February 2013 Edition From the President`s desk

February 2013 Edition
NSW Div Annual Conference 2013
15-17 March 2013
Leura, NSW
AVA Annual Conference 2013
26-31 May 2013
Cairns, NSW
AVAPM Annual Conference 2013
6-7 July 2013
Sydney, NSW
EVA & AVAPM Exclusive
Insights Equine Tour
19 July 2013
Melbourne, VIC
AVAPM Roadshow Workshops
8-9 August 2013
Adelaide, SA
NSW Div Regional Conference
2013
13-15 September 2013
Coffs Harbour, NSW
AVAPM Exclusive Insights Tour
18-19 October 2013
Adelaide, SA
AVA Annual Conference 2014
25-30 May 2014
Perth, WA
From the President’s desk – Dr Steven Ferguson
Only a few weeks now until our NSW
Annual Meeting and Conference in
the Blue Mountains! I must admit,
although initially quiet daunted when
asked to take on this role that I have
had a thoroughly enjoyable year – I’ll
leave others to judge its success.
I would like to take this opportunity to
thank my wife and business partners
for their tolerance of my time out of
the home and practice and the
wonderful NSW committee and staff
who work very hard for the benefit of
our members and profession.
There have been many highlights including the growing success of our
regional conferences in Wollongong and Dubbo, the opportunity to engage
with politicians and government officials, work with colleagues from other
divisions and SIG’s, visiting the universities and enjoying the social events.
The NSW Division is renewing with at least three new members joining our
committee. I would especially like to thank our past president and current
Treasurer Geoff Tomkins for the wonderful contributions he has made to
AVA NSW over an extended period. Geoff has been a real role model for
me and extremely supportive. We wish him well in committee retirement.
This year will see some new initiatives and an attempt to grow on our
success with local branches as well as some potential challenges with the
LHPA merger process, finalisation of the companion animal review and vet
practice regulations review plus whatever else is just around the corner! I
am very confident that AVA NSW will be very well led by our incoming
president Ted Irwin. I wish him well for the coming year.
A Word from the Executive Officer – Mark Fraser
Having just returned from a rain soaked Coffs Harbour, I am nonetheless
looking forward to returning to the banana coast for our regional conference
in September (7-8). With a mandate to take quality CPD to regional areas,
AVA NSW division works hard to gather top notch speakers and deliver
regional conferences around this vast state.
Since stepping into my role as NSW EO, we have hosted our regional
events at Newcastle, Bateman’s Bay, Ballina, Wollongong, Tamworth,
Dubbo and in a few weeks, the alluring Fairmont resort at Leura.
We endeavour to cover all pockets of NSW and engage with local branches
in order to set themes and offer relevant topics. Delegates tend to come
from all over the state, with local members fully supporting the conferences
in their own back yards. As a result, the calibre of delivery and the level of
attendees have both increased dramatically.
To this end, the upcoming conference at Leura is almost fully booked out. Sponsorship and trade exhibition is at
capacity and the Saturday night dinner now has a waiting list…a good reason to have got in early and reserved
your spot.
Details for Coffs Harbour will be released later in the year, so make sure you pencil in the dates and get in early
for some educational and social refreshment!
Hope to see you at Leura next month. As always a huge thank you to all our corporate supporters and industry
partners.
Branch report - Dr Tara Cashman
Frequently when AVA members are asked about the benefits of their
membership they mention “a sense of community” or “collegiality”. In rural
areas however, a connection with colleagues can be difficult to maintain, a
sentiment many professionals in country towns share.
With this is mind AVA member Justine McNally from Moree put together a
fantastic program of continuing education on the weekend to bring together
professionals from many different backgrounds. Aside from the 30 plus vets
who attended there were doctors, nurses, pharmacists and their visiting
students. There were more than 60 people present in Moree for the
afternoon session on zoonoses.
This event was unique in that the organisation was shared between the
professions. There was also co-operation within the veterinary community to
avoid event clashes by sharing speakers and changing venues.
Congratulations to Justine and the New England branch for thinking outside the square to support local AVA
members. So this year consider avoiding the “same old, same old” and work with your branch to provide services
that you want. If you need a hand just contact me and I’ll support your branch.
Tara Cashman – [email protected] or 0488 671 122.
Advertisement – Elite Fitout Solutions
AVA Annual Conference 2013 – 26-31 May 2013
Polite Pets Month 2013
Get ready for Polite Pets Month 2013!
Promote pet behaviour awareness in your practice during Polite Pets Month
with activities designed to suit your clients.
Order a free practice display pack
Sign up to receive a complimentary promotional pack courtesy of foundation
sponsor, Ceva Animal Health. The packs will be delivered before 1 March, and include product samples of
Feliway and Adaptil, as well as client information put together by our behaviour experts in the AVA special interest
group, AVBIG.
Order you free practice pack today
Register for a free webinar
Foundation sponsor, Royal Canin, has opened registrations for the free webinars. Scheduled for early February,
the webinars will help prepare vets and nurses alike for the questions that might arise during Polite Pets Month.
You can sign up for The basics of barking, presented by Dr Andrew O’Shea on Tuesday 5 February 1.00pm
AEDT or Why kitty isn’t using the litter, presented by Dr Terry Theakstone on Thursday 7 February 1.00pm AEDT.
Register for one or both of the free webinars today
Download client information sheets
AVBIG has prepared some client information sheets that you can download and hand out to your practice visitors.
Download the client information sheets and keep an eye out for even more resources to come in early 2013.
For more information about Polite Pets Month visit www.ava.com.au/polite-pets-month.
Webinar: Managing Underperformance in your Practice - AVAPM
Friday 12 April 2013
1.30pm – 2.30pm
Presenter: Michelle Eamer – AVA HR Advisory Service/ Wentworth
Advantage
Managing Underperformance: Any employment relationship commences
with the best of intentions but sometimes this relationship does not always
work out.
There are times when an employee’s motivation or their circumstances
change that affect their performance at work, causing disruptive and
negative impact on fellow workers and the operation of the business. All of
which can trigger the performance management process leaving both the employer and employee questioning the
employment relationship.
This presentation will provide some practical guidance on what constitutes underperformance, some reasons for
underperformance and a step-by-step performance management process.
About the presenter: Michelle Eamer, Employment Relations Manager is degree qualified in the specialist area
of Employment Relations which incorporates both human resources (HR) and industrial relations (IR) qualifications.
Before joining Wentworth Advantage Michelle worked for the Australian Retailers Association as an Industrial
Relations adviser. Michelle now dually manages the AVA HR Advisory Service in providing IR advice to members
and developing resources to assist employers to manage the employment relationship under the current
employment legislation.
Pricing: AVAPM Member: $45.00, AVA Member: $50.00, Non-Member: $100.00
For more information and registration details please Click Here.
CIB’s 575 Vet Nursing and Pet Grooming – AgriFood NSW
Attn NSW Vet Nurses & Pet Groomers
Please be advised that the Vocational Training Order has now been declared
for the new VET Nursing and Pet Grooming Qualifications.
More details can be found following:
https://www.training.nsw.gov.au/cib_vto/cibs/cib_575.html
This means that these qualifications can now be assessed via a traineeship
with the associated federal and state government funding subsidies.
NSW is the first state to have access to these new qualifications as
traineeships. I urge you all to take advantage of these new pathways.
2012 AVA Golf Day Re-Cap – Sharon Niazi
The AVAs 2012 Charity Shield Golf Day was a considered to be a lot like
the Sydney 2000 Olympics, definitely “the best ever “.
The Liverpool Golf Club was in impeccable condition, and the day itself was
blessed with sunshine, as many will remember the 2011 event rained from
beginning to end.
Registrations in the Shield event have become very sophisticated thanks to
“Coxys “(Dr Matthew Cox) tabulated spreadsheet system. Once the stress
of the handicap confession was over, players were invited to enjoy early
sustenance in the form of egg and bacon rolls, coffee and tea. A question
remains in terms of impact to performance based on consumption of the big
breakfast. Something to be studied more closely this year.
Left: Winners Bayer Team KILTIX (left to right ) Dr Peter McKenzie-Woods,
Jenny Martin, Dr Louise Stevenson& Dr Angus Martin.
75 players made up the 19 teams registered for the event, and there were
some serious contenders on the day, boasting lean handicaps.
It was however Bayer Team KILTIX who repelled their competitors, a clear
advantage shared by the team members golfing performance. Team Kiltix
members included, Dr Angus & Jenny Martin, Dr Louise Stevenson & Dr
Peter McKenzie-Woods. A formidable line up right from the beginning.
It was rumoured that all members apart from one declined the offer of the golf buggy. The photo indicates that is
was a brown haired male from the team. Before the game started he was seen with a smile from ear to ear,
enjoying a few racing moments on the course. Golfer, racing car driver and a mere “Willoughby” vet by day.
The AVA Charity shield provides the winning team with a $1000 cheque which can be donated to a charity of the
team’s choice.
Dr. Angus and his Kiltix team are proudly sponsoring the efforts of a volunteer group of vets, nurses and helpers
who get together in Darlinghurst on a monthly basis to help out with “Pets in the Park “.
Each year the AVAs Golf Shield has been growing in popularity, as it is a rare chance to for everyone to catch up
and enjoy a day away from the practice and play golf. The day on course is followed up with a lovely dinner where
prizes are awarded for diverse talents witnessed throughout the day.
Thanks to efforts of AVA, many animal health pharmaceuticals sponsoring the event, and the work of Dr Andrew
Herron and Dr Matthew Cox the charity shield will be held again in 2013. Be sure to register your interest early for
the 2013 AVA tournament.
The AVA Sydney Branch is dedicated to uniting veterinarians in Sydney.
Pets in the Park - Sydney
Who is Pets in the Park?
The group has been set up with the aim of reaching out to help pets that are
owned within the community by the homeless or less fortunate. The monthly
free pet clinic provides health care such as worming, flea control, vaccinations
and nutritional advice.
With understanding and compassion shown by volunteer veterinarians,
veterinary nurses and other community members, the team have set about to
build relationships with the people and their pets so they receive the best
possible help in maintaining their pet’s health. For many people in these
situations, their animals are their most loyal companions and they deserve the
reward of good health.
Pets in the Park is held the last Sunday of each month 3:00PM – 5:00PM in
the grounds of St John’s Anglican church Darlinghurst.
Anyone interested in learning more about Pets in the Park or being able to help with resources, please contact Dr
Mark Westman or visit www.petsinthepark.org.au. There are various media stories to be released about the
programme in Sydney
AVA QLD Division Conference 2013 – 22 -24 March 2013
22 – 24 March 2013
QLD College of Wine Tourism, Stanthorpe
“KNOW YOUR LIVER”
Production Animal, Small Animal, Equine, Exotics and Nursing streams
For more information and a registration form please Click Here
Canine Dementia: “The Dogs + Cells” Trial – Regenerative Neuroscience Group
The DOGS+CELLS Trial aims to discover whether brain engraftment of
‘patient-specific’ skin-derived neural precursor cells can help cure dogs of
the dementia-like syndrome, Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD). If
successful this world-first study would pave the way for similar clinical trials
in humans with dementia.
Lead by A/Prof Michael Valenzuela, a Clinical Neuroscientist leading the
Regenerative Neuroscience Group of the University of Sydney’s Brain &
Mind Research Institute, the treatment trial involves collaborators and
specialists in Animal Behaviour, Veterinary Neurology, Surgery and Imaging
from the University’s Faculty of Veterinary Science and Veterinary Teaching
Hospital.
What is Canine Cognitive Dysfunction?
CCD is a dementia-like syndrome that occurs in approximately 12-14% of
older dogs more than 10 years of age. Typical features include:
•
•
•
•
•
Wall staring (see picture, left)
Not recognising owners
Pacing and circling
Getting lost
Incontinence
CCD is a progressive and ultimately fatal disorder with no proven effective treatment. It is devastating to the
human-animal bond. CCD also has clinical, epidemiology, pathological and pharmacological similarities to human
Alzheimer’s dementia.
Diagnostic and Assessment Tools

Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Rating (CCDR) scale
Our group developed and validated the CCDR – a 10-item questionnaire about an older dog’s behavioural
changes. It is an accurate and sensitive clinical assessment tool that when combined with a veterinary
check-up can definitively diagnose CCD.
You can screen your dog for CCD by following the links at www.rng.org.au/CCDR/

Canine Sand Maze
Our group also developed and validated this 3-hour test of a pet dog’s spatial memory. It is sensitive to
age-related decline and relies on a dog’s natural preference to look for food treats.
See movies of an old and young dog on the CSM at www.rng.org.au/canine-sand-maze/
Proof of Concept
Skin-derived Neural Precursor Cells (SKNs)
Our group has developed a reliable method for growing a pure sample of neural stem-like cells from a small
biopsy of adult canine skin. Eight weeks after transplantation, these cells engraft extensively into the
hippocampus (memory centre) of the rat. The red cell (right) is a donor SKN cell that has developed elaborate
dendrites. The inset box shows these have dense synaptic spines, and live cell testing confirmed this cell was
neuronally functionally active. Follow-up testing of these rats shows the rescue of memory deficits; old rats are
particularly impaired at recognising positional changes in their environment, but transplantation of 200,000 SKN
donor cells into the hippocampus reverses these deficits, raising performance back to young animal levels.
Our Plan
We are recruiting aged pet dogs with CCD who are otherwise fit for
minimally-invasive brain surgery. We will grow SKN cells from a skin sample
of the same animal, and then transplant these cells into the dog’s
hippocampus using MRI guidance. Overall, our expectation is that the
treatment is safe and the dog’s CCD symptoms and spatial memory will
significantly improve.
If you have patients that you suspect have, or may be at risk of developing
CCD, please contact us for more information about enrolling in this
pioneering treatment trial.
For more information, contact:
Ms Ellen Rasidi
(02) 9114 4136; 0432 584 978
[email protected]
This project has been approved by the University of Sydney Animal Ethics Committee
(K00/7-2012/3/5796).
Love for Lippy & Vets Beyond Borders
ABOUT 5,500 FEET above sea level, in the eastern Himalayan ranges, lies
the tiny and remote Indian state of Sikkim. Tucked snugly between Nepal,
Bhutan and Tibet, in the town of Gangtok, lives a much-loved street dog
affectionately known as Lippy.
Your donations have been vital for helping improve the quality of life
for many animals, all loved just as much as Lippy.
This time last year, Lippy was living at the Vets Beyond Borders' Sikkim AntiRabies & Animal Health (SARAH) clinic following the discovery of a tumour
growing in his mouth. Local vets had attempted to help by surgically removing it from along his left lower jaw, but
the tumour had returned after two attempts at the procedure.
Vets Beyond Borders volunteer veterinarian, Dr Matthew O’Donnell, who was working in Gangtok at the time
and had more experience in surgery, was asked to help little Lippy.
Other than a sore mouth, Lippy was a clinically well dog, but he did need aggressive surgery to remove the painful
tumour and ensure the rest of his life is happy and healthy. So Dr Matt performed a serious operation called a
hemi- mandibulectomy where part of his lower jaw was removed. The picture above shows Dr Matt operating with
the help of dedicated VBB volunteer paravets and local vet, Dr Dikki (far left) looking on to learn the procedure.
The surgery was performed safely and Lippy recovered remarkably well; he was very courageous and was even
eating within hours of waking. He continued to improve in the days after his surgery and was soon well enough to
be released back to the community that had initially brought him to the clinic. Dr Matt was very pleased with the
outcome too.
Lippy was again full of love, joy and confidence, and for the past year, has been a wonderful companion for the
families who look after him.
And it’s only thanks to supporters that we are able to tell such happy stories about dogs like Lippy.
Help support Vets Beyond Borders by making a donation today? Click Here.
Read E-Ructations Online – Your AVA website!
Did you know you can access this issue and past New South Wales
newsletters online?
Click here to go to the New South Wales page on the AVA website. You can
also find past proceedings and details of the Kath Farr Scholarship along
with handy web tips.
Don’t forget to check the AVA calendar to see what events are coming up.
Members are reminded that they can post an event simply by logging on to
the AVA website and clicking on the ‘Add an Event’ tab. This is a great way
to promote branch events and meetings.
Useful Contacts
AVA Members HR Advisory Service – 1300 788 977 [email protected]
AVA Member services – 1300 137 309 [email protected]
AVA Counselling Service – 1800 337 068
Accounting, Finance & Super helpline 1800 881 293
Guild Insurance – 1800 810 213
Benevolent Fund – 1300 137 309 - http://www.ava.com.au/about-us/trusts-and-foundations
On the lighter side! – Trivia & funnies
AVA New South Wales Platinum Sponsors
AVA New South Wales Contact Details
ADDRESS:
STAFF:
Unit 40, 6 Herbert Street
St Leonards NSW2065
Phone: 9431 5010
Web: Click here
Executive Officer Mark Fraser
Email: [email protected]
NSW Admin Laura Connolly
Email: [email protected]
The Australian
Veterinary Association
ABN 63 008 522 852