Quinte District Veterinary Association

For QDVA’s next dinner meeting, Wednesday, April 10th, renowned expert in gastroenterology, Dr. Jörg Steiner will present a systematic approach to diagnosing and managing patients with chronic diarrhea, various treatment options for gastric disease and the latest recommendations for handling pancreatitis cases.

If time allows, Dr. Steiner will also give a comprehensive review of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.

With a long list of accolades for his work on both canine and feline pancreatic disease, Dr. Steiner is currently a Professor with the Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery and Director of the GI Laboratory at Texas A&M University.

This speaker is sponsored by IDEXX Laboratories. Attendees will be asked to cover part of the costs — $35 for QDVA members and staff or $55 for non-member veterinarians and staff. The session will be held as usual at the Belleville Club, starting at 6 p.m. sharp.

To register, fill out the form below.  We ask that you register by Friday, April 5th.

Registration closed.

Liz O’Brien, DVM, DAVBP (feline)

Recent findings on pet obesity and a new diagnostic tool for assessing overweight patients will be the focus of a talk on Wednesday, March 27th. Using cases from her two feline practices, Dr. Liz O’Brien, DVM, DAVBP will share her experiences with the tool and Hill’s new weight management diet.

Dr. O’Brien will be joined by Dr. Robert Van Delst, Manager of Veterinary Affairs with Hill’s Pet Nutrition Canada to present results from a comprehensive in-home test of the company’s new Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution diet for both dogs and cats.

Fully sponsored by Hill’s, the meeting will be held as usual at the historic Belleville Club, 210 Pinnacle Street, Belleville (613-962-1239). Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the talk will start at 6 p.m. sharp. Dinner will be catered by L’Auberge de France.

This session is free to all QDVA members and their staff. The fee for nonmembers is $50. (Please note that annual membership with the QDVA is only $60 and will provide additional cost savings at upcoming meetings.)

Registration closed.

Dr. Tamara Hofstede, DVM

We have just been given an exciting opportunity to host a talk on Wednesday, March 6^th, presenting the latest information on Lyme disease which has several hot spots in the QDVA region.

Two experts on the topic will provide prevalence data, discuss the movement of borreliosis within our local communities, and address the diagnostic and preventive challenges associated with the disease.

Dr. Tamara Hofstede will review clinical signs and prevention of Lyme.  A graduate of OVC, Dr. Hofstede completed her Bachelor of Science in Zoology in 1998 at the University of Guelph and is currently a Technical Services Veterinarian with Bayer Animal Health. She also works part time at Woodstock Veterinary Hospital. Bayer is a major sponsor of this meeting.

Co-sponsor, Idexx Laboratories, will also have a staff expert on hand. Dr. Jonas Goring, DVM, will tackle the epidemiological and diagnostic issues.

The meeting will be held as usual at the historic Belleville Club, 210 Pinnacle Street, Belleville (613-962-1239). Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the talk will start at 6 p.m. sharp. Dinner will be catered by L’Auberge de France. This session is free to all QDVA members and their staff. The fee for nonmembers is $50. (Please note that annual membership with the QDVA is only $60 and will provide additional cost savings at upcoming meetings.)

To register, fill out the form below.  With apologies for the short notice, we ask that you register today, Friday, March 1st.

Registration closed

For all the latest on managing itchy, balding, fur-mowing cats, join Dr. Karri Beck for the first talk of the winter/spring session, Wednesday, February 27th.

Dr. Beck received her DVM from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1996 .  She spent almost 14 years in general small animal practice in the GTA. In 2009, Dr. Beck started a 3-year residency  program  in veterinary dermatology, becoming certified by the American College of Veterinary Dermatology in 2012.

Her research on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcal infections was recently published in the journal of Veterinary Dermatology. Dr. Beck is currently practicing at both the Veterinary Emergency Clinic in Toronto and the 404 Veterinary Referral Hospital in Newmarket.

This dinner meeting has been made possible by Novartis Animal Health. Attendees will be asked to cover part of the costs — $35 for QDVA members and staff or $55 for non-member veterinarians and staff. This session will be held as usual at the Belleville Club, starting at 6 p.m. sharp.

Registration closed.

The winter meeting of QDVA’s executive committee focussed on plans for upcoming CE meetings and efforts to better service the growing ranks of members from the Kingston area.

Details are still being finalized, but the Winter/Spring session of talks will begin Feb. 27th with Dr. Karri Beck on Feline Allergic Dermatitis. This should be followed in early March by a talk on Lyme disease, providing specific data on local prevalence, along with advice on testing and treatment protocols.

March 27th, Hills will present a session on battling obesity in pets. Dr. Jorg Steiner from Texas A&M university will talk April 10th about GI and pancreatic disease, with local radiologist Dr. Laura Crews onboard for another of her popular presentations in late April. Watch your email or “follow” this blog for updates.

As we have been attracting ever-increasing attendance at our meetings by colleagues in Kingston and at the request of former members of their area veterinary association (now disbanded), the QDVA is assessing ways to enhance services for this new group. The Quinte executive is committed to maintaining the current high quality and accessibility of meetings for area members. We are hoping to help accommodate Kingston members by expanding our programs rather than changing them. Discussions are ongoing.

The executive also addressed issues of meeting costs and fees charged to nonmembers. In fairness to the QDVA membership, we will be fully enforcing our policy of charging nonmembers for attending association meetings in future. Since the cost of membership is $60 and the single meeting charge is $50, it should be well worth the price to join.

On the subject of membership fees, if anyone has a current billing concern please contact Dr. Jinni Demine at Trenton Pet Hospital — 613-392-6667 — or use the comment box below.

The executive meeting was attended by President Vince Politi, Treasurer Naomi Scromeda, Continuing Education Co-ordinator Kristina Bennett, Communications Director Fiona Gilchrist and member-at-large Adrianna Sage.

To aid in organizing CE submissions for the CVO, here is a chronological list of meetings held since November of 2011:

Wednesday,February 1st — Dr. Michelle Evason, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM) on renal disease in dogs and cats, sponsored by Medi-Cal/Royal Canin.

Thursday, February 16th — Dr. Gary Landsberg, DVM, BSc, DACVB, ECVBM on separation anxiety in the dog, sponsored by Elanco.

Wednesday, March 21st — Heather Lowe, AHT, MBA on economic realities: new approaches to add value and boost client compliance, sponsored by Bayer Animal Health.

Wednesday, April 4th — Dr. Carl Porter DVM, MVSc, DACVS on small animal surgery, a potpourri of tips and tricks.

Wednesday, April 18th — Dr. Bob Van Delst, Manager of Veterinary Affairs for Hill’s Pet Nutrition on managing feline hyperthyroidism with Hill’s new low-iodine diet, YD.

Wednesday, September 19th, Dr. Gordon Stick of Pfizer Animal Health on current and future vaccine strategies in small animal medicine.

Wednesday, October 3rd — Veterinary rehabilitation specialist, Dr. Tara Edwards on a multimodal approach to managing arthritis in geriatric companion animals and canine cruciate diseases, sponsored by Hill’s Pet Nutrition Canada.

Wednesday, October 17th — veterinary dermatologist, Dr. Jocelyn Wellington on advances in treatment of pruritic dermatoses, diagnostic techniques and new concepts in the pathogenesis of atopic skin disease, sponsored by Virbac Animal Health.

Wednesday, November 7th — Feline specialist Dr. Susan Little on interstitial cystitis and other urinary tract issues, sponsored by Idexx laboratories and Merial.

Post questions or comments below.

Feline specialist Dr. Susan Little will join us Wednesday, November 7th for the last QDVA talk of the Fall 2012 season, with a presentation on many things catty.

The popular speaker, VIN consultant, busy practitioner and textbook author will discuss some of her favourite procedures involving cats and new approaches in the often frustrating management of idiopathic cystitis. Dr. Little is co-owner of two feline practices in Ottawa. Board certified in feline practice, she is active in many areas of the profession and was the 2010 recipient of the CVMA’s Small Animal Practitioner Award.

This dinner meeting has been made possible by Idexx Laboratories and co-sponsor Merial. Attendees will be asked to cover part of the costs — $35 for QDVA members and staff or $50 for non-member veterinarians and staff.

To register, fill out the form below, contact Lynda at Trenton Pet Hospital — 613-392-6667 — or email trentonpethospital@gmail.com .

Registration closed.

Although ragweed/itchy dog season is coming to a close, there is still lots to talk about in the field of pruritic skin disease. The QDVA is pleased to present an evening with noted veterinary dermatologist, Dr. Jocelyn Wellington on Wednesday, October 17^th. The session topic will focus on Advances in Treatment for Pruritic Dermatoses. Dr. Wellington will also review diagnostic techniques and new concepts in the pathogenesis of atopic skin disease.

After practicing at the Mississauga-Oakville Veterinary Emergency and Referral Hospital, Dr. Wellington joined Virbac Canada in February 2012 as national Technical Services Manager. She is a published author and active contributor to continuing education programs in North America. Dr. Wellington became board certified with the American College of Veterinary Dermatology in 1997, following a residency at Cornell University.

This dinner meeting will be held as usual at the Belleville Club, starting at 6 p.m. sharp and is fully sponsored by Virbac Animal Health. It is free to all area veterinarians and their staff.

Registration is closed for this session.

The Council of Veterinarians of Ontario (CVO) is looking for a member in good standing to represent our local constituency as a councillor. Currently held by Dr. Clare Craig, the position will be vacant as of this November.

Council members are elected for a three-year term with the possibility of a second term being served. According to CVO President Dr. Ken Bridge, each councillor can expect to attend about 10 meetings annually at the organization’s headquarters in Guelph. A daily stipend is paid and expenses are reimbursed.

Constituency 11 comprises Peterborough, Victoria, Hastings, Prince Edward, Northumberland and Durham.

More details and contact numbers are available at the CVO’s website (CVO.org) or follow the links above.

Dr. Tara Edwards

Veterinary rehabilitation specialist, Dr. Tara Edwards will discuss a multimodal approach to managing two common orthopedic conditions at the QDVA’s next meeting Wednesday, October 3, 2012.

As head of the rehabilitation centre at Toronto Veterinary Emergency Hospital in Scarborough, Dr. Edwards is responsible for establishing comprehensive physiotherapy, pain management, homecare, and nutritional programs for patients. Her talk in Belleville will focus on arthritis in geriatric companion animals and canine cruciate disease.

“There are significant benefits of a rehabilitation program post-operatively for the surgically repaired cruciate,” says Dr. Edwards. “The goals of a rehabilitation program will be covered for different stages of post-op healing.  Many clients choose not to pursue surgery for cruciate injuries and these dogs are high risk for arthritis and inadequately managed discomfort.  Conservative management strategies will be discussed to help improve the quality of life for these patients as well.”

A 2002 graduate of Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Edwards is a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist, Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner and a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation.

This dinner meeting will be held as usual at the Belleville Club, starting at 6 p.m. sharp and is fully sponsored by Hill’s Pet Nutrition Canada. It is free to all area veterinarians and their staff.

Online registration closed, please contact Lynda at Trenton Pet Hospital at 613-392-6667 or email trentonpethospital@gmail.com .