On Wednesday 19th February the Asociación de Veterinarios Especialistas de Equidos de España (AVEE) hosted the FEEVA PPE Symposium at their annual conference, which took place Jerez de la Frontera, Andalucía. The PPE Working Group and its Extended Network members came together to discuss key topics which affect PPEs across all countries, including oral examination at PPEs, the use of radiography in general, and in particular those of the cervical spine. Speakers included experts from their fields as well as individuals who are at the forefront of PPEs in their respective countries, and face the challenges of balancing the acquisition of useful information and what is reasonably expected, alongside the expectations of clients across the world.
Position statements for both oral examination and radiography of the cervical spine have been the focus of the PPE Working Group for the last year, and the Symposium was invaluable in understanding the attitudes which exist across the FEEVA member countries. Those documents are in the final stages, so watch this space!
Other projects which have been ongoing since the PPE Working Group was previously active in 2020 include collecting information about the ways PPEs are performed in various countries and collating this information for access by all. The way radiography is routinely used as part of PPEs has also been of huge interest, and a database of that information is being compiled as we speak. There has been advancement of PPE systems in some countries in recent years, such as the development of the Gesellschaft für Pferdemedizin (GPM) digital PPE system in Germany. There was much discussion about whether there was scope for harmonisation of PPEs across countries, which could take advantage of the benefits of the various systems and create a single system which was best suited for all.
Of course it wasn’t all work and no play! The Symposium attendees were thoroughly well looked after by their AVEE hosts, with a full, unforgettable cultural experience, including flamenco, tapas, a private tour of The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, including its veterinary facilities, and of course an evening of sherry tasting at one of the region’s most stunning bodegas!
If you would like to be involved in the FEEVA PPE Extended Network, or have any ideas and suggestions for the Working Group activities, please don’t hesitate to contact the Chair, Lucy Grieve (lucy@beva.org.uk).
