The American Ferret Association, Inc.  in conjunction with IDEXX Labs
Presents An Advanced Course - Management of the Ferret for Veterinary
Professionals October 8, 2005 Radisson Inn Sunnyvale, Sunnyvale, CA
 
The American Ferret Association is an organization devoted to the health
and welfare of ferrets.  We want our veterinarians to give the best care
and know the most about these special animals.  That's why AFA is
sponsoring this 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 allied health professionals will be interested in the range
of topics as well as the in-depth panel discussions that will address the
practitioner's questions about this fascinating carnivore species.  Learn
everything from the basics to cutting edge technology.  Find out about
new approaches to diagnosis, 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. Slack chaired several past AFA veterinary symposiums and practiced
Exotic Medicine 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 -- Conference Chair National and
international speaker on ferrets, Dr. Gandolfi's 1995 publication,
Basic Ferret Medicine, was the lead article in California Veterinarian,
heralding recognition 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's American Ferret Report.
 
Anne K. G. Bazilwich, DVM -- Conference Co-Chair Dr. Bazilwich graduated
from the VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine; she is a founding
board member of the Green Mountain Animal Sanctuary and originating
member of the Vermont Animal Cruelty Task Force.  Dr. Bazilwich is the
Vermont liaison 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 Exotics, Dr. Antinoff has authored numerous book chapters and
peer-reviewed articles.  She is a consultant for the online Veterinary
Information Network small mammal board.  Dr. Antinoff received the Texas
Veterinary Medical Association 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 Medicine course instructor.  He has received research grants from
both the Oregon Ferret Association and the AFA.  With colleagues, Drs.
Katrina Ramsell and Michael Garner (pathologist), he described and named
Disseminated Idiopathic Myositis in ferrets.
 
Jorg Mayer, Dr Med Vet MSc   Well-published author and lecturer, Dr.
Mayer is the Director of Exotic Services and Clinical Assistant Professor
in the Department of Environmental & Population Health at the Tufts
University School of Veterinary Medicine.  He is on the editorial
advisory boards of Exotic Health Newsletter for Veterinarians and
ExoticDVM 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 frequent presenter and active member of the Cascade Ferret Network,
House Rabbit Society, Oregon Ferret Association, Great Lakes Ferret
Association, and the AFA.
 
Valerie W.  Staton, MS, PhD   Professor of Psychology at Ohio Dominican
University specializing in animal behavior and biopsychology, Dr. Staton
is a frequent speaker and JAVMA has published her articles.  Her current
research interests focus on ferret behavior and she is a member of the
Animal Behavior Society and the American Veterinary Society of Animal
Behaviorists.
 
Curriculum
 
This course has been submitted (but not yet approved) for 8 hours of
continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB's RACE
approval; however, participants should be aware that some boards have
limitations 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
evaluation, 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 veterinarian.
 
Session Two: Ferret Oncology Overview: Ferrets are known for their
proclivity towards developing hyperplastic and neoplastic endocrine
tumors.  This session will review the common and not so common
malignancies, along with possible etiologies, and diagnostic and
treatment strategies.  Novel approaches to lymphoma will be presented,
along with an in depth discussion of preliminary observations from a
new clinical chemotherapy protocol being used at Tufts.
 
Session Three: Gastrointestinal & Hepatic Diseases: Most ferrets will
experience GI and/or hepatic illnesses sometime during their lives.
Starting in the oral cavity, a comprehensive review of the range of
conditions that affect the GI and hepatic systems will be presented.  A
discussion of the diagnostic and treatment possibilities will include:
ulcers, megaesophagus, differential diagnoses of diarrhea, hepatitis,
GI neoplasia, and more.  The important inter-relationships between GI
and hepatic pathology will be discussed.
 
Session Four: Studying Ferret Behavior: Why do ferrets do what they do?
How are they similar and different from other house pets?  A review of
the literature, and experimental and "real world" observations, along
with examples of undesirable ferret behavior intervention strategies,
will be presented in the broad scope of evolutionary, ecological, and
animal welfare perspectives.  A discussion of the current state of the
science and research methodologies being used to study behavior will
make this a very interesting presentation.
 
Session Five: Disseminated Idiopathic Myositis: First described in 2003,
sporadic cases of a lethal inflammatory condition of muscles is now being
seen in domestic ferrets across the USA.  The discovery, evaluation,
clinical and pathologic correlates, epidemiology, and outcomes of cases
will be presented by one of the original investigators.
 
Session Six: Case Reports & Q's & A's: Share your most interesting (or
frustrating!) Ferret Case with the expert Panels.  Case Studies will be
selected from those submitted by the registrants for discussion by the
Conference 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 reservation.  (408) 247-0800 or http://www.radisson.com/sunnyvaleca
 
For more information: http://www.ferret.org or 1-888-FERRET-1
 
Vickie McKimmey
 
Just a Business of Ferrets
www.jbferret.com
American Ferret Association
Director of Shows and Special Events
www.ferret.org
[Posted in FML issue 4891]