Abstract
WFVC
Susan Little prepares for Barcelona
The ISFM World Feline Veterinary Congress in Barcelona is only 3 months away and I’m excited that the theme this year is ‘Paediatrics and geriatrics’ — my favourite topics.
Keynote speaker at WFVC, Susan Little
Paediatric medicine for cats doesn’t get as much attention as it deserves and there is a limited amount of published information. Yet most clinicians see a great many young patients. The most challenging patients are the neonates, so much of my focus for this congress is on preparing presentations that highlight the particular issues in this delicate age group. My goal is to present practical information on recognising problems and how to manage them. A wonderful opportunity for me is the chance to conduct a masterclass on feline neonatology and paediatrics, where I can present cases that we can work through as a group. This smaller, more focused setting should allow for some great discussion and learning opportunities.
At the other end of the age spectrum is the senior cat. I have become keenly interested in understanding the needs of ageing cats and how we can better support them for healthy ‘golden years’. A common problem is arthritis and we need to keep talking about how to diagnose this condition in cats, for truly ‘cats are not small dogs’ when it comes to this disease. Life stage appropriate health care guidelines have been developed for cats, and there is a huge need to help clinicians understand how senior cats are different and how we can tailor wellness (and illness) care to the specialised needs of this age group. Working with ‘senior citizen’ cats is one of the most rewarding things I do, so I hope to bring this enthusiasm to my presentations.
AAFP
Cat Friendly Practice updates
A survey was sent to all AAFP members including those that have not started the Cat Friendly Practice (CFP) program, are in the process or are already approved. The AAFP has analyzed the member feedback and is assessing the CFP designation process for further ease-of-use and navigation enhancements, as well as developing new education and marketing resources. The updates, as of mid-January, are detailed on the right.
Watch your email for updates on the CFP program’s activities. Information will also be included in the AAFP e-newsletter: The Scratching Post, and Feline Weekly.
FAB
Charity name change
The Feline Advisory Bureau (FAB), the parent body of ISFM, is to become International Cat Care.
Ninety five percent of FAB members who voted in October 2012 were in agreement with the proposal to change the name to one that better represented the work of the charity worldwide. The new name will be launched next month at the British Small Animal Veterinary Association Congress.
The ISFM, as the veterinary division of International Cat Care, will retain its name.
SAGE
SAGE acquires RSM portfolio
Twenty-eight Royal Society of Medicine journals, including the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, which has been educating health professionals since 1809, are to be published by SAGE, JFMS’s publisher. SAGE will be producing online archives of these journals back to volume 1, issue 1.
Books
Bite-sized reviews
1st ed. Cheryl Lopate, ed.Wiley-Blackwell, Ames, Iowa, 2012. Paperback, 323 pages. Price £43.99. ISBN 9780813807935.
Positives
This book is a comprehensive and practical reference covering pregnancy, parturition and the neonatal period of dogs, cats and other small mammalian pets. Although the cat is not covered in quite as much detail as the dog there is still an abundance of detailed information. The smaller species are all addressed by the same pair of authors and, although less information is available than for the dog and cat, the concise and systematic way in which each species is covered is of great practical value and emphasises the interspecies differences in reproductive physiology that are of clinical relevance.
Negatives
There was some duplication of subject matter by different authors, with contradiction in a few minor areas. A small amount of practical advice relating to basic husbandry of the queen and kittens seemed to have been copied from the bitch and was inappropriate for the queen. Although the book was extremely well illustrated throughout in black and white, the colour pictures were presented as a single block of pages unrelated to the chapters they illustrated, which was a minor irritation.
Target audience
A good reference book for vets in general small animal practice but also of interest to any professional working in the field of small animal reproduction.
Comment
This is a very useful addition to the practice library. The chapter on canine and feline congenital defects and genetic counselling is of particular value to the practitioner needing to advise breeder clients.
Susan F Moreland
BA (Hons Cantab) BVetMed MRCVS
3rd ed. Hilary Jackson and Rosanna Marsella, eds. British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Gloucester, 2012. Paperback, 283 pages. Price BSAVA member £55, non-member £89. ISBN 978905319275.
Positives
The book is laid out using a problem-based approach which is very useful – for example, there is a chapter on ‘an approach to pruritus’. There is a good introduction to dermatology at the beginning of the book which is very practical with lots of useful tips, and a detailed chapter on how to perform all the commonly used tests in dermatology cases. There are some chapters which particularly focus on skin disease in cats such as ‘an approach to feline alopecia’. There are lots of pictures and tables, making it an easy to read practice resource.
Negatives
There are very few negatives. It covers the information needed very well, but if you want very detailed information on all the dermatology conditions that exist and the immunology behind them, then this is not the book for you.
Target audience
Practitioners, veterinary students.
Comment
This is a very useful resource for veterinary surgeons in general practice and would get a lot of use on the practice book shelf.
Natalie Barnard
BVetMed CertVD DipECVD MRCVS
2nd ed. Steven Holmstrom. Philadelphia, Elsevier, 2013. Paperback, 418 pages. Price £38.99. ISBN 9781455703227.
Positives
The book is well illustrated, with an abundance of clinical photographs, sketches and radiographs. It is easy to read and each chapter provides an outline and learning objectives and concludes with a basic worksheet, with the answers given at the back of the book. The whole range of small animal dentistry is touched upon, some aspects in more detail than others. A good book for someone looking for a general small animal dentistry text.
Negatives
There are no references and the author makes many unsubstantiated claims as well as numerous inaccuracies throughout the text. The book is written for the ‘whole team’ but there is no guidance as to what information is applicable to different members of the team. Much of the text is simply written with the whole team approach in mind, but as a result seems to lack any scientific semblance.
Target audience
General practitioners looking for a general small animal dentistry textbook that could be used by vets and nurses.
Comment
This is a useful book as a general text and has a number of good illustrations. As a sole text on veterinary dentistry it leaves the reader short, as detailed diagnosis, work-up and treatment of various dental diseases is not covered. For a general practitioner this book is useful but I would not recommend this text for any veterinary postgraduate student studying for further qualifications due to the lack of scientific back-up and referencing.
Lisa Milella
BVSc Dipl EVDC MRCVS European Specialist in Veterinary Dentistry