** IMPORTANT REMINDER: If you are planning to attend both the AAVN Symposium and the ACVIM Forum, sign up for AAVN first! You will receive a code for a 15% discount on Forum registration. **
Our *new schedule* better aligns with the changes in nutrition as a specialty under ACVIM and makes it easier for many attendees to participate in both conferences and events.
A Saturday offering allows AAVN members and potential future members to attend while taking minimal time away from their workplaces. AAVN is also hosting a Party on Saturday evening and will be offering a student program and student dinner in the afternoon on Friday, June 20.
This year is the 25th Anniversary of our Symposium! We are looking for copies of AAVN Symposium proceedings from 2004-2013, as well as any photographs from the event throughout the years. Your help is much appreciated! Please send any materials to aavnexecutive@gmail.com
2025 Speakers & Topics
The AAVN Education Committee is pleased to announce the keynote speakers for the 2025 Clinical Nutrition and Research Symposium. They are:
The Current State of Large Animal Nutrition Panel
A panel discussion addressing current challenges and opportunities in the field of large animal veterinary nutrition. Moderator: Megan Shepherd, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition) Panelists: Mark Fagundes, DVM; Pat Harris, MA, VetMB, PhD, DECVCN, MRCVS; Ashley Self, MS, LVT, VTS (Nutrition); Robert Van Saun, DVM, MS, PhD, DACT, DACVIM (Nutrition)
Kelly S. Swanson, MS, PhD, University of Illinois Dietary Fiber: Characterization, Laboratory Analyses, and Physiological Effects on Dogs and Cats
Stephanie Valberg, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, DACVSMR, Valberg NMDL LLC/ Kentucky Equine Research Nutritional Management of Neuromuscular Disorders in Horses
Plus, the David Dzanis AAFCO Update from Karen Donnelly, DVM, MS.
ORAL ABSTRACT PRESENTATIONs
Congratulations to the Oral Abstract Presenters for the 2025 Clinical Nutrition & Research Symposium.
Laura Amundson, PhD
Amino acid-complexed trace minerals support improved mobility and metabolic response in Labrador Retrievers
Robert C. Backus, MS, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Nutrition) Plasma betaine concentration of dogs as an indicator of dietary matrix methionine adequacy
Sophia Löffelmann, ESVCN Waltham Award Recipient Does canning as a common processing step for moist food affect the solubility of phosphate
Pedro H. Marchi Lipidomic Insights: Important Shifts in the Serum Lipid Profile of Obese and Weight-Loss Dogs
Sara E. (Belchik) Martini, MA Effects of dietary and fecal microbial transplant treatments on fecal characteristics, metabolites, and microbiota of adult cats treated with an antibiotic
Patricia Massae Oba In vitro fermentation characteristics of dietary fibers using fecal inocula from cats treated with antibiotics
Lucas B. Scarpim Extrusion and Hydrolysis on Maillard Compound Formation and Protein Utilization of Poultry Meal in Dogs
Alyssa Toillon, PhD Taurine and Symmetric dimethylarginine status of healthy kittens fed food containing 20% rice protein concentrate
Reed E. Wixon, Richard R. Weiss Memorial Student Research Award Recipient Retrospective Investigation of the Relationship Between Nutrition Support Plan and Outcome in Hospitalized Dogs
Hotel Information
The 25th Annual Clinical Nutrition and Research Symposium will take place at the Omni Louisville Hotel. The link to a block of rooms available for attendees will be included in registration confirmations.
STUDENT PRograms
Student members of AAVN and AAVN Student chapters can request a registration code.
On Friday, June 20, 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm, AAVN will offer a student session.
Fact or Fiction? Using Clinical Stats to Decode Nutrition Claims. In this session, Lauren Trepanier, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM), DACVCP, Professor and Assistant Dean for Clinical and Translational Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, will help attendees weed through efficacy claims for diets and nutritional supplements. Topics include identification of key elements of study design using the PICOT framework, an introduction of basic statistical tests, and a review of the importance of sample size calculations, using examples from published and unpublished nutritional studies.
AAVN is also hosting a student dinner on Friday, June 20 at PARLOUR, located just around the corner from the Omni Hotel. RSVP is required and can be done as part of the registration process.
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