Webinar: SAVP antivenom shortage and alternative Antivenom for South Africa
2024-11-19 19:30 - 21:00 (Europe/Helsinki) | Livestorm (online)
Mike Perry became interested in snakes in 1963 and two years later at the age of 10 he started catching snakes. Out of curiosity, he accomplished his first milking of a Rinkhals (Hemachatus haemachatus). In 1967 and during 1970 he milked and supplied 15 grams Rinkhals (Hemachatus haemachatus) venom for a local snake park that received an order from Germany. Although Mike’s main interest is venomous snakes with a particular interest in Mambas, he also has an interest in other snakes, lizards, crocodiles, tortoises and frogs. Mike has also investigated and has extensive experience in crocodile farming. Mike is involved in local herpetological associations to promote and maintain contact and goodwill between conservation authorities and amateur herpetologists. The need for this arose when during 1983 the first legislation was introduced in the (then) Transvaal province of South Africa, to protect reptiles.
Sponsored by Biofarm

Webinar: Neuroscience for high performance resilience in a chaotic world
2024-12-03 19:30 - 21:00 | Livestorm (online)
PLEASE NOTE: AS THIS WEBINAR IS HOSTED BY THE SAVC WE CANNOT ACCREDIT IT FOR CPD POINTS.
The current global ecosystem is rapidly paced. It is also riddled with a number of ‘pandemics’: The ‘Mental Pandemic’ is rife, causing a steep increase in depression, anxiety, addictions and suicide. Burnout is now known as a medical syndrome and is affecting ever increasing numbers of employees and leaders globally. The ‘Great Resignation’ and increased staff turnover, demands a new way of thinking about the way we design our business ecosystems. This is also true for the veterinary profession who have additional challenges of compassion fatigue, small business challenges and unrealistic expectations from their clients. In this keynote, neurologist and CEO of Neurozone, Dr Etienne van der Walt will provide a perspective on the global factors contributing to burnout and mental health challenges. He will unpack the nature of psychobiological resilience and then translate it for practical application in today’s world. Etienne will provide a framework for collective resilience that may well be the antidote for burnout and even the mental pandemic. In the process he will highlight the most important themes that underpin high-performance resilience, always simplifying the complex from biological neuroscience to personal self-leadership application. Then Etienne will anchor the practical drivers of resilient, high performance such as sleep, exercise, nutrition, social safety, psychological safety, mindset, mindfulness and high-performance energy for practical individual and team integration, to enable veterinary professionals to unlock the best version of themselves and their people they lead.
About our Speaker: Dr Etienne van der Walt
BSc, BMedSc, MBChB, MMed (Neurology)
Neurozone, Cape Town, South Africa
Etienne is an accomplished neurologist and an authority in applied behavioral neuroscience. Etienne’s 14-year career as a clinical neurologist means he has a deep understanding of the anatomy, biology, and physiology of the brain and the human nervous system. In more recent years, his professional and personal fascination with the remarkable discoveries coming from the various brain sciences has led him to believe in the vast potential of this new knowledge to enhance human capacity. The realization of this vision is the founding of Cape Town based Neurozone ®, a neuroscience business dedicated to the application of brain science, analytics and coaching to enhance human capacity. At the heart of the business of Neurozone ® is a proprietary High-Performance Code that informs leaders about the most current behavioral predictors for resilient and high-performance ready individuals, teams and organizations. The Code draws on research from neuroscience, psychology, psychiatry etc. and its impact has been validated and is currently being used in various industries to enhance human capacity by focusing on the brain/body system. As a result, Etienne has developed a keen understanding of the neurobiological substrates, principles and insights that underpin team and organizational performance. This knowledge enables Etienne to blend a variety of subjects into an integrated whole for practical application. Etienne is the founder of AmazingBrainz™, an organization dedicated to the design of programs for the brain stimulation of young, developing children – especially in disadvantaged communities. Etienne worked as a neurologist in South Africa, the UK, and the Netherlands. As an avid keynote speaker and masterclass teacher, Etienne engages with senior leaders, where individual, team and organizational resilience and optimizing human capacity takes center stage. In addition to his Medical and Clinical Neurology degrees, Etienne also holds BSc degrees in Chemistry, Mathematical Statistics as well as Integrated Physiology and Virology.

Webinar: Latest research: Multimin promotes disease resilience in newly received beef calves
2024-12-06 18:00 - 19:30 | Livestorm (online)
Injectable trace mineral improves immune response and outcome of Mannheimia haemolytica infection in feedlot steers.
Trace minerals like selenium, copper, zinc, and manganese are essential for immune function, and Multimin90, an injectable trace mineral product, has been shown to enhance immunity during vaccination. This study aimed to assess its impact on steers during respiratory illness. Thirty-two Angus-crossbred steers were assigned to three treatments: control (saline), Multimin90 pre-infection (ITMPRE), and Multimin90 post-infection (ITMPOST). Steers were challenged with M. haemolytica and treated with tulathromycin. Clinical scores were lower in ITM-treated groups compared to controls, though rectal temperatures peaked similarly across all groups. Increased gamma delta T cell and natural killer cell frequencies were noted in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) from ITM-treated steers. No negative impacts on disease outcomes were observed, suggesting that Multimin90 supports lung immune responses without compromising health.
About our Speaker
Stephanie Hansen is a Professor in the Department of Animal Science at Iowa State University. An Iowa native, she earned her B.S. from Iowa State and her M.S. and Ph.D. from North Carolina State University. With over 100 peer-reviewed publications and over 11 million dollars in funding as Co-PI or P.I., she has established an original and impactful beef cattle research program. A major focus of her program is the refinement of mineral requirements for feedlot cattle. She has received early or mid-career awards in research from Iowa State University, the Midwest section of ASAS, and ASAS. Dr. Hansen is passionate about training the next generation of animal scientists. She teaches courses in animal nutrition, ruminant nutrition, and micronutrient metabolism. She also co-hosts a podcast on graduate mentoring called Mentoring Matters and the Beef Podcast Show. Graduates of her program are serving industry and academia. She enjoys hiking, photography and writes crime thrillers as well.
We look forward to seeing you online.
Proudly hosted by

Webinar: A shortcut to calm in a busy world
2025-02-13 19:30 - 21:00 | Livestorm (online)
Bert will share shortcuts to calm – practical mindfulness techniques that focus awareness, refresh your mindset and reset physiology in the space of a minute – even for the most challenging scenarios and emotions faced by veterinary teams and animal care personnel on a daily basis.
About our speaker
Dr Bert Mohr
Bert is a leading keynote speaker on wellbeing in the veterinary and animal care industries. In sharing his own path from burnout to breakthrough, he inspires audiences by presenting practical mindfulness techniques that build resilience and promote the mental-emotional wellbeing of animal care personnel. He is a successful entrepreneur, internationally recognised veterinary specialist with an Oxford PhD, an authority on animal ethics, founder and CEO of Scientific Veterinary Consulting, and experienced at leadership. He loves being with his wife, children, friends and dogs, time in nature, ultra-trail running, surfing and wilderness camping.
Proudly sponsored by

Hill's Science and Innovation Roadshow
2025-03-15 14:00 - 18:30 | Livestorm (online)
You’re invited to our Science & Innovation Roadshow
Cutting-edge science never gets old and neither does our mission to help you transform the lives of pets. We believe that science is the best path to giving pets the best care possible. For over 75 years, science and innovation remains at the core of the Hill’s nutritional philosophy, so we invite you to our Science & Innovation Roadshow where we’ll share how science continues to transform the lives of pets today and tomorrow. We’ll have a special focus on critical care and recovery, its different phases and treatment plans. We’ll also launch our latest, ground-breaking food and share how it can help pets in recovery, those living with serious illness or who struggle to gain weight.
The talks will be followed by dinner and a chance to connect with fellow veterinary professionals.
Saturday 8 March 2025
Cape Town
DoubleTree by Hilton
31 Brickfield Rd, Woodstock, Cape Town
Lectures 14:00 – 18:30 • Dinner 18:30 – 20:30
RSVP
Wednesday 12 March 2025
Durban
Willow Way Manor Estate
1 Willow Way, Hillcrest, Outer West Durban
Lectures 14:00 – 18:30 • Dinner 18:30 – 20:30
RSVP
Saturday 15 March 2025
Pretoria (Hybrid Event)
Irene Country Lodge
Nellmapius Dr, Irene, Pretoria
Lectures 14:00 – 18:30 • Dinner 18:30 – 20:30
LIVE – RSVP
ONLINE – RSVP
ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS

Dave Baloga
Dave is the Executive Vice President of Science and Technology at Hill’s Pet Nutrition. He joined Hill’s in 2007 and started the Taste Technology program at Hill’s, leveraging his experience in food product design and animal behavior to deliver delicious and nutritious foods for all pets. He led the Early Research and Product Development teams at Hill’s to deliver such breakthrough launches as Prescription Diet Derm Complete, Prescription Diet Diet GI Biome and now Prescription Diet OnCare the latest revolutionary recovery fo rmula. He hails from the University of Minnesota, with a degree in Biochemistry and Nutrition, and graduate studies in Food Science and Flavor Chemistry. David spends his spare time traveling with his wife visiting their three daughters and pets, and is also passionate about cooking, hiking and citizen science.
Dr. Vanessa McClure
BSc, BVSc
Before studying Veterinary science, Vanessa was a high school teacher who taught biology and science for 5 years. She had always wanted to be a vet, so in 1999 she left teaching and applied to study a Veterinary degree. Vanessa graduated as a Veterinarian in 2003 and then went to work in private practice for 3 years. She returned to Onderstepoort in 2007 to do her residency in Small Animal Internal Medicine, after which she remained to become a senior lecturer and ran the internship programme. After 18 years of Academia, she has decided to return to private practice. Vanessa now works at the Fourways Veterinary Specialist Referral Centre as a Small Animal Medicine Specialist. She is also an adjunct lecturer at the University of Namibia, Department of Veterinary Science where she lectures Haematology, Critical Care and Multisystemic Diseases. She has a special interest in critical care medicine, infectious diseases, and rescuing any creature that looks like it needs a home!
Dr. Guy Fyvie
BVSc
Guy is the Professional and Veterinary Affairs Manager for Hill’s Pet Nutrition South Africa, a position which he has held in various forms since joining Hill’s in 1998. His roles are, Veterinary nutrition education/ consulting for the profession as well as the Hill’s SA team, Regulatory affairs, CPD for the profession, support of marketing campaigns/ launches of new foods, and customer care. He has a special interest in developing Veterinarian and student “soft” skills which are important for a fulfilled professional career. He qualified in 1995 from Onderstepoort Veterinary Faculty, is married to a Vet in private practice and has 2 adult children that are in human medical based careers. Wildlife, traveling, trail-running and beekeeping keep him semi-sane.
Dr Megan Brown
BSc, BVSc (Hons) (Anaes)
Megan attended Pretoria High School for Girls matriculating in 2006. She went on to complete her BSc in 2009 and qualified from OP with a BVSc in 2013. Megan completed her Honours in 2017, focussing on anaesthetics and internal medicine. Megan worked at Lakeside Animal Clinic from 2013-2019 and then went on to locum until she joined Hill’s as a Professional Consulting Veterinarian in 2023. Megan is married to Dr Geoff Brown, has a son, Stuart, and is also a pet parent to 2 cats.

SAVA Oranje-Vaal Branch Congress 2025
2025-04-11 12:00 - 2025-04-12 16:00 | Khaya Ibhubesi Conference Centre, 12 Kopjeskraal Rd, Die Eiland, Parys, Free State, 9588, South Africa

Webinar: Understanding & minimizing stress in cats at the Veterinary Hospital
2025-04-11 19:30 - 21:00 | Livestorm (online)
Dr Natalie Marks DVM, CVJ
Dr Marks has empowered the veterinary industry with over twenty years of unparalleled and diverse experience. Her career spans a variety of positions, including being an associate veterinarian, medical director, co-owner of the largest small animal practice in Chicago, mentor, educational consultant, media personality, entrepreneur, and angel investor. Her continued goals include empowering veterinary professionals and pet parents alike to be as educated and involved as possible in the care of our patients and family members. Dr. Marks is passionate about tackling the ongoing need for improved physical and emotional health among industry colleagues.

Webinar: Use of injectable trace minerals to complement salt-based mineral supplements
2025-04-22 18:00 - 19:30 | Livestorm (online)
Join us for an insightful webinar, presented by Prof John Arthingon from the University of Florida. Optimal trace mineral nutrition is critical for maximum health and performance in grazing beef cattle. This webinar will revisit the challenges of providing adequate nutrition to cattle, and review current mineral supplementation systems with a focus on the effective use of injectable trace minerals to complement a well-formulated free-choice salt-based supplementation strategy.
We invite livestock producers, nutritionists, veterinarians and all relevant stakeholders.

Webinar: A concept of zeta diversity in studies of compositional turnover in ectoparasite communities (Prof. Boris Krasnov)
2025-05-13 12:00 - 13:00 | Livestorm (online)
In lead-up to the 5th International Congress on Parasites of Wildlife you are invited to attend
Webinars on Parasites & Pathogens
Hosted by the
International Congress on Parasites of Wildlife and the Parasitological Society of Southern Africa
Webinars will be presented “live” once per month at midday (12:00 – 13:00 SAST (UTC+2))
—
https://savetcon.co.za/icpow2025/

Webinar: Rabies in the sea: Cape fur seals emerge as new maintenance host
2025-05-22 19:00 - 20:00 | Livestorm (online)
In June 2024, an outbreak of rabies was detected in Cape fur seals in Cape Town. Since then, over 70 cases of rabies in Cape fur seals have been confirmed all along the coasts of the Western and Northern Cape Provinces. Sequencing of rabies viruses from the seals show that the outbreak started from a single spillover event from a rabid land mammal, and transmission is now being maintained within the seal population. The emergence of a new rabies reservoir in the ocean poses challenges for rabies management in animals and people, both locally and internationally. Dr Lesley van Helden gives an update about the current situation and what vets need to know.
Presented by:
Dr Lesley van Helden
State Veterinarian: Epidemiology
Western Cape Department of Agriculture

SAVA Eastern Free-State Branch Congress 2025
2025-06-06 08:00 - 2025-06-07 16:30 | Protea Hotel Clarens, Corner of Main &, Van Der Merwe St, Clarens, 9707, South Africa

Webinar: Zoonoses control and the “One Health” moral dilemma (Prof. Oriel Thekisoe)
2025-06-18 12:00 - 13:00 | Livestorm (online)

Webinar: Parasites in a warming world (Prof. Christian Selbach)
2025-07-09 12:00 - 13:00 | Livestorm (online)

Hill's and MSD Nurses Hybrid Weekend 2025
2025-07-26 08:00 - 2025-07-27 17:00
More details will follow soon.

Webinar: Parasite biodiversity and species discrimination (Prof. Robert Poulin)
2025-08-06 12:00 - 13:00 | Livestorm (online)

14th International Veterinary Immunology Symposium (IVIS2025)
2025-08-11 08:00 - 2025-08-14 17:00 | Hilton Vienna Park, Austria, AM Stadtpark 1, A – 1030, Vienna, Austria
On behalf of the Organising Committee, we would like to invite all veterinary immunologists to attend the 14th International Veterinary Immunology Symposium (IVIS2025), which will be held from 11-14 August 2025, in Vienna Austria.
This is the first time this symposium will be hosted in Vienna, providing a unique opportunity to meet colleagues from Europe and around the globe in this historic and vibrant city. Experience the rich cultural heritage, stunning architecture, and exquisite local cuisine that Vienna has to offer!
We believe that immunology research provides a crucial knowledge base for generating new therapies, disease management, and vaccination approaches, and that IVIS 2025 will provide an opportunity for all veterinary immunologists from the global community to meet, engage, and learn from one another.
Join us at IVIS 2025 for cutting-edge discussions and networking in veterinary immunology and connect with global experts in the vibrant city of Vienna.

Webinar: Navigating spinal disorders in Veterinary Practice (Dr Jandre Pretorius)
2025-09-11 19:30 - 20:30 | Livestorm (online)
Spinal conditions, like Intervertebral disc disease, can be devastating to both patients and owners, with potential poor outcomes when not managed appropriately.
We will be looking at neuro localizing spinal lesions and the appropriate decision making with regards to further diagnostics and treatment plans. A proper neurological examination is vital to rule out confusor cases and ensure appropriate care is given to patients.
SPONSORED BY HILL’S PET NUTRITION

5th International Congress on Parasites of Wildlife & 53rd PARSA Annual Conference
2025-09-14 08:00 - 2025-09-18 17:00 | Kruger National Park, Skukuza, South Africa
The Parasitological Society of Southern Africa (PARSA) is delighted to invite you to the 5th International Congress on Parasites of Wildlife (ICPOW), to be held at the Nombolo Mdhluli Conference Centre in Skukuza, the main congress centre of the world-famous Kruger National Park, South Africa, during 14-18 September 2025.
The congress provides a perfect opportunity to exchange research findings and engage in stimulating conversations around the broader theme of wildlife parasites. All parasitologists (in the fields of biology, taxonomy, systematics, evolutionary biology, epidemiology, veterinary science, etc.) are invited to participate. The venue complements the congress theme and will allow everyone to experience the African bush in all its glory. The event is an ideal opportunity to strengthen existing friendships and collaborations and forge new ones. As in previous years, the congress will be hosted by PARSA and will thus coincide with the 53rd annual meeting of the Society.
As a Society it is our pleasure to host national, regional and international delegates and, together with the local organizing committee, we commit to making this another memorable event.
We are looking forward to welcoming you to Skukuza in September 2025.
Sincerely,
Sonja Matthee
ICPOW2025 Chairperson

SAVA Free State & Northern Cape Branch Mini-Congress 2025
2025-10-17 08:00 - 2025-10-18 17:00 | Goose Hill Guest Farm, 18 Tenth Avenue, Bloemfontein, Free State, 9301, South Africa

10th South African Immunology Society (SAIS) Conference 2025
2025-10-30 08:00 - 2025-11-01 17:00 | Garden Court Marine Parade, 167 Marine Parade, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, 4001, South Africa
We are pleased to invite you to the South African Immunology Society (SAIS) Annual Conference 2025, which will be held from 30 October – 1 November 2025 at the Garden Court Marine Parade in the beautiful province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This highly anticipated event promises to bring together leading immunologists, researchers, and healthcare professionals from across the country and beyond to share groundbreaking advancements in the field of both human and veterinary immunology.
The SAIS Annual Conference is a premier opportunity for networking, knowledge exchange, and collaboration. Participants will have access to the latest research, innovations, and clinical insights, alongside opportunities for discussions and workshops that aim to drive the future of immunology in South Africa and globally.
Target Audience:
Researchers and clinicians working in infectious diseases, primary immunodeficiency, allergy, rheumatology, transplantation, reproductive immunology, and veterinary medicine as well as internationally acclaimed researchers in HIV and Tuberculosis immunology.
Key Highlights:

Cutting-edge scientific presentations by esteemed immunologists and researchers.
Workshops and interactive sessions designed to foster collaboration and professional development.
Opportunities for networking with peers and leaders in the field.
A chance to explore the vibrant culture, scenic beauty, and rich history of KwaZulu-Natal.

We are excited to bring together an inspiring community of professionals in this remarkable setting and look forward to your participation. The conference will feature various topics in immunology, including cellular immunity, immunotherapies, vaccine development, and much more.
Please mark your calendars for this exciting event! Further details regarding registration, abstract submission, and the full conference program will be available soon.
We look forward to welcoming you to KwaZulu-Natal in October 2025 for an enriching and dynamic conference experience.

International Crustacean Society Mid-Year Meeting 2026
2026-06-01 08:00 - 2026-06-04 17:00 | STIAS, Stellenbosch, South Africa
For the first time ever, the International Crustacean Society Mid-Year Meeting (TCS) is heading to Africa!
Join us in the breathtaking town of Stellenbosch, nestled in the heart of the Cape Winelands, for the 13th TCS Meeting which will take place from 1-4 June 2026 at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS), South Africa – a landmark event bringing together global leaders, passionate researchers, and enthusiastic newcomers in the field of crustacean science.
Hosted by an energetic team from Stellenbosch University, TCS 2026 will spotlight the dynamic and diverse carcinological research emerging from South Africa and beyond.
Expect four days of:

Groundbreaking science & global perspectives
Fresh ideas & future-focused collaboration
Inspiring settings & warm South African hospitality

With 150+ delegates from across the globe, this is more than just a conference – it’s a celebration of community, discovery, and progress in the world of carcinology.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this historic moment.
Come for the science, stay for the scenery—and help shape the future of crustacean research on African soil.
TCS 2026: Where the world of crustaceans meets the soul of Africa.
We can’t wait to welcome you to Stellenbosch!
