Topic TBD

Reproduction and Conservation Programs at the Buffalo Zoo, Alice Rohauer, LVT

The presentation will discuss the different type of breeding programs followed by the zoo as well as the contraception methods that are used and why. Discuss breeding programs @ the zoo for endangered species by explaining the Species Survival Plan and Population Management Plan guidelines. The zoo’s Veterinary Department involvement with these programs regarding preparation and animal health issues to help make them a success.

The zoo’s involvement in conservation programs for the breeding and release of certain species. The Hellbender program the zoo is assisting in locally with egg collection, raising and releasing in the future.

Nutritional Management of Canine and Feline Osetoarthritis, Garnetta Santiago, MA, LVT

This presentation will examine the prevalence, contributing factors and pathophysiology of osteoarthritis in dogs and cats. We will examine the differences between the manifestations of arthritis in dogs versus cats and explore multi-modal approaches to managing the condition with an emphasis on nutritional management. After participating in this presentation, attendees will understand the factors contributing to the development of osteoarthritis; the “cycle” of arthritis and how it manifests in each species; how to identify specific behavioral changes in cats which can lead to diagnosis of osteoarthritis; and the differences in key nutritional factors for managing osteoarthritis in dogs and cats.

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Canine Rehabilitation, Jennifer Geary-Wolfe, LVT, CCRP

We will explain what rehabilitation entails, why it is advantageous to canines and the variety of physical ailments seen for rehabilitation. Also included will be a discussion of different modalities, manual interventions, therapeutic exercise and case studies. 

Orthopedics,Steve Mehler, DVM, DACVS; and Justin Greco, DVM, DACVS



Course description to come

Shelter Medicine and the Role of the Veterinary Technician, Janet Scarlett, DVM, PhD

Shelter medicine is a new and exciting discipline in veterinary medicine! The first formal didactic course was taught to veterinary students just a mere 10 years ago. Since that time well over half of the veterinary colleges now offer formal classroom instruction and many have teaching relationships with their local animal shelters. To meet the rising need for veterinarians skilled in shelter medicine, at least 2 veterinary colleges offer internship training and at least 4 offer residency training in shelter medicine for graduate veterinarians. Many shelters also employ veterinary technicians to meet the needs of the some 8-10 million animals that enter their doors annually. As knowledge spreads, (like at this conference) demand for veterinary technicians with knowledge of shelter medicine will also increase. 

Shelter medicine obviously shares many similarities to small animal veterinary medicine in general, but numerous differences have lead to the need for a new specialty. These include an emphasis on herd health (for small animals), shelter-specific protocols for high infectious disease risk environments, disease surveillance and population management strategies. While many shelters are still forced to euthanize some animals, many more are being saved compared to even eight or ten years ago. As shelters compete with pet stores, breeders and other sources of new pets, they must offer a healthy, happy animal for adoption. Therefore, the emphasis has turned to preventive medicine as well as palliative care. Historically, veterinarians and veterinary technicians have avoided shelter work because they feared being asked to euthanize large numbers of animals. Fortunately, many shelters now employ certified euthanasia technicians who carry much of the burden of euthanasia, freeing up animal professionals to focus on the behavioral and physical health of shelter animals.

CLOSED-Tour at Hidden Valley Animal Adventures: Wild Animal Park, Ruth Jorgensen, DVM

THIS SESSION HAS REACHED FULL CAPACITY AND IS CLOSED

Alternative and Complimentary Modalities in the Veterinary Practice, including Holistic Medicine and Acupuncture, Richard Mathes, DVM, CVA

In the course of a Veterinary Career, one will encounter frustrations with conventional modalities. Some animals don’t “read the book”. Others do but the book runs out of things to do. Alternative and Complimentary Medicine offers choices to Veterinarians, Vet Techs., Caretakers, and Animal Patients to improve the outcome of treatments and expand the repertoire of the treatment provider. Quite often, the frustrated veterinarian who seeks out answers in one alternative therapy will find himself drawn into a vortex of esoteric knowledge that results in an evolution of their belief system. For some things, a leap of faith is required until experience or science provides enough evidence. For others there is adequate science to explain effects and all that is required is a willingness to employ them. Ongoing research is, almost daily, discovering or rediscovering explanations for why therapies work or don’t in satisfaction of the “evidence based medicine” paradigm.

Veterinary Technicians are an integral part of the delivery of Alternative and Complimentary modalities. Skilled technicians are tasked with taking careful history – asking the “ten questions” of Traditional Chinese Medicine-but reveal their true value when they listen to the responses and hear what’s said “between the lines.” Careful awareness of what the client’s primary concern is and what the animal is actually the most troubled by helps the veterinary practitioner in formulating a treatment plan. Cheerful acceptance of the fact that clients say one thing to the tech and another to the vet is part of the game. Client education and the actual hands on application of techniques make the trained technician a key player in the team sport of providing veterinary care. In this exciting time of expanding awareness, Veterinary Technicians are invaluable in providing information to clients and caretakers seeking knowledge. Vet Techs help establish credibility and positive outcomes by relating their own experiences to the inquiring pet owner. From Acupuncture to sophisticated laser devices, various alternative modalities are discussed and shown in practical application on a variety of cases.

Behavior for Puppies, Adolescents and Seniors, Marsha Ritchie, LVT, CPDT, VTS-Behavior

The Very Best Behavior Advice for New Puppy Owners
What’s more exciting than adding a new puppy to the household? There is no other time dog owners are more receptive to doing what is best for their new family member. This makes it the ideal time to educate clients on being successful dog owners. Keeping this union flourishing and whole is of vital importance to the veterinary clinic. The consideration, scheduling and advice given to owners regarding their puppy can make or break the relationship. Technicians can play an important role by becoming well versed in housetraining, management, problem prevention and socialization of puppies. The proper behavior information plays a big part in determining if you will have an educated client for the life of the dog or a frustrated one who ultimately relinquishes their pet.

Behavioral Health for the Adolescent Dog
Canine adolescence is a trying time behaviorally, for dog owners. As a result of the frustration, many wonderful dogs are re-homed, turned into shelters or worse yet, euthanized. These dogs can slip away without professional guidance from veterinary staff resulting in the loss of a client. During this most difficult year, from approximately 6 to 18 months, there may not be any physical health reasons for a veterinary visit. Why not check in on these dogs and owners with a Behavior Health Consultation? Technicians can flex their counseling skills as they give advice for dealing with common adolescent behaviors.

Programs for Enriching Geriatric Patients Lives
Aged pets and their owners are faced with many behavior challenges. As these beloved family members decline, we want to do all we can to slow down some of the symptoms of aging and promote a good quality of life. One of the ways technicians can assist owners through this difficult time is to set up therapy/training programs in their hospitals to enrich this phase in a pet’s life. Geriatric programs will also serve to counsel owners on sensitive topic such as euthanasia and grief. Proper handling of this stage is vital to a continual of client relations.

Pain Management in the Emergency Patient, Sarah Pavlina, LVT, VTS

Course description to come

Financial Oversight and Pricing for the Busy Practice Manager, Bash Hollow, CVPM, LVT

In his lecture, Bash Halow, CVPM, LVT explains Key Performance Indicators, ratios of a practice’s financial health, in terms everyone can understand. He will also demonstrate how they can be placed in an easy-to-create spreadsheet that allows for fast review of a practice’s fiscal well-being. Mr. Halow teaches the basic principles behind pricing veterinary services and shows how you can create ideal pricing, specific to your practice, based on your expenses reflected in the Profit & Loss statement. Finally, Bash shows the benefits of a hospital-wide standard of care as an alternative to higher prices. He will argue for better training so that our team members not only explain services, but also identify client need and demonstrate empathy to win trust and secure relationships. By increasing the services we offer clients, Halow explains that we better our client and patient care systems, increase client and staff loyalty, and keep our prices at highly competitive levels. Halow will share the statistics of many practices during his lecture so that audience members can see how his concepts play out in practical terms. Attendees will also be supplied with a list of resources and tools they can take with them to further explore these concepts when they return to their practices.

CLOSED-Tour: Hidden Valley Animal Adventures: Calf Necropsy and Sample Collection, Ruth Jorgensen, DVM

A review of ruminant anatomy will be discussed followed by the demonstration of a standard on-farm necropsy procedure. Procedures for sample collection and their relevance to diagnosis of common calf diseases will also be discussed.  

THIS SESSION HAS REACHED FULL CAPACITY AND IS CLOSED

Animal Ethics, Susan Kopp, DVM

Technology, biomedical research, agriculture, and human development are impacting on the lives of animals in increasingly varied and new ways. New ethical questions concerning animals, their moral significance, and our responsibilities toward them are being raised. The first half of this session will highlight emerging issues in bioethics and the use of animals. The second part will offer a brief glance into two areas of public conversation: the debate around the ‘moral status’ of animals and the ethical importance of animal pain and distress.

Oncology, Joanne Intile, DVM, MS, DACVIM

Course description to come

Veterinary Technicians in Equine Practice, Erica Hutton, DVM
Equine practice differs significantly from Small animal practice, and the role of the technician is unique. For LVT students, this lecture will provide an overview of a technician’s job in a mid-size equine practice. Technicians’ responsibilities and required skills for services including reproduction, surgery/anesthesia, medical colic treatment, and others will be illustrated. Practice tips and time-savers will make the content useful for those already in practice.

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Equine Dentistry, Erica Hutton, DVM
The LVT in Equine Dental Practice: Equine dental anatomy and development will be reviewed, as well as relevant physiology. Components of a dental exam and routine maintenance will be illustrated. Common dental problems will be discussed in terms of their development, diagnosis, and treatment. The role of the technician in equine dental practice will be stressed throughout.

The Vet Tech’s Role in Animal Abuse and Cruelty, Jim Kirsch, LVT with a Humane Law Enforcement Officer

Course description to come

Would You Like to Be a Deputy Veterinary Diagnostic Detective (DVDD)?, Linda Mittel, MSPH, DVM, Belinda Thompson, DVM and Paul Virkler, BS, DVM

Learn how to assist in solving cases such as: “Winkles”,a Shar-pei  with a  long standing serious skin infection, CoCo , a sick cockatiel, listless, fluffed up, and sitting on his perch, and  Maude, a rescue greyhound that died in a  disease outbreak in a no-kill shelter in Need Help, Kansas.

Participate in hands on training for taking dermatological samples; performing an avian estimated WBC; and investigating the cause of Maude’s death by doing a “mock” necropsy, taking a history for the “case” and crime scene. Receive a DVDD certificate and lapel pin for recognition of your new skill sets from the Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University.