Author Archives: drkitty

A new test to detect Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) with only 40 per cent loss of function will be headlined at the next QDVA dinner meeting, Wednesday, May 6th.

Dr. Jennifer Ogeer, of IDEXX Laboratories Canada, will present a talk on “Advances in Diagnosing and Monitoring Chronic Kidney Disease – An introduction to SDMA,” starting at 6 p.m.

Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) is a methylated form of arginine excreted almost exclusively by the kidneys. According to IDEXX, the soon-to-be-released test for SDMA detects kidney disease in dogs and cats after only 40 per cent function loss on average. Currently available diagnostics using creatinine will not find disease until about 75 per cent of kidney function is lost.

A graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College, Dr. Ogeer completed an emergency medicine/critical care residency at Tufts University/Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston and a Master’s of Science degree (Critical Care) at the Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph. She was an associate professor at Texas A&M University and Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, for several years before completing an executive MBA at Western University, London, Ontario. She joined  IDEXX as a Professional Services Veterinarian in 2015. Dr. Ogeer’s areas of medical interest include kidney disease, coagulation, pancreatitis and infectious disease testing and management.

This dinner talk will be free to QDVA members and staff. The cost for non-member DVMs and staff is $60 per person.

Attendance is limited to about 70 people. To be sure all members can be accommodated, some registration restrictions will apply. Each attending veterinarian can bring two lay staff. Please register by 5 p.m., Thursday, April 30th. If we still have room after the deadline, an email will be sent out inviting more staff members to attend.

Please note that this is the last meeting of the QDVA 2014/15 CE season. Our Annual General Meeting will be held after the talk and we need the support of members. Please plan to attend.

The session will be held as usual at the Belleville Club, starting at 6 p.m. sharp. Doors open at 5:30. p.m. Dinner will be catered by L’Auberge de France.

Registration closed

Two highly respected infectious disease specialists — Dr. Scott Weese, BVSc, DVM, Dipl AVCIM and Dr. Jane Sykes, BVSc, PhD — will delve into the complex field of antibiotic resistance at the April 15th meeting of the QDVA. Zoonotic disease is also on the agenda.

Fans of his “Worms and Germs” blog know Dr. Weese as an entertaining, informative and sometimes irreverent writer. In more conservative garb, he is a Professor in the Department of Pathobiology and Public Health/Zoonotic Disease Microbiologist at the University of Guelph. Board certified in internal medicine by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, he is also Chief of Infection Control at the Ontario Veterinary College Teaching Hospital.

Director of the Small Animal Clinic and Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology at UCDavis, Dr. Sykes has won many awards in her career which started at the University of Melbourne, Australia. Her research focus is on infectious diseases of dogs and cats, especially those of immunocompromised patients, as well as fungal diseases and bloodstream-associated bacterial infections.

Thanks to the generosity of Bayer Animal Health, this dinner talk will be free to QDVA members and staff. The cost for non-member DVMs and staff is $60 per person.

Please note that the date of this talk has changed. It will be held Wednesday, April 15th, not Tuesday, April 14th as previously announced.

The agenda will be as follows:

• 4 to 5:30  — Guidelines for antimicrobial use: a case-based approach (Sykes/ Weese/audience)
• 5:30 to 6 — BREAK
• 6 to 6:30 — Guidelines for antimicrobial use: a case-based approach (continued) (Sykes/ Weese/audience)
• 6:30 to 7:30 — Leptospirosis (Sykes)
• 7:30 — BREAK FOR DINNER
• 8 to 9 — Case studies in zoonotic diseases (Weese)

The session will be held as usual at the Belleville Club and L’Auberge de France will cater the meal. Doors open at 3:30 p.m.

Registration closed

QDVA’s March 25th dinner talk will feature dermatology expert and TV star, Dr. Stephen Waisglass presenting an evening of advice on Working-up the Itchy Dog and Cat.

Dr. Waisglass is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology (ACVD) and a staff dermatologist at both VEC South Toronto and the 404 Veterinary Emergency/Referral Hospital. A graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) in ’83, he obtained a Certificate in Small Animal Dermatology from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in the UK 11 years later. He subsequently did his ACVD dermatology residency at OVC.

Involved in continuing education at all levels, Dr. Waisglass is an Adjunct Professor at OVC where he works with final year students and ACVD residents. A VIN consultant and member of the executive committee for the Canadian Academy of Veterinary Dermatology (CAVD), he lectures internationally, with speaking engagements from coast to coast in North America and Europe. Dr. Waisglass has published numerous journal and textbook articles on various topics in veterinary dermatology. He has been the featured guest on call-in radio and television shows, appearing most recently in episodes of the reality TV series “ER Vets” where he can be seen practicing his specialty. When not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife and children and their Golden Retriever, “Penny”

Thanks to the generosity of Rayne Clinical Nutrition, this dinner talk will be free to QDVA members and staff. The cost for non-member DVMs and staff is $60 per person.

Attendance is limited to about 70 people. To be sure all members can be accommodated, some registration restrictions will apply. Each attending veterinarian can bring two lay staff. Please register by 5 p.m., Thursday, March 19th. If we still have room after the deadline, an email will be sent inviting more staff members to attend.

Dr. Waisglass’ talk will be held as usual at the Belleville Club, with an early bird session starting at 4 p.m. and a second talk on different material beginning at 6 p.m. Doors open at 3:30 p.m.

Registration closed

VIN consultant, international speaker, certified acupuncturist and all-round veterinary pain management guru, Dr. Bob Stein will share his expertise at a QDVA meeting Monday, March 9th.

There will be two sections to the talk. Chronic Pain Management in Small Animal Practice will be presented from 4 p.m. to 5:45, followed by Pain Management on a Desert Island: Which 5 Drugs Would You Take?

This meeting has been moved from the usual Belleville Club location to the Banquet Centre at Alhambra Square. Dinner will be catered by the Banquet Centre.

Dr. Robert M. Stein, DVM, CVPP, CVA, CCRT, CMTPT, DAAPM is one of the leading veterinary analgesia specialists in the world. One of only two vets to be certified in Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy, he is also a certified Acupuncturist, a certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner and a certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist. He is the founder and executive director of the Veterinary Anesthesia & Analgesia Support Group (VASG) which operates a popular, free website at www.vasg.org. In 2014, Dr. Stein was awarded the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine Distinguished Alumnus Award. He is currently busy developing the Animal Pain Management Center in Buffalo, NY, a practice “devoted to improving the quality and extending the length of our pets’ lives.”

With apologies, we must point out that our sponsor for this talk has withdrawn. QDVA funds will be used to cover our speaker’s fees, but members will be asked to pay for dinner and room costs. The fee for members and staff is $40 each. Non-member DVMs and staff will pay $60 per person.

Please register by 5 p.m., Thursday, March 5th. If you register, but do not attend, you will still be charged for the meeting unless cancellation was requested by the March 5th deadline.

REGISTRATION CLOSED

On Wednesday, February 11th, small animal rehabilitation specialist Dr. Gwen Robertson will hold a workshop and lecture focused on how to incorporate hands-on physical therapy into your veterinary practice.

A 1994 graduate of OVC, Dr. Robertson certified as a Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner through the University of Tennessee in 2009. She is also one of only four Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioners in Ontario and recently successfully completed the 140-hour Medical Acupuncture for Veterinarians program at Colorado State University. Dr. Robertson operates a full-service rehabilitation centre at her practice in Campellford.

Featuring demonstrations with live animals, the February QDVA session will begin with an early-bird presentation at 4 p.m., followed by the main talk at 6 p.m. As usual, a buffet dinner will be offered midway through the evening session. Topics on the agenda include: simple techniques to refine your lameness exams, post-surgical strengthening programs, pain management through alternative therapies, and many other facets of physical rehabilitation for pets.  Learn simple, cost-effective ways to incorporate these techniques into your practice.

With help from an easygoing canine patient or two, Dr. Robertson will demonstrate how to accurately measure range of motion, identify key areas of pain during the lameness exam, and perform some introductory exercise programs.

Please note that this talk is not sponsored and there will be a charge to cover our facility and meal costs. Fees are as follows:

• QDVA members and staff $40 each
• non-members and staff $60 each

Attendance is limited to about 70 people. To be sure all members can be accommodated, some registration restrictions will apply. Each attending veterinarian can bring two lay staff. Please register by 5 p.m., Thursday, February 5th. If we still have room after the deadline, an email will be sent out inviting more staff members to attend.

REGISTRATION CLOSED

When our patients present with critical illnesses, they may not give us time to consult VIN or even a textbook, so our next QDVA talk is designed as a refresher on common veterinary emergencies.

Dr. Jennifer Ogeer has an alphabet soup of emergency medicine prepared for the meeting on Wednesday, November 12th when she presents “A Practical Approach to Common Emergencies – DKA, FUO, CPA, HBC.” The expanded version reads: Diabetic Ketoacidosis, Feline Urinary Obstruction, Cardiopulmonary Arrest and Hit-By-Car cases.  You can expect a great review of current recommendations on fluid therapy, resuscitation techniques, triage protocols and other urgent care issues.

With a DVM and MSc from the Ontario Veterinary College, Dr. Ogeer has gained years of experience in the field of emergency medicine both in practice and academia. She has been employed as an emergency clinician with VCA (Veterinary Centers of America) in Pennsylvania and Clinical Assistant Professor in Emergency Medicine and Critical Care at Texas A and M University. At the University of Saskatchewan Western College of Veterinary Medicine she was Director of Emergency and Critical Care Services and an Associate Professor until 2012. She also found time to obtain her MBA, establish a management consulting firm, Veterinary Medical Solutions, and launch a furniture business in China.

Dr. Ogeer has extensive industry experience working as a consultant for Zoetis (formerly Pfizer) and Idexx Laboratories. She is currently the interim Professional Services Veterinarian for Novartis Animal Health Canada Inc, covering central and portions of eastern Ontario.

Her special interests include traumatology, analgesia and coagulation disorders. Her research focus has been on nosocomial infections and antimicrobial resistance in the critically ill patient. As a business consultant she has a keen interest in strategy-based marketing and contract negotiations.

Generously sponsored by Idexx Laboratories, this dinner talk will be free to QDVA members and staff. The cost for non-member DVMs and staff is $60 per person. Please note that this is the first of our extended CE sessions for the year with an early-bird session covering extra material and case studies from 4 to 5:30 p.m. The presentation is divided into two sections so those who cannot attend until the usual start time of 6 p.m. will be able to follow the talk easily. Please indicate when registering if you will be attending the early session.

Attendance is limited to about 70 people. To be sure all members can be accommodated, some registration restrictions will apply. Each attending veterinarian can bring two lay staff. Please register by 5 p.m., Thursday, November 6th. If we still have room after the deadline, an email will be sent out inviting more staff members to attend.

The session will be held as usual at the Belleville Club. Dinner, catered by L’Auberge de France will be served at about 7 p.m.

Registration closed.

In the veterinary profession, compassion is the daily coin of our lives. Our patients as well as their families find strength and comfort in the compassion we offer when they come to us in pain. Join us on Wednesday, October 22^nd to find out how to cope when your emotional stores get drained by too much suffering and stress.

Featuring Dr. Debbie Stoewen, DVM, MSW, RSW, PhD, this next QDVA dinner lecture will focus on Compassion Fatigue. As “Care and Empathy Officer and Director of Veterinary Services” for the Pets Plus Us insurance company, Dr. Stoewen is an expert on the topic. She is also a licensed veterinarian and registered social worker with a PhD in the field of veterinary medical communication.

With 25 years of practice experience, including being the founder and sole proprietor of a companion animal hospital, she is well-versed in the daily realities of veterinary practice. She adds to this an advanced understanding of personal well-being, interpersonal dynamics, and veterinary-client-patient communication, giving her a unique vantage point on the social aspects of practice. Dr. Stoewen is committed to advancing “quality of care” to benefit patients, clients, and the teams that provide that care. In her position with Pets Plus Us, she provides a fully accredited, evidence-based continuing education program called The Social Side of Practice for veterinarians and their teams across Canada. This includes veterinary wellness, veterinary-client-patient communication, teamwork, organizational culture, and leadership.

Thanks to the generosity of Pets Plus Us, this dinner talk will be free to QDVA members and staff. The cost for non-member DVMs and staff is $60 per person. Attendance is limited to about 70 people. To be sure all members can be accommodated, some registration restrictions will apply. Each attending veterinarian can bring two lay staff. Please register by 5 p.m., Thursday, October 16th. If we still have room after the deadline, an email will be sent out inviting more staff members to attend. Please register early to avoid disappointment.

The session will be held as usual at the Belleville Club, starting at 6 p.m. sharp. Doors open at 5:30. p.m. Dinner will be catered by L’Auberge de France.

Registration closed.

Recent studies point to an increase in leptospirosis wildlife reservoirs within areas of high human population density, putting urban dogs at higher risk of infection for this zoonotic disease.

On Wednesday, September 17th, at the first QDVA dinner meeting of the 2014 fall/winter CE session, Dr. Jinelle Webb, DVM, MSc, DVSc, Dipl ACVIM (Internal Medicine), will review the latest information on leptospirosis epidemiology, diagnostics and treatment. Methods of preventing infection in dogs, their families and hospital personnel will also be addressed, along with current vaccine protocols.

An adjunct professor at OVC, Dr. Webb’s main clinical research interests include investigating the use of laboratory testing and non-invasive imaging modalities in healthy dogs and cats, developing novel approaches to internal medicine procedures and studying ways to reduce the invasiveness of procedures. In 2006, Dr. Webb started the internal medicine service at Mississauga-Oakville Veterinary Emergency Hospital and Referral Group. She later spearheaded the hospital’s rotating internship and internal medicine residency programs. In addition to her accomplishments at OVC and Mississauga Referral, Dr. Webb is a published author and popular speaker.

Thanks to the generosity of Boehringer Ingelheim and Idexx Laboratories, this dinner talk will be free to QDVA members and staff. The cost for non-member DVMs and staff is $60 per person.

Attendance is limited to about 70 people. To be sure all members can be accommodated, some registration restrictions will apply. Each attending veterinarian can bring two lay staff. Please register by 5 p.m., Thursday, September 11th. If we still have room after the deadline, an email will be sent out inviting more staff members to attend.

Please note that Boehringer is offering a free tray of Ultra Duramune 4L to the first 50 veterinarians registered.

The session will be held as usual at the Belleville Club, starting at 6 p.m. sharp. Doors open at 5:30. p.m.

Registration closed.

Convened at the Belleville Club.

Members in attendance:

Dr. Suzanne Lane, Dr. Andrea Wernham, Dr. Adrianna Sage, Dr. Koos Toxopeus, Dr. Kristina Bennett, Dr. Clare Craig, Dr. Chiemi Ogawa, Dr. Naomi Scromeda, Dr. Vince Politi, Dr. Linda Hack, Dr. Kim Drysdale, Dr. Jinni Demine and Dr. Fiona Gilchrist and others.

1/ President’s address

Dr. Adrianna Sage, current president, brought the meeting to order.

2/ Treasurer’s report

Treasurer, Dr. Scromeda, reported that the association currently has approximately $18,000 in the bank. We will ask Dr. Olga Peck to audit the financial records again as she did such a good job last year. A review of the records by someone outside of the executive is required by the QDVA constitution.

3/ Membership fees

A motion was made by Dr. Bennett to increase membership fees by $5 to $65. The late fee of $90 was also proposed to go up to $95. The motion was seconded by Dr. Toxopeus and passed unanimously.

4/ Review of Past Season

It was noted that, in terms of attendance, this has been our most successful season to date. Dr. Gilchrist commented that although the venue is somewhat limiting in terms of capacity, it functions well for current events and managing larger crowds could be too much work for a volunteer board to manage.

5/ CE certificates

Valerie Gauweiler, an RVT from Napanee Veterinary Hospital, has kindly volunteered to help provide CE certificates for technicians attending our events. Ms. Gauweiler was introduced at the meeting.

As a bit of background, an agreement was reached last year with the Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians to provide official continuing education credits for members attending QDVA meetings. We have not been able to find anyone until now to provide certificates for attendees.

6/ Suggestions for CE topics and speakers

We will look into producing an online survey to solicit topic suggestions from members. This will be discussed further at the executive committee’s summer planning meeting.

7/ Election of executive

All of the existing executive have agreed to stay on for another term. Their appointments were moved by Dr. Drysdale and seconded by Dr. Hack. The motion past unanimously.

The QDVA executive for 2014/15 will be:

President Dr. Adrianna Sage

Vice President Dr. Suzanne Lane

Past President Dr. Vince Politi

Treasurer Dr. Naomi Scromeda

Director of Continuing Education Dr. Kristina Bennett

Secretary Dr. Jinni Demine

Kingston Liason Dr. Koos Toxopeus

Director of Communications Dr. Fiona Gilchrist

8/Date and location of executive summer planning meeting

The meeting was set for Wednesday, June 4th at 18:30, location TBA.

9/New business

We discussed Dr. Craig’s efforts with public relations advertising in the Belleville/Quinte area and it was agreed to further review our involvement at the upcoming executive meeting.

Join popular speaker and award-winning veterinarian Dr. Doreen Houston on Wednesday, April 16th for the last talk of this QDVA season. Fully sponsored by MediCal/Royal Canin, the event will feature a fast-paced look at what’s new in the vast field of internal medicine. Dr. Houston also has some news from the urolith centre on urinary tract health.

A graduate of OVC, Dr. Houston spent four years in private practice before returning to complete her DVSc. She became a board certified Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) in 1991.

After working in academia at OVC as a staff veterinarian and then as Professor of Internal Medicine at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Houston spent time as director of Scientific Communications/Clinical Trial Research for Medi-Cal Royal Canin Veterinary Diets in Canada. She established Doreen Houston Consulting in September of 2011 after “retiring” to spend time with family. The author of many published papers, several book chapters and a textbook, Dr. Houston has also been the recipient of a number of academic teaching awards. In 2011, she was honored as the OVMA`s Outstanding Veterinarian of the Year.

Thanks to the generosity of MediCal/Royal Canin, this dinner talk will be free to all QDVA members. The cost for non-member DVMs and staff is $60 per person.

Attendance is limited to about 70 people. To be sure all members can be accommodated, we have once again set some registration limits. Each attending veterinarian can bring two lay staff. Please register by 5 p.m., Thursday, April 10th. If we still have room after the deadline, an email will be sent out inviting more staff members to attend.

The QDVA’s Annual General Meeting will follow Dr. Houston’s talk. Your support is needed and appreciated. Please plan to attend.

The talk will be held as usual at the Belleville Club, starting at 6 p.m. sharp.

Registration closed.