Lecture Descriptions Back to School Seminar
Track 1
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Management of the Respiratory Emergency - Part I & II
Respiratory distress is a common presenting complaint in the emergency room. These two sessions will focus triage and on recognition of respiratory distress. Advanced management and patient care will also be discussed.
Measurement of Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is a tremendously important part of caring for critically ill patient. Different methods for the assessment of blood pressure will be reviewed and recent literature discussed.
Measurement of Intra-abdominal Pressure
Intra-abdominal pressure monitoring is gaining more and more importance in the care of critically ill patients. Indications and technical aspects will be presented.
Monitoring the Critically Ill Patient Part I & II
Merrill C. Sosman M.D. once said, “You see only what you look for, you recognize only what you know”. This statement has important implications when it comes to providing nursing care to the critically ill patient. As veterinary technicians, we are in an excellent position to critically observe, recognize, and report changes, in our patients’ condition. Based upon our nursing observations, the clinician may initiate a variety of diagnostic and or therapeutic interventions. This lecture will review a variety of monitoring parameters for the respiratory, cardiovascular, neurologic, and renal systems. In addition, differentials for commonly encountered abnormalities will be discussed.
Management of the DKA Patient
Don't reach for the insulin just yet. This talk will focus on the importance of IV fluid therapy and the complexities of the acid-base and electrolyte abnormalities before giving insulin, as well as blood sampling in these patients.
Management of the Rodenticide Toxicity Patient
Anticoagulants aren't the only type of rodenticide, however they will be the focus of this talk. We will discuss different clinical presentations ranging from stable to patients in cardiopulmonary arrest.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Raw Food Diets: A Research Review
Raw food diets are often referred to by the acronym “BARF” which can stand for “bones and raw food” or “biologically appropriate raw food” diet. Proponents of raw food diets proclaim many health benefits associated with this feeding regime, stating that dogs and cats are carnivores and as such they evolved eating raw food. However, there have been no studies to date to support that this feeding approach has any long-term health benefits compared to feeding other types of pet food. Despite the absence of long-term studies, there has been research looking at the nutritional performance as well as the possible risks and benefits of bones and raw food diets. This lecture will present and evaluate some of these studies.
Obesity Management in Dogs and Cats
Obesity is currently the most common nutritional disorder that occurs in companion animals in the United States. As veterinarians, this is one of the easiest conditions to diagnose. Unfortunately it is one of the hardest to treat. Obesity is associated with significant health risks, and overweightedness may be considered a pre-clinical condition. Thus obesity prevention and management should be an important part of practice, and it can also be an excellent practice-building program.
Blood Component Transfusions
Advancements in transfusion medicine and blood component therapy have provided valuable treatment options for a variety of conditions. It is now common for veterinary practices to invest in the banking of blood components enabling quick response to patient needs. Component therapy is the higher standard of transfusion medicine, maximizing efficient use of a limited resource, and minimizing transfusion related complications. Blood components currently available to us, the function, indications, contraindications, and how to provide them will be covered.
B-Harmony: Are You the Right Type for Me?
Matching blood components to their patients is much like online dating… or is it? Blood component transfusions are regularly utilized as a method of treatment for various ailments, but come along with their risks. Blood typing, cross-matching, and other compatibility testing, combined with risk assessment and good component selection practices will minimize complications. In addition, the veterinary technician’s role in monitoring patients during and after transfusions is vital to successful therapy.
Principles of Radiation Safety
Many times we take for granted the ability to do something gratifying without the thought of our safety. You will not die from producing radiographs BUT our we thinking in terms of safety when we push the peddle down and hear the beep? The whys and why-nots lets hear them again.
Digital Radiography
Digital Radiology started with CR technology over 15 years ago. We have advanced to true DR now and it is being added to practices nationwide at an astounding rate. Well over 50% of the small animal and large animal clinics now use some form of Digital imaging which includes Dental Radiography. So what are the pros and what are the cons. We will discuss the 3 types and how they are standing up as we continue to improve our Diagnostic Imaging with digital.
Radiographic Special Procedures Part I & II
Beyond the basics in radiology is the need to do further imaging usually using some sort of contrast media. It is all about timing and techniques. We will cover doses and applications as well as timing. The first hour will be Gastro Intestinal and the second hour will cover urology.
Track 2
Saturday, June 29, 2013
ECG Interpretation Part I & II
ECG’s are an essential monitoring tool in small animal critical care. However, they are often tricky to understand and interpret. This two part lecture session will focus on the electrical conduction of the heart, the measurement of a lead II ECG, steps to interpreting an ECG, and will review common arrhythmias and a step-wise approach for analyzing and determining the type of arrhythmia for a Lead II ECG.
The Ins and Outs of Fluid Therapy
Fluid therapy can be an integral component to the management of the emergent or critically ill patient. This discussion will address obtaining and maintaining venous access and the development of the fluid therapy plan.
Nursing Management of the GDV Patient
Gastric dilatation - volvulus (GDV) syndrome is an acute medical and surgical condition. GDV has many local and systemic pathophysiologic effects. The purpose of this discussion is to provide an overview of the nursing management of this syndrome.
Physical Therapy for the Recumbent Patient
Whether your patient is recumbent due to a neurological disease or a medical condition, the importance of Physical Rehabilitation is the same. A “down dog†needs simple but very effective treatments to keep the joints and muscles healthy.
Rehabilitation Therapy for the Post Op Orthopedic Patient
Physical Rehabilitation is used to increase comfort, expedite recovery, and restore mobility. A wide range of modalities will be discussed that can be easily incorporated into your practice.
Introduction to Acupuncture
This session will provide a general overview of Acupuncture with regard to history, mechanisms of action, scientific evidence and veterinary applications. Clinical cases featuring dogs, cats and exotic animal pets will be presented
Feline Restraint and Behavior
Did you know that clients bring their cat to visit the veterinarian about half as often as their dog? This seminar will focus on ways to integrate cat friendly practices into your daily practice as well as demonstrate less stressful restraint methods you can implement to increase compliance and make the visit more positive.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Comprehensive CBC Review I
Assessment of anemia will be emphasized, including how to choose between red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit and PCV. Algorithms for diagnosing and interpreting regenerative and non-regenerative anemias will be discussed. Interpretation of changes will be always be related to bloodsmear findings, given that not all essential information can be provided by automated machines. We will also discuss simple ways to evaluate MCV, MCH and MCHC in the assessment of the erythrogram.
Comprehensive CBC Review II
Interpretation of the CBC continues with a review on white blood cell patterns and how to recognize differences between inflammation and stress. The importance of toxic change in leukocytes and the left shift will be emphasized. Interpretation of changes will be related to bloodsmear findings. Platelet changes will be reviewed, with an emphasis on increased and decreased counts.
In House Urinalysis - Techniques and Interpretations
Urine is a highly labile sample, and accurate assessment often relies on in-house procedures and interpretation. The first half of this lecture will describe techniques to create a comprehensive in-house urinalysis. The second half will then discuss interpretation of findings, including USG, dipstick results and identification of common crystals and cells under the microscope.
Cytology - Techniques and Approach to Common Samples
Fine needle aspirates are minimally invasive, cheap and have rapid turn around time – especially if reviewed in-house! Results however are highly dependent on sampling techniques and staining. In this lecture, learn how to optimally sample different tissues as well as prepare and stain your slides. An easy-to-follow guide to approaching interpretation of common samples will be described. Additionally, the appearance of common lesions and body fluids will be reviewed to practice using these guidelines.
Track 3
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Truth or Consequences in Behavior
Problem behaviors are emotionally, as well as financially, costly to veterinarians and their clients. By developing an understanding of these problems, veterinarians and their staff can incorporate simple, everyday things to retain clients and their pets and increase the well-being of everyone.
Preventing Common Behavior Problems in Dogs
Dental Radiology: A Critical Compent of Periodontal Treatment
Obtaining dental radiographs prior to periodontal treatment and other dental or oral surgical procedures is critical for understanding the oro-dental disorder and adequately formulating a treatment plan. Dental radiographs provide valuable information for several aspects of periodontal treatment. This lecture will discuss and exemplify the importance of dental radiography in veterinary dentistry and oral surgery.
Approach to the Oral Mass
Oral and maxillofacial masses may be of neoplastic or non-neoplastic origin. When present, these lesions may be pose a challenge and require a prompt and precise diagnosis in order to achieve adequate treatment plan and prognosis. This lecture is designed to provide an overview on oral masses, clinical staging and appropriate diagnostic modalities.
What Veterinary Technicians Should Know About Congestive Heart Failure
What Veterinary Technicians Should Know About Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
This lecture will cover the basic pathophysiology, clinical and diagnostic findings, disease complications and treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in cats. In particular, we will focus on how these features relate to in hospital management and patient monitoring. The lecture will include a review of cardiovascular echocardiographic and radiographic imaging, as well as important physical examination features of the disease.
Fleas - Aren't They Dead Yet?!
An overview of Flea Allergy Dermatitis, flea control products and why are fleas still such a problem?
Common Dermatologic Disorders and the Technicians Role in Dealing With Them
What the technician can do to assist in the diagnostic and treatment process of dermatologies 'big five.'
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting of the Anesthesia Machine Part I & II
These lectures will explain how anesthesia machines work, how to be sure they’re working properly, and how to determine what’s wrong if they aren’t working. Attendees will also learn about procedures or diseases that may require special types of anesthesia equipment, like MRI, CT, bronchoscopy, laser surgery, and respiratory infections.
Considerations in Anesthesia - Developing a Plan
This lecture will present a logical process of preparing individualized anesthetic management plans to make each anesthetic event as safe as possible.
Anesthetizing the Cardiovascular Compromised Patient
This lecture will provide practical and specific information on the anesthetic management of the cardiovascular compromised patient.
Anesthetizing the Respiratory Compromised Patient
This session will cover anesthetic and analgesic care of patients with respiratory disease or conditions. Discussion will focus on physiologic changes, airway management, support and monitoring of these patients and minimizing complications.
Anesthetizing the Neurologic Patient
This session will cover anesthetic and analgesic care of patients with common neurologic conditions. The discussion will focus on how these patients differ, what monitoring to use and how to interpret the findings, and how to avoid complications.
Anesthesia Case Presentations - What Would You Do? Part I & II
This two part lecture will be a fun and informative case based discussion tying the material together from the previous anesthesia lectures of the day. You will be presented with multiple anesthesia cases dealing with patients who present with respiratory, cardiac, and/or neurologic compromise. Audience participation is not required, but highly encouraged! This is your chance to ask/answer questions about anesthetic protocols, advanced monitoring equipment, and post-operative care of these difficult cases.
Workshops
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Suturing Workshop
In this session, participants will learn the basic principles of suturing, including creation of a secure knot, and mechanisms for reducing tissue trauma during suturing. Suture patterns to be covered include the simple interrupted, cruciate, mattress and continuous suture.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Clinical Pathology Workshop
In this hands-on laboratory, participants will be taught techniques for making and staining blood smears for review. After making and staining their own smears, the group will then create CBC data by reviewing their smears under the microscope. The results will then be discussed and a full interpretation performed of the CBC. Classic examples of bloodsmear findings such as spherocytes, nucleated red blood cells, neutrophil toxic change and more, will also be available to view on pre-set microscopes.
