From:
jbferret@mindspring.com
Date: 2005-05-27 18:25:49 UTC
Subject: AFA Ferret Vet Symposium October 8, 2005 Sunnyvale, CA
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <2375112.1117218349162.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
The American Ferret Association, Inc. in conjunction with IDEXX Labs Prese=
nts An Advanced Course - Management of the Ferret for Veterinary Profession=
als
October 8, 2005 Radisson Inn Sunnyvale, Sunnyvale, CA
The American Ferret Association is an organization devoted to the health an=
d welfare of ferrets. We want our veterinarians to give the best care and k=
now the most about these special animals. That=92s why AFA is sponsoring th=
is in depth veterinary symposium, with the following goals in mind: =
To help veterinarians meet the growing demand for quality ferret care. =
To encourage new practitioners to learn more about ferrets. =
To provide continuing education for experienced ferret veterinarians.
This one-day symposium is a must for those who are treating ferrets or who =
plan to treat ferrets in their practices. There are an estimated 10 million=
ferrets in the U.S. today, making them the third most popular interactive =
companion animal. Veterinarians, veterinary technicians, students, and alli=
ed health professionals will be interested in the range of topics as well a=
s the in-depth panel discussions that will address the practitioner=92s que=
stions about this fascinating carnivore species. Learn everything from the=
basics to cutting edge technology. Find out about new approaches to diagno=
sis, treatment, and prevention. Participate in discussions on various ways =
of treating malignancies in ferrets.
This Symposium is dedicated to the memory of Pamela Slack, DVM, who died in=
an airplane accident on May 4, 1999. As an AFA professional member, Dr. Sl=
ack chaired several past AFA veterinary symposiums and practiced Exotic Med=
icine at the Alexandria Animal Hospital in Alexandria, Virginia. She owned =
many ferrets and was a savior to many more.
Speaker Faculty
Rene C. Gandolfi, DVM, Dipl. ABVP =96 Conference Chair National and intern=
ational speaker on ferrets, Dr. Gandolfi=92s 1995 publication, Basic Ferret=
Medicine, was the lead article in California Veterinarian, heralding recog=
nition of this species as an important part of the CA vet experience. He is=
a graduate of UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, owner of the Castro =
Valley Companion Animal Hospital, and Medical Editor of the AFA=92s America=
n Ferret Report.
Anne K. G. Bazilwich, DVM =96 Conference Co-Chair Dr. Bazilwich graduated =
from the VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine; she is a founding b=
oard member of the Green Mountain Animal Sanctuary and originating member o=
f the Vermont Animal Cruelty Task Force. Dr. Bazilwich is the Vermont liais=
on for Bioterrorism and Zoonotic Disease Awareness and Prevention, directed=
by the CDC and CFSPH, and a frequent spokesperson for the Vermont VMA.
Natalie Antinoff, DVM, Dipl. ABVP (Avian) Owner of Gulf Coast Avian and Ex=
otics, Dr. Antinoff has authored numerous book chapters and peer-reviewed a=
rticles. She is a con-sultant for the online Veterinary Information Network=
small mammal board. Dr. Antinoff received the Texas Veterinary Medical Ass=
ociation
Non-traditional Species Practitioner of the Year Award.
Mark Burgess, DVM Owner of the Southwest Animal Hospital where 95% of the =
caseload is exotics, Dr. Burgess is a frequent lecturer and Exotic Pet Medi=
cine course instructor. He has received research grants from both the Orego=
n Ferret Association and the AFA. With colleagues, Drs. Katrina Ramsell and=
Michael Garner (pathologist), he described and named Disseminated Idiopath=
ic Myositis in ferrets.
Jorg Mayer, Dr Med Vet MSc Well-published author and lecturer, Dr. Mayer i=
s the Director of Exotic Services and Clinical Assistant Professor in the D=
epartment of Environmental & Population Health at the Tufts University Scho=
ol of Veterinary Medicine. He is on the editorial advisory boards of Exotic=
Health Newsletter for Veterinarians and Ex-oticDVM Veterinary Magazine.
Katrina Ramsell, PhD, DVM Dr. Ramsell holds a PhD in Neuropharmacology; J.=
Neuoendocrine, Neurosci Lettr, J. Neutocytology, Soc Neurosci Abstr, Brain=
Res Bull, and FASEB have published her research articles. She is a frequen=
t presenter and active member of the Cascade Ferret Network, House Rabbit S=
ociety, Oregon Ferret Association, Great Lakes Ferret Association, and the =
AFA.
Valerie W. Staton, MS, PhD Professor of Psychology at Ohio Dominican Univ=
ersity specializing in animal behavior and biopsychology, Dr. Staton is a f=
requent speaker and JAVMA has published her articles. Her current research =
interests focus on ferret behavior and she is a member of the Animal Behavi=
or Society and the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behaviorists.
Curriculum
This course has been submitted (but not yet approved) for 8 hours of contin=
uing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB=92s RACE appro=
val; however, participants should be aware that some boards have limitation=
s on the number of hours accepted in certain categories and/or restrictions=
on certain methods of delivery of continuing education.
Session One: Emergency Medicine & Critical Care: A discussion of the evalu=
ation, stabilization, diagnostic work up, and intervention of the critical =
ferret facing private practitioners. A review of the fluid and electrolyte=
therapy and the mistakes that can be avoided. A must for the practicing ve=
terinarian.
Session Two: Ferret Oncology Overview: Ferrets are known for their procliv=
ity towards developing hyperplastic and neoplastic endocrine tumors. This s=
ession will review the common and not so common malignancies, along with po=
ssible etiologies, and diagnostic and treatment strategies. Novel approache=
s to lymphoma will be presented, along with an in depth discussion of preli=
minary observations from a new clinical chemotherapy protocol being used at=
Tufts.
Session Three: Gastrointestinal & Hepatic Diseases: Most ferrets will expe=
rience GI and/or hepatic illnesses sometime during their lives. Starting in=
the oral cavity, a comprehensive review of the range of conditions that af=
fect the GI and hepatic systems will be presented. A discussion of the diag=
nostic and treatment possibilities will include: ulcers, megaesophagus, dif=
ferential diagnoses of diarrhea, hepatitis, GI neoplasia, and more. The imp=
ortant inter-relationships between GI and hepatic pathology will be discuss=
ed.
Session Four: Studying Ferret Behavior: Why do ferrets do what they do? H=
ow are they similar and different from other house pets? A review of the li=
terature, and experimental and =93real world=94 observations, along with ex=
amples of undesirable ferret behavior intervention strategies, will be pres=
ented in the broad scope of evolutionary, ecological, and animal welfare pe=
rspectives. A discussion of the current state of the science and research m=
ethodologies being used to study behavior will make this a very interesting=
presentation.
Session Five: Disseminated Idiopathic Myositis: First described in 2003, s=
poradic cases of a lethal inflammatory condition of muscles is now being se=
en in domestic ferrets across the USA. The discovery, evaluation, clinical=
and pathologic correlates, epidemiology, and outcomes of cases will be pre=
sented by one of the original investigators.
Session Six: Case Reports & Q=92s & A=92s: Share your most interesting (or=
frustrating!) Ferret Case with the expert Panels. Case Studies will be sel=
ected from those submitted by the registrants for discussion by the Confere=
nce Faculty and audience. Audience questions will also be addressed in this=
open forum.
The symposium hotel is the Radisson Inn Sunnyvale, 1085 East El Camino Real=
, Sunnyvale, CA 94087. Guest room rates for the conference are $69. Please =
use the promotional code AFA to receive your discount when making your rese=
rvation.
(408) 247-0800 or http://www.radisson.com/sunnyvaleca
For more information: http://www.ferret.org or 1-888-FERRET-1
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