Global support increases for WSAVA Guidelines
The guidelines were launched by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) in March 2011.
The Guidelines form part of the WSAVA’s campaign to ensure that a nutritional assessment and recommendation is made on every patient during every visit to the vet. It will be known as the 5th Vital Assessment (V5), adding to the existing four vital assessments of temperature, pulse, respiration and pain which are routinely taken.
Welcoming them, Gregg Takashima, AAHA Immediate Past President, said: “We believe that nutrition is so important to optimal pet-health that we formulated guidelines that promote nutritional assessment as one of the vital assessments to be performed on every patient. We are delighted to support the WSAVA Global Nutritional Guidelines which promote this assessment at a global level.”
The Swedish Society of Veterinary Medicine President Ann-Charlotte Möller commented: “We’re impressed with the thorough work that has resulted in the WSAVA Global Nutritional Guidelines. They remind us how important diet is, both for the diagnosis and for the prognosis for our patients. It’s also an important subject when the animal presents for its annual health check.”
The BSAVA has published the Guidelines in the Journal of Small Animal Practice and they will be considered by its Scientific Committee and Council later this year.
“We’re delighted at the positive response to the Guidelines and know that many other country associations will be discussing them at meetings later in 2011.” said Professor Jolle Kirpensteijn, DVM, PhD, DACVS, DECVS, President of the WSAVA.
The WSAVA embodies over 81 member associations representing more than 85,000 veterinarians worldwide. It provides a programme of global science and education for the veterinary care of small companion animals. For more information on WSAVA visit www.wsava.org.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
