Session Recordings

Animal abuse not only impacts animals, but often indicates co-occurring domestic violence, child maltreatment, or elder abuse. This two-part session will describe how to recognize various types of animal cruelty, abuse, and neglect. Attendees will become more knowledgeable about their obligations in suspected cases of animal abuse and/or domestic violence, as well as examine solutions to challenges in recognizing and responding to suspected animal cruelty, abuse, and neglect.

Phil Arkow,

Animal abuse not only impacts animals, but often indicates co-occurring domestic violence, child maltreatment, or elder abuse. This two-part session will describe how to recognize various types of animal cruelty, abuse, and neglect. Attendees will become more knowledgeable about their obligations in suspected cases of animal abuse and/or domestic violence, as well as examine solutions to challenges in recognizing and responding to suspected animal cruelty, abuse, and neglect.

Phil Arkow,

Small animal veterinarians may have little to no equine experience, which could create challenges and safety concerns when working on equine cases of abuse. This session will describe how society’s view of horses has changed and share general information about the equine industry. Attendees will learn how to safely approach, halter, and lead a horse and gain an understanding of equine care and nutrition, including refeeding syndrome.

Alina Vale, DVM, M.S.

Small animal veterinarians may have little to no equine experience, and this could create challenges when working on equine cases. This session will build on the information presented in the previous hour. Participants will learn how to recognize signs of equine abuse or neglect; how to assess a horse and its environment; and when it may be appropriate to provide owner education and monitor a situation versus reporting.

Alina Vale, DVM, M.S.

This session will describe the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Equine Welfare Toolkit and explore how it can be used to address and prevent equine abuse and neglect. Attendees will learn ways to communicate with a horse owner or caretaker and to provide resources as appropriate and gain tips for working with equine rescue organizations. The discussion will also cover situations in which euthanasia may be considered as a welfare solution.

Alina Vale, DVM, M.S.

Individuals working in animal welfare roles may not have significant equine industry experience and may therefore be unfamiliar with what they can or should do when concerns of equine abuse are reported to their organization. In this interactive session, participants will learn about equine welfare issues in the U.S. and abroad, discover what is being done to improve racehorse welfare and safety, and hear arguments related to concerns of equine abuse in specific equestrian disciplines.

Alina Vale, DVM, M.S.

This session will offer an introduction into learning and behavior before diving into classical and operant conditioning. Attendees will learn exactly what behavior is and how to describe it well.

Wouter Stellard,

Do you know your behavior ABC’s? This session will build on concepts presented in the previous lecture. Attendees will learn how to do a functional assessment and use the ABC's of behavior.

Wouter Stellard,

This session will discuss how to increase and maintain positive behaviors increasing while decreasing unwanted behaviors.

Wouter Stellard,

Training is a skill, and we all need the practice! In the first hour of this three-part workshop, attendees will learn more about behavior building by using capturing, shaping, and other methods of behavior change. The speaker will cover schedules of reinforcement and explain clickers, whistles, and other bridging stimuli or markers.

Wouter Stellard,

This session will build upon the information presented in the previous lecture. Attendees will learn about the detrimental side effects of using aversive stimuli and the least intrusive, most positive training methods that guide trainers working with animals.

Wouter Stellard,

In the final hour of this workshop, attendees will learn problem solving strategies, ways for decreasing bad behaviors through the use of reinforcement, and how to use these training skills with clients.

Wouter Stellard,

Fear of sounds can be seen in many different forms at a general practice. From a 'hey doc' last minute question at the end of an exam, to an ER laceration repair caused when fleeing from a firecracker. This session will discuss how to determine severity in order to maximize success of the treatment plan; management and prevention for the win; practical behavior therapy for primary care providers; and how to create a robust supplement and psychopharmaceutical plan for situational use.

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Sponsored By:

Elizabeth Feltes, DVM, DACVB

Fear of being alone, fear of being separated from certain social contacts and distress when confined are all very different yet intertwined facets to this common problem. Understanding all of these can help a clinician reach for best fit therapy when they are known! Attendees will learn how to evaluate a separation related distress case to determine therapeutic intervention needs. The session will also cover behavior treatment that doubles as assessment, measuring progress to chart the course of therapy, and daily and situational-use intervention with supplements and medications.

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Sponsored By:

Elizabeth Feltes, DVM, DACVB

When you see abnormal behavior in a puppy, having conversations with the pet parent can be quite challenging. It is difficult for clients to come to terms with the reality of a problem behavior. This session will review warning signs of abnormal behavior, discuss when to refer, and explore ways to gain pet parents’ confidence that their animal needs help. Attendees will also learn about intervention steps for behavioral problems that need to be addressed immediately.

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Sponsored By:

Elizabeth Feltes, DVM, DACVB

Behavior medications and their options can make you feel like you are losing your mind! This lecture will help distill the process by discussing which medications should be used situationally and which should be used for maintenance, what to do when Option A does not work, and how to coach clients on what to expect when their animal is medicated.

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Sponsored By:

Elizabeth Feltes, DVM, DACVB

Aggression between housemates embodies family strife and creates it at the same time! The veterinary team is the first line of defense in identification and intervention. This lecture will cover what the literature tells us about inter-dog aggression within a household. Attendees will learn warning signs and early symptoms, explore family-focused treatments, discuss how to triage, and find out when to refer to a specialist.

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Sponsored By:

Elizabeth Feltes, DVM, DACVB

Jumping, mouthing, pulling, fence running, counter-surfing, and other challenging behaviors can be normal—or they can be symptoms of a larger problem. But how can you tell the difference? In this session, attendees will learn how to determine the sliding-scale of normal versus abnormal and explore common intervention steps that can be taken within a 15-minute appointment. How to gain follow up to ensure success will also be covered, as well as outsourcing care when a referral is needed.

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Sponsored By:

Elizabeth Feltes, DVM, DACVB

Exercise intolerance in warmbloods is a frequent complaint for equine veterinarians. This session will review common causes. The diagnostic approach, etiology and treatment for type 2 polysaccharide storage myopathy and myofibrillar myopathy will also be presented.

Stephanie Valberg, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, DACVSMR

In this session, attendees will learn the best method for identifying the underlying cause of muscle atrophy and how to help restore muscle mass.

Stephanie Valberg, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, DACVSMR

Beyond lameness and ataxia, there are a number of movement disorders in horses. This session will review movement disorders such as shivers, stringhalt, stiff horse syndrome, and myoclonus.

Stephanie Valberg, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, DACVSMR

In this session, attendees will gain knowledge of the most up-to-date information on the pathogenesis of common equine cutaneous neoplasia; learn about current therapy options for equine sarcoids and squamous cell carcinoma; and improve their ability to recommend the best therapy options.

Megan McCracken, DVM, M.S., DACVS-LA

In this session, attendees will explore evidence-based recommendations for treating complicated equine wounds; learn about options and techniques for primary closure and delayed primary closure of wounds; gain a greater understanding of options for topical wound antimicrobial treatment; and review recommendations for therapy at different stages of wound healing.

Megan McCracken, DVM, M.S., DACVS-LA

In this session, attendees will learn techniques for diagnosing septic arthritis in the field; gain a greater understanding of treatment options available, including options for referral and treatment on the farm; and explore current options for antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory therapy in horses with septic arthritis.

Megan McCracken, DVM, M.S., DACVS-LA

The calf’s immune response is immediately functional at birth, although it is immature and naïve. This session will review neonatal calf immunology and the factors affecting immune development in calves; provide veterinarians with a functional understanding of the immune responses of newborn calves; and describe strategies that can be used to improve neonatal immunity. The lecture will lay the foundation for the next session on calf vaccination protocols.

Angel Abuelo, DVM, Ph.D., MVetED, DABVP, DECBHM

This session will review vaccination strategies appropriate for dairy calves, focusing on vaccination of calves in the first six months of life. The speaker will cover the types of vaccines available, with emphasis on newer products; the immune response post-vaccination; and current scientific information on vaccines that may impact how practitioners use these products in practice.

Angel Abuelo, DVM, Ph.D., MVetED, DABVP, DECBHM

In dairy heifers, early life events—including episodes of disease, dystocia at the time of birth, and colostrum feeding—have been associated with subsequent lactation performance. These events may exert their effect directly on lactation performance or indirectly through their effect on the risk of disease, age and body weight at first calving,, and body condition score at first calving. This session will review the long-term effects of pre-weaning events and management practices on health outcomes, reproductive efficiency, and milk production, thus allowing veterinarians and producers to develop efficient calf rearing protocols for optimized performance.

Angel Abuelo, DVM, Ph.D., MVetED, DABVP, DECBHM

The prevalence of the multi-resistant bacteria Salmonella Dublin continues to rise in dairy farms in the U.S. This session will cover pathogenesis, recognition, and impact of Salmonella Dublin in dairy cattle; strategies for detecting Salmonella Dublin in a herd; conducting a risk-assessment analysis; and control measures.

Angel Abuelo, DVM, Ph.D., MVetED, DABVP, DECBHM

This two-part session will give an overview of behavior and low-stress handling, physical examination, recommended preventive care, and common health problems of potbellied pigs.

Laurie Millward, DVM, M.S., DACVP

This two-part session will give an overview of behavior and low-stress handling, physical examination, recommended preventive care, and common health problems of potbellied pigs.

Laurie Millward, DVM, M.S., DACVP

This session will answer some basic questions related to the science of acupuncture, including: Who’s qualified to comment, and who’s an expert? How much scientific evidence is there for acupuncture as a treatment? What’s the scientific evidence for using acupuncture in veterinary settings?

Patricia Baley, DVM, Ph.D. cVA, cVCH

In this session, we’ll dive deeper into acupuncture and look at how it functions on a cellular level. Questions to be answered will include: How are researchers designing models to look at the effects of acupuncture at the level of cells? What happens to cells during acupuncture, specifically in terms of mitochondrial changes? Why do we care about mitochondrial changes clinically?

Patricia Baley, DVM, Ph.D. cVA, cVCH

This session will explore using herbs to treat animals, and attendees will learn the answers to the following questions: Are herbal supplements safe? How are herbal medicines different from pharmaceutical drugs? What is happening with herbs at the level of the cell?

Patricia Baley, DVM, Ph.D. cVA, cVCH

This two-part session will explore channel approaches to acupuncture; instances in which a channel approach, rather than a TCVM approach, would be preferred for point location; the benefits of needing fewer needles in a treatment to make a difference; approaching point location through different channel models; and choosing the correct channel approach for the patient.

Patricia Baley, DVM, Ph.D. cVA, cVCH

This two-part session will explore channel approaches to acupuncture; instances in which a channel approach, rather than a TCVM approach, would be preferred for point location; the benefits of needing fewer needles in a treatment to make a difference; approaching point location through different channel models; and choosing the correct channel approach for the patient.

Patricia Baley, DVM, Ph.D. cVA, cVCH

Chinese Medicine treats more than backs and pain. This case-based session will explore the integration of acupuncture, herbs, and food therapies to help patients that have no course of treatment with conventional medical therapies. Suitable for both veterinarians trained in acupuncture and the acupuncture naive.

Patricia Baley, DVM, Ph.D. cVA, cVCH

In this session, attendees will recognize patterns associated with disorders of the upper airway, pleural space, chest wall, and pulmonary parenchyma.

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Sponsored By:

Christopher Byers, DVM, DACVECC, DACVIM (SAIM), CVJ

Attendees will learn to diagnose and treat cardiac failure, cardiac tamponade, and feline arterial thromboembolism.

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Sponsored By:

Christopher Byers, DVM, DACVECC, DACVIM (SAIM), CVJ

This session will review clinically relevant pathophysiology of immune thrombocytopenia, discuss its accurate management, and highlight available therapeutic options.

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Sponsored By:

Christopher Byers, DVM, DACVECC, DACVIM (SAIM), CVJ

This session will review basic types of shock, discuss a logical diagnostic approach to shock patients, and highlight practical therapeutic options.

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Sponsored By:

Christopher Byers, DVM, DACVECC, DACVIM (SAIM), CVJ

This session will review relevant pathophysiology of feline urethral obstruction, discuss logical approaches to de-obstruction, and highlight appropriate therapeutic interventions.

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Sponsored By:

Christopher Byers, DVM, DACVECC, DACVIM (SAIM), CVJ

Attendees will review relevant pathophysiology of hypoadrenocorticism, discuss logical approaches to accurate diagnosis, and learn about appropriate therapies.

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Sponsored By:

Christopher Byers, DVM, DACVECC, DACVIM (SAIM), CVJ

This session will teach attendees how to perform an adequate flap; how much buccal bone should be removed; the value of dental radiography for ensuring a successful outcome; and why tension-free closure is vital.

Barden Greenfield, DVM, DAVDC

In this session, attendees will learn how to make an exposure flap without trauma; how to remove buccal bone to facilitate extraction; the difference between luxation and elevation; and why a tension-free closure is essential.

Barden Greenfield, DVM, DAVDC

This session will cover proactively addressing crowding and rotation to prevent disease from occurring later in life; preventing periodontal disease from occurring early in life; and making anesthetic dentistry an annual wellness procedure beginning at 1 year of age.

Barden Greenfield, DVM, DAVDC

Tooth resorption can be painful to our feline friends and can occur with any tooth in the mouth. This session will discuss the different types of tooth resorption and their required therapies, as well as how to perform crown amputations in the cat when needed.

Barden Greenfield, DVM, DAVDC

In this session, attendees will understand the difference between benign and malignant with regard to clinical presentation; explore how to get the right biopsy; learn the “big three” malignant tumors in dogs and the “big one” in cats; and find out why some malignancies may not be a death sentence.

Barden Greenfield, DVM, DAVDC

Aristotle posited that effective persuasion makes use of three appeals: Ethos (morality), logos (logic), and pathos (emotion). This “persuasion triad” can be used to get clients on board with dental care for their pets. In this session, attendees will learn how to present an effective argument for oral care using pathos as the driver.

Barden Greenfield, DVM, DAVDC

Frustrated with trying to get chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients to eat their therapeutic diet? In this session, attendees will review nutritional assessment of the CKD patient; learn updates on diet conundrums in CKD; discuss optimizing diet for individual patients; and get tips on managing appetite in feline CKD patients.

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Sponsored By:

Jessica Quimby, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM

What’s new in feline CKD? New research is constantly becoming available! In this session, attendees will review common complications of CKD; learn updates on medical management, including BP and proteinuria; discuss use of gabapentin in feline CKD; and hear updates on how to approach feline glomerular disease.

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Sponsored By:

Jessica Quimby, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM

Pyelonephritis is a common differential for acute or acute-on-chronic uremic crisis. However, definitive diagnosis and management can be somewhat challenging. In this session, attendees will review ideal diagnostics to assess the acute-on-chronic azotemic patient; consider what evidence supports the diagnosis of pyleonephritis; and learn tips for management and follow up of pyelonephritis patients.

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Sponsored By:

Jessica Quimby, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM

What is subclinical bacteriuria? How does the practitioner decide which cases are appropriate to use antimicrobials – and which are not? In this session, attendees will review current definitions of subclinical bacteriuria; discuss how to determine if a patient falls under this category; and learn how to select appropriate management or monitoring strategies.

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Sponsored By:

Jessica Quimby, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM

Feline patients can be challenging to read. Pain and stress are important to address and can also interfere with clinical assessment of disease. In this session, attendees will review what behaviors can be consistent with pain in cats; hear about available pain assessment tools; discuss how stress may manifest in feline patients; and learn what resources are available to improve stress mitigation in feline patients.

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Sponsored By:

Jessica Quimby, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM

The prognosis of FIP has been revolutionized. Given the lack of approved drug sources, how does the practitioner approach this development? This session will briefly review the clinical presentation of FIP, discuss advances in diagnostics, and explore available therapies.

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Sponsored By:

Jessica Quimby, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM

This session will discuss preoperative evaluation and stabilization of GDV patients; surgical procedures and techniques for GDV correction and gastropexy; intraoperative decision making and advanced surgical techniques to address gastric resection; and postoperative management techniques and goals.

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Sponsored By:

James Howard, DVM, M.S., DACVS-SA

In this session, attendees will learn about relevant etiology and pathophysiology of gallbladder mucoceles; the preoperative evaluation, diagnostics, and potential treatment; surgical removal of the gallbladder and techniques; and postoperative management of gallbladder mucoceles.

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Sponsored By:

James Howard, DVM, M.S., DACVS-SA

This session will cover anatomy and etiology of small intestinal foreign material cases; preoperative signs, diagnostics, and interpretations; and surgical procedures and tips for enterotomies.

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Sponsored By:

James Howard, DVM, M.S., DACVS-SA

Among other things, accurate interpretation of thoracic radiographs is dependent upon a practitioner’s knowledge of normal anatomy of the thorax. This session will discuss a systematic technique for interpretation of thoracic radiographs, including chest wall, diaphragm, mediastinum, and pleura/pleural space, concentrating on normal and using abnormal examples.

David Biller, DVM, DACVR

This session will explain how practitioners can use radiographic examination of the lungs to confirm pulmonary disease, evaluate severity and chronicity of disease, determine etiology, demonstrate location of disease, show associated changes in the lungs, and demonstrate progression or regression.

David Biller, DVM, DACVR

Many schools teach radiographic techniques that are no longer used on a regular basis. But why not? This session will review compression radiography, positional radiography, pneumogastrography, and pneumocolons and partial barium enemas; discuss their advantages and indications for clinical practice; and explore why and how these techniques can still be used as adjunct imaging studies in small animal practice.

David Biller, DVM, DACVR

This session will explore approaches to treating patients with wounds, including evaluation and preliminary decision making, wound management and expectations, products, and techniques. Attendees will also review and discuss case examples.

James Howard, DVM, M.S., DACVS-SA

This lecture will cover instrumentation, operating room equipment, patient positioning tips, basic pain management, and common surgical techniques.

James Howard, DVM, M.S., DACVS-SA

In this session, attendees will learn about disease etiology, clinical signs, and diagnostic approach to perineal hernias. Medical management and surgical treatment options and techniques will also be covered, as well as postoperative management and prognosis.

James Howard, DVM, M.S., DACVS-SA

One of the most difficult and missed diagnosis in clinical practice is small internal obstructions. Utilizing clinical cases, we will review expected changes and better interpretation skills. We will discuss recommendations for other adjunct imaging and demonstrated ways to improve diagnostic abilities with GI obstructions.

David Biller, DVM, DACVR

Using clinical cases of developmental and juvenile bone diseases of canines, we will discuss the radiographic changes we expect to see and what we will look for to make the diagnoses.

David Biller, DVM, DACVR

This session will present radiology cases for audience members to diagnose. Emphasis will be placed on developing systemic interpretation skills, formatting differentials, and making imaging recommendations.

David Biller, DVM, DACVR

Most practices think their inventory accounting is done right, but in reality, this often isn’t true. If the inventory accounting is poorly done, these figures are useless for determining whether inventory costs are under control. This session will identify the important basics of inventory accounting; explain how to know if the figures are accurate and what information they convey; and suggest changes to the inventory system to better control these costs.

Karen Felsted, CPA, M.S., DVM, CVPM, CVA

Clients have been pushing back against the cost of veterinary care for years. Some of this is unreasonable, but constantly increasing prices without offering more value also doesn’t work. Implementing a pricing strategy isn’t just about deciding what percentage to use to increase fees. Pricing is a marketing issue and just one component of the marketing mix—place, promotion, product, and price, all of which must be considered in price determination. This two-part session will answer the following questions: What does the research tell us about pricing in veterinary medicine? Should you rethink your pricing strategy? What are the components of an effective pricing decision framework? And finally, what are some new pricing strategies that make it easier for pet owners to say yes to more and better care?

Karen Felsted, CPA, M.S., DVM, CVPM, CVA

Clients have been pushing back against the cost of veterinary care for years. Some of this is unreasonable, but constantly increasing prices without offering more value also doesn’t work. Implementing a pricing strategy isn’t just about deciding what percentage to use to increase fees. Pricing is a marketing issue and just one component of the marketing mix—place, promotion, product, and price, all of which must be considered in price determination. This two-part session will answer the following questions: What does the research tell us about pricing in veterinary medicine? Should you rethink your pricing strategy? What are the components of an effective pricing decision framework? And finally, what are some new pricing strategies that make it easier for pet owners to say yes to more and better care?

Karen Felsted, CPA, M.S., DVM, CVPM, CVA

The gold standard measure of a practice’s financial success is the operating profit margin. Unfortunately, most practices don’t really know how profitable they are. This session will answer the following questions: What is the definition of operating profit? How is it different from net income, cash flow, and taxable income? How is the operating profit calculated? What are key areas to focus on in order to increase profits?

Karen Felsted, CPA, M.S., DVM, CVPM, CVA

Practices need accurate data in order to make decisions about revenue growth, expense management, profitability, marketing program analysis, efficiency, and productivity. This session will identify practice problems that can benefit from data analysis; key metrics every practice should look at on a regular basis and what drives them; and how to use metrics to improve profitability.

Karen Felsted, CPA, M.S., DVM, CVPM, CVA

Selling a practice is a once-in-a-lifetime event for most owners, and the process has gotten more complicated than it used to be. This session will discuss current options for selling both a practice and real estate; what practice owners need to know about selling to another veterinarian versus a corporate group; what kind of expertise is needed to get the highest price; and how owners can protect themselves throughout the process.

Karen Felsted, CPA, M.S., DVM, CVPM, CVA

Clients who have a clear understanding of the after-hospital care required for their pets—including medication administration, when to make follow up appointments, side effects to watch for, how to perform self-care, proper diet, how to monitor important health conditions, and when to make follow-up appointments—are more likely to have a positive surgical outcome. This session will discuss communication strategies throughout the surgical journey for both the veterinary healthcare team and the client.

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Sponsored By:

Courtney Campbell, DVM, DACVS-SA

NOTE: Due to technical difficulties, the recording of this session has no sound. Our A/V provider is investigating a solution. Please check back later.

Maintaining surgical service is an essential component of the veterinary healthcare system. The coronavirus pandemic has led to irreversible and potentially permanent changes to the way that veterinary medicine is practiced. For some, the large uptick in pet ownership and veterinary visits was largely unexpected. This created a rapid adoption of some of the changes that were already in progress, albeit at a slower pace. This lecture will discuss the pre-operative, intraoperative, and postoperative challenges associated with practicing surgery during a state of heightened concern over a transmissible virus. The lessons learned from this experience may be applicable long after the tide from this pandemic has receded.

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Sponsored By:

Courtney Campbell, DVM, DACVS-SA

Discussing a tragic or unfortunate medical diagnosis can weigh heavily on everyone involved. Essentially, giving bad news can be challenging no matter the circumstance. The most compassionate techniques for discussing bad news with clients in the veterinary setting can vary depending on the situation; however, general overarching strategies in communication can help build a sense of trust and empathy between you and your client. This session will discuss strategies for delivering bad news in an effective, empathetic way to deepen the relationship with your patients’ families.

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Sponsored By:

Courtney Campbell, DVM, DACVS-SA

Veterinary medicine is one of the least diverse professions in the U.S., with 90 percent of veterinarians identifying as white. As the nation’s demographics change, the veterinary profession can benefit from being a more accurate representation of pet owners and animal owners. Fostering a more diverse veterinary workforce creates a stronger feeling of inclusion and community for veterinary healthcare workers: Studies show that diversity improves the sense of morale in the workplace, which ultimately improves retention. The happier and safer healthcare workers feel in the workplace, the longer they will stay. This lecture will help attendees understand the past policies, practices, and professional culture that has contributed to the lack of diversity in the profession and enumerate some of the changes, efforts, and actions currently underway to hasten change. The speaker will illustrate how a more inclusive profession will strengthen the veterinary profession, stimulate creativity, and elevate business goals.

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Sponsored By:

Courtney Campbell, DVM, DACVS-SA

Veterinary medicine has long been a subject of interest to the popular media, which offer an array of veterinary medicine-centered content on a regular basis. With the burgeoning interest in veterinary health information, the public is becoming increasingly knowledgeable regarding issues of animal health and wellness. It is important that veterinarians and veterinary health professionals guide the conversation and provide accurate, up-to-date information to the public. The media’s portrayal of veterinary medicine will influence the way the public views the importance of animal health, human health, and the combined One Health approach. This lecture will explore key strategies to survive and thrive when the media calls.

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Sponsored By:

Courtney Campbell, DVM, DACVS-SA

As the veterinary landscape changes to include ever more sources of information—social media, digital media, multiple specialists, animal health paraprofessionals—it remains clear that having a good relationship between specialists and the primary care veterinary healthcare team is essential for the best surgical outcomes. Although there have been many structural changes to the way that veterinarians interact with their patients and clients, events over the past year have spurred a rapid adoption of these advancements across the industry. With these changes come new aspects of veterinarian-to-client and veterinarian-to-veterinarian relationships. This session will explore how the axis in medical decision making revolves around the interaction between primary and specialty care, especially about the efficacy and cost of tests and treatments available.

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Sponsored By:

Courtney Campbell, DVM, DACVS-SA

In recent years, canine leptospirosis cases in the United States have been increasing. Should veterinary professionals and dog owners should be concerned? This session will discuss factors that contribute to the emergence of canine leptospirosis, where it is prevalent in the U.S., and risk factors.

Amanda Smith, Ph.D., MPH

Due to the potential for severe illness and even death, it is important to mitigate the spread of leptospirosis to and within the canine population. This session will review results of a recent canine leptospirosis case-control study in Chicago, canine leptospirosis vaccine data, and common vaccine-related concerns. Attendees will also learn reasonable prevention recommendations that can be made to dog owners.

Amanda Smith, Ph.D., MPH

This session will discuss how to recognize leptospirosis; diagnostic tests available and their pros and cons; ways best to manage dogs with leptospirosis; and the zoonotic implications of the disease.

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Sponsored By:

Jane Sykes, BVSc(Hons), Ph.D., MBA, DACVIM

This session will discuss the spectrum of infections that can be transmitted through bites, pathogens that could cause death following introduction by a bite wound, how these pathogens can cause death in humans, and the veterinarian’s role in prevention. Risk factors for bite wounds from dogs and cats, as well as lethal outcomes following bite wounds, will also be covered.

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Sponsored By:

Jane Sykes, BVSc(Hons), Ph.D., MBA, DACVIM

Bartonella infection has recently been reported in people with a variety of neuropsychiatric conditions. This session will introduce the connection between bacterial infections and neuropsychiatric disease; review the transmission and common disease manifestations of zoonotic Bartonella species; and provide an update on recent studies linking Bartonella infection and neuropsychiatric illnesses.

Erin Lashnits, M.S., DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM (SAIM)

Bartonella infection is becoming an increasingly recognized vector-borne disease in companion animals, but the clinical manifestations, diagnostic tools, and treatment options can be confusing. This session will summarize updated evidence on the epidemiology and clinical manifestations of bartonellosis, diagnostic testing options for Bartonella infection, and treatment recommendations for bartonellosis in dogs and cats.

Erin Lashnits, M.S., DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM (SAIM)

This session will discuss the range of pathogens associated with canine infectious respiratory disease and the prevalence of each of the causative agents in North America. Attendees will learn the approach to diagnosis and treatment of CIRDC, find out the importance of vaccination and other prevention methods, and hear about the advantages and disadvantages of different types of vaccines.

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Sponsored By:

Jane Sykes, BVSc(Hons), Ph.D., MBA, DACVIM

This session will discuss the prevalence of Leptospira shedding in shelter environments, the pathogenesis of leptospirosis, and risk factors for human infection. Attendees will learn clinical signs associated with leptospirosis in dogs and humans and discover best practices for preventing leptospirosis.

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Sponsored By:

Jane Sykes, BVSc(Hons), Ph.D., MBA, DACVIM

During this session, attendees will learn about the major vector-borne pathogens likely to be found in shelter animals, their pathogenesis, clinical signs, geographic distributions, and how to prevent them. The public health implications of contact with dogs and cats in shelters that might have vector-borne diseases or be harboring infected vectors will be discussed, as well as what precautions to take to prevent infection of shelter workers. Finally, education of shelter animal fosters and adopters about management of vector-borne diseases will also be covered.

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Sponsored By:

Jane Sykes, BVSc(Hons), Ph.D., MBA, DACVIM

This session will explore current recommendations and rationale for vaccination of dogs and cats, why vaccination recommendations for shelter animals differ from owned pets, and why controversies exist over some of these recommendations. Attendees will also learn how their individual shelter might need to adapt their guidelines to optimize prevention of infectious diseases using existing resources.

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Sponsored By:

Jane Sykes, BVSc(Hons), Ph.D., MBA, DACVIM

Fleas are an overlooked and understudied vector of disease with the potential to harbor and transmit multiple pathogens of concern. This session will provide a state-of-the-art update on flea-borne disease research. Topics will include flea-borne pathogens that affect cats, dogs, and people; current efforts to evaluate flea phylogeny worldwide; and results of recent research on potential flea-borne diseases in free-roaming cats, including Bartonella, Rickettsia, and hemotropic Mycoplasma.

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Sponsored By:

Erin Lashnits, M.S., DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM (SAIM)

This session will review the impacts of parvovirus enteritis on the canine intestinal ecosystem; the clinical utility of fecal microbiota transplantation for parvovirus enteritis; the practicality of performing fecal microbiota transplantation in a shelter setting; and the feasibility of establishing a canine fecal donor program in a shelter setting.

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Sponsored By:

Jenessa Winston, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM

The first hour of this three-part series will cover the basics of laparoscopic artificial insemination (AI) in small ruminants. Topics to be covered will include synchronization protocols, sedation protocols, and the laparoscopic AI procedure.

Rachael Gately,

The second hour of this series will discuss how to make your laparoscopic AI program successful. Topics to be covered will include equipment and consumables necessary, common pitfalls and frustrations, and tips from experienced clinicians.

Rachael Gately,

The final hour of the laparoscopic AI series will discuss the importance of high-quality semen. Topics to be covered will include parameters to evaluate semen, how to evaluate semen in the field, and best practices for preserving semen to meet quality standards.

Rachael Gately,

Topics to be covered will include cosmetic reasons why practitioners might dehorn small ruminants, anesthesia protocols, procedure, and post-op care, as well as pros and cons.

Rachael Gately,

Choosing diagnostics sometimes feels like throwing darts blindfolded. In this session, the complex world of gastrointestinal (GI) parasite diagnostics will be distilled down to practical and easy-to-use information. Topics of discussion will include individual animal versus herd-level diagnostic options, strengths and limitations of common diagnostics, in-clinic and on-farm options versus send-out testing, and diagnostic decision making.

Grace VanHoy, DVM, M.S., DACVIM-LA

Parasite control in the United States is in crisis. Reports of total anthelmintic failure are becoming more common, and global climate change is expanding the range and activity of parasites. Integrated parasite management gives clients better control, is more cost effective over time, and protects our finite dewormer resource. This session will address risk factors in different farm management systems, pasture management to decrease parasite exposure, diagnostic types and recommended frequency, and adjunctive (non-drug) options for control.

Grace VanHoy, DVM, M.S., DACVIM-LA

In this session, attendees will learn what a training needs analysis is, how to identify and eliminate training barriers, and ways to determine what training is needed.

Heather Romano, MHRM, SPHR, SHRM-CP

Centennials, also known as Generation Z, were born in the mid ’90s through the early 2010s. This session will discuss why Centennials are so different from Millennials, what changes hospitals will have to make to engage them, and how to adapt a practice’s training program to their unique learning styles. Attendees will also learn how to increase training retention and discover the most important aspect of training Centennials.

Heather Romano, MHRM, SPHR, SHRM-CP

In this two-part session, attendees will learn about different types of passive-aggressive personalities and why passive-aggressive behavior occurs. The speaker will explore how passive-aggressive personalities affect training and practice operations, ways to address these individuals based on their behaviors, and how to prevent passive-aggressive behavior (yes, it’s possible!)

Heather Romano, MHRM, SPHR, SHRM-CP

In this two-part session, attendees will learn about different types of passive-aggressive personalities and why passive-aggressive behavior occurs. The speaker will explore how passive-aggressive personalities affect training and practice operations, ways to address these individuals based on their behaviors, and how to prevent passive-aggressive behavior (yes, it’s possible!)

Heather Romano, MHRM, SPHR, SHRM-CP

In this session, attendees will learn the value of feedback to different generations, ways in which feedback affects training and retention, and how to do away with traditional performance evaluations to increase employee development.

Heather Romano, MHRM, SPHR, SHRM-CP

This session will explore the critical role that training plays in employee engagement and retention. Attendees will learn how training affects their practice’s “employer brand” and gain tips and tricks for implementing training even during the busiest times.

Heather Romano, MHRM, SPHR, SHRM-CP

Brachycephalic breeds can have a number of “normal abnormalities” of the upper airway, which can lead to life-threatening situations before, during, and after surgery. In this lecture, attendees will learn what to consider in formulating an anesthetic plan for these patients. Each stage of the surgical process will be discussed, including premedication and sedation (drug options, pre-oxygenation, restraint), induction (laryngeal examinations, intubation, continued oxygenation), intra-operative concerns specific to airway procedures (monitoring, reintubation, analgesia), and recovery (continued monitoring and oxygenation, extubation, post-operative analgesia).

Katrina Lafferty, BFA, RLAT, CVT, VTS (Anesthesia/Analgesia)

In the world of veterinary medicine, owners expect high-quality care for their pets, regardless of the species. Pocket pets are becoming increasingly popular, and anesthesia can be one of the most intimidating parts of working with an exotic animal. This lecture will explore the most important elements of rabbit, ferret, and rodent anesthesia, including injection sites; catheter placement; intubation; monitoring choices; recovery; and drug choices for sedation, pain management, and emergencies.

Katrina Lafferty, BFA, RLAT, CVT, VTS (Anesthesia/Analgesia)

In veterinary medicine, opioids are the mainstay for treating mild to severe pain. However, in human medicine, widespread opioid therapy led to spikes in addiction and overdose deaths, causing the opioid crisis—and eventually, an opioid shortage in the veterinary world. This presentation will discuss the pros and cons of pharmacologic opioid-sparing analgesic drugs and techniques, as well as non-pharmacologic options.

Katrina Lafferty, BFA, RLAT, CVT, VTS (Anesthesia/Analgesia)

A capnograph can be the anesthetist’s best friend, and understanding what it shows can be the difference between life and death. This lecture will cover the many uses of capnography, including as a ventilation guide, intubation confirmation tool, and critical early alert system for a number of life-threatening situations.

Katrina Lafferty, BFA, RLAT, CVT, VTS (Anesthesia/Analgesia)

Patients presenting to surgery with alterations to their renal pathophysiology are a challenge for the surgeon and anesthetist alike. Renal damage leads to an inability to remove urea from the bloodstream, and resultant uremia can lead to failure of the cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and central nervous systems, as well as have hematologic effects. This presentation will discuss pharmacological effects of various drugs on critical kidneys, preoperative preparation, monitoring techniques and parameters, fluid therapies, analgesic techniques, and recovery considerations.

Katrina Lafferty, BFA, RLAT, CVT, VTS (Anesthesia/Analgesia)

Anesthetic machines are intimidating, complicated, temperamental pieces of equipment. For better or worse, veterinary patients require general anesthesia for a number of procedures, which means that a good understanding of the anesthesia machine is necessary. This lecture will break down the anesthesia machine into its basic parts to provide an understanding of how it functions. Also covered will be correct usage of different systems (rebreathing, non-rebreathing), techniques (low-flow, closed circuit), and troubleshooting.

Katrina Lafferty, BFA, RLAT, CVT, VTS (Anesthesia/Analgesia)

This session will review corneal anatomy and physiology, basic classifications of corneal ulcers, and monitoring and rechecking patients with corneal ulcers. What owners need to know about caring for dogs with ulcers will also be discussed.

Pamela Kirby, RVT, VTS (Ophthalmology)

Equine cataract surgery is intense. This session will discuss which horses are good candidates and which are not, potential complications, and ideal outcomes.

Pamela Kirby, RVT, VTS (Ophthalmology)

This lecture will discuss the technology of high-flow oxygen delivery systems as an alternative to mechanical ventilation. Topics to be covered will include indications for therapy, selection of patients who may benefit from high flow, machine setup and troubleshooting, and nursing considerations for patients receiving high-flow oxygen.

Leslie Wereszczak, LVMT, VTS(ECC)

The critical care technician is involved in continuous cage-side care of the critically ill patient. Prevention of sepsis is essential. This lecture will help the the technician reduce sepsis through infection control, identify patients at risk for developing sepsis, and recognize clinical signs of sepsis.

Leslie Wereszczak, LVMT, VTS(ECC)

Neonatal emergencies create unique challenges for the veterinary nursing team. This session will cover the unique needs of these fragile patients to improve resuscitation attempts, differences in neonate and adult physiology, equipment needs and readiness, and proper handling techniques.

Leslie Wereszczak, LVMT, VTS(ECC)

When peripheral access is not sufficient, a central line can be a literal lifeline.This session will explain how to choose the appropriate central line, placement techniques, care, and complications.

Leslie Wereszczak, LVMT, VTS(ECC)