This month, Dr. Ashlie Saffire represented Faithful Friends Veterinary Clinic and Cat Specialty Center at the North American Veterinary Community‘s VMX 2026 in Orlando, Florida. As the largest veterinary conference in North America, the event brought together thousands of veterinary professionals from around the world, and Dr. Saffire was honored to take the stage as a featured speaker.
She presented two sessions focused on advancing feline health:
- Stronger for Longer: Maintaining Muscle and Mobility in the Aging Feline: In this session, Dr. Saffire highlighted an often-overlooked area of feline preventive care: preserving muscle mass and mobility in aging cats. While annual lab work and vaccines are standard for senior care, research shows that sarcopenia and cachexia significantly contribute to frailty and decreased lifespan. The presentation offered best practices for early intervention, nutritional support, and care strategies to help cats stay stronger for longer.
- Updates on the Diagnosis, Treatment and Management of Feline Hyperthyroidism (Virbac): This presentation focused on the complexities of diagnosing and treating feline hyperthyroidism. Dr. Saffire addressed how to improve medication compliance with newer medications like Felanorm, discussed the long-term treatment option with radioactive iodine, and reviewed common concurrent conditions such as chronic kidney disease and diabetes mellitus that can impact treatment success.
Together, her presentations drew 1,281 attendees and earned an average rating of 5 out of 5 stars. Go Dr. Saffire!
Advancing Feline Medicine
Dr. Saffire’s involvement at VMX reflects her ongoing leadership in feline medicine and the level of expertise she brings to Faithful Friends Cat Specialty Center. Her work and passion for feline medicine continue to shape how feline care is delivered, both locally and nationally.
We are proud of Dr. Saffire’s contributions to the profession and grateful for the knowledge she brings back to our patients and their pet parents each and every day.
