Various seminars and trainings are offered every year in the VDA/DGHT Expertise Center West on the sera premises in Heinsberg/Germany. The veterinarian seminar takes place already for the third time. It is intended for veterinarians in private practice who co-operate with pet retail stores. Official veterinarians who supervise pet retail stores also belong to the target group.
In Germany, currently only few veterinarians specialize on ornamental fish. The veterinarian seminar intends to create awareness for ornamental fish diseases and their treatment, and to provide a source for further education for interested veterinarians. It is acknowledged as an official further education (ATF acknowledgement according to § 10 of the ATF regulations: seven hours) and created plenty of interest in the last two years. This year, the seminar takes place on November 22 in the sera training center. Prof. Dr. Thomas Blaha, president of the Tierärztlichen Vereinigung für Tierschutz e. V. (TVT)**, will welcome the participants and hold the first lecture about the topic “Ethics in animal care”. Further lectures:
Lecture: Treating Koi Herpes Virus infections in ornamental fish keeping – Implementing statutory regulations concerning animal diseases into practice
Speaker: Dr. Dirk W. Kleingeld, LAVES Hannover, president of the German section of the EAFP
Lecture: Better living for fish – the influence of aquarium sizes and setup („Enrichment“) on animal welfare parameters
Speaker: Dr. Stefan K. Hetz, scientific assistant, Humboldt University Berlin
Lecture: Therapy of fish diseases with OTC and prescription treatments: Possibilities and limits
Speaker: Dr. Sandra Lechleiter, specialized veterinarian for fish, fishcare practice
Lecture: Self control in the pet trade – paper tiger or possibility for improving animal care
Speaker: Dr. Johanna Moritz, specialized veterinarian for animal protection, LGL Bavaria
Lecture: Documentation in the pet trade – from an ornamental fish wholesale view
Speaker: Peter Merz, ornamental fish wholesale Peter Merz, Heinsberg
Lecture: Transport of ornamental fish – What must be taken care of?
Speaker: Dieter Untergasser, sera employee, seminar director
Lecture: Cruel breeds in ornamental fish
Speaker: Dr. Stefan K. Hetz, scientific assistant, Humboldt University Berlin
Lecture: Marine aquariums – Care and water chemistry
Speaker: Dieter Untergasser, sera employee, seminar director
On Thursday, November 23, a free study trip to a big ornamental fish store in Düsseldorf is scheduled.
You will find all information about the event in the seminar brochure.
*Association of German Clubs for Aquarium and Terrarium Care
**Veterinarian Association for Animal Protection