Take Your Cat to the Vet Day gains celebrity supportAugust 8, 2018Veterinarians across the U.S. might see more cats in their clinics in coming weeks, thanks in part to a campaign launched by Royal Canin that is being promoted by actor Ian Somerhalder. Take Your Cat to the Vet Day aims to improve the healthcare of cats across the country by encouraging owners to schedule regular veterinary checkups for their feline companions. The initiative, supported by the American Association of Feline Practitioners, the International Cat Association, CATalyst Council, and the Cat Fanciers' Association, hopes to increase visibility of cats in veterinary clinic by dispelling widespread assumptions about feline health. Research from Royal Canin found 53 percent of owners whose cats have not seen their veterinarian in the past 12 months said they did not take their pet to the clinic because they "did not think it was necessary." However, annual veterinary checkups are vital for early identification and treatment of illness and disease. "Regular feline veterinary care is crucial for the health and happiness of your cat," said Catherine Lenox, DVM, DACVN, Royal Canin scientific affairs manager. "Just like dogs, cats need to see the veterinarian on a regular basis for wellness exams, not only when there's a serious medical need." …
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American Association of Feline Practitioners releases new anesthesia guidelinesJuly 11, 2018The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) released the first feline-specific anesthesia guidelines to the veterinary community, which are published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. General anesthesia is an essential component of feline practice, without which surgery and certain other treatment modalities and diagnostic procedures would be impossible, the AAFP stated. Due to their unique physiology and small size, cats undergoing anesthesia are at a relatively greater risk of complications and mortality than many other species; empirical evidence shows that cats undergoing anesthesia have a higher mortality rate compared with dogs.1,2 The new guidelines address specific causes of disparities and ways of avoiding perioperative complications associated with monitoring, airway management, fluid therapy, recovery, perianesthetic anxiety and stress, perianesthetic monitoring by physical and electronic means, the role of underlying diseases such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the correct use of anesthesia equipment, and total injectable anesthesia. An associated client brochure provides cat caregivers with digestible information that enables them to understand anesthesia, what to expect, properly prepare their cat for a procedure, and care for them during recovery (catfriendly.com/anesthesia). "By proactively developing an individualized anesthetic plan that considers the uniqueness of each feline patient and recognizing …
Winn, AAFP announce 2018 scholarship winnersMay 25, 2018The Winn Feline Foundation and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) have announced the recipients of the 2018 joint scholarships for clinical practice and clinical research scientist. Each winner will receive a $2,500 scholarship. Nicole Rowbotham, a junior at Mississippi State University who was awarded the clinical practice scholarship, aspires to obtain her American Board of Veterinary Practitioners certification in feline practice and become the owner of a feline-exclusive hospital. Courtney Meason-Smith, a junior at Texas A&M University who was awarded the clinical research scientist scholarship, seeks to develop an independent research career investigating histoplasmosis and cryptococcosis in cats and is developing novel diagnostics and therapeutics to address these conditions. In 2016, the boards of directors of both Winn and the AAFP approved a joint scholarship. The application process prompts students to answer two essay questions explaining their specific interest and background in feline health and welfare, as well as their plans for future participation in feline medicine. Recipients of the scholarships are selected based on individual academic achievement, strong leadership, and deep dedication to the study of feline medicine, health, and welfare. "Both Nicole and Courtney have demonstrated outstanding leadership skills that …
Winn, AAFP team to offer vet student scholarshipsJanuary 31, 2018Winn Feline Foundation and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) have announced two scholarships for third- or fourth-year veterinary students enrolled in an accredited veterinary college or school in the United States or Canada. The organizations are offering one $2,500 scholarship for a veterinary student with an interest in feline practice and a second $2,500 scholarship for a veterinary student with an interest clinical scientific research. Awards are based on academic achievement, financial need, leadership, and dedication to and excellence in the study of feline medicine, health, and welfare. All applications will be reviewed, selected, and approved by the AAFP and Winn. In addition to a short application form, interested students also will be required to answer two essay questions asking for the applicant to explain his/her specific interest and background in feline health and welfare, and to describe plans for future participation in feline medicine. Completed applications with accompanying supplementary documents must be received no later than March 23. The winning recipient will be notified on or before April 16. Applications and instructions are available at winnfelinefoundation.org/partners/affiliations and catvets.com/members/students/. The AAFP offers additional resources at the …
Survey reveals cat-friendly practices rate high in client satisfactionJanuary 18, 2018The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) announced the results of its 2017 Cat Friendly Practice® (CFP) Survey, which provides an in-depth look at the effect the program has on feline healthcare and the veterinary industry. The 2017 survey revealed a 99 percent satisfaction rate among participants and that the program continues to grow and positively influence veterinary care for cats, caregivers, and veterinary teams. What the survey said 98 percent would recommend the CFP program to other veterinary professionals. 92 percent state the CFP program has positively impacted their team morale when handling, treating, and caring for cats. Many practices said they are now more confident when working with cats, and their teams have adopted the use of cat-friendly techniques to reduce stress during the visit. 91 percent reported an improvement in feline knowledge and care among practice team members. Many practices noticed a great improvement in staff understanding of feline behavior, feline-friendly handling, and ability to read a cat's body language. 80 percentreceived positive feedback from clients on implementing the program. 80 percent have increased visits because they are a CFP. 79 percent report increased practice revenue since implementing the CFP program. 75 percentstate the acquisition of new feline patients due to their CFP …
What Veterinary Practice News readers loved in 2017December 15, 2017Another new year is upon us, but before we embrace 2018 and all it might have to offer veterinary professionals and the industry, let's recap Veterinary Practice News' 10 most-read features of 2017. 1. Canine influenza virus 2017: Beyond two show dogs 2. 10 secrets to keep your veterinary nurses happy 3. University of Minnesota develops cancer drug that helps dogs with hemangiosarcoma 4. Study: Cats eating dry food have increased risk for developing Type 2 diabetes 5. Zoetis earns license for Cytopoint skin therapy 6. Raising greyhound health awareness 7. American Association of Feline Practitioners revises declawing position 8. The 7 top challenges facing veterinary medicine in 2017 9. Petco officially enters the veterinary hospital ring with Thrive 10. The strangest things vet techs have heard clients say
American Association of Feline Practitioners revises declawing positionSeptember 7, 2017The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) has revised its previous 2015 position statement on declawing to strongly oppose onychectomy as an elective procedure.
AAFP Cat Friendly Practice endorsements promote programSeptember 6, 2017The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) has announced endorsements of the Cat Friendly Practice (CFP) Program by CATalyst Council, Cat Healthy, and the Association of Shelter Veterinarians. The program is a global initiative designed to elevate care for felines by reducing stress for the cat, their caregiver, and the entire veterinary team, according to the AAFP. The CFP program, launched in 2012, currently includes more than 1,100 clinics in North and South America. It provides tools to integrate the feline perspective into clinics' physical environments and the delivery of medical care, focuses on increasing the standard of feline care, educating practices about feline patients' needs, decreasing the stress of veterinary visits, and ensuring each cat receives the highest quality, according to the association. To earn the CFP designation, veterinary clinics must meet specific criteria, such as embracing gentle and respectful handling of all cats, providing adjusted procedures to make veterinary visits less stressful for cats and their caregivers, and training staff to understand the individualized needs of cats. "Visiting the veterinarian can be stressful for both cats and their caregivers," said Elizabeth Colleran, DVM, MS, DABVP (Feline), co‐chair of the CFP committee. "So often regular check-ups …
