Small AnimalScott Weese DVM DVSc DipACVIMUniversity of Guelph

Where are we now?Current affairs in your industry• Successes• Increasing awareness of infectious disease challenges amongst SA

vets and pet owners• Zoonotic and animal diseases

Where are we now?Current affairs in your industry• Challenges• Poorly unified veterinary sector• Dispersed diagnostic testing

• Not all done in Canada• Varying methods (and quality)

• Lesser individual impact compared to livestock sectors so less overall motivation

• Limited interest/mandate by some regulatory bodies• Anecdotally increasing (uncontrolled) international movement

• Importation of foreign infectious diseases• Climate change increasing vector-borne disease risks• Emerging diseases (including antimicrobial resistance)• “value” hard to quantify

Where are we going?Future initiatives• Few formal efforts

• Disease mapping initiative• Industry (e.g. IDEXX)• http://www.wormsandgermsmap.com

• Antimicrobial stewardship group• National culture and susceptibility

• Point-in-time, biased population

What will help implement the OAHN in your industry?• Formal integration of disease surveillance and mapping• Communication with/between diagnostic laboratories• Improved primary care veterinarian communication and

education• Recognition of the economic impact, social impact and human

health impact of companion animal infectious diseases