Introduction

Welcome to the WCVM's online continuing education (CE) sessions that are developed to reflect the wide variety of animal health issues facing today's veterinary teams in mixed animal practice. 

From January to April 2025, veterinary team members from all areas of practice — mixed animal as well as small animal and large animal — are welcome to join our speakers for CE sessions.

The CE sessions take place on selected Wednesday evenings from January to April 2025. Each 75-minute session will begin at 7 p.m. CST. The WCVM records each session and provides the video recording link to registrants several days after the event. 

These sessions are approved for CE credit for veterinarians and registered veterinary technologists. 

February 5 Averting abortion in sheep Dr. Chris Clark, WCVM
April 9 Importance of colostrum in calf health Dr. Emily Snyder, WCVM
April 16 Feline dentistry Dr. Candace Lowe, WCVM
April 30 Young calf health Dr. Nathan Erickson, WCVM
May 8 (FREE CE) Cystitis in dogs Drs. Al Chicoine and Joe Rubin, WCVM

 

CE sessions

Dr. Chris Clark

Topic: “Averting abortion in sheep"
Presenter: Dr. Chris Clark, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, WCVM
Time: 7:00-8:15 p.m. CST
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 5

Once you register for this session, the WCVM will forward the Zoom meeting link. 

About the presentation

Dr. Chris Clark will address the challenges of diagnosing abortion in ewes, covering the highly infectious agents as well as toxins that can lead to abortion. Prevention is critical, and Dr. Clark’s presentation will review vaccines and vital biosecurity protocols for averting drastic “abortion storms” in flocks.

About our speaker

Dr. Chris Clark, BA (Hons), VetMB, MVetSc, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences
Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), University of Saskatchewan

Dr. Chris Clark graduated from Cambridge University in the United Kingdom and then eventually came to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) for a one-year internship. After one year as a rural veterinarian in the UK, he returned to the WCVM to complete his residency, master’s, and PhD degrees in clinical pharmacology.

As an associate professor, Dr. Clark has received numerous teaching awards, including the University of Saskatchewan’s Master Teacher Award in 2016. He served as the WCVM’s associate dean academic from 2015 to 2024. His greatest interests are veterinary education — and cows’ feet.

Dr. Emily Snyder

Topic: “Importance of colostrum in calves"
Presenter: Dr. Emily Snyder, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, WCVM
Time: 7:00-8:15 p.m. CST
Date: Wednesday, April 9

Once you register for this session, the WCVM will forward the Zoom meeting link. 

About the presentation

Dr. Emily Snyder will review the impact of colostrum on newborn calves’ health in terms of nutrient and non-nutrient factors. 

About our speaker 

Dr. Emily Snyder, BSc, DVM, MFAM, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences
Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), University of Saskatchewan

Dr. Emily Snyder is from the state of Iowa in the United States. She attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, where she completed her BSc degree in Animal Science and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree. She went on to complete a Master of Food Animal Medicine (MFAM) degree and a PhD degree at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia.

Dr. Snyder was in private mixed animal practice for two years in Iowa and Illinois. At the University of Saskatchewan, her research focuses on antimicrobial resistance, bovine respiratory disease and production medicine.

Dr. Candace Lowe

Topic: “Feline dentistry"
Presenter: Dr. Candace Lowe, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, WCVM
Time: 6:30-8:40 p.m. CST 
Date: Wednesday, April 16
Please note: this CE presentation is two hours and 10 minutes (with 10-minute break)

Once you register for this session, the WCVM will forward the Zoom meeting link. 

About the presentation

During this special two-hour CE session, Dr. Candace Lowe will cover the following topics: 

  • malocclusions
  • pyogenic granuloma
  • periodontal disease
  • juvenile onset gingivitis/ periodontitis 
  • gingivostomatitis
  • endodontic disease
  • tooth resorption
  • jaw fractures
  • squamous cell carcinoma
  • eosinophilic granuloma complex
  • feline orofacial pain syndrome
  • feline extraction tips and tricks

About our speaker 

Dr. Candace Lowe, DVM, MVetSc, DAVDC
Assistant Professor, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences
Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), University of Saskatchewan

Dr. Candace Lowe received her veterinary degree from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) in 2005. Following graduation, she worked as a clinical associate in radiation oncology at the WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre.

In 2008, Dr. Lowe began a combined residency in veterinary dentistry and Master of Veterinary Science degree program, which she successfully completed in July 2011. She joined the WCVM's Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences as an assistant professor in September 2011 and now operates the veterinary dentistry clinical service at the WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre. Dr. Lowe is a board-certified specialist with the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC).

Dr. Nathan Erickson

Topic: “Young calf health
Presenter: Dr. Nathan Erickson, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, WCVM
Time: 7:00-8:15 p.m. CST 
Date: Wednesday, April 30

Once you register for this session, the WCVM will forward the Zoom meeting link. 

About the presentation

Dr. Nathan Erickson will give an overview of calf health management including disease prevention, vaccinations and nutrition. His presentation will touch on new research in the area of young calf health. 

About our speaker 

Dr. Nathan Erickson, BSc, DVM, MVetSc, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences
Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), University of Saskatchewan

Dr. Nathan Erickson has a BSc degree from Augustana University College as well as DVM, MVetSc and PhD degrees from the University of Saskatchewan. He is board certified by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Beef Cattle). Dr. Erickson is a clinical faculty member of the WCVM’s Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences and a member of the WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre’s Ruminant Field Service.

Dr. Erickson’s research efforts include investigation of novel vaccination methods for the control of bovine respiratory disease in beef calves, changes in antimicrobial effectiveness in beef calves over time, the effect of intranasal vaccination and disease challenge on the upper respiratory tract (nasal) bacterial population, and the effectiveness of ultrasound as a tool for diagnosis of viral pneumonia in beef calves.

Drs. Al Chicoine and Joe Rubin
Dr. Al Chicoine (left) and Dr. Joe Rubin (right)

Topic: “Current evidence for treating cystitis in dogs"
Presenters: Drs. Al Chicoine, Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, WCVM; and Dr. Joe Rubin, Department of Veterinary Microbiology, WCVM
Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025
Time: 6:30-8:15 p.m. CST (Saskatchewan time)
Note: The WCVM will forward the Zoom meeting link to all registrants who are attending remotely

This free CE session will be offered remotely (Zoom meeting) and in person for Saskatoon-area veterinarians and RVTs. 

  • 6:30-7 p.m.: Light dinner/refreshments for registrants attending in person
  • 7:00-8:15 p.m. CST (Saskatchewan time): presentation in WCVM 2115 (live feed for registrants attending remotely)
  • Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025

About the presentation

Drs. Chicoine and Rubin will highlight the most current research and guidance for managing bacterial cystitis in dogs, with a focus on primary (uncomplicated) cases. Diagnostic approaches, antimicrobial regimens, and preventive approaches will be discussed. The speakers will also present opportunities for clinicians who are interested in participating in a new community-based clinical trial.

About the speakers

Dr. Al Chicoine, DVM, MSc, DACVCP
Associate Professor, Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences
Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan

Dr. Al Chicoine is an associate professor in the WCVM’s Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences. He graduated from the WCVM’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program in 2003 and worked as a clinical practitioner for two years before deciding to return to the college to complete post-graduate studies in veterinary pharmacology. He went on to earn his Master of Science degree as well as board certification with the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology in 2007. Dr. Chicoine joined the WCVM faculty in 2007. His research interests focus on drug residues in food animals, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

Dr. Joe Rubin, DVM, PhD
Professor, Department of Veterinary Microbiology
Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan

Dr. Rubin is a veterinarian and veterinary microbiologist who leads a research group that's dedicated to exploring the world of antimicrobial resistance. Dr. Rubin grew up in Saskatoon, Sask., and has spent most of his career at the WCVM. He graduated from the college’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program in 2007, completed his PhD degree in 2011 and then spent one year as a postdoctoral fellow. He was hired as a WCVM faculty member in 2012 and began teaching in 2013. Dr. Rubin publishes regularly on the topic of antimicrobial resistance through his research work, but he’s also engaged in the scholarship of teaching itself. He has become a leader in creating open educational resources and has published several papers on teaching innovations adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Registration

Cost: 

  • Averting abortion in sheep (1.0 CE hour): $35
  • Importance of colostrum in calves (1.0 CE hour): $35
  • Feline dentistry (2.0 CE hours): $70
  • Young calf health (1.0 CE hour): $35
  • Current evidence for treating cystitis in dogs (1.0 CE hour): FREE

Click here to register for all presentations requiring a fee

Click here to register for the free May 8 presentation (cystistis in dogs)

Have questions for our speakers? Please include your questions in the registration form or send your questions to myrna.macdonald@usask.ca.

Once you register for a session, the WCVM will forward the Zoom meeting link to all registrants.

Please note: for the May 8 presentation, the Zoom meeting link will only be sent to registrants who are attending remotely. 

Questions

Please contact: 

Myrna MacDonald
Communications, WCVM
myrna.macdonald@usask.ca | 306-291-9950