Neonatology seminar

I think continuing education is really important. I love what I do with the dogs very much and there is always something new to learn, ways to do things better, new information to keep on top of, and seminars are a great way to do that.

Royal Canin put on a great neonatology seminar this weekend. It was a short one, just an hour and a half as it was held after best in show on Saturday night at the VCKC show, but it was full of information.

Attendance was by donation, and Royal Canin was generous as usual with gifts (this time attendees received RC diaries, neck straps and pens), always a nice touch and much appreciated.

Dr Emmanuel Fontaine is a reproduction specialist who works for Royal Canin and speaks regularly to breeders, and vet students all across Canada. Dr Fontaine is obviously very passionate about his work and brings the most up to date information to those who attend his seminars. I always learn something new.

The lecture was accompanied by a slide show, which is then emailed to all attendees which makes note taking very easy indeed.

The talk started with the in whelp bitch (did you know that folic acid is just as in important in bitches as it is in human mothers? Supplements should be started as soon as the bitch comes into season…either by feeding her a food which contains the correct amount or adding a separate supplement to her current food), continued on through whelping (a long or delayed whelping can result in a lack of oxygen and often puppies can come right around with the use of oxygen rather than using sub q fluids) and into the first few weeks of life (get the colostrum into them and keep them warm…do not try to feed a cold puppy, they cannot digest).

One thing I learned is that canine brucellosis can be transmitted via fresh chilled or frozen semen, not only through live breedings. I will now be making sure that males I ship semen in from have been tested as well as the males I take my bitches to directly.

If you are able to attend one of these seminars I would highly recommend it, there is a lot of information in a short period of time and Dr Fontaine is both knowledgeable and easy to talk to. If you are in my area, I'll see you at the next one!