World Small Animal Veterinary Association – September 27-29, 2023

Event

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) held its 48th Congress from September 27-29, 2023, in Lisbon, Portugal.

Program

The Congress attracted nearly 3,800 attendees. On offer was a continuing education program designed for companion animal practitioners. Previewed were the association’s new Global Guidelines on Reproduction Control and Global Guidelines on Professional Wellness and an updated version of the Global Vaccination Guidelines. Also launched at the Congress was an updated version of the WSAVA’s Essential Medicines List for Cats and Dogs.

The program included a track dedicated to the sustainability of the profession. Panel discussions were held on nonclinical topics, including modern leadership and the next generation veterinary team, highlighting the need for members of the profession to listen to and support each other in developing practical solutions to the various challenges.

The annual “Shaping the Future” session was on how to influence human behavior to tackle antimicrobial resistance. Members of the WSAVA’s Therapeutics Guidelines Group discussed the challenges facing effective antimicrobial prescribing and compared and contrasted different approaches to antimicrobial stewardship being taken in Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The WSAVA’s One Health Committee led a discussion on the subject of domestic violence as a One health issue during a pre-Congress workshop.

Awards

WSAVA Award for Global Meritorious Service

Dr. Laurel Kaddatz, Venice, Florida, was recognized for service to his local community and to the veterinary profession at a regional, national, and global level. During his career, Dr. Kaddatz served as a senior partner at a  hospital group in Rochester, New York, and later co-owned Pound Ridge Veterinary Center in Pound Ridge, New York, where he also served as hospital director. A past president of the North American Veterinary Community and the New York State VMS, he has chaired the WSAVA Financial Advisory Committee and AVMA Council on Veterinary Service; served as the first AVMA representative to the WSAVA; and is treasurer of the WSAVA Foundation.

WSAVA One Health Award

Dr. Paula Boyden, Milton Keynes, England, won this award, given in recognition of her work to highlight the role of veterinary teams in spotting signs of animal and domestic abuse. Dr. Boyden is veterinary director of Dogs Trust, a dog welfare charity. In addition to her role as director, she is involved with the charity’s outreach work, including the Freedom Project, which temporarily fosters dogs belonging to people escaping domestic abuse. Dr. Boyden also chairs Links Group, a charity aiming to raise awareness of the link between the abuse of people and animals through support, training, and interagency work.

WSAVA Companion Animal Welfare Award

Dr. Emma Milne, Perpignan, France. Dr. Milne is a veterinary nutrition adviser who also lectures and writes articles on extreme conformation and welfare and ethics. Known for her efforts toward animal welfare, particularly with regard to health problems in brachycephalic animals, she launched the online platform Vets Against Brachycephalism in 2017. Dr. Milne promotes responsible use of animal photos in marketing, aimed at advertisers who use photos of deformed animals to sell their products. She authored the book, “Picking a Pedigree: How to Choose a Healthy Puppy or Kitten.”

WSAVA Future Leader Award, sponsored by Hills Pet Nutrition

Dr. Brendon Laing, Acaster, Ontario, won this award in recognition of his contributions to the wider veterinary community in Canada, especially his work to highlight issues around mental health in the profession and to promote technological innovation in the sector. Dr. Laing co-owns Town and Country Animal Hospital in Stouffville, Ontario; Hillside Veterinary Clinic in Newmarket, Ontario; and Dean Veterinary Hospital in Kleinburg, Ontario. He is president-elect of the Ontario VMA and chairs the Canadian VMA’s Professional Development Committee.

WSAVA President’s Award

Dr. Paulo Steagall, Hong Kong. Dr. Steagall is head professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at City University of Hong Kong’s Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences. He also works at the university’s Centre for Animal Health and Welfare. A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia, Dr. Steagall is co-chair of the WSAVA’s Global Pain Council and was one of the key contributors to its first set of Global Pain Management Guidelines. He was also a founding co-chair of the WSAVA’s Therapeutic Guidelines Group. 

Business

The WSAVA welcomed the Iran Small Animals Veterinary Association as a full member; the Albanian Veterinary Society, Algerian Veterinary Space Foundation, and Veterinary Medical College of Chile as associate members; and the Pride Veterinary Medical Community and World Association for Veterinary Dermatology as affiliate members. The Burundi Small Animal Veterinary Association, formerly an associate member, became a full member. The association granted three-year extensions to the Egyptian Small Animal Veterinary Association, Botswana Veterinary Association, and Kosovo Small Animal Veterinary Association, all associate members, and two-year extensions to the Venezuelan Society of Veterinary Physicians in Small Animals, Ghana Private Veterinary Surgeons Association, Caribbean VMA, Council of the Association of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Technicians of Haiti, and Association Scientific Veterinary Council of Cuba, all associate members. The association confirmed that the next World Congress would be held in Suzhou, China, from September 3-5, 2024.

Officials

Drs. Ellen van Nierop, Quito, Ecuador, president; Jim Berry, Fredericton, New Brunswick, vice president; Siraya Chunekamrai, Bangkok, immediate past president; Oscar Umaña, San Jose, Costa Rica, honorary treasurer; and board members—Drs. Jerzy Gawor, Krakow, Poland and Nalinika Obeyesekere, Colombo, Sri Lanka

A version of this story appears in the April 2024 print issue of JAVMA