AAVN Newsletter March 2020
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From the President's Desk
Dear Colleagues,
I am, like all of you, learning to sail in uncharted waters. At the AAVN, we are also having to hone new skills.
With the pending cancelation of the ACVIM Forum, we are investigating other options to bring our Symposium to you this spring. We are exploring webinar software and other platforms for virtual gatherings and look forward to having an update for you soon. While this presents new challenges, it is an opportunity to learn and grow.
All of these changes are tough. But I know that we will emerge from this experience as a stronger association, better able to meet the challenges that we face.
I hope that you are healthy and safe and that this e-newsletter brings a welcome relief from all of the coronavirus coverage.
As always, thank you for your membership!
Martha G. Cline, DVM, DACVN
AAVN Executive Board – President (2017 – 2021)
p.s. As always, please share YOUR news with the membership via the e-newsletter.
We want to hear about your activities, publications and interests. Send along information to E-Newsletter Editor Dr. Sarah Abood or to
aavnexecutive@gmail.com
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AAVN 2020 Symposium -- CANCELLED
At this time, the AAVN Symposium that was scheduled for Wednesday, June 10th in Baltimore, MD has been cancelled.
For those who submitted abstracts for the symposium, we will be in contact next week after the Executive Board has had time to discuss next steps.
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Member Spotlight: Dr. Ron Corbee
My name is Ron Corbee and I am the nutritionist at Utrecht University, The Netherlands. Obesity in pets and people is my main research subject, which I am passionate about. My papers, in collaboration with human doctors, are “Discussing overweight in children during a regular consultation in general practice: a qualitative study”, recently accepted by BMC Family Practice, and “Similarities between obesity in pets and children: the addiction model”, published in the British Journal of Nutrition.
Currently I am training an ECVCN resident, and four PhD candidates. I am responsible for the clinical nutrition teaching program of master students following the companion animal track and developing e-learning modules (in English) to have a more blended education program. If you have ideas about interesting topics and/or if you want to share your e-learning modules with me, please let me know (
r.j.corbee@uu.nl
), so we do not invent the wheel all by ourselves. I am also happy to share my e-learning modules when they are ready for use.
We have elective nutrition course and as part of it, I take students to different pet food production sites.
Interesting clinical cases that I’ve managed recently were 2 dogs with motility problems of the esophagus that were successfully managed with parenteral nutrition and tube feeding. The owners then used a particular backpack to hold their dog after oral feeding, which worked out really well.
A challenging trip last year was to the National Veterinary Conference in Moscow, Russia.
Russian vets and vet nurses are very much interested in nutrition, and we have made appointments to set up nutrition education programs for Russian vets.
I and my team have also enjoyed the last ESVCN Congress in Turin, Italy, where we had two oral presentations, three posters, and my resident won the best case report contest, so I was a very happy and proud supervisor.
I am co-organizer of the ESVCN Congress 2020, which will be held in Vila Real, Portugal, September 17
th
-19
th
, so I hope to meet you all there (
www.esvcn2020.eu
).
My hobbies are playing volleyball, and singing in a cover band.
I am a frequent visitor of the AAVN symposia, and a member of AAVN for many years now. Hopefully I will meet you in person again soon.
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Have a Job to Post?
Please send any job notices to our executive team at
aavnexecutive@gmail.com
. Job notices received from an AAVN member will then be posted in the following places as a service to our membership:
1) AAVN Listserv
3) The following AAVN monthly newsletter
Members are also welcome to send relevant events, surveys intended for scientific research, training programs or courses to
aavnexecutive@gmail.com
for notice through our listserv and/or newsletter.
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AAVN Student Chapter Update
Did you know that the AAVN supports numerous student chapters across North America? Dr. Megan Sprinkle, Dr. Ken Lambrecht and others on the Student Membership committee recently initiated a new opportunity on social media they are calling the "nutrition takeover".
The idea for the “nutrition takeover” blossomed from a brainstorming session early in 2020 and is designed t
o grow student engagement.
During the coming months, each AAVN student chapter will have the task of posting content on the Student Chapter of AAVN Facebook page.
This Facebook group for our student chapters is a closed group and is meant to be a place where veterinary students can share nutrition-related interests and ideas, as well as support each other.
This month the
University of Missouri student group
has taken over the page. Their volunteer ‘champion’ is Stepf Georg, who has taken on this challenge.
Dr. Sprinkle stated that it has been great to observe how this online community of AAVN Student Chapters is staying connected, and she expects more good things to be shared by other student groups in the coming months:
March – University of Missouri
April – Colorado State University
May – Iowa State University
June - Atlantic Veterinary College
July – Ontario Veterinary College
August – Washington State University
September – University of Wisconsin at Madison
October – Mississippi State University
November – Cornell University
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Here are a few links to websites
with recipes to help celebrate springtime!
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Student Blog Contest Winner: Burro-ing our Heads in the Sand
Is your donkey's dinner dangerous?
Carleigh Cathcart
It’s no wonder they’re often called ‘the forgotten equine’! With a
global population
of over 44 million, many of whom are relied upon heavily for income purposes, donkeys make up a significant chunk of the equine world. Yet in 2019, there remains little information available for owners and even veterinary professionals on their proper care, which differs significantly from that of the average horse. Donkeys are particularly prone to the consequences of poor nutrition, something common among well-intentioned but misinformed caretakers.
As a donkey owner, there is no doubt that you love your long-eared friend. Anyone lucky enough to nuzzle a mini or catch a playful bray from the field knows how intelligent and affectionate these wonderful animals can be. Their ears, however, are not the only thing separating them from horses. Their
desert origin
has resulted in an animal with very low caloric and high fibre needs and an unfortunate proneness to both obesity and the dreaded laminitis.
Familiarizing yourself with the dos and don’ts of donkey nutrition can be overwhelming, so it’s best to start off with the major concepts. Proper directions on feeding your equine are important, but equally crucial is understanding
why
certain approaches must be taken to prevent illness and suffering in our beloved companions.
The Last Straw?
No, make straw first! Surprising to some is the fact that 50-70% of a donkey’s diet should actually be made up of straw. The high fiber, low-calorie composition of straw closely resembles what they would consume in their natural desert habitat.
Impact:
Every equine owner shudders at the thought of colic, and a constant supply of straw allows the regular foraging behaviour of donkeys,
keeping up that gut motility
without contributing to weight gain.
For Eeyore’s menu: Ad-lib straw is recommended for donkeys and should be replaced every day for freshness. For most donkeys, feeding at
floor level
facilitates better digestion and is easier on their eyes and respiratory system.
Hay, what about…?
Those familiar with the difference between hay and straw are often surprised to learn that straw is used for more than just bedding – in our case, a majority component of a proper donkey diet. This doesn’t mean that hay should be avoided, but that it should be supplemental to straw rather than a replacement.
Impact
: Due to its higher
sugar and energy content
, hay can cause donkeys to store excess calories and fat, easily leading to obesity. Obesity in equines is a significant welfare issue that can cause organ disease (ex. liver, heart), respiratory problems, and pain – including laminitis.
For Eeyore’s Menu:
Depending on the time of year, hay should make up no more than
25-50%
of a donkey’s diet. It should not be provided ad libitum like straw, but given in fixed quantities. It’s always good to keep the
cut of hay
in mind as well, given that later (2
nd
and 3
rd
) cuts of hay typically contain less sugar and energy. This is especially important when feeding overweight or laminitic donkeys. As always, ensure your hay supply is dry and free of mould, which can be
toxic
to equines.
Grass is greener on the other side? Keep it there!
It’s certainly difficult to imagine something as unappetizing (to us) as grass to be dangerous, but that’s exactly what it can be to donkeys. As with hay, grass has a sugar content that can easily be excessive for donkeys, especially in the spring months when rain and newfound warmth make pastures lush with rich, enticing nibbles.
Impact
: Unrestricted grazing on pasture can have
serious consequences
for our long-eared friends. If humans earned money as easily as donkeys gain weight, we’d all be richer than the grass they shouldn’t have eaten! Here again I must emphasize the serious risk of joint pain, laminitis, and obesity.
For Eeyore’s menu
: Regardless of season, your donkey’s access to grass must always be controlled. Grass is a supplement to – and not a replacement for – a proper diet of ad-lib straw and portioned hay. Tactics such as movable pasture fencing, co-grazing with other species, and timed rotations can help
limit grazing.
*Word of warning*:
Grass clippings
should never be fed to donkeys, as they can cause colic.
Here we go a-Grain
Are you sick of hearing it yet? The importance of controlling donkeys’ caloric intake cannot be overstated. Cereal grains in particular contain plenty of energy that our
Equus asinus
friends simply do not need.
Impact:
As previously stated, excessive energy intake brings with it a plethora of consequences in donkeys. Obesity, laminitis,
gastric ulcers
, joint pain, and more are common results of over-feeding. As an owner and equine aficionado, it only makes sense to avoid the cost, stress, and suffering to both you and your donkey of this common but detrimental feeding error.
In conclusion: The Mane Concepts
Shout it from the (h)ooftops, friends: Donkeys are not horses with long ears! Their unique nutritional, metabolic, and behavioural needs mean that important considerations must be made in developing a healthy feeding regimes. Avoiding excessive fat, sugar, and calories will ensure the best health for your donkey, leaving you to focus on the most important task of all – loving up those long ears!
*Please note that the feeding guidelines above are meant for the average donkey. Owners seeking information specific to elderly or pregnant donkeys, or those with dental issues, should reach out to experts to ensure their individual animal’s needs are being met. The well-respected Donkey Sanctuary in the United Kingdom has excellent resources for owners and professionals alike, including a
submission form
for those seeking specific advice:
https://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/contact
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Global Animal Nutrition Summit, Abstract Deadline Extended to April 10th
Are you planning on publishing an article or making a nutrition presentation some time in 2020?
We'd love to announce it for you! Please send to the Executive Directors at
aavnexecutive@gmail.com
or the E-newsletter editor
aboodsarah@gmail.com
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Place your ad here!
The AAVN offers both display and classified advertising in the monthly e-newsletter. To learn more about space limitations and fees, please contact
aavnexecutive@gmail.com
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