December has already been a busy month here at HVS. The annual meeting of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) was held in Baltimore this year. This is the one time of year that equine veterinarians from around the country, and the world, gather together to continue their education with the latest information. The AAEP convention gives us the opportunity to meet with colleagues, learn about new techniques and products, and even share some of the lessons we’ve learned here at HVS.
Doctors Carol Sabo and Melinda Freckleton are on AAEP committees, and attended these policy meetings even before the convention got underway. Carol and Dr. Jenn French presided over discussion groups – Carol’s group focused on efficiency in ambulatory practices, and Jenn led lively conversation about horse behavior and handling. These groups are informal, fast-moving, and vets exchange ideas so everyone goes home with new methods to help their patients.
Jenn and Dr. Leslie Rhodes are also attending the wide variety of continuing education lectures. For example, specialty subjects like treatment of eye injuries, lameness, and infectious diseases are presented by experts in their field. A topic that reflects our current larger economic environment is equine welfare and the unwanted horse; as people struggle with financial difficulties, it becomes more difficult to make good decisions for their large, four-legged companions. Veterinarians are the ones that witness this first hand.
