To expedite the release of this latest pet food recall information, pearls from the Winter conference will not be available until the next newsletter.

You can find your own pearls in the conference proceedings. Online orders for the CD version of the conference proceedings can be placed here (printed copies are also available in very limited quantities)
http://www.regonline.com/Checkin.asp?EventId=89266

The AAFP will present a $30,000 research award in 2007 for meaningful research in Feline Vaccine-Associated Sarcoma. The grant is generously funded through the American Veterinary Medical Foundation. Please visit the AAFP Online website for further instructions and the grant application:

http://www.aafponline.org/resources/grants.htm

All applications and 10 copies of the proposal must be received in the AAFP office by May 15, 2007. Grant selection will be completed by July 1, 2007.

JOURNAL ABSTRACTS OF INTEREST

Urinary tract infections in cats with hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease. J Feline Med Surg. 2007 Apr;9(2):124-32. Epub 2006 Nov 7.
Mayer-Roenne B, Goldstein RE, Erb HN
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=17088093

FELINE CASE DISCUSSION

Kitty Toes!
Everyone search your photo files and join the new student message board case discussion on the topic of swollen cat toes. What do you think? What do you say? What do you do?
http://www.vin.com/Members/BoardsMain/Boards.plx?Read=2&B=CE&Id=169*2074*47953

AAFP Members, please contact Dr. Deb Givin (catdoc@prexar.com) to submit your own interesting cases. Case discussions not only provide continuing education to our student members, but also allow practicing veterinarians to share their experiences.

AAFP STUDENT NEWS

Become eligible to win an all expense paid trip to the 2007 AAFP Fall Conference in Austin!
Please submit a detailed description of a project (fundraiser or activity) that your chapter has completed during the 2006-2007 school year. The deadline to submit the entry will be April 15, 2007. You may increase your chance of winning by submitting more than 1 project description.
Please submit your entry to your regional director with "AAFP student chapter committee award" in the subject heading.

Last year's entries can be reviewed here:
http://www.vin.com/Members/BoardsMain/Boards.plx?Read=2&B=CE&Id=169*2074*47953
Please use your VIN username and password to access.

Also, please send an updated leader and student member contact list to your regional director before the school year ends.

And don't forget to check out the student chapter message board folder and ongoing case discussion currently awaiting input.

AAFP IN THE NEWS

The "Know Heartworms" Campaign is pushing forward to educate even more veterinarians and cat owners about the risk of feline heartworm disease. Those attending the AAFP Winter conference in Miami were privvy to some incidence studies, and learned the prevalence was higher than expected (i.e. my state of Illinois was about 15%). Help the AAFP spread the word about the Know Heartworms campaign!
http://www.KnowHeartworms.org

The Cat Wellness Website has been relaunched and looks better than ever!
Please link your practice website to this wonderful public resource:
http://www.catwellness.org/  

WEBSITES OF INTEREST

Psst... our speakers in Miami, Dr. Trisha Dowling and Dr. Lauren Trepanier, highly recommend you bookmark this website for future reference.

The United States Pharmacopeia (USP)
http://www.usp.org
is the official public standards-setting authority for all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements, and other healthcare products manufactured and sold in the United States

Veterinary Drug Pharmacokinetic and Drug Monographs: http://www.usp.org/audiences/veterinary/

Cat Wellness Website Updated
http://www.catwellness.org/

WINN Launches New Website
http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/

The American Heartworm Society 2007 Feline Heartworm Guidelines:
http://www.heartwormsociety.org/AHS%20Guidelines-Feline2007.htm

2 new tools have been added to the NCVEI
(http://www.ncvei.org/) benchmarking program:
Does Great Nutrition = Great Business?
Do your clients know how to cushion a fall?

AAFP WEBSITE ACCESS

"Member Login" information for the AAFP Online website (www.aafponline.org) requires a username (your Last name) and a password (your AAFP member ID #). If you have any questions about the Member log-in, please email info@aafponline.org or call (800) 874-0498.

Access to the AAFP Rounds website requires a VIN username and password (www.vin.com/AAFPRounds). Complimentary registration for a VIN username and password is available to our AAFP membership upon request.

Are you making the most of your complimentary AAFP Rounds membership benefit?
A new HOW TO VIN VIDEO is available to help you learn how to use and post to the message boards.

Have you reviewed the AAFP membership directory?
Click on the "Find an AAFP doctor" button to review what the public can see. Member's should also log-in to review email addresses and additional referral information available to your colleagues. Please notify the AAFP office of any changes to your contact information for referrals, journal and newsletter delivery. Or, you can "Update Your Information" within the Member section of the AAFP Online website (http://www.aafponline.org/members/log_in.htm).

Help us continue your membership benefits by making sure we can stay in touch with you!