In recent weeks, several veterinary practices on O’ahu have reported seeing a number of feline panleukopenia cases. Below is a link to a summary on Feline Panleukopenia provided on the AVMA website for review. Veterinarians who have had patients suspected of dying from panleukopenia can contact Dr. Aleisha Swartz for information on further confirmatory testing including necropsy and PCR at president@hawaiivetmed.org.
AVMA article on feline panleukopenia.
Category: Island Updates
Legislative Update – Jan 2020
HVMA has introduced HB 2528 and SB 2985 in the 2020 legislative session. These bills modify Hawaii’s veterinary practice act to 1) provide immunity in the absence of gross negligence to veterinarians who provide emergency care to an animal, and 2) clarify that the duty of a veterinarian includes reporting to law enforcement any cases of animal injury or death where there is reasonable cause to believe that it relates to dog fighting or animal abuse, while granting veterinarians immunity from any civil liability for such reporting. These additions to our veterinary practice act would put Hawaii in line with much of the rest of the United States. A big mahalo to Representative Hashem and Senator Baker for sponsoring the introduction of these bills to the legislature. Please thank them, particularly if you are from their districts!
1/28 Update: First round of SUPPORT testimony needed on this measure by Thursday 1/30! Submit online testimony here. Contact us if you have questions or comments on this measure, or if you are able to go down to the capitol and testify in person.
In Remembrance – Patrick Leadbeater
The Hawaiian veterinary community has lost a familiar face and long time veterinarian in November 2019.
Dr. Patrick Leadbeater was born in 1943 in Sussex, England. He was active in the Boy Scouts and loved the outdoors throughout his life. He graduated from the University of Guelph, Ontario Veterinary College of Veterinary College in 1974. His first position was working with Dr. Robert Knowles in Miami, Florida. Dr. Knowles was instrumental in shaping Dr. Leadbeater’s practice.
He moved to Honolulu and worked at the the Animal Emergency Clinic which was located near the current Yanagi Sushi on Kapiolani Blvd. He also worked as a staff veterinarian at the Honolulu Zoo. In 1983, he opened the Veterinary Center of the Pacific on Koapaka Street near the Honolulu International Airport and continued working part-time at the Zoo. In 1991, he purchased the Kahala Pet Hospital from Dr. Wayne Steckelberg and continued his veterinary career until late 2019.
Dr. Leadbeater was instrumental in advancing veterinary medical care in Hawaii. He took on medical and surgical cases that other veterinarians referred to him. This included kidney transplants in cats, pacemaker implantation, TPLO, Total Hip Replacement surgery, and portal caval shunt implants, etc.
Submitted by Richard Fujie, DVM
Meet a Member – Jennifer Ruby
Dr. Jennifer Ruby is from the Hudson Valley, NY and pursued her veterinary education at Cornell University. She completed a rotating internship in medicine and surgery at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in Red Bank, NJ, followed by a second internship in diagnostic imaging at the Veterinary Imaging Center of San Diego. In 2016, Dr. Ruby went on to complete a three year residency in diagnostic imaging at the University of Georgia, where she developed a strong interest in abdominal ultrasonography and neuroimaging in companion animals, and advanced imaging in exotic pets. One project that Dr. Ruby enjoyed completing during her residency was a study evaluating the brain of koi fish using magnetic resonance imaging. She became board certified in Diagnostic Imaging in September 2019 and joined Oahu Veterinary Radiology.
Dr. Ruby is excited to provide high quality diagnostic imaging services to the islands. She looks forward to reading CT and MRI cases, as well as providing radiograph interpretation and mobile ultrasound services to the local community. In her spare time, Dr. Ruby enjoys developing her burgeoning fruit garden, baking, hiking, scuba diving and traveling, as well as spending time with her two cats, Fergie and Muffin.
ACVO Applied Ophthalmology for General Practitioners
Letter from the President – Aug 2019
Dear Colleagues,
Registration is now open for our 66th Annual Conference, which will be held November 7-10, 2019 at the Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel. We are again offering RACE-approved CE with a great speaker and subject lineup including, dentistry, infectious disease, internal medicine, soft tissue surgery and more. We will also be offering a daylong equine track on Friday Nov 8th for the large animal practitioners. Register early and save.
The annual meeting for HVMA members will be Saturday, November 9 and all members are welcome and encouraged to join us even if you cannot attend the entire meeting. And this year’s cocktail hour and social on Saturday evening will be another great time for all, don’t miss it.
Another thing the HVMA board has been involved with is updating our agreement with Hi-EMA to provide support to those in need in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency. Did you know we participate at the state level as advisors on animal-related emergency sheltering? If you are interested in being involved with disaster assistance and planning, please fill out a quick survey or email us. Even if you are not able to volunteer, prepare yourself, your family and practice in case of a natural disaster. The AVMA has a disaster resource page with many great resources https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/Reference/disaster/Pages/disaster-aid-veterinarians.aspx.
Finally, be sure to visit our classifieds if you are looking to advertise your services as a relief veterinarian or are in need of a veterinarian or other staff member. This is a fantastic resource available for members!
Aloha,
Aleisha Swartz, DVM
President, Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association
HHS Spay/Neuter Clinic Tour
Take a tour of the Hawaiian Humane Society’s Community Spay/Neuter Center, which offers low-fee, high-quality, high-volume sterilizations for pet animals on Oahu. Meet Dr. Kasey Carter, Hawaiian Humane’s head veterinarian and learn about the services offered and the ins-and-outs of being part of a unique community program.
The tour will be on Thursday, August 29, 2019 and is open to vets and all clinic staff. Meet in the Community Spay/Neuter Center (front building off Wai’alae Ave; additional parking available in back).
Check-in and Q&A at 6:15pm. Tour from 6:30-8:00pm. Pupus & drinks (beer, wine, and non-alcoholic) provided. RSVP by August 23 to honoluluvetsociety@gmail.com.
Rat Lungworm Disease Workshop
The University of Hawai`i at Hilo invites the public to the 6th International Scientific Workshop on Angiostrongylus cantonensis and Angiostrongyliasis (rat lungworm disease), held January 5-8, 2020, at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. Dr. Richard Malik (PhD, DVM) of the University of Sydney’s Centre for Veterinary Education will be leading discussion sessions for veterinarians on detection, treatment, and prevention of rat lungworm disease in domestic animals, wildlife, and livestock. There is no fee, but all attendees must register by September 1st at https://hilo.hawaii.edu/conferences/rat-lung-worm-2020/. Case study presentations are also welcome; abstracts due September 1st. For additional information, contact rlwlab@hawaii.edu.
Hawaii Pet Expo 2019
In celebration of both National Pet Week and Be Kind to Animals Week during May 5-11, 2019, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association proudly presents Hawaii Pet Expo 2019, to be held on Saturday and Sunday, May 11 & 12 from 10 am to 4 pm at the Neal Blaisdell Center.
Hawaii Pet Expo encourages responsible pet ownership and strengthening the unique bond between people and their pets through educational displays, live animal demonstrations, and the latest in pet products and services.
This year’s theme is “More than a Pet, More than a Friend … Family.” As always, pets are welcome. Dogs must be leashed and pets must be in good health and under their owner’s control at all times.
This event is free to the public, but donations of nonperishable food items will be accepted at the door to benefit the Hawaii Foodbank. Parking at the Neal Blaisdell Center is $6.
We are still looking for volunteers! All veterinary staff and family members are welcome to join in the fun. Sign up here.
Meet a Member – Nicole Roybal
Nicole Roybal, DVM, DACVO, is a 2007 graduate of Colorado State University and completed a rotating internship and residency at Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego where she remained for 5 years as staff ophthalmologist before deciding it was time to return home to Hawaii. She grew up in Kaneohe, attended Kamehameha Schools and is honored and excited to join the local veterinary community.
She recently opened Pacific Animal Eye Care with her husband Jason Roybal. As a brand-new, family-owned and operated ophthalmology specialty practice located in Kaneohe, they are dedicated to providing excellent service as well as high-quality medicine. They offer advanced diagnostic modalities such as slit lamp biomicroscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy, gonioscopy, rebound tonometry, ocular ultrasound exams, and electroretinography. Surgical services include phacoemulsification for cataracts, cryosurgery for abnormal cilia and neoplastic lesions, as well as a full array of microsurgical instrumentation for eyelid, corneal and intraocular procedures.
She welcomes consultations at info@pacificanimaleyecare.com or (808)445-6778. For more info, please see www.pacificanimaleyecare.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.