AAVN Newsletter March 2022 |
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A Message from the President
Dear Colleagues,
The COVID pandemic has doubtless brought about many changes in our lives. One of positives (I think!) is the proliferation of online CE programs offered by many groups and companies. AAVN is no exception- this month we are hosting our first webinars of 2022 for both members and students!
Tomorrow evening at 8 pm ET, Ashley Self will be sharing insights on Honeybee Nutrition. In addition to her work at the University of Tennessee’s Nutrition Service, Ashley and her husband are also the owners of Self Honeybee Farm. You can learn more about their work here. To register for the webinar (free for members, student members use code: AAVNSTUDENT22) click here
At the end of this month, on March 29th, 8 pm ET, Dr. Debbie Linder will be the featured speaker for a student webinar entitled, “Making Client Communication Appetizing: Creative Strategies for Weight-y Discussions”. This webinar is free to all but registration is required. To sign up click here
More details about each of these programs, and future webinars, including those offered by the Canadian Academy of Veterinary Nutrition are provided below.
Happy (almost) spring!
Angela Rollins, DVM, PhD,DACVIM (Nutrition)
AAVN Executive Board President 2021-2023
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Thank you to Dr. Aarti Kathrani for providing this update on her project that was funded via a AAVN/Waltham Early Careers Researchers grant.
AAVN / Waltham Early Careers Researchers Grant Update
Dr. Aarti Kathrani
Commercial hydrolyzed diets can be used to successfully induce remission in cats with chronic enteropathy (CE), however, the effect of such diets on the fecal microbiota has not been extensively studied in this species. Therefore, our study aimed to firstly, compare the fecal microbiota of cats with CE to control cats with no gastrointestinal (GI) signs and secondly, to determine the effect of a hydrolyzed diet on the fecal microbiota of cats with CE, and to compare this between cats improving clinically (responders) and non-responders.
We recruited 42 cats with suspected or confirmed CE from 2 referral teaching hospitals in the U.K. (Langford Vets, Bristol and Royal Veterinary College, London). All cats were treated with the same therapeutic hydrolyzed protein diet (Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Hypoallergenic Feline dry food) in the absence of antimicrobial and immunosuppressive drugs. Controls consisted of 14 cats with no gastrointestinal signs; these cats received no dietary intervention. Naturally voided feces were collected from all cats at diagnosis & from 25 cats with CE after 6 weeks of receiving the hydrolyzed protein diet. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was used to characterize the fecal microbiota in all cats.
Our main findings included:
- The changes seen in the fecal microbiota of cats with CE supported current studies on CE in dogs, cats and in humans with inflammatory bowel disease.
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Bifidobacterium increased following 6-weeks of feeding the diet in both responders and non-responders.
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Oscillibacter and Desulfovibrionaceae_unclassified were significantly more abundant in cats that did not respond to the diet at diagnosis.
- Dietary non-responders tended to be more diverse than dietary responders at baseline.
- The diet decreased the abundance of bacteria in cats with CE, even in dietary non-responders with high alpha diversity.
- Dietary responders metabolized the diet in a similar manner, reflected by sustained beta-diversity, while the microbiome of dietary non-responders became increasingly dissimilar compared to diagnosis at the family level.
Whether the presence of Oscillibacter and Desulfovibrionaceae unclassified are indicators of non-response to the diet at diagnosis requires further investigation. Cats that are non-responsive to diet could be more “dysbiotically rich” and their microbiome may not be as tightly regulated, thus requiring additional therapy for remission of gastrointestinal signs.
To see graphs and review the full abstract click here
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2022 Symposium Update
The 2022 Clinical Nutrition and Research Symposium will take place on Tuesday, June 21st (3 pm - 5:30 pm + cocktails!) and all day on Wednesday, June 22nd. A full schedule will be announced soon.
Virtual and in-person options will be available.
Confirmed Keynote Speakers Include:
Caree Jackson Cotwright, PhD, RDN, LD
Claudia Kirk, DVM , PhD, DACVIM (Internal Medicine, Nutrition)
Susanne Talcott, PhD
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Call for Abstracts: 26th Annual ESVCN Congress
Deadline is Thursday, March 31, 2022
ESVCN is now accepting abstract submissions for the 26th Annual ESVCN Congress, scheduled for September 6th-8th in Basel, Switzerland.
The abstract form is attached here
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We Need Your Help!
Share Your Favorite Online Resources
What websites, podcasts, social media pages or blogs do you follow for news about veterinary nutrition? As the AAVN works to expand our social media presence, we are seeking your advice on where we can find interesting (and accurate!) information to share/ repost.
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Calling All Student Members!
Virtual Town Hall
Wednesday, March 23rd
8 pm- 9 pm ET
The AAVN Student Member Committee is hosting a virtual Town Hall for student members on Wednesday, March 23rd.
This meeting will include announcements from the Student Member Committee and an open forum for discussion. We kindly ask that a representative(s) from each active AAVN Student Chapter attend.
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AAVN Announces 2022 Webinar Series
Join the AAVN for an upcoming webinar! These sessions are free for members, $20 for non-members*.
Honeybee Nutrition
Tuesday, March 15th, 8 pm EST
Speaker: Ashley Self, BS, LVMT, VTS (Nutrition), University of Tennessee
Student Member Code: AAVNSTUDENT22
Nutrition for Backyard Poultry
Tuesday, April 26th, 8 pm EST
Speaker: Maurice Pitesky, DVM, MPVM, DACVPM, UC Davis
Nutrition for Pocket Pets & Exotics
Tuesday, September 13th, 8 pm EST
Speakers: Amanda Ardente, DVM, PhD, Ardente Nutrition
Kara Burns, MS, MEd, LVT, VTS (Nutrition)
Nutrition for Small Ruminants
Tuesday, November 8th, 8 pm EST
Speaker: Robert J. Van Saun, DVM, MS, PhD, Penn State University
* The $20 fee can be applied to membership.
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Sign Up For the First AAVN Student Webinar of 2022!
March 29, 2022 @ 8pm ET
Making Client Communication Appetizing: Creative Strategies for ‘Weight’y Discussions
Deborah Linder, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Nutrition), Tufts University, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
When a standard diet and exercise approach still results in an overweight pet, getting creative with conversations and strategies can make obesity prevention and weight loss more fun and effective. Traditional and non-traditional strategies for successful weight loss will be discussed along with case examples in this session to provide participants more tools for their weight loss toolbox in future practice.
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Save These Dates for Upcoming Student Webinars!
April 12, 2022 @ 8pm ET
Navigating Urinary Bladder Stones and Diet Selection
Elena L. Leavitt, DVM, Small Animal Clinical Nutrition Resident, University of
Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine
September 27, 2022 @ 8pm ET
Nutrition in the Trenches:
How to Implement Best Nutrition Practices in a Clinical Setting
Emily Luisana, DVM, Residency Trained in Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, Friendship Hospital for Animals, Washington, DC
October 18, 2022 @ 8pm ET
Home-Cooked Diets for Pets: Master Chef or Kitchen Nightmare?
Lily Johnson, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition)
The AAVN 2022 Student Webinar Series is Sponsored By
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Check Out These Upcoming Webinars from the
Canadian Academy of Veterinary Nutrition!
Registration Opening Soon.
The Ins and Outs of Obtaining Your Veterinary Technician Specialty
Tuesday, April 5, 2022, 6:30pm - 8:00pm CST
1-credit non-medical CE, RACE approved
The program will offer attendees an overview of the steps and requirements for completing a package for their VTS Specialty. Pre-requisite and professional growth factors will be discussed to determine why a technician should obtain their specialty and what specialty may be applicable to them.
Considering a residency in veterinary clinical nutrition?
Learn more from our experienced panel of speakers!
Tuesday, April 12, 2022, 6:30pm- 8:00 pm CST
1-credit non-medical CE, RACE approved
Becoming a Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist® provides a wealth of career paths including roles in academia, private practice, industry, government/regulatory, and owning your own business. This program will provide attendees with an overview of how to find a qualified mentor using the Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program (VIRMP) or other available paths. Current requirements for both standard and alternative residency tracks will be discussed in detail. Additionally, specific requirements for credentialing will be covered, followed by a Q&A session.
These webinars will be hosted on the Royal Canin Live platform. A registration link will be available in approximately one week and shared via the AAVN list serv.
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Attention Student Members!
The AAVN has updated our website to include a list of externship opportunities.
Thank you to everyone who sent along information to include. If you offer an externship and would like it added to this list, send details to aavnexecutive@gmail.com
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The University of Georgia’s Clinical Nutrition Service is hiring!
For more information please click on the links below:
Tour of the state-of-the-art UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital here!
Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions.
Dr. Jackie Parr BScH, DVM, MSc, DACVIM (Nutrition)
Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist®
Nestlé Purina Petcare Clinical Assistant Professor of Nutrition
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Are you planning on publishing an article or making a nutrition presentation some time in 2022? 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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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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Guidelines for FOR-profit Industry Content in the AAVN E-Newsletter |
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- Content can be up to 150 words (approximately three paragraphs) and can include a weblink or link to PDF
- Content will be labeled clearly: PAID FOR AND CREATED BY (company name)
- Content must be approved by the AAVN Outreach Committee
- Once content is approved, the AAVN will contact you to coordinate payment.
- The cost is $300 per issue.
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