Pre-existing respiratory compromise and some conditions like the brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome can make airway management challenging in small animal anaesthesia. Increased vigilance following premedication and after tracheal extubation is required.  The first module aims to provide practitioners with the information needed to optimise preparation, equipment, time line and sequence of events during induction of anaesthesia and recovery in those cases. The second module focuses on anaesthetic safety of brachycephalic dogs and on the measures that can be implemented to reduce their risk of death.

There are numerous myths surrounding canine aggression. Many veterinarians do not feel confident providing advice to owners about an aggressive dog. Without appropriate advice, owners may seek help from the internet or other sources that may be unreliable or not evidence based. As a result, animal welfare can be severely compromised, and human and animal safety can be at risk.

Rabbits and rodents are becoming increasingly common pets in today’s society. These patients have a profound, innate ability to mask signs of disease. The consequence of this is that they frequently present in a critical condition and require emergency care. This ability to hide clinical illness, combined with their small size and susceptibility to significant stress, can make them challenging creatures to treat.   This course aims to introduce the veterinary clinician to the principles of assessment, triage and stabilisation of rabbit and rodent emergencies. The first module outlines physical exam and diagnostic testing in critical patients. The second module discusses clinical consequences encountered in critical patients and their appropriate management.   The ultimate goal of this course is to improve the knowledge and confidence of veterinarians when faced with rabbit and rodent emergencies and empower them to provide a higher level of care to these species.

Historically, domesticated ferrets were predominantly kept for hunting rabbits and rodents. Ferret ownership has changed considerably since their early days of domestication. Now, many households keep ferrets as much-loved pets and are considered cherished members of the family. With ferret ownership continuing to grow, this rising popularity and perceived value has naturally driven an increase in clients seeking high standards of veterinary care for these animals. As such, it is important for veterinarians to understand how to examine and provide care for ferrets and to be familiar with the common conditions encountered in ferrets, including diagnosis and management of such conditions.

Many veterinarians, when confronted with an avian patient, feel out of their depth and uncomfortable – perhaps feeling that their level of knowledge about these unique patients somehow makes them unqualified to approach them with confidence. This course aims to not only provide veterinary staff with the information they need to work up an avian patient, but also to help them realise that it is simply an extension of the principles they have already been taught (and use every day) in the assessment of patients of (more orthodox) species. This course is aimed at graduate veterinarians, veterinary nurses and technicians, and veterinary students.

The dermatology course focuses on optimal yet practical strategies to assess and better guide important diagnostics, and thus more targeted treatments, for routine skin and ear cases in general practice. Essential tests covered include tape impressions, ear canal cytology, bacterial and fungal cultures, and skin biopsies, with focus on knowing when and which tests are essential, good sampling techniques and accurate interpretation of results. Essential tools include a short list of the most likely differentials for common presentations, and key features that help distinguish between them. Collectively, this knowledge will help streamline case management, and provide more individual patient-orientated treatment plans. Course content is relevant to general practice veterinarians with multiple levels of skills and experience, with optional extensions including access to and brief synopsis of relevant publications, and extra cases or examples throughout. Diagnostic tests covered, particularly indications and techniques, is relevant to veterinary nurses.