Single day registration available:   

All times are Eastern time. 

Seminars start each day at 5.00am Pacific, 6.00am Mtn, 7.00am Central & 8.00am Eastern

Friday (5.5 CE hrs)

Dr. Hackett:

8:00am – 9:40am:   The Acute Abdomen

Emergency veterinarians are often faced with animals in acute abdominal distress. The patient with signs of intra abdominal disease may require emergency treatment for shock, even surgery before a definitive diagnosis is reached. With an understanding of the causes and pathophysiology of abdominal pain and trauma, attendees will review the necessary decisions, medical treatments and the timing of surgery for the best outcomes. Preoperative stabilization, sedation, anesthesia and analgesia for these cases will also be covered. Case examples will include viral enteritis, gastric dilatation volvulus, gastrointestinal foreign bodies, peritonitis, penetrating trauma and uroperitoneum.

Dr. Seim:

9:50am – 10.40am:     Surgical management of GDV: the 10 minute gastropexy

10:50am – 11.40am:   Managing linear foreign bodies in dogs

Dr. Marks:

11:50am -1:30pm

Rational approach to diagnosing and managing dogs and cats with refractory chronic diarrhea – this session will use a case-based format to highlight the rational diagnostic approach to patients with chronic diarrhea, as well as the implementation of probiotics, dietary therapy, immunomodulatory therapy, cobalamin and folate, and antibiotics.

Saturday  (5.5 CE hrs)

Dr. Hackett:

8:00am – 9:40am: Shock and transfusion medicine

This lecture will use a variety of small animal cases to cover metabolic derangements, emergency crystalloid and colloid fluid therapy, transfusions and vascular access. Attendees will learn to recognize, differentiate and treat the major causes of metabolic and circulatory shock. Case examples will include viral enteritis, parasitic anemia, peritonitis, hypoadrenocorticism, diabetic ketoacidosis and hemorrhagic shock in a dog with an acute intraabdominal bleed. Canine and feline transfusion medicine will be covered with attendees reviewing the importance of in-house blood typing, cross matching, blood product collection, storage, and administration.

Dr. Seim:

9:50am – 10.40am:     Bleeding splenic hemangiosarcoma; 4 ligature splenectomy

10:50am – 11.40am:   Colopexy for the treatment of recurrent rectal prolapse

Dr. Marks:

11:50am – 1:30pm:

What’s the latest on megaesophagus? – this session will focus on practical strategies for managing megaesophagus in dogs, and methods for preventing aspiration pneumonia.

How do I manage and prevent esophagitis in my patients? This session will review the most common causes of esophagitis in dogs and cats, and the steps that can be taken to diagnose and manage this common disorder. Optimization of pharmacological and dietary therapy for affected patients will also be discussed with a review of the pros and cons of H2-blockers versus proton pump inhibitors. The session will conclude with discussion on the steps that can be taken to prevent esophagitis in hospitalized and anesthetized patients.

Sunday (5 CE hrs)

Dr. Hackett:

8:00am – 9:40am: Postoperative Critical Care

Recognizing the importance of the entire veterinary team in postoperative management of the critical patients reviewed during this course. this lecture will follow several cases (Gastric dilatation volvulus, septic peritonitis, and the traumatic uroperitoneum) to discuss the care and monitoring devoted to these patients. The gastrointestinal tract is uniquely sensitive to tissue hypoxia in our small animal patients. With a focus on gastrointestinal function and critical care nutrition, attendees will also review ways to monitor and optimize respiratory function, fluid balance, cardiac function, renal function, neurologic function, the coagulation system, blood pressure, patient comfort, sedation and pain control.

Dr. Seim:

9:50am – 10.30am:     Surgically managing gall bladder mucocele; from early presentation to rupture!

10:40am – 11.20am:   Surgical management of penetrating abdominal trauma

Dr. Marks:

11:30am – 1:00pm:

What’s the latest on diagnosing and managing dogs with acute hemorrhagic diarrheal syndrome (AHDS)? This case-based presentation will highlight a practical approach to working up the canine patient with AHDS with discussion on therapeutic strategies to manage the disorder. The session will also review the specific indications for incorporation of antimicrobials and the optimal selection of antimicrobials.