WSAVA focuses on pain and nutrition
Image: Steve Burden Photography
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has announced new global initiatives for companion animal pain management and nutrition.
Two resources have also been unveiled as part of the initiative; the Global Pain Treatise and the Global Nutrition Toolkit.
Marge Chandler, chair of the Nutritional Guidelines Committee, explained that veterinary surgeons are still the main point of contact for pet owners seeking nutrition advice.
Dr Chandler added that a recent study revealed 90 per cent of pet owners want nutrition advice from their vet, however, only 15 per cent were given it.
As a result, WSAVA's Global Nutrition Council has produced the Global Nutrition Toolkit – a resource of practical aids for the veterinary healthcare team.
The toolkit includes a range of educational materials for pet owners as part of its suite of nutritional tools.
Meanwhile, Global Pain Council member Sheilah Robertson commented that a high incidence of pain is not always met with a high incidence of treatment.
The Global Pain Treatise is a downloadable practice resource that provides pain management protocols for a wide range of conditions and drug availability. It is designed to assist practitioners around the world.
Dr Robertson said the pain initiative is a call to action to raise global awareness of the issue, and to elevate veterinary surgeons' confidence and competence in dealing with patients in pain.
The announcement came at the British Small Animal Veterinary Association's (BSAVA) annual congress in Birmingham at the beginning of April, 2013.
WSAVA president Jolle Kirpensteijn held a briefing at the event to explain why the resources had been produced as part of the initiative.
"It's fine to do guidelines, but I want tools that can be used quickly in practice," he said.
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. 
