When: 7 pm-9 pm

Topic: Small Animal Hands-On Technique Lab

Our last meeting of the 2013 spring season is a hands-on lab to learn, review, or practice common procedures done in small animal and exotic practice. We will have cadavers to learn on and practice techniques that can be useful for dogs, cats, birds, ferrets, guinea pigs, rats, and rabbits. If you’d like to learn it, we’d like to teach it!

We will expect to have supplies and equipment for the following:

•  Nasogastric tube placement
• Dental blocks
• Intraosseous catheter placement
• Urinary catheterization
• Cranial vena cava blood collection
• Epidural injections
• Wound soaker catheters
• Necropsy and anatomy review and surgical approach for challenging exotic cases

If there are techniques you’d like to learn/practice that are not included in this list, please tell us when you RSVP so that we can have appropriate supplies on hand. We will likely have a short review and discussion while we eat, and then move right on to the lab! Due to the anticipated popularity of this event and the space constraints we will need to limit the numbers to the first 28 DVMs. If room allows, we may open the event to LVTs also.

Please RSVP by Friday, May 3rd to Margaret Sudekum (msudekum*wmasap.org  |  (616) 676-2720).

The post May 2013 :: Small Animal Hands-On Technique Lab appeared first on West Michigan Academy of Small Animal Practitioners.

When: 7 pm-9 pm

Topic: Updates on Food Allergies in Dogs and Cats :: Presented by Ed Rosser, DVM DACVD |MSU Dermatology, Allergy, and Ear Disease Specialty Service

Don’t get us started with Food Allergy patients?! Ugh!! Why are these guys so challenging??? We always think it’s the owner and those aberrant bits of steak the kids are feeding the dog….true? Or is it more complex than that? What’s the best starting diet for these patients? And why are so many owners complaining about grains in their pet’s food? Do corn and other grains really cause derm issues with our patients?

If you’ve been pondering these questions late into the evening, come and join your colleagues for a night of Dermatology with Dr. Rosser!

Most of us know Ed Rosser very well from our days at MSU and his many lectures around the state and beyond. He has agreed to share his knowledge with us about the advances in this tough dermatologic problem in cats and dogs.
He is a VERY dynamic speaker with a wealth of information to share – be sure to bring a vet buddy to take part in the camaraderie and the excellent CE.

The post April 2013 :: Dermatology with Dr. Rosser appeared first on West Michigan Academy of Small Animal Practitioners.

Time: 6:30pm-9pm

Where: Michigan Veterinary Specialists

Topic: Skin Tumors! MCT: What do I do with this dang grade II? :: Presented by Drs. Christine Swanson and Amanda Conkling

Come hear both an oncologist and surgeon discuss mast cell tumors. Get the latest and greatest on the most common malignant skin tumor that we see and the best course of action for your patients because as we know, it’s not always clear cut…(pun intended).

The new mast cell tumor histopathological grading system is meant to help clinicians differentiate those challenging MCTs from the ones that can just be left for owner monitoring. And there are new histopath test kits that are also meant to help us with interepretation – these new test kit results can be very CONFUSING! Let’s sort through the challenges of dealing with this very common canine malignancy with our own MVS specialists.

This presentation will be an informal question and answer format with Drs. Swanson and Conkling leading the discussion. We will also ask two members to bring a Mast Cell Tumor case for presentation – if you have a funky case that you would like to present, please let me know and we will put you on the list.

And as always, THANK YOU for your continued support of the Academy

Your WMASAP officers,
Dave Durham, Margaret Sudekum, Rebecca Vincent, Chris Dykhouse

The post February 2013 :: New developments in Mast Cell Tumors in dogs appeared first on West Michigan Academy of Small Animal Practitioners.

Time: 6:30pm-9pm

Where: Life EMS (view map or get directions)
1275 Cedar St NE Grand Rapids 49503
616.395-5433

Topic: Is there a Doctor in the House?!?! Human CPR for the Veterinarian

Let’s face it. It could happen to one of us some day. If an unfortunate event occurs in your vicinity, you, the medical expert in the group, could be called upon to help during an emergency.

This is our opportunity to learn human CPR from the professionals at Life EMS. The program will be a 2 hour comprehensive course that meets American Heart Association standards and includes training for child CPR and AED (defibrillator) use. EMS is a leader in our community and holds regular CPR courses for the public – they are very experienced and respected trainers.

Be sure to sign up early – this is sure to be a popular program!

Please RSVP to Dave Durham via David.Durham@vcahospitals.com by Monday 12/31/2012 (DON’T FORGET!!)
or call 616-942-6780 if you have any questions.

See you soon!

Your Academy Officers,
Dave Durham, Margaret Sudekum, Rebecca Vincent, Chris Dykhouse

The post January 2013 :: Human CPR for the Veterinarian appeared first on West Michigan Academy of Small Animal Practitioners.

Time: 6:30 p.m. Registration and Refreshments
7:00 p.m. MSU CVM Faculty Presentations, Secchia Auditoriums
8:00 p.m. Reception, Secchia Community Commons

Where: MSU Secchia Center (view map or get directions), 15 Michigan St. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Topic: Exciting clinical updates from MSU School of Veterinary Medicine

RSVP: Space is strictly limited to 250 people. You must RSVP to Margaret Sudekum (msudekum@wmasap.org or 616-676-2720) by Monday, November 12.

The post December 2012 :: Clinical updates from MSU appeared first on West Michigan Academy of Small Animal Practitioners.

Time: 7pm

Where: Animal Medical Center of Wyoming (view map or get directions)
2330 44th Street SW, Wyoming 49519
(616) 531-7387

Topic: Morbidity and Mortality Rounds: What went right, What went wrong! -AND- Update from the Academy Task Force

As you all know, the M&M rounds are the foundation of our Academy group. It is why this group was founded 40+ years ago and gives us a chance to present interesting cases that went right and some of the ones that were great learning experiences (with maybe a less than favorable outcome). Come with a case to share! We get so many positive responses about these meetings….if you have not attended one, please do. And if you don’t have a case to share, no worries. Come for the food and the chance to hear what your colleagues are doing with their cool cases.

In addition, the Task Force will be presenting an important discussion about our suggestions for improving first veterinary visits for newly adopted pets. This is the result of our work with the MVMA, the Top to Top program and a summer of discussion with the Humane Society, Animal Shelter and Mackenzie’s Animal Sanctuary. We need all of our input to be sure that the program we are suggesting is approved by the members.

Please RSVP by Friday, Oct 27th to Margaret <msudekum@wmasap.org> or call 616-676-2720

The post November 2012 :: M & M Rounds and Task Force Update appeared first on West Michigan Academy of Small Animal Practitioners.

The post September 2012 :: Veterinary Medicine and the Masai…a Travelogue to Tanzania appeared first on West Michigan Academy of Small Animal Practitioners.

Topic: The Academy Direction: Updates and Planning

Our little Academy has made a name for itself in our DVM community and beyond. But what does our future hold?  Are we a CE organization only, or do we have the stomach for something more?

We will report on the current status of our two self-assigned projects (the CSNIP map, and the Practicing Vet Med w/o a License work) and also give updates on other projects that may warrant our attention.

The state of veterinary medicine is in flux with many changes affecting our profession:

• On-line pharmacies and medical advice
• Low cost spay-and-neuter facilities
• Decreased client visits to our practices in the face of increasing pet populations
• The limited collective voice of our profession on a local level
• The apparent increasing numbers of lay people taking veterinary medicine into their own hands
• And the potential for an erosion of our strong status in the public’s mind

These are concerns that are being discussed nationally by leading economic advisors to our profession and by the AVMA.

Our group has an unprecedented opportunity to have a positive impact on our local community because of our unique and enviable professional relationships. We really like each other and have a strong respect for our colleagues. Can and should we channel that attitude to impact our public perception?

We have some ideas to discuss and we need every members’ input.

This will be a lively discussion of the role of the Academy and your insights and ideas are going to be very important as you direct the officers to plan for the future of our group.

Please plan to attend and bring your thoughts and your suggestions.

See you there!

Please RSVP to msudekum@wmasap.org or call (616) 676-2720 by Friday April 27

Your Academy Officers,
Dave Durham, Margaret Sudekum, Rebecca Vincent and Chris Dykhouse

The post May 2012 :: The Academy Direction: Updates and Planning appeared first on West Michigan Academy of Small Animal Practitioners.

Topic: Managing Vomiting in Dogs & Cats | Todd Tams, DVM DACVIM (read full bio) :: Chief Medical Officer for VCA

The post April 2012 :: Gastroenterology with Todd Tams appeared first on West Michigan Academy of Small Animal Practitioners.

Topic: Compassion Fatigue for Veterinary Professionals: Recognizing the Signs | Dr. Page Yaxley,  MSU College of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Yaxley will bring forward the discussion of compassion fatigue in our profession. It’s an important topic for all of us to hear and one that is not discussed openly amongst our colleagues. We pet puppies and kittens all day, right? How can that be worrisome? We really owe it to ourselves and to our colleagues to learn the signs of Compassion Fatigue so that we can watch for challenges in ourselves and also in our friends. Bring a buddy to this meeting – it’s important.

In addition, Dr. Yaxley will discuss the new Pet Hospice Program that is starting at MSU. Here’s a quote from their website:

The MSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital now offers Veterinary Hospice Care in an effort to provide the “missing link” between terminal diagnosis and euthanasia. Veterinary Hospice Care provides in-home, veterinary-supported palliative care to pets so they can maintain a good quality of life and live comfortably until natural death or euthanasia occurs.

Veterinary technicians and other support staff are also invited!!!

See you at this important and informative meeting!

Please RSVP by Friday March 2nd to msudekum@wmasap.org or call (616) 676-2720

Your WMASAP officers,
Dave Durham, Margaret Sudekum, Rebecca Vincent & Chris Dykhouse

The post March 2012 :: Compassion Fatigue: Recognizing the Signs appeared first on West Michigan Academy of Small Animal Practitioners.