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Western College of Veterinary Medicine

Research Area(s)

  • Mycotoxin exposure in livestock, epidemiology of common veterinary toxicoses (lead poisoning in cattle, strychnine poisoning in dogs)

Academic Credentials

  • BSc Honours in Toxicology, 2014, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
  • PhD in Toxicology, 2020, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, 2023, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Canada

Research Profiles

Projects

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

  • Investigating the effect of endurance exercise in horses on cardiac troponin I release using a stall-side test
  • Effect of isoflavone supplementation on ergot-induced vasoconstriction in beef cattle

Research Interests

  • Enhancing understanding of if and how long lead persists in blood and/or tissues of lead exposed cattle
  • Mycotoxin exposure and poisoning in livestock and companion animals
  • Characterizing trends of common toxicoses of companion animals and livestock in western Canada
  • Enhancing diagnostic methods for causes of poisoning in livestock
  • Efficacy of intravenous lipid emulsion in treatment of veterinary toxicoses
  • Application of mass spectrometric analytical methods to diagnostics in veterinary toxicology

Publications

Selected Publications

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 5th, 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. (Accepted October 31st, 2025).

 

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 3rd, 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 9th, 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