House to discuss antimicrobials, spay-neuter; not governance tweak
The AVMA House of Delegates will deliberate Jan. 10 on three new AVMA policies on antimicrobial use in companion animal practice and an updated AVMA policy on spay-neuter clinics.
The AVMA Board of Directors, during its Nov. 20-22, 2014, meeting, forwarded the policies to the House with recommendations for approval.
The AVMA Task Force on Antimicrobial Stewardship for Companion Animal Practice proposed the three new policies. The policy “Antimicrobial Use Guidelines” would state that the AVMA supports development and promulgation of guidelines on antimicrobial use for companion animal practitioners. The other new policies would endorse guidelines developed by the International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases on antimicrobial use in the treatment of urinary tract disease in dogs and cats and the treatment of superficial bacterial folliculitis in dogs.
The AVMA Council on Veterinary Service proposed the updates to the policy on spay-neuter clinics in consultation with the AVMA Animal Welfare Committee. The policy name would change from “Veterinary Participation in Spay/Neuter Clinics” to “Companion Animal Spay-Neuter Programs.” The revisions would clarify current professional expectations for veterinary services in spay-neuter clinics.
In September, the board had approved sending a proposal to the House that would alter the composition of the AVMA Board of Governors and the role of the immediate past president. In November, the board postponed the proposal until its April meeting.
Proposals going to the House of Delegates are available here. AVMA members can find contact information for delegates here.