saskatchewan beef cattle. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation. Published online January 9^th, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1177/10406387241307974
  • Cowan, V., Chohan, M., Blakley, B., McKinnon, J., Anzar, M., and Singh, J*. (2022). Chronic ergot exposure in adult bulls suppresses prolactin but minimally impacts results of typical breeding soundness exams. Theriogenology 197, 71-83.

   

  Selected Media

  • https://wcvmtoday.usask.ca/articles/2024/10/usask-study-flags-human-drugs-as-most-common-cause-for-canine-poisonings.php
  • https://wcvmtoday.usask.ca/articles/2024/11/delivering-through-the-nose-usask-team-tests-easier-way-to-give-lifesaving-drug-to-working-dogs.php
  • https://wcvmtoday.usask.ca/articles/2024/05/good-to-know-for-cat-owners-lilies-are-a-real-threat-to-their-pets-lives.php
  • https://wcvmtoday.usask.ca/articles/2023/08/public-needs-to-be-aware-of-risks-associated-with-newly-approved-rodenticide.php
  • https://bchn.transistor.fm/episodes/lead-toxicity-in-cattle-with-dr-vanessa-cowan
  • https://wcvmtoday.usask.ca/articles/2024/03/banned-rodenticide-still-endangers-pets-lives.php
  • https://www.saskatoon.ca/sites/default/files/documents/community-services/recreation-sport/animal-services/Pet%20Wellness%202025%20SaskStarPhoenix-web.pdf
  • https://www.beefresearch.ca/topics/lead-poisoning-in-beef-cattle/