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WSAVA Monthly NEWs – December, 2009

WSAVA Elects a new Vice President

Dr. Peter Ihrke was elected by electronic ballot to join the WSAVA executive Board in the recently vacated WSAVA Vice President position. His duties began on October 1, 2009. Dr. Ihrke has had a long history of involvement and contribution to the WSAVA, both as the Assembly representative of affiliate member the American College of Veterinary Dermatology (ACVD) and as an avid participant in the delivery of WSAVA CE. The latter commitment has resulted in his spending his current sabbatical year traveling extensively throughout South America providing continuing education lectures, assisting in the dermatology service duties of various South American veterinary colleges, and being an ambassador of the WSAVA.
For those who may not be familiar with Dr. Ihrke’s background and accomplishments, he graduated from and completed a Residency in Dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania. He was a Diplomate of the ACVIM (dermatology) and then became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology (ACVD). Currently, Dr. Ihrke is a Professor of Dermatology and Chief of Dermatology at the University of California, School of Veterinary Medicine. He also is an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor of Dermatology at Stanford University School of Medicine.
Dr. Ihrke is the author or coauthor of over 200 papers, book chapters, and proceedings and has co-authored, authored or co-edited 4 books. He has lectured at 442 veterinary meetings including 17 world congresses and 64 additional international veterinary meetings in 37 countries. His interests include all skin diseases in all species with emphasis on infectious skin diseases and immunologic skin diseases.
He has served as President and other positions on the executive boards of the ACVD, the American Academy of Veterinary Dermatology (AAVD), the Academy of Veterinary Allergy (AVA), the 4th World Congress of Veterinary Dermatology, and the American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS).
His most meaningful honors include the Faculty School-wide Distinguished Teaching Award at UC Davis, Honorary Life Member in the European Society of Veterinary Dermatology (ESVD), 3 school-wide student teaching awards at Davis, the ACVD Award for Excellence, being named an Honorary Foundation Diplomate in the Asian College of Veterinary Dermatology, and receiving the World Small Animal Veterinary Association WSAVA Hill’s Excellence in Veterinary Healthcare Award in 2009.

WSAVA Members in the News

Dr. Ray Butcher, co-chair of the WSAVA Animal Welfare Committee, was presented with the British Veterinary Association CHIRON AWARD 2009.
The award, which marks outstanding contributions to veterinary science or for outstanding services to the profession, judged in either case as being of a calibre commanding international or interprofessional recognition, was presented to Dr Butcher during the Awards Ceremony at the BVA’s Annual Congress in Cardiff on Saturday, September 26, 2009.
Dr Butcher has dedicated his career to advancing animal welfare. As well as working in his clinic he is currently a Veterinary Advisor and Board Member of the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), involved mainly in promoting humane methods of stray dog control throughout the world. He represents WSPA on the World Health Organization (WHO) working group dedicated to reduce the burden of rabies in Asia and is a Founding Director and Board Member of the Alliance for Rabies Control, an organization whose vision is a world where all countries have eliminated rabies.
Most recently Ray has been involved with the Blue Dog Trust – a multidisciplinary project to educate children how to behave with dogs in order to reduce the incidence of dog bite injuries in young children.
He has been presented with numerous awards from distinguished bodies, including the 2000 WSAVA International Award for Service to the Profession and the special service awards from the national companion animal veterinary associations of Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, and Hungary. He has been awarded Honorary Membership status of the BSAVA. In 2007 he was awarded the Alf Wight Memorial Award for Animal Welfare by the BSAVA/Blue Cross. BSAVA has also awarded him the Melton Award and the Frank Beattie Travel Scholarship.
He is also a Past President of both the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) and the Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations (FECAVA).

WSAVA Member Association Updates: WSAVA CE program 2009 was held in Shanghai

Geoffrey Chen DVM. Shanghai Small Animal Veterinary Association, President and WSAVA Representative, and Federation of Small Animal Veterinary Association, Representative
On September 17th, 2009, the Annual World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Continuing Education program was held in Shanghai Science Hall.
WSAVA had invited Dr. Terry King from Australia Veterinary Specialist Services Pty Ltd to deliver a lecture about Emergency Veterinary Medicine & Critical Care. Dr. Terry King graduated from the University Of Queensland School Of Veterinary Science in 1975 and spent the next 19 years in private practice in Brisbane north western suburbs. After a year's sojourn in the USA and Brisbane's Animal Emergency Centre, Terry joined the University of Queensland Veterinary Teaching Hospital in late 1995 as a medical resident, becoming Director of the Clinic and Hospital in 1997 and 2002. Dr. King enjoys the emergency side of veterinary practice and has a special interest in treating the critically ill. He is highly committed to family veterinary medicine, prolonging the human-animal bond.
Dr. Terry King had delivered lectures about “The Emergency Management” and “The Management of Three Selected Acute Conditions” last year. This year, he gave lectures about “Diagnosis and Treatment of Sepsis in dogs and cats” and “Transfusion in critical cases”. By using clinical cases, he explained the differences of sepsis between dogs and cats, fluid therapy and transfusion in emergency cases, etc.
The lecture was introduced by the President Dr. Geoffrey Chen , and was translated by Dr. Shu Dai from Hill’s Pet Nutriton China Division. The WSAVA CE program in Shanghai was sponsored by Bayer Healthcare, Hill’s Pet Nutrition China Division, and Intervet/Schering Plough Animal Health.
The Science hall was fully packed with attendants. The lecture started at 9:00 a.m and ended by 5:00 p.m. There were 175 veterinaries who are from Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu.

WSAVA World Congress Geneva 2010 Update

Invitation from Dr. Christophe Amberger, Congress Organizing Committee Chair
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
On behalf of the Swiss Society of Small Animal Medicine, I am really pleased to invite you to the WSAVA 2010 world meeting in Geneva on June 2 to 5. We are planning to offer you a stimulating scientific meeting as well as a large and attractive social programme. The FECAVA and the FAFVAC will be associated to our congress and hold their annual symposium. Parallel to the main meeting in English, German and French streams will be organised. Geneva is a living postcard with a long history of warm and generous host reception, dating back to the 17th century. All sessions will be held at the Palexpo, near the airport, with a direct train connection to the main railway station of Geneva, downtown near the lake and all facilities of the city centre.

Waiting to seeing you there

Chris Amberger, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee

Feature on SOTALs
State-of-the-art-Lectures, or SOTALs, are designed to present current scientific information on emerging or contemporary issues in small animal veterinary medicine. Always very popular, this coming year’s lectures include:
• Feline leukemia virus infection: Overview and new developments
• Canine IBD: Did we learn anything since we switched millennium
• Hospital Infections
• Infectious disease and the kidney
• Total hip replacement
• Advances in Cardiology
More information on the scientific program, social events, and other highlights of the WSAVA 2010 Geneva World Congress website can be accessed through the WSAVA website Homepage or directly at www.wsava2010.org
Register online now - “early bird” registration available until February 15, 2010.

Abstract Submissions still being accepted online through until January 31, 2010.

Wishing all of our WSAVA family and colleagues within the veterinary/animal health profession a wonderful holiday season and all the very best wishes throughout the New Year.

BSAVA December 2009

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WSAVA Monthly NEWs - November, 2009

WSAVA Adopts ‘One Medicine’ Theme for its 50th Anniversary Year

Recognising the link between animal diseases and public health, The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has adopted the theme of ‘One Medicine’ for its 50th anniversary year which will culminate at the WSAVA 2010 Geneva World Congress, taking place June 2-5, 2010 (see below).

In adopting this theme, WSAVA aims to promote closer collaboration between the medical and veterinary professions. It will encourage, for instance, the establishment of joint ventures in education, clinical care, surveillance and the control of cross-species disease. A similar theme of ‘One World, One Health’ has recently been adopted by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
The ‘One Medicine’ concept is gaining momentum as international veterinary and medical organisations recognise the benefits of closer collaboration. Throughout this, the WSAVA’s 50th anniversary year, WSAVA will be highlighting in practical terms the opportunities for improved human and animal health that a closer working relationship between the veterinary and medical professions will bring.

One Medicine will then form the centrepiece of the 2010 Geneva Congress with a series of lectures devoted to aspects of comparative medicine and emerging zoonotic infectious diseases, some of which will be delivered by colleagues from the world of human medicine. WSAVA Congress 2010, kindly sponsored again by the Prime Sponsor Hills Pet Nutrition, will also include an overview lecture ‘WSAVA: One World, One Medicine’ delivered by Professor Michael J Day, chairman of the WSAVA Scientific Advisory Committee.

WSAVA in its 50th Year – WSAVA President Dr. David Wadsworth Address to Assembly Members

Who would have thought that 50 years could pass so quickly! I think that the WSAVA has met and exceeded all the thoughts and aspirations that the small group of visionaries who met in 1959 could ever have envisaged. Currently over 70000 veterinary surgeons from over 70 countries are represented in the WSAVA Assembly.
WSAVA reaches out to developing countries with the unique WSAVA CE programme which in combination with our long term partners, Bayer Animal Health, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, and Intervet/Schering-Plough provides a day’s lectures to over 5000 veterinarians in 30 countries.

One of the first roles of the founding fathers was to stage a WSAVA Congress in combination with one of the national association members. Initially the congress was a biennial event but it’s popularity soon meant that it was held annually. 36 Congresses have been held in 19 countries and the vision of the current Assembly means that the next three congresses will be held in Geneva, Korea, and the UK, emphasizing the diversity and global nature of the Congress. WSAVA is proud to work closely with our Prime Partner, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, in the staging of these unique congresses which take cutting edge veterinary science to veterinary surgeons around the world.

The WSAVA Standardization projects are a relatively recent addition to the portfolio. There are currently three projects dealing with hepatic, gastro intestinal, and renal disease along with a standardization project for vaccination regimes. Groups of experts from all parts of the world meet and discuss regularly the histological symptoms of the various diseases and agree on a standardized terminology which will be the benchmark for all future veterinary diagnosis within these fields. Hill’s Pet Nutrition have generously funded the hepatic and GI projects and together with Bayer Animal Health have funded the Renal project. Intervet/Schering-Plough are the sponsors of the vaccination guidelines.

Hereditary Defects have been part of the veterinary world for even more years than WSAVA has existed and in combination with WALTHAM the Hereditary Defects committee is now looking at the genetic base for these problems and hopeful of providing guidelines for the future in a lecture to be given in Sao Paulo. The original WSAVA members were at the forefront of science in developing hip and elbow dysplasia schemes and the genetic detail now examined shows just how far and how quickly veterinary science is developing.

Animal welfare in the veterinary world goes without saying - and often without much thought being given to it. The WSAVA takes this aspect of veterinary science most seriously and currently sponsors programmes at regional congresses and makes it obligatory that any WSAVA Congress includes an animal welfare stream.

There have been many famous veterinary names associated with WSAVA - there is no space to include them all but Wayne Riser, Jean Maynard, Bill Magrane, Brian Singleton, Saki Paatsama, Jan Gajentaan, Carl Osbourne, and John Holt are giants who led the WSAVA and the profession for the first 25 years and founded what surely will be a legacy in the veterinary world for ever.

WSAVA World Congress Geneva 2010 – June 2-5, 2010 in Geneva, Switzerland

Geneva is proud to host the 35th WSAVA-Congress, the 16th FECAVA-Congress, 41st SVK-ASMPA-Congress, and the 3rd FAFVAC-Congress. An international city par excellence, Geneva has a historical tradition of humanitarian concern as well as involvement. The city is home to the head¬quarters of numerous international organiza¬tions such as the WHO and the Red Cross.

Capital city of a Swiss canton, Geneva has always valued democracy and the respect of the individual, its culture, and its language. Geneva’s multicultural population offers a platform for frank and constructive commu¬nication, and exchange of experiences with a vision to facilitate dialogue around the world.
The city offers many leisure activities and cultural entertainment which guarantee a pleasant and relaxing stay (in the European style) during the congress. Geneva is a great city with a perfect setting, exquisite food, and magnificent facilities. The central location will permit attendees to enjoy pre or post-congress visits to the surrounding countryside, the lake, the Alps, and will offer easy access to most capitals of Europe.

The WSAVA committee invites all of those who are dedicated to the study and treatment of all aspects of Small Animal Medicine to come and share their knowledge and experi¬ence in Geneva. The scientific program is set and features 4 days of cutting edge veterinary science with 6 simultaneous streams providing lectures in English at both the advanced and generalist level. Trademark features of the WSAVA World Congress, including State-of-the-Art Lectures, Animal Welfare Stream, Hereditary Defects Stream, and member association streams (e.g. NAVC), as well as a Veterinary Nursing and Management Program, add diversity to the strong scientific program featuring renowned veterinary scientists from around the world. These lectures are complemented by two pre-congress all-day seminars hosted by the European Society of Veterinary Cardiology (ESVC) and the International Veterinary Ear, Nose, and Throat Association (IVENTA) – both WSAVA Affiliate Member Associations.

The social program will also be a highlight, featuring the culture and beauty of host city Geneva and the country of Switzerland during the Opening Ceremonies on June 2, the Gala Dinner on June 3, the Swiss Night on June 4, and the Closing Ceremonies – highlighting WSAVA World Congress 2011 in Jeju, Korea – on June 5.

Don’t delay as online registration is open with “early bird” registration available until February 15, 2010. The WSAVA 2010 Geneva World Congress website can be accessed through the WSAVA website Homepage or directly at www.wsava2010.org

Abstract Submission Open

Abstracts for oral or poster presentation at the WSAVA 2010 Geneva World Congress in the following subject categories are now being accepted.
• Animal Welfare/Pain medicine/ Behaviour Medicine
• Cardiology
• Respiratory medicine
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Dermatology
• Emergency Medicine/Critical Care/ Anaesthesia
• Endocrinology
• Exotic animals
• Gastroenterology/Hepatology
• Genetics
• Infectious Diseases/Laboratory Medicine
• Practice Economy and Management
• Uro-Nephrology
• Medical and surgical Neurology/Physical therapy
• Oncology
• Ophthalmology
• Orthopaedics
• Reproduction
• Soft tissue Surgery

Abstracts can be submitted online at the Congress website.

Deadline for abstract submission: January 31st, 2010
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WSAVA Monthly NEWs – October 2009

WSAVA 2009 Sao Paulo Congress Highlights

Close to 3,500 attendees from all over the world came together in the bustling and cosmopolitan city of Sao Paulo, Brazil to learn and celebrate the collegiality of veterinary medicine in one of the largest WSAVA World Congresses ever held. Hosted by ANCLIVEPA Brazil, the 34th WSAVA World Congress was held in conjunction with the 30th ANCLIVEPA Brazil Congress, the 9th CONPAVEPA Regional Congress of Small Animal Veterinary Medicine Sao Paulo, and the 6th FIAVAC Congress. In addition to the scientific program that featured over 80 world-renowned veterinary lecturers covering over 30 disciplines in 9 simultaneous session streams, including 5 State-of-the-Art Lectures (SOTALS), there was a WSAVA Animal Welfare stream, a WSAVA Hereditary Diseases stream, a North American Veterinary Conference stream, and 3 Pre-Congress Forums. One centered on the discipline of ophthalmology and was co-hosted by ISVO, CLOVE, and CBVO; another was on Tibial Tuberosity Advancement using XGen plates featuring Professor Cassio Auada Ferrigno; and the third was on Advanced Topics in Acupuncture by Dr. Huisheng Xie.

The international appeal of the WSAVA World Congress was reflected in the attendee diversity, with people attending from 55 countries representing every continent but Antarctica. There was tremendous support from within Brazil with attendees from 26 of the 27 States of the Brazilian Federation.

Evenings were spent meeting old friends and making new ones at a variety of lively social events. The Opening Ceremonies took place on Tuesday, July 21 at the Alfa Theater. Following presentation of the prestigious WSAVA Awards (see below), spirited demonstrations of samba, bosa nova, and football (soccer) took place. The evening closed with cocktails served in the Theater reception area. The following night hosted the elegant Gala dinner that was held at the luxurious Hotel Grande Hyatt with diners serenaded by Brazil’s Band Jazz Trio. The tempo picked up on Thursday night for the Brazilian Party. Held at the HSBC Brazil Hall, the evening featured cultural dances and music from a variety of performers that included the San Marco Band, Mocidade Alegre, and a samba school – and even the Congress Organizers and WSAVA Assembly members, who were invited to the stage to show their newly learned Brazilian dance techniques! As the saying goes, “all good things must come to an end”, as Friday saw the Closing Ceremonies where the hard work of the many volunteers was recognized and a presentation by next year’s Congress host – Geneva, Switzerland – ensured that many of those present would be sure to join their colleagues again for the 35th WSAVA Congress to be held from June 2-5, 2010 in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Congress was supported by WSAVA Prime Partner Hill’s Pet Nutrition; Gold Sponsors Nutriara, Vetnil, and Royal Canin; and Bronze sponsors Pfizer, Merial, and Biovet. They joined the 300 exhibitor-strong Exhibition Hall, which was combined with the 9th EDICAO Pet South America Fair featuring the latest and most innovative pet care products – a first for a WSAVA World Congress – and expected to attract over 20,000 people.

For more information on the 2008 WSAVA Congress, including a photo gallery, visit the Homepage of the WSAVA website at www.wsava.org.

WSAVA Assembly Meeting
WSAVA President Dr. David Wadsworth welcomed the Assembly members after an 11-month hiatus since the last assembly meeting in Dublin, Ireland on August 19, 2008. He began the meeting with an overview of the last 50 years of WSAVA activities, accompanied by a power point presentation that provided pictorial highlights gathered over the years. All this to launch the WSAVA’s 50th birthday year, which will culminate with several celebratory events in Geneva, Switzerland during next years’ Congress. He then provided assembly members updates from a very active WSAVA leadership, including the Executive Board and various committees, which he highlighted in his Congress President’s Message (see July WSAVA News).

This Assembly meeting marked a milestone year for the WSAVA Assembly as a number of critical and key initiatives were discussed and adopted. These included:

• A motion to formalize the WSAVA as an incorporated and not-for-profit entity in Canada. While simply formalizing how the WSAVA has historically operated, this move will also provide the association with legal status, volunteer/member liability protection, and greater transparency and professionalism of activity.
• A motion to modify how the WSAVA World Congress is administered was adopted and will see the WSAVA take on a more active role in the areas of Congress finances and scientific program with the host association playing a key role in continuing to oversee the social programs, highlighting the cultural uniqueness of their region – a very popular and unique feature of WSAVA Congresses.
• The establishment of a charitable Foundation that will provide greater opportunities for members of the international small animal community to show their support of WSAVA global activities through financial donations.
• A report from the WSAVA’s new Treasurer, Dr. Diane Sheehan, that confirmed the association finances to be in good stead, especially considering the current trying economic times, and thanks in large part to the generous support of our sponsors, particularly our Prime Sponsor – Hill’s Pet Nutrition, as well as our growing membership and the high rate of 2008 dues payment.
• Dr. Veronica Leong from Hong Kong was elected as a 7th Executive Board member.

In addition, the past and ongoing contributions of Dr. Didier-Noel Carlotti to the WSAVA and international veterinary community were recognized through his receipt of the 2009 WSAVA President’s Award. As well, the assembly members voted in favour of accepting one new full member association – Venezuela; two associate member associations – Cuba and Nepal; and three affiliate member associations – International Veterinary Association of Pain Management (IVAPM), the European Society of Veterinary Cardiology (ESVC), and the Latin American Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (LAVECCS).

And finally, New Zealand was voted as the host of the 2013 WSAVA Congress to take place in Christchurch, New Zealand in March, 2013.

Click to review the draft Assembly Minutes.

2009 WSAVA Award Winners

WSAVA WALTHAM International Award for Scientific Achievement
This award is based on outstanding contributions by a veterinarian who has had a significant impact on the advancement of knowledge concerning the cause, detection, cure and/or control of disorders of companion animals.

Professor Robert Washabau VMD, PhD, Diplomate ACVIM (Internal Medicine), Professor of Medicine and Department Chair of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the University of Minnesota, chair WSAVA Gastrointestinal Standardization (GI) Group which creates standards for the clinical and histological diagnosis and treatment of GI disease.

WSAVA INTERVET/SCHERING PLOUGH International Award for Service to the Profession
The Award is presented to a person who has given exemplary service in fostering and enhancing the exchange of scientific and cultural ideas throughout the veterinary small animal world.

Dr Larry G Dee DVM DABVP (Canine and Feline), Hollywood Animal Hospital, Hollywood, Florida. The award was made to him to honour his nine years’ service to the WSAVA Executive Committee, including two years as president between 2004 and 2006.

WSAVA HILL’S Mobility Award
This award is presented to recognize the outstanding work of a clinical researcher in the field of canine and feline orthopaedic medicine and surgery. Through improvements in the mobility and quality of life of pets, this person’s research has contributed significantly to the well-being of pets’ lives and to the human-animal bond world-wide.

Duncan X Lascelles BVSc, PhD, DACVS, DECVS, RCVS CertVA (Anaesthesiology and Small Animal Surgery), Associate Professor in Small Animal Surgery, Director of the Comparative Pain Research Laboratory, and Director of the Integrated Pain Management Service at North Carolina State University College.

WSAVA Hills Excellence in Veterinary Healthcare Award
This award recognizes the outstanding work of veterinarians in promoting companion animal healthcare and the family pet/veterinary bond through a special sensitivity to both clients and patients using leading edge clinical nutrition and advanced medical and surgery techniques.

Professor Peter J Ihrke VMD, DACVD, DECVD, Professor of Dermatology and Chief of Dermatology at the University of California, School of Veterinary Medicine. He’s also an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor of Dermatology at Stanford University School of Medicine.

WSAVA President’s Award
This award is made only periodically by the President of the WSAVA to a member of the WSAVA who is judged to have made an outstanding contribution to the association.

This year, the award was made to Didier-Noel Carlotti, Doct-Vet DECVD. Dr. Carlotti is a dermatologist based in Bordeaux, France, who has contributed scientifically internationally in his chosen discipline. He has also been a hugely effective force in the wider small animal veterinary field in both France (AFVAC), where he has just concluded his Presidency, and Europe where he was the Foundation President during the formation of FECVA.

Future Congresses
Geneva, Switzerland – June 2-5, 2010
Jeju, South Korea – October 14-17, 2011
Birmingham, UK – April 12-15, 2012
Christchurch, New Zealand – March, 2013

Proceedings Available On-Line
Proceedings from the WSAVA 2009 World Congress will soon be available on-line via the WSAVA website (link on the right-hand column of the Homepage).

The WSAVA World Congress proceedings are also available online in a partnership with IVIS (International Veterinary Information Service), a New York based, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the improvement of animal care by providing up-to-date, clinical information to veterinarians, veterinary students, and animal health professionals, WSAVA.

BSAVA October 2009

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WSAVA Monthly NEWs - September, 2009

WSAVA Activities and Committee Reports: A Focus on the WSAVA Standardization Projects

Integral to the adoption of WSAVA’s standardization projects is the peer-review provided by the WSAVA Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC). Chaired by Prof Michael Day, the SAC is also crucial to assisting in the planning of the various Congress scientific programs, assessment of nominations and recommendation of WSAVA Award winners, and suggested responses to requests for input on scientific matters, often received by the WSAVA Executive Board.

Another critical success factor to the WSAVA Standardization Projects was the recognition of their benefits to global companion animal health by a number of industry leaders in small animal veterinary medicine, including Bayer Animal Health, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, and Intervet Schering-Plough Animal Health. It is through their generous support that these initiatives became a reality.

Summary Reports from the WSAVA Standardization Projects Currently Active

1. WSAVA Gastrointestinal Standardization Group
The WSAVA Gastrointestinal Standardization Group was formed to develop a world-wide standard for the histological evaluation and diagnosis of gastrointestinal tract diseases. Without a uniform standard, it has been difficult to compare and contrast results reported in retrospective and prospective clinical trials. With the support of the WSAVA, the Gastrointestinal Standardization Group has been developing a standardized histological evaluation system for companion animal gastroenterological disorders. Standardization will yield several benefits including uniformity in the diagnosis of disease, staging of disease, and the subsequent development of controlled clinical trials for the treatment of canine and feline gastrointestinal disorders.
Meetings were held and comprehensive summaries of the Group’s efforts were presented at the 2008 Congress in Dublin, 2008 ACVIM Forum in San Antonio, 2007 ECVIM Congress in Budapest, 2007 ACVIM Forum in Seattle, 2006 WSAVA Congress in Prague, 2005 WSAVA Congress in Mexico City, and 2004 ACVIM Forum in Minneapolis.
Additionally, the goup has published its findings extensively, including:
• Day MJ, Bilzer T, Mansell J, Wilcock B, Hall EJ, Jergens A, Minami T, Willard M, Washabau R. Histopathological standards for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal inflammation in endoscopic biopsy samples from the dog and cat: a report from the World Small Animal Veterinary Association Gastrointestinal Standardization Group. Journal of Comparative Pathology 2008; 138: S1-S43.
• Willard M, Mansell J, Fosgate G, Gualtieri M, Olivero D, Lecoindre P, Twedt D, Collett M, Day M, Hall E, Jergens A, Simpson J, Else R, Washabau R. Effect of sample quality upon the sensitivity of endoscopic biopsy for detecting gastric and duodenal lesions in dogs and cats. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 2008; 22: 1084-1090
• ACVIM Consensus Statement on “Guidelines for Histopathological Assessment of Intestinal Inflammation in the Dog and Cat”. ACVIM Consensus Statements are designed to provide veterinarians with guidelines regarding the pathophysiology, diagnosis, or treatment of animal diseases. The foundation of the Consensus Statement is evidence-based medicine, but if such evidence is conflicting or lacking, the appointed panels provide interpretive recommendations on the basis of their collective expertise. The Group presented its report at a Full Plenary Session at the ACVIM Forum on June 7, 2008 in San Antonio. A more formal version of the Consensus Statement has been submitted to the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine for publication.
• An atlas of the Group’s work, “WSAVA Standards for Clinical and Histological Diagnosis of Canine and Feline Gastrointestinal Diseases”, is projected for 2010.

Future Plans
Projects of interest include:
1. Development of a standard for jejunal and ileal pathology
2. Standards for surgical biopsy of the G.I. tract.
3. Diagnosis and staging of gastrointestinal lymphoma, especially well-differentiated feline lymphoma
4. Biopsy standards for the diagnosis of intestinal lymphangiectasia
5. Relationship between histopathological and clinical findings

Please visit the Gastrointestinal Standardization page of the WSAVA website (www.wsava.org) for more information, including standardized forms for collecting and reporting information obtained during gastrointestinal endoscopy.

The WSAVA and WSAVA Gastrointestinal Standardization Group would like to extend our sincere appreciation to Hill’s Pet Nutrition for their generous sponsorship of this initiative.

2. WSAVA Renal Standardization Group
The purpose of this initiative is to employ the use of all three diagnostic modalities (light, electron, and immunofluorescent microscopy), as used in human nephropathology, to accurately characterize glomerular disease in proteinuric dogs, and to relate these findings to clinicopathological presentation and outcome. The project’s long-term goal is to better understand and evaluate and thus optimize the medical management of dogs with proteinuric renal disorders by identifying distinct glomerular diseases for which specific prognoses and therapeutic guidelines can be provided.

To accomplish, two diagnostic renal pathology centres (DRPC) – Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas and Utrecht University in Utrecht, The Netherlands – purchased Aperio, a slide digitizing system and software. The equipment has been installed, configured, and is functioning beyond initial expectation. This system allows samples to be submitted to the DRPC for processing and then digital capture of the entire stained section(s) on each microscopic slide. The scanned slides then can be examined by any of the committee members anywhere in the world through a computer. Electron microscopic and immunofluorescent microscopy images can be (and are being) digitally added to the database for viewing as well. The group of participating renal pathologists has expanded to include a number of additional group members from the USA and Europe.

The group has additionally developed an extensive electronic relational medial database for collection of clinical information on the patients for which biopsy samples are submitted. This comprehensive database will allow committee members to manipulate the data and facilitate follow-up studies as needed to develop the classification system and linkages between clinical and pathological findings.

The goal is to develop an unbiased dataset in which individual lesions can be quantified and manipulated statistically to identify logical and clinically useful combinations of clinical and pathological findings in developing a classification system for proteinuric dogs.

The group has successfully begun using a communication system that allows voice and visual conferencing on the study material. The system is cost effective and provides sharing of high quality images and excellent internet-based voice communication. The images can be manipulated by any member participating in the conference.

The project was presented at the ACVIM 2009 Forum in Montreal, Canada.

Future plans:
The group is exploring opportunities to prospectively gather more comprehensive case-specific information to be able to correlate disease classification, therapeutic protocol, and outcome thereby allowing better disease prognostication.

Please visit the Renal Standardization page of the WSAVA website (www.wsava.org) for more information about the group’s activities.

The WSAVA and WSAVA Renal Standardization Group would like to extend our sincere appreciation to Bayer Animal Health and Hill’s Pet Nutrition for their generous sponsorship of this initiative.

3. Vaccine Guidelines Group
The first phase of the WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines Group (VGG) is now complete and allowed production of international guidelines for veterinarians that were published in the Journal of Small Animal Practice and are widely available on-line via the WSAVA website (http://www.wsava.org/SAC.htm) . The guidelines were formally presented at the 2007 Sydney Congress and since that time members of the VGG have spoken widely on them in the USA, UK, elsewhere in Europe and in Australia.
The VGG has now been reconvened for a second phase of activity following agreement of sponsorship from Intervet Schering-Plough Animal Health. This sponsorship will permit a further one year cycle of activity with three face-to-face meetings. The first of these meetings was held from 1st – 3rd February 2009.
Under the leadership of the new VGG chair, Professor Michael Day, the
second phase of the VGG activity will:
• Update the 2007 Guidelines
• Survey WSAVA member associations to collect and analyse feedback on the VGG guidelines
• Prepare a new set of guidelines for pet owners and breeders
• Present a discussion paper on key issues in teaching of veterinary immunology and vaccinology
The members of the VGG and the WSAVA would like to thank Intervet Schering-
Plough Animal Health for their kind generosity in sponsoring the activities
of the VGG.

4. Liver Standardization Group
This group’s activities have culminated in worldwide standardization for histological evaluation of liver tissues for liver diseases of dogs and cats, including unified nomenclature, well-defined histological diagnostic criteria, and precise definition of chronicity stages and grades of diseases. Additionally, recommendations surrounding the requirements for tissue staining techniques and size of tissue specimens have been recommended for the different diseases. Descriptions and typical slides of all relevant liver diseases of dogs and cats have been made available as a reference for all veterinarians through the publication of WSAVA’s first textbook, titled WSAVA Standards for Clinical and Histopathological Diagnosis of Canine and Feline Liver Diseases, available through Elsevier.

The group’s work has been extensively presented at various veterinary conferences around the world, including the recent ACVIM 2009 Forum in Montreal, Canada, and was made possible through the generous sponsorship of Hill’s Pet Nutrition.

BSAVA September 2009

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WSAVA Monthly NEWs – August, 2009

In Memoriam
Dr. Anna Elizabeth Worth, past American Animal Hospital Association President and WSAVA representative, passed away peacefully Saturday May 16, 2009 at her home surrounded by her family following a valiant fight with cancer.

Anna was very involved in organized veterinary medicine. Locally, she served on the Board of the Bennington County Humane Society. She also served as President of the Vermont Veterinary Medical Association (VVMA), where she founded and edited the VVMA newsletter. She served as the Vermont delegate to the American Veterinary Medical Association from 1992 - 1999. In 1992 she received the Massachusetts SPCA Veterinarian of the Year Award, and in 1997 the David Walker Award. She served as chairperson for the Vermont Cruelty Task Force and the Vermont Animal Welfare Committee.

Across the past 12 years, Anna became passionately involved with the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). She served on numerous AAHA committees, including the Foundation Board of Trustees, the Accredited Referral Practice Task Force, and the Animal Welfare and Ethics Task Force. She acted as the AAHA representative for the CATalyst Council, National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy, and the World Small Animal Veterinary Association. In 2005 she helped found the AAHA Helping Pets Fund, which provides funds to pets and clients in need. From 2008 to 2009, during her illness, she served as the AAHA President and championed Student Advocacy, Mentoring Guidelines, and had numerous speaking engagements at veterinary colleges in the US and Canada. During her AAHA tenure, she continued to be involved in other veterinary activities, including a Veterinary Management Group, the AAHA Veterinary Management Institute, and President of the Society for Veterinary Medical Ethics. Because of her accomplishments and far-reaching influence, she will be missed by members of her profession worldwide.

Anna grew up in a home where she was allowed to bring her treasured donkeys into her parents' living room. Her love for the natural world was evident in her vocation and hobbies, which included gardening, astronomy, riding her motorcycle, playing tennis, bicycling, camping, and boating. Anna was a voracious reader and loved trying new things, traveling, and meeting people. She was actively involved in the community, participating in the Parent Teacher Association, the MAU High School Curriculum Committee, and the Vermont Women's Fund.

WSAVA Activities & Member Association Updates
WSAVA Member Associations continue in their traditional trend of being busy implementing CE and a variety of other association initiatives. In preparation for the WSAVA Assembly meeting held on July 20, 2009 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the following WSAVA member associations have provided annual reports that are easily viewed on the Members’ Pages of the WSAVA website (www.wsava.org):

• ACVD
• Argentina
• Australia
• Austria
• Croatia
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Greece
• Hong Kong
• India
• Ireland
• Korea
• Lithuania
• Malaysia
• NAVC
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Peru
• Serbia
• Shanghai
• Singapore
• South Africa
• Switzerland
• Sweden
• UK
• USA (AAHA)

The Member’s Pages of the WSAVA website continue to be popular, as does the WSAVA website in general, with 2008 traffic flow statistics indicating:
• The website broke the 2 million hit mark (2,116,624) representing a 10% increase over 2007, averaging greater than 175,000 per month and approximately 5,800 per day
• Page views (actual page visits) were 526,141, representing an increase of over 20% compared to 2007
• The largest number of visitors were from the USA, represented approximately 36% of visits, with the remaining top 10, in order of visits, were: UK, Canada, Australia, Italy, Spain, China, France, Mexico, and Germany.
• 91% of visitors came directly to the www.wsava.org site.
• Google was the most common referral search engine.
• The most common search phrases used to arraive at www.wsava.org included WSAVA, tail docking, small animals and veterinary associations
• The most popular pages/sections viewed included the Homepage, microchipping, tail docking, congresses, news, and member association pages.

All in all, these numbers indicate a continued and growing interest in the WSAVA and its various initiatives and member associations.

NEWS From Around the World

World Rabies Day 2009, September 28, 2009.
World Rabies Day is just around the corner and we’d like to take this opportunity to inform you about some new resources and utilities available via our web site (www.worldrabiesday.org). We also invite you to submit information about any events you are planning for this year’s campaign! We will be updating our website throughout the coming months and we encourage you to check back regularly for new and helpful planning materials.

• We want to hear about your events! Please send event information to: peter.costa@worldrabiesday.org
• Attention Shelters and Human Associations, we’ve recently initiated a web page just for you! Here you will find educational materials that are freely downloadable. The web page is available at: http://www.worldrabiesday.org/EN/Get_Involved/Shelters.html. For more information, please contact Mylissia Stukey (Shelter Outreach Coordinator) at mylissia.stukey@worldrabiesday.org.
• Follow World Rabies Day on Twitter (http://twitter.com/worldrabiesday) and post event stories/pictures on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=35575735236)!
• View/download/submit video at our YouTube site (http://www.youtube.com/user/worldrabiesday) and join the WRD Flickr Group (http://www.flickr.com/groups/wrd/)!
• Educational materials from around the world are available from the World Rabies Day Education Bank (http://www.worldrabiesday.org/EN/Education-Bank/english.html).
• Logos in over 25 languages can be found at: http://worldrabiesday.org/EN/Logo_Downloads.html. Please contact us for specific languages or to help create new logos.
• See what our global health advocates are saying about World Rabies Day! http://www.worldrabiesday.org/EN/Media_Center/Perspectives.html
• Fundraise! Funds donated to this initiative are used to support community level rabies control and education programs throughout the world with a specific focus on regions with high human rabies cases and uncontrolled rabies in dogs. Read about some of the projects currently underway: http://www.rabiescontrol.net/EN/Programs/Projects-Overview.html
• Partner with us! World Rabies Day is supported by partnering organizations throughout the world! If you are interested in becoming a partner, please contact peter.costa@worldrabiesday.org. A list of our current partners can be found at: http://www.worldrabiesday.org/EN/Our_Partners/Our_Partners.html
Announcements:
• The 20th International Conference on Rabies in the Americas (RITA) will be held October 19-23, 2009 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. For more information see: http://www.rita2009.org/
Thanks!
World Rabies Day Team

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WSAVA Monthly NEWs - July, 2009

WSAVA Activities and Committee Reports

Dr. David Wadsworth, WSAVA President, 2009 Assembly Report

The next WSAVA year will be even more exciting than this one has been. The 50th birthday celebrations will commence in Sao Paulo and conclude in Geneva in 2010 on the shores of Lac Leman with the Mont Blanc massif providing the backdrop for a wonderful Congress Banquet.

This year has seen a great deal of hard work by the various members of the Board and Committee Chairmen. The main theme has been that the time has come to add further professionalism to the WSAVA in all it’s facets. The Board, under the guidance of Walt Ingwersen, has been in discussions with solicitors and will be presenting a paper to the Assembly asking for approval of the decision to incorporate the WSAVA as a company in Canada and to register it as a Not-for-Profit entity. This charitable status should make discussions with sponsors easier. There will also be discussion on the formation of the WSAVA Foundation. Jolle Kirpensteijn has been the lead on this topic and he will give an update to the Assembly in Sao Paulo. It is envisaged that if all progresses smoothly, the WSAVA Foundation will be launched during the Geneva Congress.

As part of this professionalization process, the Board would like to see greater accessibility to the Association members and an ability to take decisions with the approval of the Assembly in between meetings. Brian Romberg, far from resting after his Presidential term, has been working hard to suggest amendments to the Constitution which will enable us to function in the 21st century. The Board is also looking to employ a part-time executive officer or a company/organization which can reduce the workload on the Honorary Secretary and other officers.

The Honorary Treasurer, Di Sheehan, has been updating the financial system with a view to making reporting easier – with incorporation comes the necessity to file accounts by a due date every year. She also has been looking very hard at WSAVA congresses and following up on the Strategic Planning meetings in Dublin which suggested that changes to the current format should be considered. While no changes can take place until 2014 at the earliest, it is imperative that decisions are taken – otherwise the WSAVA Congress will not move forward in a world which is rapidly changing. Di will also be leading on the next round of Strategic Planning meetings in Sao Paulo - it is vitally important that the views of all the association members are sought on an annual basis to allow the Board to take the WSAVA in the direction wished by the membership.

Luis Tello has been working hard to produce the news bulletins and leaflets which give knowledge of the WSAVA to the outside world. He has done a remarkable job in updating the image of WSAVA and is responsible for the production of the 50th birthday booklets and pins. In his spare time he has been organizing the Continuing Education events in South and Central America and is to be thanked for setting up a new event in Panama, in addition to the existing events in Uruguay, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela.

Jolle is also responsible for overseeing the WSAVA Congress bids and this year we have exciting proposals from Washington DC and Christchurch to consider. It is important that all Association members consider the bids carefully. Both have many merits and I hope that the decision will be taken on the basis of what the member association considers to be the best for WSAVA. He also is the negotiator for all the WSAVA sponsorship contracts and his efforts have resulted in close working partnerships with Hill’s Pet Nutrition who are the WSAVA Prime Sponsor for WSAVA Congresses, the GI, Hepatic and Renal standardization projects, the website and news bulletin production and of course the long running and most valuable WSAVA Continuing Education programme. Bayer Animal Health have provided invaluable assistance in the Renal Standardization project, the website and News Bulletin production and the CE courses, and Intervet/Schering-Plough, the vaccine standardization project and CE. We are extremely grateful to these companies whose aim is to work towards our shared goal of Continuing Veterinary Excellence.

The WSAVA CE programme continues to go from strength to strength with over 5000 delegates at 34 meetings in 30 countries being enthralled by the improvement to their post graduate education. I have said it before and I will repeat that CE is the cornerstone of WSAVA work – it entirely fits in with our vision to continue the development of global companion animal care and our mission to foster the exchange of scientific information between individual veterinary surgeons and veterinary organizations. The programme could not take place without the dedicated local organizers and the regional organisers, Luis Tello in South America, Roger Clarke in Asia, Lawson Cairns in Africa and Julian Wells in Eastern Europe. As well as our long term sponsors, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Bayer Animal Health, and Intervet-Schering Plough, we are grateful to the following associations who have all donated funding to support this venture – AFVAC, ASAVA, BSAVA, NACAM, NSAVA, HVMS, SVK, VOEK, DSAVA, FSAVA , CSAVA and SkSAVA. It is truly good to know that there are people with the vision to support the future of the profession.

The Animal Welfare committee – another cornerstone of WSAVA work continues to work hard at increasing the standards of animal welfare internationally. As veterinary surgeons we take it for granted that we are involved in animal welfare on a daily basis but there is so much more that can be achieved. Roger Clarke and Ray Butcher have organized programmes for the FASAVA Congress in Bangkok in November, for the WSAVA Congress in Sao Paulo and for the NAVC Congress in Orlando this year. They are in contact with other international welfare organizations and we hope that their efforts will continue to be effective in this field.

The Scientific Advisory Committee, under the chairmanship of Michael Day has strong ties with the academic world and our standardization projects are reported annually to ACVIM and ECVIM. The committee is formed entirely of internationally renowned academic veterinary surgeons and gives advice on congress programmes, state of the art lectures, the prestigious WSAVA Awards and oversees the scientific integrity of standardization project applications. We are grateful to all involved in the work of this committee.

I was fortunate to be able attend the 50th birthday celebrations of AFVAC in Strasbourg last year and have attended the BSAVA Congress in Birmingham and the German Congress in Baden Baden. The Board met during NAVC in Orlando for the spring meeting and Jolle has attended congresses in The Netherlands, Japan, and Korea. Di has been to the Australian Congress and Walt to AAHA. There have been interviews with the English Vet Times and Vet Pulse TV plus an interview with AnimalPharm, the newspaper of the pharmaceutical manufacturing companies.

All in all, a hectic 12 months and it is appropriate that I should also mention June Ingwersen, WSAVA Administrative Assistant, who has been working tirelessly alongside Walt to keep the show on the road both during his absences and when he is at home!

WSAVA Committee Highlight – The Scientific Advisory Committee or SAC
SAC Annual Report by Professor Michael Day

The WSAVA Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) advises and assists the WSAVA Executive Board in developing links with the academic world involved in research and development in Small Animal Veterinary Science. Its aim is to stimulate academic participation under the auspices of the WSAVA and at the same time to promote worldwide access to knowledge resulting from research.

Following the Dublin Congress in 2008, the SAC had a major change of membership as the chair and several members came to the end of their terms of office. The committee acknowledges the past leadership of Dr. Anjop Venker van Haagen and the contributions of Drs Robert Washabau, Hylton Bark and Maurice Rose. The current composition of the SAC is:
Michael J. Day, University of Bristol, United Kingdom [Chairman]
Marc Vandevelde, University of Berne, Switzerland
Yoshito Wakao, Azabu University, Japan
Dale Bjorling, University of Wisconsin, USA
Cecile Clercx, University of Liege, Belgium
Gad Baneth, Hebrew University, Israel
Lorrie Gaschen, Louisiana State University, USA
Richard Squires, James Cook University, Australia

A major role of the SAC is in the scientific scrutiny of new proposals for Standardization Projects and in monitoring the progress of existing projects.

The SAC has assessed a proposal from the WSAVA Gastrointestinal Standardization Group for a second phase of funding and made a recommendation to the Executive Board. The SAC has monitored the progress of the GI Group’s Phase I activities (which concluded in 2009) and has noted the recent completion of an ACVIM Consensus Statement to add to previous outcomes. The group continues to work towards production of a book and an agreement has now been signed with a publisher.

The SAC has assessed a proposal from the WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines Group for a second phase of funding. An endorsement was made to the Executive Board and funding was secured for this project. The VGG has now held two meetings (January and May 2009) and will be producing updated guidelines for veterinarians (late 2009) and guidelines for pet owners and breeders (2010) in addition to addressing education in veterinary immunology and vaccinology. The VGG is also conducting a review of vaccination practice in WSAVA member countries.

The SAC has reviewed an interim report from the WSAVA Renal Standardization Group and has had preliminary contact from the WSAVA Liver Standardization Group who will be submitting a proposal for a second phase of activity in 2009.

The SAC is also intimately involved in developing the Scientific Program for the annual World Congress, with the Geneva Programme already complete, selecting the WSAVA Award winners, and evaluating/advising the WSAVA Executive Board on the merits of a variety of scientific proposals that come before the WSAVA.

BSAVA July 2009

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WSAVA Monthly NEWs - June, 2009

WSAVA Activities and Committee Reports

Continuing Education (CE) Committee – an update from Committee Chair and WSAVA President, Dr. David Wadsworth

The WSAVA CE program continues to expand and give more top quality Continuing Professional Development to veterinary surgeons around the world. In 2008, a record number of over 5000 veterinarians attended over 30 meetings in 29 developing nations.

New countries to be involved in the program included Panama and Morocco. The development of a program in Africa supervised by Dr. Lawson Cairns is an indication of our desire to help nations who are only just beginning to recognize small animal veterinary surgery as part of their daily work. We have been fortunate that AFVAC (French Small Animal Veterinary Association), NACAM (Norwegian Small Animal Veterinary Association), and BSAVA (British Small Animal Veterinary Association) have been prepared to donate funds and expertise to this cause.

Our long term partners, Bayer Healthcare, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, and Intervet-SP recently met in Germany to discuss with WSAVA the plans for the future. The outcome was that while the program would continue in it’s present form, consideration would be given to developing a staged program for new participants. Starting with a fairly basic discussion on nutrition, parasite, and infectious disease control, the program would develop on an annual basis to dovetail exactly into the requirements of the average general practitioner within that country. The hope is that a pilot study could be started in an Asian country in 2009. Other innovations have been to encourage countries with small numbers of practicing veterinarians to attend CE meetings in neighbouring countries, Montenegro and Serbia, and to work with VPAT, Thailand who will invite delegates from neighbouring countries to the VPAT congress with a view to teaching them how to develop their own WSAVA CE programs.

It is very pleasing to report that the initial recipients of WSAVA CE who have been involved in the program since the beginning have now developed to such a stage that they put on stand-alone CE meetings and WSAVA merely gives help in finding speakers and making a small donation in exchange for an advert in their program. It is especially pleasing to see that both the Czech Republic and Slovakia have waived the donation and place the advert free of charge. In this way they have changed from a recipient country to a sponsoring country, enabling their funds to be channeled to more needy associations.

2009 is going to be a very exciting year, the 50th Anniversary of WSAVA and hopefully WSAVA CE being staged in more countries than ever.

CE on Africa – An update from Dr. Lawson Cairns

The WSAVA and its member associations assisted in hosting a recent CE event in association with the Nairobi Small Animal Veterinary Association from February 13-15, 2009 at the Nairobi Race Track Club House. Sponsorship was also received from the Kenyan veterinary association as well as Bayer Animal Healthcare, Kruse, Pedigree Pet Foods, and Pfizer Animal Health.
WSAVA was the main sponsor and supplied Prof Fred Reyers for 8 hours on topics such as Making a Diagnosis, Working Up a Weight Loss Case, Diagnosing Renal Disease, Blood Parasites, the Veterinarian and the World Wide Web, and Food Toxicosis (e.g., melamine) and this was followed by a Panel Discusion. Additionally, I provided a one-hour lecture on practice security and management.
The meeting was attended by 40 veterinarians and both Prof Reyers and more specifically myself spent some time in explaining the role and function of WSAVA with encouragement to think about joining WSAVA. While the majority of attendees were engaged in large animal veterinary care, it is impossible to get a strictly Companion Animal audience; however, the provision of companion animal lectures is welcome and improving the level of knowledge regarding companion animal care. There seemed to be really good enthusiasm for the congress with a request that we become involved again next year.
There is also some enthusiasm that we run a separate conference in Mombasa but the attendance may not be sufficient to justify this and I would not have a reliable contact such as John Sercombe available in that city, but I will investigate further perhaps to tag a course on at the end of a future Nairobi course.
I would like to include a thanks to John and Patsy Sercombe my contacts in Nairobi without whom the WSAVA involvement would have been impossible.

Future CE Courses Planned for 2009 in South Africa
On May 10th 2009 there was a further one-day session at Malelane farm, which is owned by Intervet-SP Animal Health, with invitations for both the Mozambique and the Swazi veterinarians. Dr. David Miller, a regular and excellent speaker for the WSAVA, addressed the veterinarians in attendance on practical and simple procedures they can use in their day-today practices.

Animal Aid for Africa plan to run a congress in Maputu for the Mozambique veterinarians and I have arranged, on behalf of WSAVA, to assist in sending a speaker to this congress.

WSAVA has also agreed to help with expenses for the Namibian Veterinary Associations congress usually held in October in Swakompund. They have invited Prof Dan Smeak to address them on surgery.
I have been trying to establish contacts in Zambia and Malawi but so far I have no definite plans to run CE in those countries but I will continue to try.

WSAVA Member Association Updates

American Animal Hospital Association Survey Explores Impact of Current Economic Climate on Veterinary Medicine in North America

Summary of the February 2009 AAHA Economic Impact Survey as reported in AAHA NewSTAT (prepared by Rocky Mountain Market Research, Inc)

The recession has affected veterinary practice revenues in the last half of 2008, but our sample estimates that this trend will not be as negative in the first half of 2009. For the last six months of 2008, half (50%) of the respondents reported that revenues were lower than during the first half of 2008, while less than a third (31%) saw an increase in revenues. Coincidentally, the average decrease in revenues was the same size as the average increase (9%), but unfortunately many more veterinarians reported decreases than increases. There were statistically significant differences in revenue declines across Full Time Equivalent (FTE) veterinarian categories. Of the practices that experienced decreases in revenue, the smallest practices (1.0 FTE) experienced greater decreases (12%) than did other practices. These data appear to be fairly accurate, with nearly nine out of ten (88%) veterinarians basing their responses on actual practice data instead of ‘gut feel.’
Looking forward, the expectations are not as bleak; About a third (35%) of the practices expect to see decreases in revenue for the first half of 2009 compared to 50% who experienced a revenue decline in the last half of 2008; 27% of the practices expect to see revenue increases compared with 31% who saw an actual increase in the last half of 2008. The largest percentage of practices (38%) expects to see no change in revenues. As before, the estimated average increase is coincidentally the same size as the estimated average decrease (8%). However, the accuracy of these more optimistic forecasts is questionable given that in our earlier study, only 16% of the practices expected to see revenue decreases in the last half of 2008 when in fact, revenues declined in half of the practices.
In the comment section of the survey, veterinarians mentioned a variety of adjustments they are making to cope with these difficult economic times. Some have implemented hiring freezes or reduced employee benefits, and some have trimmed staff. Practices appear to be adopting more divergent strategies concerning other aspects of the practice. Some have reduced advertising expenditures, while others are increasing marketing efforts, perhaps in media they believe are more cost effective, such as online marketing or communications with existing clients. Some practices have reduced or eliminated discounts, or even raised prices, in order to boost revenue, and they have become more diligent about collecting balances due. Other practices are becoming more flexible in billing, perhaps recognizing the financial difficulties facing their clients. The divergence in strategies may well reflect the conditions of the specific local markets that different veterinarians face.
In a related story from the recent AAHA conference in Phoenix, AZ, The head of the National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues (NCVEI) had some sobering advice for veterinarians this year. Presenting at the AAHA Yearly Conference’s Trends Executive Edge session “Crunch and Grow Your Numbers,” NCVEI CEO Karen E. Felsted, CPA, DVM, CVPM, told the audience that practices can no longer count on raising fees alone to deal with the tough economic times.
Felsted stressed that practices need to start making use of financial concepts when running their operations. She cited an AVMA-Pfizer business practices study, which showed that 62 percent of practice owners don’t use financial concepts to manage their businesses. Those that ran their practices like businesses showed 2/3 more earnings than those that did not, she said.

From 2001-2007, practices have seen between 7 and 18 percent growth in average transaction charges (ATC). However, the actual number of transactions per year has either decreased or increased only slightly during that period. In order to get through the recession with their clienteles – and bank accounts – intact, practices must start to improve earnings without simply raising fees, Felsted said.
This can be achieved through increased compliance efforts such as making all appropriate medical recommendations; a focus on service in order to keep existing clients and attract more; and improving profitability by keeping expenses under control and not giving away services.
Felsted also warned against offering too many discounts. She gave an example of a five-doctor practice, where the veterinarians gave discounts between 2 and 19 percent. At that practice, the discounts added up to a loss of nearly $250,000 per year, about 10 percent of annual revenue.
Medical record audits can be very important in order to capture lost or missed charges. The cost of having an employee review the records is almost always less than the lost revenue, according to Felsted.

BSAVA June 2009
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WSAVA Monthly NEWs - May, 2009

Dr. Claudio Brovida Retires as Standardization Projects Coordinator

Dr. Brovida – scholar, Past-President and friend of the WSAVA, and most recently, WSAVA Standardization coordinator, has decided to retire after years of service to the WSAVA in various capacities and offices. His vision led to the WSAVA Standardization projects that have brought the global academic community together to provide standards for the diagnosis and treatment of common small animal ailments that are of clinical relevance for veterinarians around the world.
Beginning at the time that Dr Claudio Brovida was to become President of the WSAVA, he had the dream of achieving at least one important goal during his term of office; as a result of his foresight and perseverance the WSAVA Standardization Projects were born. In February 2000 Claudio met with the then President of the WSAVA, Dr Klaus Dreir, and the Vice President, Dr Gabriel Varga, in Baden for a strategic planning meeting. Claudio had a vision that we could use our connections within the WSAVA to integrate general companion animal medicine and academia through linking the various research centres throughout the world. This ambitious project would be aimed at clinical problems the results of which would be of benefit to the companion animal practitioner and at the same time maintain the autonomy of the scientists concerned.
In June 2000 Claudio attended an ACVIM meeting and held discussions with Professor Robert Washabau and Dr Hylton Bark and planted the first seeds towards the establishment of the WSAVA Standardization Projects. Soon thereafter he met with Professor Jan Roothuizen of the Utrecht Veterinary School who was most enthusiastic about this undertaking and suggested a project focused on liver disease. Claudio and Jan exchanged ideas on a study proposal over the next several months. The WSAVA however was not in a position to finance such a study and sponsorship was needed to be raised. Subsequently, Claudio held discussions with Dr Hein Meyer of Hill’s Pet Nutrition who was also very enthusiastic about this proposal. In January 2001 Claudio was invited by Hein to the Hill’s headquarters in Topeka to address the directors and within minutes they agreed to be the sponsors of the first WSAVA Standardization Project.

An international committee of world-renowned specialists was convened and the WSAVA/Hills Liver Standardization Project was initiated. This three year project culminated in the publication of a book entitled “WSAVA Standards for Clinical and Histological Diagnosis of Canine and Liver Diseases.”
Since then, the WSAVA Gastrointestinal Standardization and Vaccination Projects have been completed (with the generous support of Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Intervet-Schering Plough Animal Health, respectively), Phase II of the Vaccination Project begun in 2009 (see below), as well as a four year Renal Standardization Project in 2008 (through the generous support of Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Bayer Animal Health). Other projects are also in the pipe line.
Our sincere gratitude is extended to Claudio and extend well wishes for all of his future endeavours!
For more information on the WSAVA Standardization Projects, visit the WSAVA website at www.wsava.org
Picture: Dr. Claudio Brovida doing what he loved most – clinics!

WSAVA supports global specialization – a report by Dr. Jolle Kirpensteijn

One of the main goals of the WSAVA is the enhancement of global standardization projects. By making standards for all veterinarians, knowledge exchange is improved, communication channels simplified, and good companion animals care insured. It started as one of the many initiatives of our Past President Dr. Claudio Brovida, the stimulation of Asian Specialization. In 2006 Claudio hosted the first meeting during the WSAVA Congress in Prague. Since then, many individuals have become progressively enthusiastic about this initiative.
Because of my experiences with the European College of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS) and as President elect of the WSAVA, I was invited to go to Japan to discuss this important issue and the Japanese initiative for starting an Japanese College of Veterinary Surgeons. Upon my arrival I was cordially received by Professor Makoto Washizu, our former WSAVA representative. On Saturday I had my first interview with local practitioners including Dr. Akio Yasukawa, the current WSAVA representative and Executive director of the Japanese Small Animal Veterinary Association, about specialization and I showed a condensed version of my lecture. A Japanese journal was present to take notes and publish the conclusions. On Sunday I had a 3 hours lecture about Specialization for an important group of Japanese veterinary dignitaries. In summary, it seems very logical to stimulate specialization in Japan and Asia. The United States did it in the 50’s, Europe in the 80’s, and Asia seems to be ready to proceed quickly. The European specialization looked a lot like the process that Asia is going through at the moment. In Europe, we had to deal with different languages, educational systems, and cultures making one system more difficult than in the US but surely not impossible. We started with five colleges and currently we have 23 colleges and 1800 boarded specialists in Europe.
The formation of any specialty college should be preceded by the formation of a Board of Veterinary specialization (BVS). The BVS has an important role in setting the guidelines for the acceptance of the colleges and streamlines the similarity in training and examinations. After this general summary, I focused on the European College of Veterinary Surgeons discussing the initiation of the college, the advantages and disadvantages of charter members, the prequalification, education of residents, examination systems, and reevaluation of members. To explain residencies, the Dutch system was highlighted. My lecture was followed by a lecture by Professor Sasaki of the Tokyo University. Professor Sasaki explained that the Japanese surgeons were well ahead in establishing a specialty college of surgery mirrored to the ECVS and American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
The next day an important meeting was set up with major surgery professors of the university and delegates from the JAVMA, JAHA ,and JSAVA about the College for Japanese Surgeons and a possible College for Asian Veterinary Surgeons and a Board of Asian Specialization. The meeting was taped and will be the basis for a large article in one of the best read Japanese veterinary journals. The short conclusion was that the Japanese surgeons were very open for the formation of an Asian College and that they appreciated the help of the WSAVA. The formation of the Japanese college could go simultaneously with the Asian College and collaboration with surrounding countries including Australia, Taiwan, Thailand, Korea, and Malaysia would be actively pursued. The next meeting will be planned most likely at the Federation of Asian Small Animal Veterinary Associations 2009 meeting so if anybody is interested lease let us know.
The WSAVA is proud to be a main force in the promotion of specialization is this important part of the world and appreciates the efforts that the Japanese associations have made to get things started. Many thanks go out to Dr. Brovida, Professor Washizu, Dr. Yakusawa, Professor Sasaki, and Professor Wakao.

WSAVA Activities and Committee Reports

The first phase of the WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines Group (VGG) is now complete and allowed production of international guidelines for veterinarians that were published in the Journal of Small Animal Practice and are widely available on-line via the WSAVA website (http://www.wsava.org/SAC.htm) .

The VGG Guidelines have also been translated into Spanish and are also available on the Scientific Advisory Committee page of the WSAVA website. WSAVA, the SAC, and the VGG would like to thank Dr. Oscar Resburgo for his translation skills!

The guidelines were formally presented at the 2007 Sydney Congress and since that time members of the VGG have spoken widely on them in the USA, UK, elsewhere in Europe and in Australia.
The VGG has now been reconvened for a second phase of activity following agreement of sponsorship from Intervet-Schering Plough Animal Health. This sponsorship will permit a further one year cycle of activity with three face-to-face meetings. The first of these meetings was held from 1st – 3rd February 2009.
Under the leadership of the new VGG chair, Professor Michael Day, the
second phase of the VGG activity will:
• Update the 2007 Guidelines
• Survey WSAVA member associations to collect and analyse feedback on the VGG guidelines
• Prepare a new set of guidelines for pet owners and breeders
• Present a discussion paper on key issues in teaching of veterinary immunology and vaccinology
The members of the VGG and the WSAVA would like to thank Intervet-Schering
Plough Animal Health for their kind generosity in sponsoring the activities
of the VGG.

BSAVA May 2009

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WSAVA Monthly NEWs - April, 2009

WSAVA Activities and Committee Reports

The WSAVA Executive Board met during the recent North American Veterinary Conference in Orlando, Florida, which took place from January 17-22, 2009. Key association items discussed and prioritized during the Executive Board meetings included strategic planning, succession planning/leadership identification, formalization of WSAVA as an incorporated and Not-for-Profit association to include the establishment of a charitable WSAVA Foundation, exploring and/or establishing an Executive Director position to assist with the day-to-day management of our ever-growing and busy association, and more direct WSAVA/member association involvement in Congress planning and administration. Discussion papers on many of the issues will be sent for member association input prior to our Assembly meeting in Sao Paulo. Please take the time to review and respond in a timely manner as the future of the WSAVA depends on your involvement! Also on the agenda, the 2008 finances were reviewed and reflective of a very strong 2008 for the WSAVA, and the busy agendas of the WSAVA committees and standardization projects were reviewed and included meetings with the Animal Welfare Committee, the Financial Advisory Committee, and members of the Standardization Projects.
In addition, the EB had a team-building exercise generously sponsored by our Prime Congress Partner, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, provided opening remarks at the WSAVA Animal Welfare Symposium which was included as part of the TNAVC scientific program, and took the opportunity to catch up with many colleagues from around the globe, including many WSAVA Member Association representatives.
Thank you to the wonderful hospitality of Dr. Colin Burrows and the tremendous TNAVC organization team!

WSAVA Continuing Education and Member Association Updates

Iran Dr Seyed javid Aldavood, Associate Professor, Small Animal Department
Veterinary School, University of Tehran

The 5th WSAVA CE was held in Hamedi Hall, at the Veterinary Faculty of University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran on November 21, 2008. More than 500 delegates attended the lectures, most of whom were under and post-graduate students. Additionally, the lectures were also provided online and a number of veterinarians from throughout Iran attended this way. Dr. Ray Butcher gave four lectures on Veterinary Practice Management followed by an interactive question and answer session.

The Lectures were:
1. An introduction to assessing performance and business planning
2. The Team Concept
3. Image and communicating with the client
4. Promoting your clinic

Sri Lanka: Dr. Niranjala de Silva

We had a very successful and invaluable training program from January 5th to 15th at Peradeniya. Each day, Dr. Graeme Allan spent 2 hours teaching veterinary imaging to the students, delivering an entire semesters program during his stay, as well as providing ultrasound guidance into clinical cases. On January 13th we had the practitioners training day with integrate dimaging lectures and a live ultrasound demonstration. The participants were very happy as they benefitted a lot. Everybody (students, clinicians and practitioners ) wanted Dr. Allan to come back to teach them. Hope we may be able to find a way to get him back. During his stay, Dr. Allan also toured the elephant orphanage.
Dr. Allan commented that he “would love to return one day to build on what I left behind, as well as to help them develop their practical imaging a bit further. I'd also like to help the elephant orphanage vets start using their elephant radiology facility.”

Pictured to the right above: Dr. Graeme Allan leads a class in ultrasonographic technique during his teaching time in Sri Lanka.

Cuba: Dr. Jesús Moreno Lazo MSc
Presidente de la Asociación Consejo

Cientifico Veterinario de Cuba
On October 31 and November 1, 2008 in Pinar del Rio City and then again on November 3, 2008 in Havana City, WSAVA-sponsored CE was given by Dr. Babette on the topic of veterinary dermatology. Registration was 500 delegates and the lectures were rated as excellent by the Cuban Small Animal Association’s Arbitration Committee, based on their high scientific content and mastery while delivering them.
Despite the devastating hurricane in Pinar del Rio, which affected many of our members, there was tremendous attendance even including associate members who lost their houses. This should give WSAVA members an idea of the great prestige the WSAVA has within our members as well as the level of cooperation between our two associations.
The Scientific Veterinary Council of Cuba deeply appreciates the support of WSAVA to our Association, which has been recognized publicly in a Solemn Rally commemorating the 100 years of the Veterinary Association in Cuba awarding WSAVA the Acknowledgment of Distinguished Guest.
The Cuban CE course was arranged in cooperation with NSAVA (Norwegian Small Animal Veterinary Association), with NSAVA financially supporting the travel expenses and honorarium of the lecturer, Dr. Babette Taugbol.

News From Around the World

New York, NY Labrador Retriever holds top spot on list of most poular dogs in America – For the 18th consecutive year, the Labrador Retriever is the most popular purebred dog in America, according to 2008 registration statistics released today by the American Kennel Club® (AKC). But, while more than twice as many Labs were registered last year than any other breed making it a likely leader for many years to come, the Bulldog continues to amble its way up the list. The breed made news last year by returning to the AKC’s Top 10 for the first time in more than 70 years and now has jumped 6%, advancing two spots to land in 8th place.
2008 Most Popular Dogs in the U.S.
1. Labrador Retrievers
2. Yorkshire Terrier
3. German Shepherd Dog
4. Golden Retriever
5. Beagle
6. Boxer
7. Dachshund
8. Bulldog
9. Poodle
10. Shih Tzu

WSAVA World Congress Sao Paulo 2009 Update

The scientific program is set and features over 80 world-renowned veterinary lecturers covering over 30 disciplines in 9 simultaneous session streams, including 7 State-of-the-Art Lectures (SOTALS), a WSAVA Animal Welfare stream, and a North American Veterinary Conference stream. This will not only be complemented by the vibrancy of Sao Paulo itself, but also by a lively social program.

Opening Ceremonies
Presented in English, the Opening Ceremonies will take place on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 in the Alpha Theater and present a lively dance show featuring many cultural dances of Brazil, including frevo and samba. Also included will be greetings from various dignitaries as well as the presentation of the WSAVA Awards. This will be followed by a cocktail and the opportunity to mingle with your colleagues.

Gala Dinner
The Gala Dinner will be held on Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at the Hyatt hotel with live entertainment featuring Brazilian music.

Brazilian Party
Scheduled to take place on Thursday, July 23, 2009 at HSBC space (www.hsbcbrasil.com.br) and featuring show ab evening of immersion in Brazilian culture.

Closing Ceremonies
The Closing Ceremonies will feature a presentation highlighting the 2010 WSAVA Congress in Geneva, Switzerland and take place on Friday, July 24, 2009 at the Transamerican SP Congress hotel.
So don’t delay – register today!
Do you need a VISA to entry Brazil? Visit the WSAVA 2009 Sao Paul World Congress website at http://www.wsava2009.com/

BSAVA April 2009

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WSAVA Monthly NEWs - March, 2009

President's Report - 2008 in review
It is the duty of every President to report on a hectic period and this is no exception. The Dublin WSAVA Congress was the first in a series of congresses which feature Hill's Pet Nutrition as our WSAVA Prime Congress sponsor. Thanks to the help of Dr Nicola Neumann, Professor Boyd Jones, and their teams I can report on a truly great congress which was enjoyed enormously by delegates and exhibitors alike. One congress leads inevitably into the next and we are currently working hard with Dr. Marco Gioso, Saliem Saleygh and Wanderson Ferrera and their teams on the final preparations for the WSAVA 2009 Congress in Sao Paulo, July 21-24 2009. This will be only the second time that the WSAVA Congress has been featured in South America and we are hoping that it will hit the very high standard set in Dublin. The local organizing committee is talking in terms of 3000 delegates, so make a note in your diaries to be there.

During the autumn the French Association AFVAC celebrated it's 50th anniversary and I was fortunate to be invited to Strasbourg to take part in their celebrations. AFVAC has been a leading force in WSAVA for many years and currently, with the help of Drs. Carlotti, Roze and Rousselot, are helping to extend the WSAVA Continuing Education (CE) programme to French speaking areas of Africa and hopefully Paraguay.

The WSAVA 2008 CE programme has hosted a record number of attending delegates (4159) in 31 meetings spread over four continents. We and the long-term sponsoring partners, Bayer Animal Health, Hill's Pet Nutrition, and Intervet/Schering Plough, can be justifiably proud of the difference that the programme has made to the lives and education of veterinary surgeons in the developing areas of the world. Member Associations from the UK (BSAVA), France (AFVAC), Austria (VOEK), Australia (ASAVA), Greece (HVMS), Switzerland (SVK), Denmark (DSAVA), Norway (NSAVA), Finland (FSAVA), and the Netherlands (NACAM) have all contributed financially, either directly or by sponsoring speakers, and we are grateful for this cooperation. It is a particular pleasure to report the Associations from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland who were initially recipients of sponsorship, have now matured and have been contributing to the programme by waiving the small amount of sponsorship that is their due.

The animal welfare committee will be active in 2009 with day-long streams already organized for the TNAVC, FASAVA, and WSAVA conferences. Drs Butcher and Clarke continue to do excellent work in the face of a tide of apathy to a subject which should never be taken for granted, even though veterinary surgeons, by definition, are involved in animal welfare on a daily basis.

The Scientific Committee has been extremely active in assisting with the production of the programme for Sao Paulo and Dr. Michael Day and his committee are considering nominations for prestigious WSAVA Awards which will be announced in Sao Paulo. The Scientific Standardization projects on Renal Disease and Vaccination continue and interim reports will be made in July 2009.

The Board will be meeting during the TNAVC Congress in Orlando. Top of the agenda is to consider the major strategic planning initiative started in Dublin. Part of this will be to consider the need to stabilize the position of WSAVA by incorporation and registration as a not-for-profit association within a named country. There will be stricter controls, both administrative and financial, but these changes would be necessary to ensure that WSAVA retains it's preeminent place in the veterinary world in the future. Dr. Kirpensteijn is looking into the formation of the WSAVA Foundation, a fund raising entity, which will be supportive of scientific research projects in the future. Dr. Sheehan will also be looking at the WSAVA Congress in all it's facets and the Board will be considering an action plan which will be taken to the Asembly in July 2009.

I hope that the result of all this work will be that the Assembly in Sao Paulo will have major issues to consider and that the active participation of the members in the strategic planning process will see an even more committed and active WSAVA in the future.

WSAVA Activities and Committee Reports

WSAVA CE: Sri Lanka - reported by Dr. Roger Clarke
The WSAVA has been hosting WSAVA CE programmes for practitioners in Sri Lanka for some time, but the usual programme was limited to 1 or 2 day visits and there was obviously a need for assistance on a broader scale in this very poor country.

Dr. Roger Clarke, who chairs the WSAVA CE programme in Asia, gave the first programme of CE that extended beyond the reach of the normal WSAVA programme. He donated approximately 2 weeks of his time free of charge to teaching final year veterinary students at the University of Peradinaya in Kandy. His airfare was paid by the Commonwealth Veterinary Association and he was assisted locally by the Sri Lanka Veterinary association. While in Sri Lanka, Dr. Clarke also lectured practitioners. This was such a success that he looked for ways to continue this teaching programme.

In 2008 Dr. Dave Watson, formerly of the University of Sydney Veterinary School, volunteered to go to Sri Lanka on a pro bono basis and he taught the students and practitioners the secrets of problem-oriented veterinary medicine. The ASAVA took over part of the financial assistance for the programme and has contributed to the accommodation costs of Dr. Watson while he was away. The WSAVA CE programme paid the airfare as part of the WSAVA CE commitment.

In 2009, Dr Graeme Allan will be going, again on a pro bono basis to assist the veterinary school to use its new ultrasound equipment and to teach diagnostic imaging to the students and the staff as well as the practitioners who may utilise this service.

The involvement of the ASAVA in this way is very much appreciated by the WSAVA, and we join the ranks of other national veterinary associations in sponsoring our less affluent colleagues throughout the world.

The ASAVA has benefited enormously in its membership of the WSAVA, both in the exchange of knowledge and the opportunity to hold the largest veterinary congress Australia has seen in 2007.

Most of the work in the WSAVA is done by volunteers who give freely of their time and skills for the sheer pleasure that comes from giving. Dr. Clarke is actively looking for skilled volunteers who would be prepared to give approximately 2 weeks of their time teaching in Sri Lanka, under the auspices of the WSAVA CE programme. An additional benefit is that the volunteers can see this beautiful country with its fascinating history (at their own expense) while they are there.

For further details please contact rogerclarke@pobox.com

WSAVA CE: Panama � reported by Dr. Luis Tello
With a population of 3.3 million people, Panama was the second fastest growing economy in Latin America in 2008. The country has one veterinary college, located in facilities that used to house the American Panama Canal Administration offices and is in need of both structural and equipment upgrades/repair. However, with a reinvigorated leadership and growing membership, AMVEPA has become more active on behalf of its members in 2008, particularly in the delivery of CE. As part of its Global CE Programme, WSAVA hosted its first meeting for small animal veterinarians in Panama City, Panama on the topic of Emergency Veterinary Medicine. Lectures were given by Drs. Luis Tello (WSAVA Vice President) and Adriana Lopez (LAVECCS Secretary) with approximately 80 delegates attending. Thanks again to our CE sponsors Bayer Animal Health, Hill�s Pet Nutrition, and Intervet/Schering Plough Animal Health.

WSAVA World Congress Sao Paulo 2009 Update

Have you registered yet? With approximately 250 lectures by 75 world-renowned speakers covering over 20 disciplines complemented by an exciting social program in culturally diverse Sao Paulo with all that Brazil and South America has to offer - what are you waiting for!?

Please visit www.wsava2009.com for additional details and online registration and hotel accommodations.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

BSAVA March 2009

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WSAVA Monthly NEWs - February, 2009

WSAVA Activities and Committee Reports

Continuing Education (CE) in Africa Dr. Lawson Cairns

Mozambique
On October 30, 2008, approximately 80 veterinarians attended a Continuing Education session on Aspects of Dermatology presented by Dr. Lawson Cairns and held at the Jose Josano Convention Center in Malelane, Mozambique as part of the Mozambique Veterinary Conference. While most in attendance were primarily state veterinarians focused on food-producing animals, the lecture was very well-received and helped provide a refresher for companion animal dermatological diseases. This was followed by a clinical lab held at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital facilities and encompassed practical, hands-on experience with splinting and bandaging, and the performance of a prostatic wash, cellophane skin test, and ear swab, including staining and analysis. While the veterinary school has not been fully operational since the War Of Independence, work is being done by Dr. Jose Cardosa and others to address this.

Namibia
The Naimibian Veterinary Association co-hosted WSAVA-sponsored lectures by Dr. Remo Lobetti on Small Animal Internal Medicine and held on October 23, 2008 in Swakopmund, Namibia.

Continuing Education in Mumbai Dr. Brian Romberg
This CE program was held on November 15 at the Club, in Mumbai and was opened by the Secretary of PPAM, Dr Makarand Chousalkar. He thanked both the WSAVA for their ongoing support of CE in India and the sponsors, which included Bayer Animal Health, Hills Pet Nutrition, and Intervet Schering Plough Animal Health.. He then presented the representative from each of the sponsoring companies with a gift from PPAM in appreciation of their assistance.
Dr. Romberg was accorded the opportunity to introduce the WSAVA to the delegates by means of a slide presentation, through which he discussed the WSAVA vision and mission statements and explained the advantages of being a WSAVA member for both the Federation and the individual member. He encouraged all in attendance to visit the WSAVA website and to attend the WSAVA World Congress.
On registration the 148 delegates received a folder which included a copy of the proceedings, writing material, a certificate of attendance, and a feedback form as to their preferred topics for the 2009 CE program. Each sponsor had a full page color advert in the proceedings.
Dr. David Miller from the Ridgemall Specialist Veterinary Referral Center in Johannesburg, South Africa was the lecturer and his lectures were well received, with delegates responding enthusiastically by asking numerous questions at the end of each topic and during the breaks.
The commercial exhibition was held in an adjoining room and the venue was superb, as was the catering.
This was the 7th WSAVA CE symposium organized by PPAM under the able leadership of Dr Umesh Karkare. Future symposia will be organized under the banner of the Federation of Small Animal Practitioners Association of India.

NEWS From Around the World

AVMA Revises Policy On Ear Cropping And Tail Docking - November 26, 2008
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Executive Board voted to strengthen association policy on two practices common in certain breeds of dogs ear cropping and tail docking.
The revised AVMA policy states: "The AVMA opposes ear cropping and tail docking of dogs when done solely for cosmetic purposes. The AVMA encourages the elimination of ear cropping and tail docking from breed standards."
The AVMA decided to adjust its policy on tail docking and ear cropping after a scheduled review of an existing policy. The review included an analysis of scientific literature and available data, an assessment of the practical experience of veterinarians, and deliberations by the AVMA Animal Welfare Committee.
Why we perform certain procedures is one of the first questions we ask. Once that question is answered, committee members look at any associated welfare concerns," explains Dr. Gail Golab, director of the AVMA Animal Welfare Division. "'Cosmetic' implies the basis for these procedures is to alter the dog's appearance. Welfare risks identified included those associated with surgical procedures (i.e., anesthetic complications, pain, blood loss and infection). In the committee's opinion, the risk-benefit analysis supports professional opposition to performing these procedures for purely cosmetic reasons."
In recommending policy revisions, the committee was careful to distinguish ear cropping and tail docking performed for cosmetic reasons from procedures performed for therapeutic or preventive purposes.

WSAVA 34th World Congress Sao Paulo, Brazil July 21-24, 2009

Expected to draw over 3,000 veterinary attendees and their families from all over the World, the Congress will be paired with the Pet South America Exhibition, the largest showcase of pet-specific products and services in South America. The scientific program is set and features over 80 world-renowned veterinary lecturers covering over 30 disciplines in 9 simultaneous session streams, including 7 State-of-the-Art Lectures (SOTALS), a WSAVA Animal Welfare stream, and a North American Veterinary Conference stream. This will not only be complemented by the vibrancy of Sao Paulo itself, but also by a lively social program that will include opening and closing ceremonies, as well as a Gala Dinner.

But there is more. Many attendees couple attendance at the WSAVA World Congress with the opportunity to explore, what is to them, a new part of the world. For the 2009 WSAVA Sao Paulo Congress, the organizers have simplified this by making available several tour options to both more fully explore Sao Paulo (Days Tours, including Panoramic City Tour, Cultural Tour, Independence Tour, and Tour of Santos, So Vicente and Guaruj) or a number of other key Brazilian destinations, including:

Salvador
Salvador (historic name, So Salvador da Baa de Todos os Santos, in English: "Holy Savior of All Saints' Bay") is one of the oldest Brazilian cities, capital of the state of Bahia and first capital of Brazil. Salvador is located in the northeastern region of the country.

Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is the second largest city in Brazil located in the southeastern region of the country. It is the most well known city abroad and is the greatest international tourism route in Brazil. Rio de Janeiro is one of the main financial, cultural and economic centers of the country and is known internationally for its many cultural and landscape icons such as: The Sugar Loaf, the giant statue of Jesus, known as Christ the Redeemer ('Cristo Redentor')( one of the New Seven Wonders of the World), the beaches of the neighborhoods of Copacabana, Ipanema, and Barra da Tijuca (to name but a few), the Maracan Stadium, the Tijuca Forest, the Quinta da Boa Vista, New Years eve on Copacabana beach and Carnival.

Manaus
Manaus is the capital of Amazonas. It is located on the Rio Negro near its confluence with the Rio Solimes in the heart of the Amazon Forest in the northern region of the country. Manaus is the most densely populated city of the Amazon and is known worldwide for its industry and ecotourism.

Fortaleza
Fortaleza is the capital of Cear and is located in the northeastern region of the country. Its name can be traced back to the Fort Schoonenborch, built by the Dutch when they occupied this location in 1649. Fortalezas coastline has a total of 15 beaches. Praia de Iracema (Iracema Beach) offers the liveliest nights and bars. At Praia de Meireles (Meireles Beach) visitors encounter Beira Mar avenue which goes until Mucuripe. On this avenue visitors can find most of the hotels of the city. In front of the Clube Nautico (Nautic Club) there is a daily handicraft fair which is famous throughout the city. Volta da Jurema is the most elegant spot of Fortaleza. Mucuripe is famous for its fisherman. Praia do Futuro (Future Beach) is one of the beaches most visited by tourists. It is about 4.3 miles long and offers excellent sea food restaurants.

Foz do Iguau
Foz do Iguau (Iguau Falls) is a Brazilian city located in the extreme western part of the state of Paran in the southern region of the country on the border of Argentina and Paraguay. The waterfall system of Iguau (in Spanish: Cataratas del Iguaz) consists of 275 majestic falls that drain into the Iguau River (on the river basin of the Paran River), located between the National Iguau Park in Misiones, Argentina and the National Iguau Park in Paran, Brazil. The total area of both parks is equivalent to 250 thousand hectares of sub-tropical forest; therefore, they are considered World Heritage Sites. Both parks were designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1984 and 1986, respectively.

BSAVA February 2009

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WSAVA Monthly NEWs January, 2009

WSAVA Activities and Committee Reports

The Vaccination Guidelines Group (VGG) enters its second phase (VGGII)

The WSAVA Executive Board has recently endorsed an extension of the activities of the Vaccination Guidelines Group (VGG - composed of Drs. Michael J. Day, Ronald Schultz, and Marian C. Horzinek). In concluding its first phase, the VGG has published "standard of care" Guidelines for the vaccination of dogs and cats. These guidelines are available through the Scientific Advisory Committee pages of the WSAVA website (http://www.wsava.org/SAC.htm) and have received international acclaim, establishing the WSAVA as the global leader in companion animal vaccinology. The recommendations must now be put into practice: contacts with national companion animal medicine associations world-wide must be entertained, and recommendations given, taking the particular veterinary history and culture of the countries into account. Extension to other pet species are obvious future initiatives, but in view of microbial evolution, dynamics in epidemiology, changing disease patterns, developments in vaccinology, and in the registration of new biologicals there is far more to be done.
For VGGII, didactic initiatives aimed at both academia and the general, pet-owning public are on the agenda. The yearly health check must replace routine injection procedures, and the information provided must be accepted and remunerated as a veterinary service. Teaching and training veterinary practitioners in interview content and technique could become another focus. The world-wide tendencies of vaccinophobia, vaccination pessimism, and sheer negligence need to be taken seriously.
Monitoring international developments in vaccinology and epidemiology must become an ongoing process. In anticipation of the expansion of viral, bacterial, and protozoan diseases, of vector-borne infections (as a consequence of global warming), of zoonotic threats, formal links need to be established and entertained with international bodies like the WHO, OIE and others.
The WSAVA will have an important role in disseminating the Guidelines, making use of its network of national representatives. Maintaining its scientific independence, the VGG will entertain relationships with vaccine manufacturers; in fact, its recommendations may include suggestions for product development for the industry.
The WSAVA and VGG appreciate the support of Intervet/Schering Plough as their generous sponsorship has allowed this project to proceed.

WSAVA Continuing Education updates

Taiwan - Approximately 200 veterinarians attended Dr Caiafa's lectures at the meeting which was sponsored by WSAVA and hosted by the Taipei Veterinary Medical Association, a member of WSAVA. The lectures were followed by a workshop at which Dr Caiafa was assisted by Mr Lehman Bloom from an Australian company, iM3, that makes and sells dental equipment to the veterinary profession all over the world. Dr Caiafa is a veterinary surgeon who is also a qualified graduate human dentist having completed a dental degree (dux of his graduating year) at the University of Melbourne after he completed his veterinary degree.

Picture: Dr. Caiafa demonstrating a dental procedure during the workshop portion of hi CE presentation.

NEWS From Around the World

Billionaire offers $75 million for new pet sterilization method
Retired orthopedic surgeon and California billionaire Gary Michelson wants to give you $75 million. But there is a catch. You have to give his foundation "a safe, effective, and practical non-surgical sterilant for use in cats and dogs."
The announcement for the Michelson Prize and Grants in Reproductive Biology is posted on Michelson's Found Animals Foundation website. The international award promises $25 million for the new sterilization method, and up to $50 million in grant funding to go toward "promising research" into the project.
An inventor who made nearly $2 billion by enforcing his medical patents, Michelson is now committed to helping curb pet overpopulation. The contest is part of this effort. The winning entry must meet the following criteria:

• Single dose, non-surgical sterilant
• Safe and effective in male and female, cats and dogs
• Suitable for administration in a field setting, either orally or by injection
• Viable pathway to regulatory approval
• Reasonable manufacturing process and cost

Animal health researchers have pursued pet contraceptives and non-surgical sterilants for years, but a breakthrough product has yet to emerge,the site says. "By incentivizing scientists who may have been unaware of the issue of pet overpopulation to get involved, Found Animals hopes an innovative solution will come to light quickly."

For more information see the Found Animals Foundation.

WSAVA World Congress Sao Paulo 2009 Update

January 2009 launches us into the New Year and brings us closer to the much anticipated WSAVA World Congress in Sao Paulo, Brazil from July 21-24, 2009.

Recently, an additional scientific stream focusing on ophthalmology has been added to the scientific program - the next ISVO/CLOVE/CBOV Ophthalmology Joint Meeting will be held at the Transamerica Hotel, St. Paulo, SP - Brazil from July 21 to 22, 2009.
Speakers include:

• Peter Bedford (UK)- Eye and Vision in the Vertebrates
• Kristina Narfstr (USA)- Retinal Inherited Diseases
• David Maggs (USA)- Feline Herpes Virus
• Alejandro Bay (Spain)- Ophthalmology and Exotic Animals

SOTALs
State-of-the-art-Lectures, or SOTALs, are designed to present current scientific information on emerging or contemporary issues in small animal veterinary medicine. This years lectures include:

1. Telomeres to Stem Cells: Dissecting the Pathways of Cancer in Dogs - D. Argyle (UK)
2. Does Obesity Also Hurt the Dog's Heart - D. S. Schwartz (Brazil)
3. Swallowing and Dysphagia in Dogs - A. J. Venker va Haagaen (Netherlands)
4. The Role of the Kidney Biopsy in Dogs with Proteinuric Kidney Disease - What Are We Learning - D. Polzin (USA)
5. Cytology: Art or Science - E. Teske (Netherlands)

Additional streams unique to the WSAVA World Congress, showcasing WSAVA initiatives include:

WSAVA Animal Welfare Forum - July 21, 2009

• Why Worry About the Welfare of Stray Dogs - R. Butcher (UK)
• Dogs and Zoonotic Disease: A South America Perspectiv - A. Belotto (USA)
• Control Strategies: An Overview - E. Hiby (UK)
• Brazil Experience - A. Belotto (USA)

WSAVA Hereditary Diseases forum - July 23, 2009

• New Insights into Hereditary Disease and Genetic Predisposition to Disease - Urs Giger (USA)
• Clinical Diagnostic Tools to Diagnose Herditary Disorders - Urs Giger (USA)
• Genetic Counselling by Clinicians and Working with Breeders - Urs Giger (USA)
• Common Feline Hereditary Disorders - Urs Giger (USA)

Online registration is open and available at www.wsava2009.com

BSAVA January 2009