This weekend I attended the 2009 Michigan Veterinary Conference held at the Lansing Center (located just down the street from the state capital building). I don’t remember the last time I visited our state’s capital and I enjoyed getting to know the lay of the land a little better. The Michigan Vet Conference is basically an annual gathering of veterinary professionals and businesses. Experts in different fields of veterinary medicine hold lectures during all three days while companies and organizations associated with the veterinary profession in Michigan display their goodies and products in the exhibition hall.
Some of the lectures I attended related to topics such as feline arthritis (more common than you think!), feline irritable bowel syndrome, hypoadrenocortism (Addisons disease), cyclosporine, feline endocrine disorders, critical care anesthesia, exotic animal nutrition, and feline gastrointestinal parasites.
However, by far my favorite part of the entire conference was the 3 hour lecture block I attended on feline behavior by Dr. Theresa DePorter of Oakland Veterinary Referral Services. She touched on subjects such as play aggression in kittens, introducing a new cat to the household, managing multiple-cat households, and using toys as tools for feline behavior modification. I learned a few new tricks and am even thinking about starting a feline behavior website because this has always been a topic I’ve been really passionate about. I’m sure there’s a lot of cat owners out there who need help with some of the more common feline behavior problems.
Anyway, it was great to spend a few days hanging out with pet nerds just like me. 🙂
Amanda is a wife, toddler mom, PMAD survivor, certified nutrition and running coach, recovering perfectionist, and minimalist-in-training. Her mission in life is to help others get off the pity potty, embrace their own brand of weirdness, and get after their dreams. Proverbs 3:5-6