Pre-Congress Seminars

Pre-Congress Seminars

Pre-Congress Seminars at WSAVA 2025: Essential Insights for Veterinary Professionals

Join us for two in-depth pre-congress seminars at WSAVA 2025, designed for veterinary professionals seeking to enhance their knowledge in specialized areas. These workshops offer unique opportunities to learn from leading experts and engage in thought-provoking discussions on critical topics in veterinary science.

If you already are register to attend WSAVA25 and wish to add a seminar, please contact us: reg_wsava25@kenes.com.

Pre-Congress Seminar 1

WSAVA International Seminar on Breeding & Genetics of Healthy Cats
September 24, 2025 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
9:00-17:00 Registration: open to everyone
Limit 100 pax
Cost per participant 50 USD
Location Room Rio de Janeiro 1 + 2 (Lagune Hotel)
Preliminary program
9:00-9:10 Welcome & Introductions:  Jerold Bell
9:10-9:50 Feline Genetics Unfurled: Decoding Genetics from Coat Colors to Diseases:  Leslie Lyons
9:50-10:30 Different Flavors of Genetic Tests: Pros, Cons and Interpretations:  Leslie Lyons
10:30-10:50 Break
10:50-11:30 Feline Genetic Diseases: Pawsibilities for health through genetic testing and screening: Petra Černá
11:30-12:30 Discussion/Q&A All HDC Members & Speakers
12:30-14:00 Lunch
14:00-14:40 Tailored Wellness: Breed and Body-Type Specific Disease Screening: Jerold Bell
14:40-15:20 The Cost of Beauty: Health, Welfare and Ethical Concerns in Cat Breeding: Yaiza Gómez Mejías
15:20-15:40 Break
15:40-16:30 Responsible breeding and infectious diseases in cats – including FIP, use of antivirals and stress management in multi-cat households: Petra Černá & Alexandre Daniel
16:30-17:30 Discussion/Q&A All HDC Members & Speakers

Speakers

Leslie Lyons

University of Missouri

Petra Černá

Colorado State University

Alexandre Daniel

Gattos Medicina Felina

Jerold Bell

Freshwater Veterinary Hospital

Yaiza Gómez Mejías

International Cat Care

Pre-Congress Seminar 2

WSAVA Pre-Congress Seminar on Reproduction Control in Dogs & Cats
Sponsored by: 
September 24, 2025, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
8:00-16:00 Registration: open to everyone
Limit 40 pax
Cost per participant 40 USD
Location Room Sao Paulo (Lagune Hotel)
Preliminary program
8:00-9:00 Venue opens/registration
9:00-9:15  Welcoming remarks: Michelle Kutzler
9:15-9:30 Why we need reproduction control in dogs and cats? Michelle Kutzler
9:30-10:30 Gonad sparing surgical methods for reproduction control in dogs and cats: Rob McCarthy
10:30-10:45 Coffee break
10:45-11:45 Non-surgical methods for reproduction control in dogs and cats: Stefano Romagnoli
11:45-12:00 Panelist discussion on Methods for reproduction control in dogs and cats: All speakers
12:00-12::45 Lunch
12:45-13:45 Health benefits of removing the gonads: Sabine Schäfer-Somi
13:45-14:45 Health detriments of removing the gonads: Kurt de Cramer
14:45-15:00 Coffee break
15:00-16:00 Decision-making for reproduction control: Natali Krekeler
16:00-16:15 Panelist discussion on Ethics of reproduction control in dogs and cats: All speakers
16:15-16:30 Concluding remarks: Michelle Kutzler
16:30 Conclusion of seminar

Speakers

Michelle Kutzler

Oregon State University

Robert McCarthy

Veterinary Surgery Central Massachusetts

Sabine Schäfer-Somi,

Vetmeduni

Kurt de Cramer

Rant en dal Animal hospital

Stefano Romagnoli

University of Padova

Natali Krekeler

The University of Melbourne