Canadian Animal Shelter And Community Medicine Association

03/05/2024

✍️ New Blog by Dr. Tracy Satchell, DVM, MS: The ABCs of Feline Herpes

This blog post has 2 parts; the first part briefly discusses the feline herpes virus and upper respiratory disease, and the second part touches on a research paper that was recently published about the isolation of gammaherpesvirus in cats.

Little is known about gammaherpes in cats and this virus is not known to be a cause of feline upper respiratory disease.

Read the full blog here: https://www.cascma.org/the-abcs-of-feline-herpes/

Canadian Animal Shelter & Community Medicine AssociationThe ABCs of Feline HerpesPosted on April 25, 2024 by Canadian Animal Shelter & Community Medicine AssociationApril 28, 2024 By Dr. Tracy Satchell, DVM, MSNote to Reader: This blog post has 2 parts; the first part briefly discusses the feline he...

24/04/2024

💻WEBINAR: All Things Bunny! Part 2: Dental Disease, Ataxia, Anorexia/Gastic Stasis, Head Tilt & More!

The much anticipated Part 2 of Dr. Bousquet's All Things Bunny Webinar is finally here!

CASCMA is pleased to present this two-part webinar series: All Things Bunny! In Part Two, Dr. Bousquet will take participants through the following:

- Dental Disease
- Ataxia
- Anorexia/Gastic Stasis
- Head Tilt.. and more! Get your questions ready!

Join us on April 30th at 3:00pm EST. Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_CVVpZzmCSgG0MOfO61M5DA #/registration

19/03/2024

💻 WEBINAR: FIP Drug Access in Canada with Dr. Scott Weese, DVM DVSC DACVIM FCAHS

Great news for Canadian veterinarians, cat owners and cats: We now have legal access to drugs that can treat feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a disease that’s historically been considered almost invariably fatal in cats, prior to the discovery of these very treatments.

This webinar will provide an outline of the process for importing these drugs, as well as treatment guidance.

On March 28th, CASCMA is pleased to present this webinar. Learn more and register for the webinar here: https://www.cascma.org/events/ #!event/2024/3/28/webinar-fip-drug-access-in-canada

12/03/2024

New to Shelter Medicine?

Consider taking the Introduction to Shelter Medicine course starting THIS Sunday!

Perhaps you’re a private practitioner seeing pets recently adopted from the local shelter. Maybe you’re interested in helping at that shelter. Or perhaps you’ve taken a new position and are new to shelter medicine.

If you’re interested in learning more about the basics of shelter medicine to better support your local shelter and your clients, this course is for you!

Learn more and enroll here: https://www.vin.com/ce/SHEL103-0324.htm

07/03/2024

Next week join the PPG’s webinar: Creating Behaviour Modification Plans in Challenging Environments (shelter) with Tom Candy!

This webinar looks at how we can create successful behaviour modification plans in challenging environments. From shelters to busy households, learn how to work around challenges.

Learning objectives:
- Understand the importance of BMPs in shelters
- Learn how to introduce HAPPIER BMPS for challenging enviroments
- Learn about setting appropriate goals for BMPS

Learn more and register here: https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/webinars-events/webinars/creating-behaviour-modification-plans-in-challenging-environments/

This webinar examines how we can create successful behaviour modification plans in challenging environments. From shelters to busy households, learn how to

05/03/2024

Next week on March 11th, the University of The Pacific’s Online Animal Shelter Certificate Program starts!

This program will provide the knowledge you need to assume a management or leadership role at an open-admission animal shelter.

You’ll learn how to maximize a shelter’s lifesaving potential through program management, community engagement, and shelter operations while at the same time preparing yourself for an exciting career.

If this program sounds like a good fit for you, learn more and sign up here: https://www.sheltermedportal.com/event/online-certificate-program-starts-3-11-24-animal-shelter-management-certificate-program-marketing-development-humane-network-uop-fee-applies/

This calendar is a listing of webinars, other learning opportunities, online meetings and other upcoming national events related to animal sheltering and related areas of interest.

04/03/2024

✍️ New Blog by Dr. Linda Jacobson, Toronto Humane Society/CASCMA: Spectrum of Care - What it is and how to put it into Practice

In this blog, we dive into the Spectrum of Care in veterinary medicine!

Learn how this innovative approach expands access to care amidst rising costs and barriers. From departing from the traditional "best practices" to utilizing evidence-based decision-making, this blog dives deep into Spectrum of Care.

It also explores practical tools like the PICO(T) approach and the value matrix, and enhances your communication skills for shared decision-making with clients.

Read the full blog here: https://www.cascma.org/spectrum-of-care-what-it-is-and-how-to-put-it-into-practice/

21/02/2024

New Blog by Dr. Hannah Weitzenfeld, (DVM): ‘Hacking’ Kennel
Cough: Shelter Medicine Insights for our Canine Respiratory Woes

With the recent apparent increase in Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex (CIRDC) in community and shelter dogs across the US, many of us are looking at what could be causing this, and how we might approach a severe outbreak in our shelters.

While an individual causal pathogen has not been identified and experts generally attribute the cases to our usual suspects, post-pandemic increases in dog populations in shelters and an increased length of stay are likely playing a role in shelter outbreaks.

Learn more in our full blog here: https://www.cascma.org/hacking-kennel-cough-shelter-medicine-insights/

19/02/2024

Join your colleagues nationwide for two half-days of actionable programs that you can begin to implement today to slow the number of animals coming into the shelter and get the ones that do back home faster, easier, better.

At this two-day virtual gathering, on February 21st and 28th, frontline staff will each share the most effective ways they’re incorporating return-to-home goals into everyday processes, protocols and community programming to ensure animals spend more nights at home, not in the shelter.

Learn more and register here: https://www.sheltermedportal.com/back-where-they-belong-a-solution-sharing-summit/

Our shelters are full of dogs and cats who have been separated from their people, their home, their habitat. Animals who very well may have been living their best lives before they appeared in the corner of our kennel card.

16/02/2024

Are you passionate about making a paws-itive impact on your community’s free-roaming cat population?

If so, don’t miss this upcoming webinar tomorrow!

Hosted by the pioneers of the community Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program in New York City, this webinar is your gateway to learning how to mobilize your community effectively.

Learn more and register here: https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/events/from-the-backyard-to-the-front-page-building-a-tnr-movement-presented-by-neighborhood-cats-feb-2024/

14/02/2024

Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at CASCMA! ❤️

13/02/2024

This Wednesday, join the, Living With Claws: Confidently Provide Guidance to Feline Owners webinar, for a discussion that will equip veterinary teams with information and tools to educate pet parents on alternatives to declawing.

By ending the elective onychectomy procedure we are protecting the welfare of our feline patients, but we also must know how to help pet parents live in harmony with cats and their claws. With a plethora of information out there, this discussion will streamline what you need to know today to set your pet parents up for success tomorrow.

Register and join the webinar on February 14th: https://hsvma.memberclicks.net/webinar-living-with-claws

This discussion will equip the veterinary team with information and tools to educate pet parents on alternatives to declawing. By ending the elective onychectomy procedure we are protecting the welfare of our feline patients, but we also must know how to help pet parents live in harmony with cats an...

22/01/2024

On January 26th, Dr. Jason Stull, VMD, MPVM, PhD, DACVPM, will be presenting: “Spectrum of care case examples: talking options in the trenches”, at the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) Conference.

This session will build on the earlier two sessions and offer commonly encountered case examples of providing spectrum of care in daily practice.

We will discuss everyday scenarios for which spectrum of care is easily included into daily practice, identify ways to immediately include spectrum of care in your practice, and identify similar examples specific to your daily patient and owner encounters.

This is an interactive session to provide communication techniques and tools, share experiences and discuss questions and solutions between presenters and the audience.

Learn more and register here: https://www.ovma.org/veterinarians/continuing-education/ovma-conference-trade-show/

PS. Let’s get together - email Linda Jacobson at [email protected] to connect

19/01/2024

On January 26th, Dr. Michelle Evason, BSc, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), MRCVS, will be presenting: “Spectrum of Care Key Components: Is It Time to ‘Cease and Desist’ Gold Standard?” at the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) Conference.

We will dive into:
- The specifics of how to provide spectrum of care in daily practice, highlighting key areas critical for success
- A case example to showcase real world incorporation into clinical practice
- Key areas that need to be included to successfully integrate spectrum of care into your practice
- Barriers to offering spectrum of care options and solutions to overcome these barriers

Learn more and register here: https://www.ovma.org/veterinarians/continuing-education/ovma-conference-trade-show/

PS. Let’s get together - email Linda Jacobson at [email protected] to connect

18/01/2024

We know working in Animal Shelters and in the Animal Welfare field can be challenging, emotionally and physically.

In next week’s webinar, Combatting Compassion Fatigue and Enhancing Resiliency for Animal Welfare Professionals, will discuss:
- The causes and symptoms of compassion fatigue
- Skills that can be used to build and maintain a healthy and intentional culture
- Communication, openness, and personal responsibility related to compassion fatigue

You can learn more and register here: https://www.justiceclearinghouse.com/webinar/in-it-for-the-long-haul-combatting-compassion-fatigue-and-enhancing-resiliency-for-animal-welfare-professionals/

17/01/2024

If you’re a California based Shelter, Maddie’s® Million Pet Challenge, has amazing news to share with you in next week’s webinar: Telemedicine and Vaccine Clinics in California: What Shelters Need to Know About Legislative Updates for 2024

Thanks to groundbreaking veterinary telemedicine and vaccine legislation, your California shelter can ring in the new year with fewer restrictions around who can provide essential care and how, freeing up your team to more easily meet medical needs in the shelter or community.

You can register here:

We’ve got amazing news about access to care in animal shelters for 2024. Thanks to groundbreaking veterinary telemedicine and vaccine legislation, your California shelter can ring in the new year with fewer restrictions around who can provide essential care and how, freeing up your team to more ea...

16/01/2024

On Friday January 26th, Dr. Jason Coe, DVM PhD, will be presenting: “Spectrum of Care: Chatting Cost and Options with Clients” at the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) Conference

This session will discuss:
- The background and impacts of the current “access to care” crisis we face in veterinary medicine, as well as one proposed solution to address this problem.
- The direct and indirect impacts of access to care on veterinary patients, clients and staff
- The “what” and “how” of providing spectrum of care in veterinary practice
- An overview of veterinary comfort with cost conversations

Learn more and register here: https://www.ovma.org/veterinarians/continuing-education/ovma-conference-trade-show/

PS. Let’s get together - email Linda Jacobson at [email protected] to connect

15/01/2024

Do you want to level up your cat housing at your shelter?

UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program veterinarians Dr. Becky Stuntebeck and Dr. Denae Wagner will unveil tips and tactics for creating environments that work better for cats and for your team in the Level Up Your Cat Housing webinar on January 17th.

With this webinar, you’ll be prepared to level up your shelter’s housing even with limited resources.

You can register now here: https://sheltermedicine.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MsLLhK_kQ3SHfH1t4ilFAA #/registration

12/01/2024

CASCMA is pleased to present a half-day track on Spectrum of Care, at Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA)'s conference this month. It will be on Friday afternoon on January 26th!

The presenters are Drs. Michelle Evason, Jason Stull and Jason Coe. The topics they will be covering are:
- Chatting cost & options with clients, ‘yes we can’
- Spectrum of Care Key Components- Is it time to ‘cease & desist’ gold standard?
- Case Examples- Talking options in the trenches

Please let us know if you are attending and would like to get together for drinks/dinner after the talks. Email us at: [email protected]

Please also let your network know about this track! If there is a good turnout, we will be invited back next year.

If you haven’t already, register for the event here: https://www.ovma.org/veterinarians/continuing-education/ovma-conference-trade-show/

11/01/2024

Start 2024 off by becoming a CASCMA Member!

Voting membership is open to: Veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians working in, or with an interest in, shelter and community medicine.

Associate membership is open to: Veterinarians and vet tech students, as well as others working in, or with an interest in, shelter and community medicine.

Most of the medical care for shelter and rescue animals is provided by community veterinarians and veterinary technicians. We strongly encourage you to become members!

Learn more and sign up here: https://www.cascma.org/membership/ /join

13/12/2023

What to do about canine dental health is one of the hottest topics in accessible veterinary care today.

Many shelter and community clinics provide some dental care to patients but often do so with guilt and conflict about not being able to provide the extensive care needed.

In this webinar, ASPCApro presents results from an ASPCA-funded study that investigated the impact of dental cleaning on the quality of life of canine patients.

Join tomorrow's webinar at 12pm EST to learn more: https://www.aspcapro.org/training/webinar/improving-canine-quality-life-through-efficient-low-cost-dental-care

shelter

11/12/2023

The next installment of National Shelter Medicine Rounds is tomorrow (Tuesday, December 12th)!

As news and social media continue to circulate information about a new severe respiratory disease in dogs, the next National Rounds is an opportunity for informal, open discussion, questions, sharing observations and (maybe) some answers.

Join go over what’s been in the news, share experiences and review foundational practices that reduce the risk of disease spread in shelters no matter the pathogen.

Learn more and sign up here:

This calendar is a listing of webinars, other learning opportunities, online meetings and other upcoming national events related to animal sheltering and related areas of interest.

28/11/2023

✍️ New Blog by Dr. Shelley Hutchings (Chief Veterinarian, Ottawa Humane Society and Vice-President and Vice-Treasurer, CASCMA): Asilomar Use in Animal Shelters

Does your team struggle to make individual medical and behavioural case management decisions in your shelter?

Is decision making time consuming, conflict causing, sometimes inconsistent, and taking an emotional toll on those that have to make these difficult decisions?

If so, using Asilomar, and creating a pet evaluation matrix (PEM) can help.

Learn more in our full blog post here: https://www.cascma.org/asilomar-use-in-animal-shelters/

24/11/2023

Next week, Dr. Petra Cerna, MRCVS, AFHEA, AdvCertFB will provide a case-based approach to different feline upper respiratory diseases in a YouTube Live.

Tune in as she discusses how to approach these cases, what to consider for your diagnostic workup. Learn more here: https://vetgirlontherun.com/webinars/november-28-2023-youtube-live-case-based-approach-to-the-sneezing-cat/

Sneezing, ulcer, infection?…Oh my! In this complimentary, 30-minute VETgirl-Merck Animal Health YouTube LIVE event, Dr. Petra Cerna, MRCVS, AFHEA, AdvCertFB will provide a case-based approach to different feline upper respiratory diseases. Tune in as she discusses how to approach these cases, incl...

20/11/2023

Our webinar, "Beyond 'Doing Better': Ordinal Rating Scales to Monitor Behavioural Indicators of Well-Being in Cats is TOMORROW!

Have you registered yet?

If not, you can register now here: https://www.cascma.org/events/event-calendar/?fbclid=IwAR2OijsrisJtvB-OyERnusro5zF_Y #!event/2023/11/21/webinar-beyond-8220-doing-better-8221-ordinal-rating-scales-to-monitor-behavioural-indicators-of-well-being-in-cats-with-dr-teresa-bousquet-dvm

💻 WEBINAR: Beyond “Doing Better”: Ordinal Rating Scales to Monitor Behavioural Indicators of Well-Being in Cats with Dr. Teresa Bousquet, DVM

Safeguarding the well-being of cats is essential to the mission of any responsible animal shelter. Environmental enrichment and behaviour modification are often key to this goal.

This webinar presents a method for evaluating four different expressions of cat welfare on a 0–5 scale: modified Fear, Anxiety, and Stress score; Response to Petting score; Participation in Play score; and Food Intake Summary score.

On November 21st, CASCMA is pleased to present this webinar. Learn more and register for the webinar here: https://www.cascma.org/events/ #!event/2023/11/21/webinar-beyond-8220-doing-better-8221-ordinal-rating-scales-to-monitor-behavioural-indicators-of-well-being-in-cats-with-dr-teresa-bousquet-dvm

17/11/2023

The countdown for our Webinar is ON!

There are 4️⃣ more days to register for our Beyond “Doing Better”: Ordinal Rating Scales to Monitor Behavioural Indicators of Well-Being in Cats webinar with Dr. Teresa Bousquet, DVM!

Register here: https://www.cascma.org/events/ #!event/2023/11/21/webinar-beyond-8220-doing-better-8221-ordinal-rating-scales-to-monitor-behavioural-indicators-of-well-being-in-cats-with-dr-teresa-bousquet-dvm

💻 WEBINAR: Beyond “Doing Better”: Ordinal Rating Scales to Monitor Behavioural Indicators of Well-Being in Cats with Dr. Teresa Bousquet, DVM

Safeguarding the well-being of cats is essential to the mission of any responsible animal shelter. Environmental enrichment and behaviour modification are often key to this goal.

This webinar presents a method for evaluating four different expressions of cat welfare on a 0–5 scale: modified Fear, Anxiety, and Stress score; Response to Petting score; Participation in Play score; and Food Intake Summary score.

On November 21st, CASCMA is pleased to present this webinar. Learn more and register for the webinar here: https://www.cascma.org/events/ #!event/2023/11/21/webinar-beyond-8220-doing-better-8221-ordinal-rating-scales-to-monitor-behavioural-indicators-of-well-being-in-cats-with-dr-teresa-bousquet-dvm

15/11/2023

💻 WEBINAR: Beyond “Doing Better”: Ordinal Rating Scales to Monitor Behavioural Indicators of Well-Being in Cats with Dr. Teresa Bousquet, DVM

Safeguarding the well-being of cats is essential to the mission of any responsible animal shelter. Environmental enrichment and behaviour modification are often key to this goal.

This webinar presents a method for evaluating four different expressions of cat welfare on a 0–5 scale: modified Fear, Anxiety, and Stress score; Response to Petting score; Participation in Play score; and Food Intake Summary score.

On November 21st, CASCMA is pleased to present this webinar. Learn more and register for the webinar here: https://www.cascma.org/events/ #!event/2023/11/21/webinar-beyond-8220-doing-better-8221-ordinal-rating-scales-to-monitor-behavioural-indicators-of-well-being-in-cats-with-dr-teresa-bousquet-dvm

09/11/2023

Next week on November 14th, Dr. Lena DeTar, DACVPM, DABVP-SMP will be reviewing:
- How animals move through shelters
- What the critical control points are
- The important metrics to track
- How we can optimize this movement to provide better care for animals, people, and our communities

Sign up for the Shelter Medicine Population Management in Animal Shelters: Intake, Wellness, Flow-through, and Outcomes
webinar here: https://vetgirlontherun.com/webinars/november-14-2023-shelter-medicine-population-management-in-animal-shelters-intake-wellness-flow-through-and-outcomes/

In this 1-hour, VETgirl small animal webinar, Dr. Lena DeTar, DACVPM, DABVP-SMP reviews how animals move through shelters, what the critical control points are, the important metrics to track, and how we can optimize this movement to provide better care for animals, people, and our communities!

06/11/2023

This Thursday, November 9th, Maddie’s Fund is hosting the Strategies for Challenging Ableism in Companion Animal Welfare webinar!

In this webinar, how animal shelters and rescues contribute to problematic representations of disability and engage in practices that harm these animals will be discussed

You will also learn about strategies for challenging ableism and better serving disabled animals.

You can register for the webinar here: https://maddiesfund-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qgqLNOXcSQuuYDA9FSHsyQ #/registration

Join us on the second Thursday every month for a series on the latest research in animal well-being and how you can use the findings in your shelter and community. Register once for all webcasts in the series. Can't attend live? Register anyway and you will get a link to the recording. To see the re...

31/10/2023

Happy Halloween from all of us at CASCMA 🎃!