Abstract
AAFP
Hybrid 2021 AAFP conference: in-person and virtual
The AAFP is delighted to present its 2021 Annual Conference, with the theme of Anesthesia, Analgesia, & Surgery, as a hybrid event. This means the conference will offer the advantages of both in-person and virtual formats.
The in-person meeting, with limited attendance, will take place at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, AZ, USA, from September 30 to October 3, 2021. The main program sessions will be livestreamed for all virtual attendees, and the content will be available on demand for all participants.
Cat Friendly Certificate Program
In October 2020, the AAFP officially launched the Cat Friendly Certificate Program to a very eager and excited veterinary community.
The Program has had tremendous interest and some impressive feedback so far, including:
✜ ‘The Cat Friendly Certificate Program is fantastic! Every veterinary professional can benefit from this program. It helps to improve understanding of feline behavior, feline handling and the common but complex feline diseases. I would recommend this program to everyone!’
✜ ‘This program provided great information on making our feline patients’ experiences calmer and safer for everyone involved. We are able to provide top-of-the-line care tailored to the personality of each cat we see, with the tools and techniques gained from the modules in these lessons.’
✜ ‘This should be mandatory training for every veterinary team! Easy to follow and comprehend, it provides a great baseline to establish a clinic as being cat friendly.’
✜ ‘Informative, direct and perfectly paced course that should be the foundation for feline care in every veterinary practice!’
✜ ‘The best source of feline medical information in the industry.’
To read more comments from colleagues about the Cat Friendly Certificate Program, please visit
ISFM
Hundreds tune in to CKD webinar
As 2021 continues to bring uncertainty, one thing that is certain is the increased demand for online learning opportunities. Fully in-person events have been put on hold as we have been navigating the perils of a pandemic. However, all-important CPD is still a requirement for veterinary professionals, so many of those who are eager to learn are turning to their screens at home to access ISFM’s webinars.
One recent webinar, led by Head of ISFM Nathalie Dowgray, entitled ‘Feline chronic kidney disease – a refresher’, had an impressive 424 members watch live, with almost 200 further views after the session. If you are an ISFM veterinary member you can watch this and other previous webinars, and register for future webinars, via the ISFM member portal; log in at
Clinical Club – join in with ISFM’s new interactive member benefit
Would you be keen to get involved with a group of like-minded professionals to discuss interesting cases? Clinical Club is a new monthly informal social Zoom meeting, created to provide ISFM members with the opportunity to benefit and learn from each other’s experiences, good or bad! Held on the first week of the month, participants discuss practical clinical issues and cases, with relevant literature also brought into the discussion.
ISFM members can either partake in Clinical Club live, or watch its recording after the event. Upcoming topics include ‘Constipation: what are your go-to therapies?’ in May and ‘The coughing cat: treatment trial or work-up?’ in June.
Truly a ‘World’ Feline Congress for ISFM with delegates from almost 60 countries
More than 1000 delegates from 59 different countries have registered for the ISFM 2021 World Feline Congress at the time of going to press. This year the theme is ‘The ever-complex cat: a multidisciplinary approach to feline medicine’, and the congress will take place virtually from 25–27 June. If you have not registered yet, it is not too late! With bursaries also on offer for delegates from low and middle income countries, ISFM are eager to share their feline knowledge and enable more veterinarians to access over 30 hours of CPD.
Madagascar’s first Cat Friendly Clinic show they care
Vet Clinic 24/7, based in Ampandrianomby, Madagascar, has become the first accredited Cat Friendly Clinic (CFC) in the country after achieving silver status.
CFC accreditation demonstrates a commitment to reducing stress for cats and making veterinary visits easier for owners. In achieving silver status and bringing the programme to Madagascar, Vet Clinic 24/7 are certainly living up to their slogan ‘We care’.
Vet Clinic 24/7 joins 1759 accredited CFCs in 40 countries around the world. To find out more about the CFC programme, visit catfriendlyclinic.org.
First ‘Cat Carer Guide’ to accompany ISFM transfusion guidelines
Published on pages 410–432 of this issue of JFMS are the 2021 ISFM Consensus Guidelines on the Collection and Administration of Blood and Blood Products in Cats. ISFM have also produced for the first time a ‘Cat Carer Guide’ to accompany the guidelines, which is to help cat owners and caregivers to play their important role in improving the care that cats receive. More guides will be developed as future guidelines articles are produced, with pain management and neutering among the upcoming topics.
Of the guidelines themselves, Samantha Taylor, panel chair, comments: ‘Blood transfusion is not a simple topic, with considerations for both the donor and recipient. Our aim has been to help practitioners to safely select donors and recipients and to use this precious resource appropriately.’
