Tamara Grubb
DVM, PhD, DACVAA
Thursday, July 20
SpeakerTopic
Sponsored by:
Suffering Not Allowed: Treatment of Chronic Pain
Chronic pain can be very difficult to treat, but treatment is imperative for the patient’s health, behavior and quality of life. A variety of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments for chronic pain will be discussed and evidence of efficacy presented.
What are They Hiding? Pain Recognition and Assessment
Animals hide pain as part of a strong evolutionary survival response. But scientifically we know they feel pain and we need to actively look for pain in our patients/pets. Scoring systems for acute and chronic pain identification in dogs and cats will be described.
Stop Pain in its Tracks: Local Block Video Lecture 1
Local anesthetic drugs are very effective analgesics. They are also largely easy to use and inexpensive. The use of local/regional blocks improves anesthetic safety and provides analgesia, even after the expected duration of action of the drug. Blocks that can be used in ANY practice will be cover in a step-by-step description, complete with videos.
Stop Pain in its Tracks: Local Block Video Lecture 2
Local blocks continued with more videos!
Michael R. Lappin
DVM, PhD, DACVIM
Thursday, July 20
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Update on the management of select feline infectious diseases
In this two part lecture, Dr. Lappin will update the audience on about 20 hot topics in feline infectious diseases. He will give an update on common flea and tick diseases of cats as well as provide an update on optimal use of FVRCP vaccines, including use of intranasal products for both prevention and treatment of FHV-1. He will also provide an update on injections site sarcoma’s and prevention of feline leukemia virus infection.
Update on the management of select canine infectious diseases
In this two part lecture, Dr. Lappin will update the audience on about 20 hot topics in canine infectious diseases. He will give an update on common flea and tick diseases of dogs as well as provide an update on optimal use of Borrelia, Leptospira, and CIRDC vaccines.
Greg Lisciandro
DVM, Dipl. ABVP, DACVECC
Thursday, July 20
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AFAST® and Its Target-organ Approach - More than a POCUS
The presentation will cover the image acquisition for AFAST® and how it may be used for soft tissue abnormalities of its target organs. The use of this strategy detects many soft tissue abnormalities only suspected or completely missed on physical exam, blood and urine laboratory testing, and plain radiography. AFAST® often serves as an imaging “baby step” to get more advanced ultrasound studies, radiography, and CT. The use of this approach is cost effective because by “seeing your problem list”, your diagnostics and treatment are better streamlined and more accurate, respectively. AFAST® is everyday ultrasound on nearly every patient because it carries the potential to capture disease that is otherwise missed without imaging.
AFAST® and Its Abdominal Fluid Scoring System for Decision Making
The presentation will cover the use of the AFAST®-applied fluid scoring system and its small volume versus large volume principle for anticipating the degree of anemia in bleeding patients and volume loss in non-hemorrhagic abdominal effusions. This lecture is practical and case-based covering major imaging differences in blunt and penetrating trauma, post- interventional trauma, and non-trauma including how fluid scoring may be used for decision-making in case management.
TFAST® for the Accurate Diagnosis of Pleural and Pericardial Effusion and Its Fundamental Echocardiography
The presentation will cover our TFAST® rules to follow for the accurate diagnosis of pleural and pericardial effusion that helps prevent mistaking the heart and its chambers for either. Following our TFAST® rules prevents the potentially most catastrophic of mistakes of performing centesis on your patient’s heart. We will also go over TFAST® fundamental echocardiography, including use of short- and long-axis views for volume status, contractility, and left- and right- sided problems.
Vet BLUE® Lung Ultrasound - An Introduction to Your New Stethoscope
The presentation will cover the history of lung ultrasound and its evolution beginning over 30-years ago; and focus on the most published lung ultrasound format in our veterinary literature, Vet BLUE®, developed by the speaker 2010. Vet BLUE® is an achievable ultrasound skill like AFAST® and TFAST® requiring minimal investment in ultrasound training. Its fundamental orientation, standardized methodology, and regional pattern-based approach, including the wet versus dry lung concept, allows for the formulation of a working diagnosis within 2-minutes. Moreover, the Vet BLUE® B-line scoring system and its inherent severity scoring system make it an effective tracking tool without the transport and risk of radiology. Comparisons to plain radiography and computed tomography (CT) will also be discussed.
The Tale of 4 Felines – The Use of Vet BLUE® and TFAST® in Feline Respiratory Distress
Respiratory patterns and lung auscultation are indirect means of sorting through various common causes of respiratory distress in felines and radiography is risky. We will discuss the Tale of 4 Felines, including feline asthma, left-sided congestive heart failure, pleural effusion, and nodular disease with each cat having similar breathing patterns of nostril flaring and abdominal breathing that are rapidly differentiated with evidence-based information through the rapid (< 2 minutes) standardized use of point-of-care ultrasound imaging using Vet BLUE® and TFAST®. Clinical pearls for imaging cats will also be discussed including coupling medium, positioning, and other author tricks of the trade.
Medically-treated Canine Anaphylactic Hemoperitoneum: A Complication Every Vet Must Know
The canine species has a unique medically-treated hemoperitoneum complication associated with single insult anaphylaxis. An accurate diagnosis involving the integration of both historical, clinical, and sonographic findings (anaphylactic gallbladder versus the cardiac gallbladder) are integral for arriving at an accurate diagnosis while also dictating medical treatment. Anecdotally, it is unlikely these dogs will survive surgical intervention with intraoperative findings lacking any discreet bleeding vessels but rather hepatomegaly due to hepatic congestion and capsular oozing of blood. Clinical findings including coagulation profiles, liver enzymes, packed cell volume, and therapy to correct the acquired coagulopathy will be covered. This new entity was first described in the veterinary literature by the speaker.
Global FAST: Its Use for Ruling Out the Hs and Ts of Treatable Forms of Shock
The combined used of AFAST®, TFAST®, and Vet BLUE® serve to rapidly screen in the triage/trauma bay or cageside with hospitalized cases for treatable causes of shock and cardiopulmonary arrest when minutes count. With our Global FAST® approach, combined with quick assessment tests and a physical exam, the attending clinician better directs resources, diagnostics, and resuscitation during shock resuscitation and CPR with the potential to increase survival rates. The lecture will tie together many previous concepts of earlier lectures plus monitoring and lifesaving techniques.
Linda Messinger
DVM, DACVD
Thursday, July 20
SpeakerTopic
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Ditching the Itch with a Happy Skin Barrier
Epidermal barrier dysfunction in atopic dermatitis has been a hot area of research. We will examine various therapeutic modalities intended to help improve epidermal barrier dysfunction, thereby aiming to reduce pruritus and other clinical signs in dogs with atopic patients. Cases will also be discussed.
What Ails the Paws and Claws
Various causes of pododermatitis, including nail diseases, in dogs and cats will be discussed with an emphasis on diagnosis and treatment.
Quick and Easy Tips to Maximize Success in your Derm Patients
Discussion on a potpourri of quick tips that are practical and easy to use in practice so as to help improve the outcome of your patients with dermatological problems.
Extra, Extra, Hear All About It…. Hot off the Press Veterinary Dermatology Topics!
Clinical updates for the general practitioner from the North American Veterinary Dermatology Forum and recent veterinary dermatology publications.
Michael “Mike” T. Robbins
DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition)
Thursday, July 20
SpeakerTopic
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Hydration Fixation: Beyond the water bowl
In this lecture we will overview the importance of water for the body. We will overview hydration homeostasis and how cats may not be as efficient as hydrating themselves as their canine counterparts and why this may be problematic for long-term health. We’ll further look into a couple studies evaluating supplement using osmolytes can improve overall fluid intake, urine output volume, and other urinary measures in cats.
Nutritional Management of Canine and Feline Obesity
In this lecture we will discuss obesity as it pertains to the prevalence of dogs and cats in the US and the health concerns this predisposes them to. We will overview the metabolic responses excess weight causes systemically by evaluating its effects on hormones and cytokines. The lecture will also cover weight loss strategies from early prevention to the importance of particular nutrients during weight loss as well as client communication advice to help achieve a realistic and success plan for your patient and client.
Nutritional Management of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome
We will briefly start the lecture defining canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome, its prevalence, as well as risk factors and clinical signs. The lecture will stress the importance of early diagnosis and how best to go about this in addition to current intervention and treatment recommendations. In evaluating treatment, this lecture will also evaluate a study using a specifically formulated diet to help improve clinical signs associated with canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome.
Young at Heart: Nutrition and MMVD
This lecture will overview the normal cardiac anatomy and the pathophysiology of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) as well as current ACVIM classification. We will further look into particular nutrients and their importance in cardiac cachexia in addition to the metabolic differences seen in dogs with MMVD. The lecture will conclude with evaluating two studies where a diet was created to address those metabolic differences in dogs with MMVD targeting specific nutrients and its effects on those dogs.
Alyssa M. Sullivant
DVM, MS, DACVIM
Thursday, July 20
SpeakerTopic
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Management of Chronic Coughing
This 50 minute lecture discusses respiratory therapeutics, including steroids, bronchodilators, and cough suppressants. Indications, benefits, and expected responses will be covered. Emphasis will be on treatment of tracheal collapse, chronic bronchitis, and feline asthma.
Appropriate Use of Steroids for Respiratory Disease
This 50 minute lecture focuses on the use of oral and inhaled steroids for respiratory conditions. Indications, dosages, and steroid options will be discussed in detail. Contraindications as well as clinical scenarios where steroids may not benefit will be covered.
Common Causes of Icterus in the Cat
This 50 minute lecture is dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatitis, cholangitis/cholangiohepatitis, and hepatic lipidosis in cats. Clinical presentation and bloodwork findings, definitive and empirical therapies, and expected outcomes will be discussed in detail, with case examples.
Is it Really IBD?
This 50 minute lecture highlights the common causes of chronic enteropathies, including food-responsive enteropathy, infectious enteropathies, and protein-losing enteropathies. There is a heavy focus on new terminology/classification schemes as well as distinguishing enteropathies that need immunosuppressant therapy vs those that do not.
Lance C. Visser
DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology)
Thursday, July 20
SpeakerTopic
Sponsored by:
The EPIC trial - Evaluating asymptomatic MMVD: The evidence for pimobendan
This presentation describes myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) and the pathophysiology that it leads to. It covers the progression of MMVD throughout the patient’s life, as well as potential complicating factors. Included is information around how these complications, along with MMVD, can affect the patient’s outcome.
Utility of chest radiographs for staging MMVD: Old dogs (with murmurs) and new tricks
Radiographic measurements of heart size are most useful for general and emergency practitioners who lack access to echocardiography. This session will focus on the utility of thoracic radiographs for staging
myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) in dogs. The diagnostic value and limitations of radiographic measurements, specifically vertebral heart score/size (VHS) and vertebral left atrial size (VLAS), will be
emphasized. Diagnostic accuracy of these measurements as predictors of echocardiographic left atrial enlargement (echoLAE) and subclinical staging of MMVD will be discussed.
Guidelines for the treatment of MMVD
This presentation reviews the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) staging of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), in particular differentiating stage B1 from B2 and discussing
the approved treatment of dogs diagnosed with stage B2 MMVD with Vetmedin-CA1 (pimobendan). It also covers the diagnosis and treatment recommendations for stages C and D, along with potential complicating factors. This presentation concludes with a brief introduction of possible surgical options for MMVD.
Canine Cardiomyopathies: Updates on Diagnosis & Management
This presentation reviews the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) staging of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), in particular differentiating stage B1 from B2 and discussing
the approved treatment of dogs diagnosed with stage B2 MMVD with Vetmedin-CA1 (pimobendan). It also covers the diagnosis and treatment recommendations for stages C and D, along with potential complicating factors. This presentation concludes with a brief introduction of possible surgical options for MMVD.
Brandt Tolbert
DVM
Thursday, July 20
SpeakerTopic
Sponsored by:
Premedication and Induction Drugs
TBA
Robbie van Mullem
Thursday, July 20
SpeakerTopic
Sponsored by:
5 Easy Steps to Reach New Clients Through Your Clinic Website and Social Media
Our discussion will center around the generation gap, and how different generations view websites and social media; examine keywords and phrases to ensure your website is found on an internet search engine; discuss how the search engine Google impacts your practice and more. Each of these topics will be addressed in a fast-paced, interactive presentation.
How Social Media Can Help You Stand Above Your Competition: Looking at trends in the veterinary market
We will examine the trends and look at the different types of social media your clinic should use and what to avoid.