Since 2014, the WCVM has completed more than 1,000 vet checks in the tri-communities. (Submitted photo/Northern Animal Rescue)

By Derek Cornet

pet care

WCVM returning to tri-communities for second vet clinic of 2022

Jun 1, 2022 | 5:00 PM

Saskatoon’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) will be back in the tri-communities next week and many spots remain open for surgeries.

Veterinarians and university students will be at the Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre from June 9–12. It follows a previous visit held only a few weeks ago and while regular vet checks are completely booked, Dr. Jordan Woodsworth mentioned there’s room for spay and neutering appointments.

“The nice thing about coming so soon after the last time we came is we are able to see patients that need boosters within a reasonable timeframe, so we can ensure their immunity is up to snuff,” she said. “Especially puppies and pets we haven’t seen before and ones that are quite young, it’s really important they get second booster within four to six weeks to make sure their immunity is high. We’ve been able to do that this time because we have the clinics so close together.”

Woodsworth explained there has been some confusion about what spay and neutering encompasses. Those surgeries involve removing reproductive organs, so that those cats and dogs can no longer reproduce. In males, that involves removing the testicles and in females it involves removing the ovaries and sometimes also the uterus.

Other benefits from spaying and neutering include the elimination of certain cancers and certain complications that can arise. Woodsworth added it is particularly important for residents living in places like the tri-communities to take a preventative approach to pet care considering the lack of vet services.

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“In females, especially if we can spay them before they’ve had even one heat, then we can prevent them from having a higher risk of mammary cancer or breast cancer,” she said. “We can also prevent infections in their uterus, which can be a medical emergency. In males, we can prevent both diseases of the testicles and the anal glands.”

When the veterinarians and students were in the tri-communities previously between May 12–15, they performed 90 surgeries and 62 vet checks. Since 2014, WCVM has completed more than 1,000 vet checks.

“It was one of the busiest clinics we’ve had in a few years because of the slowness of the pandemic,” Woodsworth said. “We had a great crew and everything went efficiently. It was really productive. We were really pleased.”

To book an appointment, a registration form must be completed and sent to the WCVM. Instructions on how to do so can be found online here.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno