Managing Common Abdominal Problems
November 4–6, 2027
Gary & Howard are going to discuss management of the most common abdominal problems that they encounter in their clinical practices. This course will present a practical approach to the diagnosis and management of these common problems using a combination of didactic and case-based teaching. This combination of a Surgeon and an Internist is sure to provide you with some very practical tips on a broad range of topics.
Speakers & Topics
- What’s in my pharmacy ?Antacids. Promotility. Mucosal Protection. Appetite Stimulant. Emetics.
- What’s in my kitchen ?Highly digestible GI diets. Limited ingredient diets. Hydrolyzed diets.
- Acute Gastroenteritis- simplifying diagnostics & treatments.
- Chronic Enteropathies – new classifications and treatment approach.Food-responsive CE. Dysbiosis-responsive CE. Antibiotic-responsive CE. Steroid-responsive CE.
- Probiotics & Fecal Microbial Restoration Therapy.
- Feline Gastrointestinal Lymphoma – what’s different about this ?
- Acute Pancreatitis – the good, bad & ugly
- What’s in my OR?During the course of our lectures I will suggest a number of affordable surgical instruments you should consider adding to your practice and how to acquire them!
- Performing GI surgery in your OR ‘by yourself’…….what can I do to help make that experience better?We will discuss a variety of GI surgery cases such as GI foreign bodies, GI neoplasia, feline megacolon, recurrent rectal prolapse. We will focus on techniques and tips to allow a predictably successful outcome.
- Nothing like operating a metabolically deranged, GDV at 3am by yourself!! I think I can help develop a game plan that will take away ‘some’ of the stress!During this lecture we will operate 4 clinical GDV’s together, develop a fool proof technique of derotating the stomach of each case, evaluate the patients stomach viability, evaluate splenic health, and perform a 15minute gastropexy! All by yourself!
- You just diagnosed a case of gall bladder mucocele. What can you expect if you decide to take the patient to surgery?During this lecture I will discuss typical surgical findings when GB mucocele patients are operated early, late and after GB rupture. In addition we will look at appropriate techniques for handling the gall bladder and liver during GB resection.
- I’m a little bit of a ‘gear head’ when it comes to new and improved instruments that can make my life easier.We will look at a new instrument for placement of an esophagostomy feeding tube.
- Got a bleeding hemangiosarcoma that cannot be adequately ‘stabilized’ prior to surgery due to continued hemorrhage? Need to get that spleen out fast? I may have the answer for you!During this lecture we will take a closer look at the splenic anatomy and discuss why this knowledge will allow us to do a ‘rapid splenectomy’ with only 4 to 5 ligations needed.
- Nervous about performing an anal sacculectomy? I think I can cure this common anxiety with a quick review of the perianal/perineal anatomy and showing you a novel technique for anal sac removal.During this lecture we will discuss the perianal/perineal regional anatomy and its influence on anal sac removal technique. We will then perform an anal sacculectomy on a clinical case using a novel technique that will enhance your ability to protect the regional anatomy and remove the entire anal sac.
Accommodations
Elegance and comfort awaits at beach hotels San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino. Whether you want to spend your time on sun-kissed Condado Beach or explore the city, our Puerto Rico Resort offers easy access to local destinations. Experience the culture of Old San Juan. Recharge in a contemporary hotel room or suite with a balcony, ocean scenic, plush beds, high-speed Wi-Fi and large flat-screen TVs. Please every palate at our restaurants, which serve a variety of international and American dishes. Relax in the sun, surrounded by swaying palm trees or enjoy the pool. While away evenings in San Juan at our pool bar, try your luck at our resort casino or take a sunset stroll along the beach.
Price
Group room rates:
Run of house: $340.00 dbl/night plus taxes & resort fee
- Rates are based on single/double occupancy.
- Taxes: 11% government tax
- Currently, porterage gratuities are $6.00 per person round trip, and housekeeping gratuities are $2.00 per person, per day will be charged to each guest folio.
- Resort fee discounted to $45.00 per room per night (from $65.00)
- Resort Fee Inclusions (inclusions are subject to change without notice)➢ Enhanced High Speed Internet Access in room and hotel public areas.
➢ 30 minutes use of internet at the Lobby Computer Stations*
➢ Entertainment with live music. (May change seasonally)
➢ $30.00 Casino match play coupon provided at check in (One per stay)
➢ Daily Two (2) hours Bicycle Rental.*
➢ Daily Two (2) hours use of the Tennis Court (reservation at Fitness Center required).*
➢ Daily One (1) hour Aqua Fitness classes**
➢ Daily One (1) hour Yoga Classes.**
➢ Personal Trainer available at Fitness Center 6 hours a day (from 6am – 9am & 5pm – 8pm).**
*Tennis, Bicycle Rentals and Internet access at the Lobby computer stations based upon availability and/or weather conditions.
**For information and reservations visit our Wellness Center reception.
In order to confirm individual reservations, a first night’s room deposit will be taken at least 30 days prior to your arrival. Full refund of an individual room deposit will be forfeited unless cancellation is received 30 days prior to arrival. You will be charged for your entire stay if you cancel within 14 days of your scheduled arrival or are a no-show or depart early.
Having trouble reserving your room? Click here to request help reserving your room for Managing Common Abdominal Problems.
Need To Know
Registration
Online registration is quick and easy. Before you register or book flights, please confirm your hotel reservation, since many hotels sell out months ahead of our seminars.
To book a room, use the online hotel registration link for your seminar. If no link is available, please complete our hotel request form or call our office at 800-487-5650. Your room isn’t confirmed until you receive a confirmation, either from the hotel (if you booked through our online group link) or from our office (for hotels without an online link).
Early Bird: $1235.00
Advanced: $1255.00
Regular: $1275.00
Special Pricing:
Veterinary Technicians receive an $80 discount using promo code “techsaver”. Enter the code during checkout in the submit promotion code box.
For International Travel
Passport requirements for international travel
Please note that all passengers traveling by air to or from the United States will be required to hold a valid passport. This requirement applies to all passengers, including U.S. citizens, traveling to and from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean.
When planning international travel, please be sure that you are in possession of all required documents for both outbound and return flights. Remember to allow ample time for acquiring official travel documents.
For complete information on the U.S. Department of State’s New Travel Initiative Requirements, please visit travel.state.gov.
Pricing
In order to confirm individual reservations, a two night’s room deposit will be taken at least 30 days prior to your arrival. Full refund of an individual room deposit will be forfeited unless cancellation is received 30 days prior to arrival. You will be charged for your entire stay if you cancel within 14 days of your scheduled arrival or are a no-show or depart early.
Global Vet Community Meets CE Experiences
IVS trips are designed to meet your CE requirements while offering a break from traditional, conference-style learning. With focused half-day sessions, small-group learning, and destinations worth the journey, IVS creates close-knit communities where education feels both engaging and rewarding.
Earn Your CE Credits
IVS makes it easy — and worth the trip — to keep your CE hours current. Each trip includes 12–18 CE credit hours, along with access to a dedicated portal where certificates and trip details are easy to find when you need them.
Explore the World
Choose from 50+ destinations worldwide, including classic travel locations and Bio Bio adventure trips. No matter the setting, IVS seminars are structured to support focused learning in an environment that feels immersive — not overwhelming.
Connect With Your Community
IVS brings together veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and leading specialists in intentionally small groups. Designed for shared experience and meaningful discussion, these seminars foster professional connections that last well beyond your trip.
Get More from Every Trip
With points earned for every trip you attend, bonuses for referring friends, and a convenient user portal for tracking and seminar details, IVS makes earning your CE credits even more rewarding.
Postcards from Our Trips
From close to home to destinations abroad, hear what veterinary professionals are saying about their IVS experience.
The speakers were excellent, as were the accommodations. I love coming to IVS Seminars.”
I enjoyed this conference VERY much! The speakers were engaging and superb. I had a surgery day this past Tuesday and have implemented several of their pearls of knowledge!”
The trip was just perfect! My husband and I loved every minute.”
Thank you for a great conference! This was my first IVS experience, and it was great. … I’m hoping to arrange a trip for my vet school friends (11 of us total) in the future.”
I enjoyed the seminar. IVS [is] still the best CE in my opinion. Great venue also.”
Thank you for putting on a fantastic program in Cabo!”
Thank you. I always enjoy the CE experience IVS provides.”
Good to Know Before You Go
Registration is simple. Browse upcoming seminars using the search on our homepage, then click through to the seminar page and complete registration online. You will receive an email confirmation once your registration is complete, and a separate email confirming your payment. Please keep both for your records. You can also call our office at 1-800-487-5650 to register by phone.
IVS holds group space at each seminar venue and handles hotel bookings on your behalf. You can book accommodations at the same time as your seminar registration or separately — whichever you prefer.
On your selected seminar’s page, click the Accommodations tab and scroll down to the Book Accommodations button. Please note: if you need a room outside the standard seminar dates, availability will need to be confirmed with the hotel. Hotel bookings made through our site are not automatic and require some processing time. Once confirmed, you will receive a hotel confirmation letter from IVS by email. All hotels require a credit card to guarantee your booking, and cut-off dates apply — early registration is always advised. Our team is available at 1-800-487-5650, Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm PST.
10% of the registration fee is non-refundable. If you cancel more than 30 days before the seminar start date, you may choose a refund of the remaining 90% or a Future Transfer Credit (FTC). If you cancel within 30 days, only a Future Transfer Credit is issued. The FTC can be applied to any future IVS seminar within 2 years of your cancellation date; it is forfeited if not used within that window. To cancel, you must contact our office and receive email confirmation of your cancellation before the seminar begins. Cancellations requested after the seminar has started, or without email confirmation on file, will forfeit the full registration fee. Please also note that cancellations will remove any Loyalty Program points earned from that registration.
IVS specializes in small group seminars — usually fewer than 80 people per seminar. Most veterinarians appreciate the smaller setting, as it allows for more interaction with speakers and other participants and gives everyone a chance to get their questions answered.
International Veterinary Seminars is an AAVSB RACE-approved provider of CE, which is accepted by all state boards throughout the US and Canada. We are provider #13 and are also an approved provider in New York State. Please contact your state board or our office with any questions. For more information, visit the AAVSB RACE program website.
Where will your learning take you?
Discover a different way to earn your veterinary CE. Explore upcoming trips to find an IVS seminar set in a destination you’ll want to stay awhile.