Ultrasonography is a complex discipline to master. How do you use vasculature as a “road map”? How do you reliably find the pancreas and adrenal glands? How do you get the opportunity to image the “normal” to identify the “abnormal”?

Feline emergencies are especially hard and stressful!!! Because cats are more fragile than dogs, they hide their signs and tend to present late, when they are hanging onto life by a thread. So, managing feline emergences is more of an art than a science, although it has a pathophysiological basis. The secret is often “less is more” – sedate them, let them get their cool in an oxygen cage, and get everything you need ready. Then support them along the diagnostic pathway and work out the best way to fix them. Point of care ultrasound has changed many of the classic approaches to emergency medicine in the cat. Drug recommendations have evolved and shifted and often times, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to management. So it’s timely the CVE revisits this topic in a dynamic 2-day program put together by Rachel Korman, Kath Briscoe and Lara Boland – three very experienced but accessible feline specialists. In addition, Ashlie Saffire (US-based feline specialist) will offer an international perspective; neurologist Stacey Brady will provide the latest in management of neurological presentations and Nick Cleland (surgeon) rounds out the program. This conference will suit people who already are doing emergency work who want to lift their game. In addition, we think one person from every general practice should do this course – to teach the rest of the team what’s new and what’s changed in the approach to the critical cat.

Dentistry is a significant part of companion animal practice – and it’s becoming more so. Do you have the skills to confidently approach the surgical management of dental disease? Can you perform the procedures needed with efficiency whilst minimising complications to your patient?