WSAVA Activities and Committee Reports
WSAVA CE Events
Spring was a busy season for WSAVA-sponsored continuing education meetings and saw a first for WSAVA - co-sponsoring the first course of the Continuing Education project in Iran with the Iranian Small Animal Veterinary Association. This represents the first WSAVA sponsored CE meeting in the Middle East.
The meeting took place on June 20, 2004 at the Tehran Veterinary Faculty and featured Dr. Didier Noel Carlotti, President of the French Companion Animal Veterinary Association and past President of FECAVA, speaking on dermatology in companion animals. Lecture topics for the day-long event included differential diagnosis of skin diseases in dogs and cats, diagnosis and management of canine pyoderma, and management of allergic skin diseases. Approximately one month earlier, WSAVA facilitated another dermatology seminar, with this one occurring in Shanghai and featured Dr. Peter Ihrke of the University of California at Davis (see Figure). As well as a world-renowned veterinary dermatologist, Dr. Ihrke is the American College of Veterinary Dermatology representative to WSAVA. The meeting was co-sponsored by Intervet, with Dr. Veronica Leong of Intervet making all of the local arrangements. Approximately 60 people were in attendance.
WSAVA Gastrointestinal Standardization Group
The WSAVA GI Standardization Group held its inaugural meeting in conjunction with the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Forum from June 8 - 10 at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. Their initial focus will be on establishing clinical, clinicopathological, endoscopic, histopathologic, and immunopathologic standardization of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) as well as endoscopic biopsy guidelines. The group is comprised of the following veterinary scientists:
• Thomas Bilzer, University of Dusseldorf, Germany
• Claudio Brovida, WSAVA representative, Italy
• Michael Day, University of Bristol, UK
• Grant Guilford, Massey University, New Zealand
• Edward Hall, University of Bristol, UK
• Joanne Mansell, Texa A & M University, USA
• Takeo Minami, Pet-Vet Yokahoma, Japan
• Robert Washabau, University of Pennsylvania, USA
• Brian Wilcock, University of Guelph, Canada
• Michael Willard, Texas A & M University, USA
As well, Drs. Robert DeNovo, University of Tennessee, and Albert Jergens, Iowa State University, will represent the American Gastrointestinal Group at WSAVA GI Standardization Group meetings that take place within the USA. The next meeting is scheduled for the North American Veterinary Conference in Orlando in January, 2005. The WSAVA recognizes the generous support of Hill's Pet Nutrition, whose funding has assisted in making the valuable work of this group a reality.
WSAVA Member Association Updates
Tunisian Small Animal Veterinary Association
In their semi-annual report, Dr. Faouzi Kechrid reports that there are approximately 1000 companion animal veterinarians within Tunisia practicing in 150 companion animal dedicated facilities. Among its recent activities, the TSAVA organized a seminar on canine Leishmaniasis that saw the participation of 150 veterinarians and in June, hosted both a cat and dog show that had approximately 1200 participants vying for the titles of the best and most beautiful cat and dog.
NEWS From Around the World
Formation of Internal Medicine Technician Specialty
At the recent American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Forum in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the first annual meeting of the Academy of Internal Medicine Veterinary Technicians took place. This group represents technicians involved in oncology, cardiology, neurology, and large and small animal internal medicine specialty practices. The group plans to petition the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America for specialty status with the hope to offer its first credentialing examination in June, 2007.
Austria Enacts Strict Animal Rights Laws
From the Associated Press came the following piece of news from Vienna, Austria.
Austrian lawmakers were cited as approving one of Europe's toughest animal rights laws, a measure that forces farmers to uncage chickens and bars pet owners from clipping their dog's ears or tails. The law, enacted by a unanimous vote in parliament, outlaws the use of lions and other wild animals in circuses and makes it illegal to restrain dogs with chains, choke collars, or 'invisible fence' - devices that administer mild electric shock. Those found guilty of animal cruelty under the new laws would be subject to fines up to $18,000 in extreme cases.
Pet Owners Should Have Legal Obligations
And this from Reuters in London: The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), was cited as saying that British pet owners should be legally obliged to care for their animals because growing numbers of exotic pets suffer through abuse and ignorance. The story notes that the RSPCA collected more than 2,500 neglected or abandoned exotic pets last year, and that a survey showed pet shops, owners, and veterinarians all lacked the knowledge to care for them. The charity was quoted as saying in a statement that "Under the duty of care, all animal owners would have a legal responsibility to ensure that animals have adequate food and water, appropriate shelter and environment, and access to proper veterinary treatment."
WSAVA/FECAVA/HVMS Congress Update
And the winner is……
In the May, 2004 WSAVA Monthly NEWs, a contest titled All Rhodes [read: roads] lead to the WSAVA Congress was announced and called for WSAVA members to enter their best play on words that had both a Greek and veterinary connection. We are pleased to announce that the winning entry was "Hope to see one of the famous Hellenic cats of Rhodes" submitted by Dr. Peter Sterchi of Switzerland. Dr. Sterchi will receive complimentary congress registration and a bottle of the local 'flavourite' - Ouzo!
The Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society continues to gear up for the WSAVA/FECAVA/HVMs World Congress with 100 speakers (including 5 state-of-the -art lectures), precongress meetings of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS) and the International Veterinary Ear, Nose, and Throat Association (IVENTA), an animal welfare congress, and International Elbow Working Group (IEWG) Symposium, and a FECAVA Symposium on The Hereditary Diseases of Small Animals. All of this wonderful CE is rounded out by two great social events - the Greek Night in the open air pool and gardens of the Rodos Palace Hotel and Convention Centre (sponsored by Waltham and Merial) and the Gala dinner in the Dome of the Rodos Palace Hotel and Convention Centre (sponsored by the Iams company). It will be a congress to remember!
