By: Andrew Linklater, DVM, DACVECC

Description: Damage Control is a set of techniques which have developed over a few decades to help minimize mortality associated with hemorrhage, the leading cause of death in patients suffering trauma, accounting for 75% of mortality in human patients. Hemorrhage leads to the common triad of physiological changes which exacerbate patient stability and contribute to both morbidity and mortality: acidosis, hypothermia and hypotension. This lecture will review many aspects of Damage Control including medical (Damage Control Resuscitation, DCR) and surgical (Damage Control Surgery, DCS) techniques to help avoid ongoing blood loss and death in patients suffering from significant hemorrhage from trauma. DCR involves all attempts to avoid the lethal triad, including permissive hypotension, early administration of blood products, reduced crystalloid infusion, immediate hemorrhage control and correction hypothermia, acidosis and coagulopathy which all occur with hemorrhage and shock. Each of these will be reviewed in detail. The techniques to successfully perform DCS will also be reviewed. These involve a rapid, but short lived anesthetic and surgical event to arrest hemorrhage and minimize contamination, followed by a period of resuscitative efforts (medical management) to return the patient to a normal physiological state, and a second surgical procedure for definitive care is pushed at a later time. Alternative (conservative) methods for managing traumatic hemoabdomen patients will also be discussed.

By the end of the session, attendees will be able to:

1. Know how to rapidly assess a patient for life-threatening hemorrhage
2. Learn the concepts of damage control resuscitation for the hemorrhaging patient
3. Learn the concepts of damage control surgery
4. Know of alternative non-surgical techniques for patients with cavitary hemorrhage

Speaker Info: Dr. Linklater grew up in Canada and graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He completed a rotating internship in Los Angeles before moving on to residency at the Animal Emergency Center in Milwaukee. He became board certified by the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care in 2009. He worked at and was part owner of Lakeshore Veterinary Specialists in Wisconsin prior to acquisition by BluePearl. During his 20 year tenure in Wisconsin, he has served as Medical Director, Emergency Service head, Director of a certified Veterinary Trauma Center and Director of an Internship and Residency Program, where he has mentored more than 100 individuals. He has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed journal and textbook chapter publications, been the senior editor of two veterinary emergency textbooks, and has hundreds of lecture and lab instruction at a multitude of national and international conferences. In his hospitals, he instituted IPASS rounding, lead the Patient Safety Initiative, developed and instituted COVID, ER Service Pause, Antibiotic Stewardship, Critical anesthesia, Blood Banking, and Sustainability guidelines. He was a top-awarded veterinarian of the Veterinary Involvement Program at his previous hospital for three years. Recently, he has embarked on a new chapter, moving with his family to Colorado, and is excited to be the lead criticalist at Veterinary Specialists of the Rockies. Dr. Linklater’s professional interests include trauma, surgical emergencies, coagulpathies, respiratory intervention, and transfusion medicine; he is also a certified RECOVER instructor. On a personal note, he has run several marathons and half marathons, enjoys curling, outdoor activities such as hiking, and camping, traveling, and spending quality time with his wife and their pets. He is excited to participate in all the outdoor adventure that Colorado has to offer.

By: Stacy Meola, DVM, MS, DACVECC and Kelly Knudson, MD, FACS

Description: This session will be presented by a critical care veterinarian and a human general and trauma surgeon. We will discuss how to diagnose a pneumoperitoneum on radiographs and CT. The lecture will work through an algorithm to determine if surgery or medical management is appropriate and what the common medical management would be in humans and animals. When appropriate we will compare the differences between the causes and treatments in humans and companion animals.

By the end of the session, attendees will be able to:

1. Participants will have a great understanding of the causes of pneumoperitoneum
2. Participants will learn how to determine which cases should go to surgery and which cases medical management can be considered.
3. Participants will learn some of the trick for diagnosing a pneumoperitoneum on different imaging modalities

Speaker Info: Dr. Stacy Meola attended the University of Utah and received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Chemistry, and her Master’s degree in Medical Laboratory Science. While in Utah, she spent six years conducting research on artificial hearts and other biomedical devices. Dr. Meola earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at Colorado State University in 2006 and accepted the internship at Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital. After completing this program in June 2007, Dr. Meola was selected to stay on for a surgical internship. She completed her residency in Emergency and Critical Care at Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital and became board-certified in Emergency and Critical Care in 2012. She accepted the position of Associate Medical Director for Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital in 2016. Presentation Title: Management of Pneumoperitoneum This session will be presented by a critical care veterinarian and a human general and trauma surgeon. We will discuss how to diagnose a pneumoperitoneum on radiographs and CT. The lecture will work through an algorithm to determine if surgery or medical management is appropriate and what the common medical management would be in humans and animals. When appropriate we will compare the differences between the causes and treatments in humans and companion animals.

Dr. Knudson received her medical degree from University of Colorado School of Medicine where she was active in AOA, the medical honor society. She is board certified in general surgery. She completed a five-year surgical residency at University of Colorado and joined Exempla Healthcare in 2008. Dr. Knudson has served as Chair of the Performance Excellence Quality Committee, Surgery Department Chair and finally as Chief of Staff for the Medical Staff at Good Samaritan Medical Center 2018-2020. She has also served as Medical Director for Specialty Care and General Surgery for SCL Health now Intermountain Healthcare.

By: Elke Rudloff, DVM, DACVECC & Elizabeth Rozanski, DVM, DACVIM, DACVECC

Description: Ever wonder about what it is about Yorkies? We have too! Dr. Rozanski and Dr. Rudloff are going to talk about when cuterebra, collapsing tracheas, PSS and carotid arteries make the Yorkie go bad. This interactive case discussion will identify and discuss some unique factors that we see with this terror breed.

By the end of the session, attendees will be able to:

1. Highlight unique features the Yorkie breed may have
2. Review pathophysiology and the Yorkie breed
3. Discuss case management of certain emergent situations in the Yorkie

Speaker Info: Dr. Rudloff worked as a specialist in emergency and critical are for over 30 years and is now exploring the end-of-life care space for BluePearl Pet Hospice. Dr. Rozanski is a specialist in emergency and critical care on faculty member at Tufts University.

By: Beth Davidow, DVM, DACVECC

Description: We know that overuse of antibiotics can lead to resistance. We also know that not using the right antibiotics fast enough can increase mortality in septic patients. How do we then problem solve when to go fast and when to go slow? How do we choose antibiotics with different types of cases? This presentation will give concrete ideas on initial patient assessment, evidence based choices for different disease, and diagnostics that can help with antibiotic choice.

By the end of the session, attendees will be able to:

1. Understand which patient presentations indicate that antibiotics should be given as rapidly as possible.
2. Become familiar with the ISCAID antibiotic guidelines for urinary, respiratory, and skin diseases.
3. Describe the evidence for and against using antibiotics in patients with diarrhea.

Speaker Info: Dr. Davidow is one of the co-founders of Timberline Veterinary Emergency and Specialty in Seattle, WA. She has previously been on faculty at Washington State University, is past president of ACVECC, and has been one of the Emergency medicine consultants for VIN since 2002. When she has time, she writes the blog, The Veterinary Idealist.

By: Robert Swinger, DVM, DACVO

Description: One of the most challenging aspects of veterinary ophthalmology is dealing with emergencies. This includes how to perform emergency procedures, what drugs to have in your hospital for these cases, and how and when to refer to an ophthalmologist. This session will review common emergency management of cases, including melting/deep corneal ulcers, proptosed globes, hyphema, and acute glaucoma. This session will help you understand the long-term prognosis following these emergencies and what information needs to be relayed to owners as therapy is initiated.

By the end of the session, attendees will be able to:

1. Understand how to triage emergency patients and initiate therapy appropriately
2. Improve confidence and skill when treating ocular emergencies
3. Review common surgical procedures, including enucleations and reduction of proptosis

Speaker Info: Dr. Robert Swinger completed his undergraduate work and received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Illinois in 2003. After completing an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Veterinary Specialists of South Florida in 2004, he went on to complete both an ophthalmology internship and residency at the Animal Eye Specialty Clinic. Soon thereafter, he joined the VCA Aurora Animal Hospital before returning to Florida in 2011 to launch Animal Eye Guys. Animal Eye Guys has several locations across South Florida extending on the east coast from Miami to Coral Springs and on the west coast from Fort Myers to Naples. Dr. Swinger is board certified and a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. In his work environment, Dr. Swinger enjoys teaching and taking active roles in the clinic’s internship/residency programs. He is an active lecturer/wet lab instructor across the nation including the Florida Veterinary Medical Association, The Gulf Atlantic Veterinary Conference, AVMA, Vet Vacation CE and many local events for his referring veterinary community. He currently serves on the Florida Veterinary Medical Association’s Executive Board and is a member of the Wedgewood Medical Advisory Board. Outside of the veterinary arena, Dr. Swinger enjoys spending time with his family (which includes his twins, Keegan and Francesca, and a toy poodle, Sophia) and enjoys the outdoors.

By: Serge Chalhoub DVM, DACVIM (SAIM) & Søren Boysen DVM, DACVECC

Description: A feline patient presents with acute onset of vomiting, anorexia, and decreased activity. Initial evaluation identifies severe azotemia. Oh no!!!!!! Is it the kidney’s fault (the criticalist thinks so), or is the problem pre- or post-renal in origin (the internist likes to consider everything and everything and everything)? Is the patient producing urine? Can a non-specialist veterinarian diagnose renal pelvic dilation with a degree of accuracy? Point-of-care ultrasound can help answer all the right questions. In this highly entertaining and banter-filled educational webinar, the dynamic duo will demonstrate how easy it is to get accurate, reliable information so you can manage your patients more effectively. Award winning speakers and lecturers Drs. Boysen and Chalhoub will tackle these questions and more. With over 30 published POCUS research papers and book chapters, Drs. Boysen and Chalhoub are now co-editors of their newest veterinary POCUS textbook: “The Essentials of Veterinary Point of Care Ultrasound: Pleural Space and Lung.”

By the end of the session, attendees will be able to:

1. Define acute kidney injury.
2. Know the 3 main differentials for AKI in cats.
3. Understand possible therapeutic decisions based on AKI etiology.

Speaker Info: Dr. Chalhoub graduated from the DVM program at the Faculté de médecine vétérinaire (FMV) of the Université de Montréal in 2004. Serge followed this with a one-year rotating small animal clinical internship at the same institution. After working for two years as a general practitioner and emergency veterinarian in Montreal, Serge pursued a residency in small animal internal medicine at the Animal Medical Center (AMC) in New York City. Once his residency completed in 2009 he stayed on at the AMC as their first renal/hemodialysis fellow and then as a staff doctor.

Dr. Chalhoub has been a faculty member at the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) since 2012 and currently holds the rank of Associate Professor (Teaching). He was the recipient of the 2021 and 2013 Canadian Veterinary Medical Association’s Teacher of the Year Award, the 2015 University of Calgary Team Teacher of the Year Award, the 2017 Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teacher Award, and is a 2024 3M National Teaching Fellowship recipient recognizing Canada’s outstanding teachers.

Serge is the coordinator of a community outreach-service learning program (UCVM-CUPS Pet Health Clinic) for disadvantaged Calgarians. He has authored and co-authored numerous scientific articles and book chapters on veterinary point of care ultrasound, renal and urinary medicine, and lectures around the world on these topics. Drs. Chalhoub, Søren Boysen and Kris Gommeren published The Essentials of Veterinary Point of Care Ultrasound: Pleural Space and Lung in 2022 (available on amazon.com or Edra Publishing). He is a member of the National Issues Committee (NIC) of the CVMA and a Council Member for the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association.

Dr. Søren Boysen is a distinguished veterinarian specializing in emergency and critical care. He earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from the University of Saskatchewan in 1996, followed by a small animal internship at the Atlantic Veterinary College and a residency at Tufts University. In 2003, he became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. Dr. Boysen has held significant academic positions, including serving as Chief of Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care at the University of Montreal and currently as a Full Professor at the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. His research focuses on hemorrhage, coagulation, perfusion, and point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), for which he has received prestigious awards, including the Jack Mara Scientific Achievement Award for “Advances in Point of Care Ultrasound.” As a co-founder of the veterinary emergency and critical ultrasound (VECCUS) working group, steering member of the veterinary POCUS consensus group, and co-lead on the POCUS in CPR RECOVER guidelines, he is a global leader in advancing veterinary POCUS. An internationally recognized speaker, Dr. Boysen is celebrated for his contributions to veterinary education and research.

By: Jenny Groover, DVM, DACVECC, NRAEMT

Description: We all see those terrible wounds that we know will cost thousands to manage but owners cannot afford. In the patient that is systemically stable, these terrible wounds don’t have to be a death sentence. This presentation will go through photos of several case examples showing how to manage severe wounds on a budget. We will discuss strategies for managing bite, burn, surgical, snake bite, and road rash wounds. Hydrotherapy, cheap topical ointments, modified bandaging, and modified drains will be covered.

By the end of the session, attendees will be able to:

1. Understand which types of patients are candidates for attempting less ideal wound care
2. Learn cheap therapy options and how they may affect the healing timeline
3. Learn how to maximize secondary intention wound healing in different types of wounds

Speaker Info: Dr. Groover graduated from Rice University in 2013, majoring in Kinesiology as well as Biological Sciences and concurrently worked as a Nationally Registered Advanced EMT. She obtained her DVM from University of Florida in 2017, completed a rotating internship at Michigan State University, and then completed an ECC residency at University of Florida in 2021. After becoming a Diplomate of ACVECC in 2021, she started an ECC service at Fetch Specialty & Emergency Veterinary Centers in Brandon, Florida. Her service offers extracorporeal therapies such as therapeutic plasma exchange and dialysis as well as mechanical ventilation. Her interests include ultrasonography, toxicity management, acute kidney injury, and ventilation. In her spare time, Dr. Groover loves swimming with her Jack Russel Terrier, playing board games with her friends, kayaking, skiing, and scuba-diving.

By: Charmonie Baugh, LVT

Description: When patients need critical care nursing, using Kirby’s Rule of 20, is a daily check list for nurses to evaluate vital parameters to ensure quality patient care is being implemented and provided. This checklist provides a reference for nurses to develop critical thinking skills based on patient observations and assessments and to consider the whole patient, not just individual systemic issues.

By the end of the session, attendees will be able to:

1. Improving patient outcomes by using a structured approach for managing critical care patients.
2. Enhancing critical thinking skills in veterinary nurses by promoting a proactive approach.
3. Establishing standards of care for critically ill patients.

Speaker Info: As a Regional Trainer for Thrive Pet Healthcare, I focus on developing tailored training programs that meet the specific needs of different teams and hospitals. I emphasize interactive learning with practical applications to ensure participants can implement new skills effectively. Previously, I have over 6 years of experience as an Associate Clinical Specialist III at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine Anesthesia Department, where I provided anesthesia services and education for a variety of animal species and procedures. Additionally, I was employed as a Lead Surgery Technician at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital for 17 years providing anesthetic and surgical nursing care for the surgery, cardiology, neurology, internal medicine, emergency, and exotics services. I also have a passion for public health, and I am pursing a Bachelor of Science in Public Health at LSU Health Science Center with an anticipated graduation of May 2025.

By: Zenithson Ng DVM MS DABVP (Canine/Feline)

Description: Veterinarians are arguably the professionals who are most attuned to the human-animal bond and all that it has to offer. If the universally touted benefits of human-animal interactions hold true, then why do veterinarians who interact with animals everyday, suffer from mental health conditions that even the human-animal bond cannot cure? Practical strategies and future research directions for utilizing the human-animal bond to improve the lives and welfare of both veterinarians and animals alike will be explored.

By the end of the session, attendees will be able to:

1. To examine the current statistics on the mental health and wellbeing of veterinarians.
2. To describe the difference in perspectives and benefits of the human animal bond between veterinarians and the general population.
3. To identify effective tools and resources leveraging the human-animal bond to yield
   benefits for veterinarians.

Speaker Info: Zenithson Ng is a clinical associate professor of small animal primary care at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine and associate director of human-animal interaction research for the Center for Veterinary Social Work. He received his DVM from Cornell University; then completed an internship at the ASPCA, and an ABVP canine/feline residency combined with a master’s degree in human-animal bond studies at Virginia Tech. His clinical interests include behavior, dentistry, preventive medicine, and management of chronic disease. His research and teaching interests span all aspects of the human-animal bond, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and stress reduction in both veterinary and animal-assisted intervention settings.

By: Annie Wayne DVM, MPH, DACVECC

Description: Mentorship is defined as experienced team members guiding and supporting colleagues in both personal and professional development. Healthy mentorship relationships are reciprocal with mentees taking initiative to seek input to improve their competency. Although the cultivation of growth is focused on the mentee, growth, engagement, and connection enrich the lives of mentors as well. Mentorship improves mental health, connection, engagement, and retention, for both mentors and mentees. Mentoring is a different skillset than being a good clinician, and these skills come more naturally to some, being a good mentor requires learning and honing specific knowledge. This talk will be focused on how experts know what they know, introducing the ideas detailed in the social science of naturalistic decision making, and providing some specific skills that can be used in a clinical teaching setting. These concepts are useful for both mentors and mentees to maximize the effectiveness of their mentorship relationship.

By the end of the session, attendees will be able to:

1. Introduce the basic concepts of Naturalistic Decision Making
2. Describe how Naturalistic Decision Making can apply to teaching and learning in veterinary medicine with ER mentorship as the use case
3. Learn some tools to begin applying concepts to clinical teaching

Speaker Info: Annie Wayne is a veterinary criticalist who currently supports entry level emergency training programs for the Ethos Veterinary Health network. She attended the Cummings Veterinary School and completed a dual degree program to earn her Masters in Public Health and Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Wayne went on to complete a small animal rotating internship and residency in Emergency and Critical Care at Angell Animal Medical Center. Following training, Dr. Wayne joined the faculty at Tufts. In her time there, her research embraced the One Health concept and focused on antimicrobial stewardship. She also published on the intersection of family planning and veterinary professionalism. Her research and work on the Women’s Veterinary Leadership Development Initiative (WVLDI) board worked to promote equity and inclusion in veterinary medicine. In 2021, she joined Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital with Ethos Veterinary Health and was charged with starting an ER training program. In 2023, she moved into her current role supporting ER training programs nationally for Ethos Veterinary Health. Outside of veterinary medicine, she loves being active outdoors and stays busy raising 3 young children and 2 dogs, with her husband in Needham, MA.

By: Armi Pigott DVM, DACVECC

Description: Effective communication and leadership are essential to high-performing veterinary teams, especially in fast-paced or high-risk clinical environments. This session will explore practical strategies for enhancing team function through structured communication tools, including handoffs, briefings, debriefings, and status updates. Participants will examine how deliberate leadership behaviors—such as proactive planning and real-time coordination—support shared understanding and situational awareness. Real-world examples from veterinary settings will be used to demonstrate how these tools can be integrated into daily practice to improve efficiency, safety, and patient care.

By the end of the session, attendees will be able to:

1. Apply common communication tools used to improve team function in high-risk clinical environments, and describe their role in maintaining shared understanding among team members.
2. Explain how structured leadership behaviors—such as proactive planning, real-time coordination, and post-event reflection—can improve team performance under pressure.
3. Describe how structured tools such as handoffs, briefings, and status updates support task prioritization and coordination within a clinical team.

Speaker Info: Dr. Armi Pigott is a native of Corpus Christi, Tx. He graduated with his DVM from Western University of Health Sciences in 2009, then completed a rotating internship at Pet Emergency Clinics in Ventura, CA in 2010. He went on to residency in Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine at Animal Emergency Center in Milwaukee, WI and became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care in 2014. Following residency, he worked as a criticalist in private practice in Milwaukee where he co-managed the Emergency and Critical Care Internship and Residency programs. From 2022-2024, Dr. Pigott completed the Emergency and Critical Care Simulation Teaching Fellowship at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and subsequently stayed on as faculty where he splits his time teaching in the hospital’s ER/ICU units and in the simulation lab. He is currently serving as the President-Elect of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society. Dr. Pigott’s research interests include cardiopulmonary resuscitation, sepsis and shock resuscitation, and post-graduate educational program development. When he is not working, he enjoys spending time outdoors with his pack of noisy dogs and pretending to be a farmer.

By: Steven Epstein, DVM DACVECC

Description: This session focuses on how to critically evaluate literature and core concepts of data analysis using previously published papers as examples.

By the end of the session, attendees will be able to:

1. Understand basic principles of hypothesis testing.
2. Recall and apply how to use sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values.
3. Understand how study design can affect interpretation of results.

Speaker Info: Dr. Steven Epstein attended University of California at Davis for his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. He then went on to complete an internship in anesthesiology at Kansas State University and then completed a three-year residency in veterinary emergency and critical care at UC Davis. Dr. Epstein is now Professor of Clinical Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care and his research interests include cardiopulmonary resuscitation and antimicrobial resistance patterns in the emergency room.

By: Elizabeth Pearlman, DVM

Description: In nearly every veterinary setting, professionals encounter signs of possible animal cruelty or neglect, particularly in emergency medicine. This one-hour session is designed to lay the foundation to empower veterinary professionals to confidently identify, assess, and respond to suspected cases of animal cruelty. Through a combination of case reviews and foundational training in veterinary forensics, participants will begin to gain knowledge and skills necessary to handle these potentially sensitive situations.

By the end of the session, attendees will be able to:

1. Summarize the veterinarian’s role in veterinary medicolegal investigations and explain how this differs from the role of law enforcement and the judicial system.
2. Describe and assess how to appropriately document a forensic exam of a live animal and summarize the legal considerations relative to collecting evidence.
3. Recognize and describe the LINK between domestic violence and animal abuse.

Speaker Info: Dr. Elizabeth Pearlman is a forensic veterinarian at the ASPCA’s Veterinary Forensic Science Center in Gainesville, FL. She holds a B.S. in Biology and a Master’s degree in Veterinary Forensic Sciences, along with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from Purdue University. Dr. Pearlman has a diverse background including emergency medicine, private practice, and shelter medicine. In 2018, she joined the ASPCA full-time as a forensic veterinarian, where she assists law enforcement agencies across the nation. Her expertise in the identification, documentation, and collection of forensic evidence from crime scenes, as well as from live and deceased animals is recognized at the local, state, and federal level. Outside of work, Dr. Pearlman is passionate about providing pet therapy, partnering with her 5-pound floof, The Lentil Bean. She also enjoys sport work with her Malinois. When not in the field, she indulges in one of her favorite pastimes—eating cake, a sweet treat that adds balance to her busy life.

By: Lisa L. Powell, DVM, DACVECC

Description: Case studies involving respiratory topics that have been published in 2024-25 will be critically evaluated, reviewed, and presented for discussion.

By the end of the session, attendees will be able to:

1. To present recent studies that have been published related to veterinary respiratory medicine.
2. To critically evaluate these studies that relate to respiratory medicine and discuss the impacts to current
   medical practice.
3. To present a structured method of critically evaluating published veterinary studies.

Speaker Info: Dr. Lisa Powell graduated veterinary school from Texas A&M in 1995, completed a small animal rotating internship at the AMC in NYC in 1996, and then went on to a residency in small animal emergency and critical care at Tufts University, finishing in 1999. She became board certified in Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care in 2000. Following residency, Dr. Powell joined the faculty at the University of Minnesota where she worked as a clinical professor for 15 years. She is an author of more than 30 veterinary journal articles, book chapters, and authored a book entitled “Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care: Case Studies in Client Communication, Morbidity and Mortality”. Dr. Powell is a national and international speaker on all things emergency and critical care! She is currently a Manager of Telehealth and ER development, program manager for emERge, and an associate critical care clinician at BluePearl Veterinary Partners. Her clinical interests include cardiopulmonary disease, high flow oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, ER POCUS, and innovative clinical teaching methods.

By: Krista Keller, DVM, Dipl ACZM

Description: In this 50 minute lecture, the most common 3 emergency presentations of ferrets will be reviewed. The lecture will focus on pattern recognition of the presenting features of insulinoma, lower urinary obstruction and gastrointestinal obstruction. Sound diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to each presentation will be reviewed.

By the end of the session, attendees will be able to:

1. Recognize the presentation of ferrets presenting the top three emergency presentation.
2. Order and interpret diagnostics to diagnose ferrets with the top three emergency presentations.
3. Prescribe treatments and therapies to treat ferrets with the top three emergency presentations.

Speaker Info: Dr. Keller is associate professor of clinical zoological companion animal medicine and surgery at UC Davis. In this position she treats exotic animals, teaches the next generation of veterinarians and veterinary specialists in zoological medicine and performs research.

By: Rachel Halpin, DVM, Diplomate ACVECC

Description: This presentation will provide a practical overview of the diagnosis and management of electrical injuries in dogs and cats. From common presentations involving chewed electrical cords to less frequent but severe high-voltage injuries, we will explore the spectrum of clinical signs. Emphasis will be placed on identifying both external trauma and the often-insidious internal damage, with a particular focus on non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema. The primary focus will be on providing practical, actionable information to guide veterinarians in the successful treatment and management of these challenging cases.

By the end of the session, attendees will be able to:

1. Understand the pathophysiology of electrical shock and electrocution
2. Learn how to identify signs of electric shock and when it should be considered as a differential
3. Gain confidence in management of injuries secondary to electric shock, including oral ulceration and non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema

Speaker Info: Dr. Rachel Halpin earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Missouri in 2011. Following an internship at Angell Animal Medical Center and a residency in Emergency and Critical Care at the University of Missouri, she achieved board certification in 2015. Dr. Halpin has since spent her career in private practice, including several years as Medical Director, and thrives in the dynamic environment of emergency and critical care medicine. She is passionate about clinical excellence, client partnership, and education, serving as the director of multiple emergency clinician training programs. Dr. Halpin now contributes to the advancement of veterinary medicine through her role at Instinct Science, where she develops and updates Standards of Care guidance, in addition to continuing to practice part-time.

By: Chris McLaughlin, DVM, DACVECC, DACVIM (Cardiology)

Description: This lecture will focus on the most common tachyarrhythmias seen in emergent patients (including ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias) and discuss a practical diagnostic approach to patients presenting for tachyarrhythmia. Differentiating ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias will be covered before discussion about specific management strategies for tachyarrhythmia. Areas of focus will include what to do when lidocaine doesn’t work for ventricular tachycardia, as well as management of ventricular tachyarrhythmias in cats.

By the end of the session, attendees will be able to:

1. Learn to distinguish ventricular from supraventricular tachyarrhythmias
2. Learn the recommended diagnostic workup for tachyarrhythmias
3. Learn about common antiarrhythmic medications used in the veterinary ER

Speaker Info: Dr. Chris McLaughlin is originally from Woodstock, New Brunswick, Canada. After earning a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Atlantic Veterinary College, Dr. McLaughlin completed an internship at the Ontario Veterinary College. In 2016, he completed a residency in Emergency and Critical Care at North Carolina State University before relocating to South Florida to practice at two large referral hospitals. During his time as Director of Emergency and Critical Care, Dr. McLaughlin developed a strong interest in minimally invasive interventional procedures. This passion led him to pursue a second residency in Cardiology at North Carolina State University, which he completed in July 2023. Dr. McLaughlin is deeply passionate about practicing Cardiology, particularly interventional procedures, and has extensive experience managing a wide range of congenital and acquired heart defects. He finds it incredibly rewarding to intervene in puppies and kittens with heart disease and help them live long, healthy lives. With his background in Emergency and Critical Care medicine, Dr. McLaughlin also excels in the inpatient management of critically ill and complex cardiopulmonary cases, including heart failure and arrhythmias. Above all, he finds great fulfillment in building lasting relationships with clients, their pets, and their family veterinarians while managing chronic heart disease.

By: Andrew Linklater, DVM, DACVECC

Description: Feline lower urinary tract obstruction is a common emergency requiring rapid stabilization and evidence-based decision-making. Emergency clinicians must address pain control, correct life-threatening hyperkalemia and acid–base disturbances, select appropriate balanced crystalloids, and anticipate post-obstructive diuresis with frequent reassessment of fluid needs. Atraumatic obstruction relief is essential, beginning with adequate sedation and analgesia, placement soft indwelling catheters of appropriate size and duration. Current literature highlights that balanced fluids are preferred over saline, extended catheterization may reduce recurrence in some cases, and antispasmodics such as prazosin are ineffective and potentially harmful in preventing re-obstruction. Continued monitoring, tailored analgesia, and avoidance of unnecessary antibiotics help minimize complications and recurrence, supporting optimal outcomes in the ER setting.

By the end of the session, attendees will be able to:

1. Rapidly evaluate and stabilize cats with lower urinary tract obstruction by prioritizing analgesia, correction of life-threatening electrolyte and acid–base disturbances, and evidence-based fluid therapy.
2. Execute efficient, atraumatic obstruction relief and post-obstructive management, including appropriate catheter selection, placement technique, and monitoring for post-obstructive diuresis.
3. Implement strategies to minimize complications and recurrence in the ER setting, using current evidence on catheter duration, analgesic protocols, and avoidance of ineffective or contraindicated medications.

Speaker Info: Dr. Linklater grew up and graduated veterinary school in Canada, he moved to the U.S. to complete his advanced training, and became a Diplomate of ACVECC in 2009. He has been the lead of the Emergency department at a multispecialty hospital for more than 20 years in Wisconsin, mentoring more than 100 interns and residents, serving in such roles as Medical Director, Director of an ER internship and residency program and Director of a VECCS-certified and VetCOT-certified trauma center. He has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications including two veterinary textbooks, and has provided hundreds of lecture hours at national and international conferences. Recently, he has moved to Colorado to join Veterinary Specialists of the Rockies. His professional interests include trauma, surgery, coagulopathies and transfusions. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, skiing, curling, biking, hiking and spending time with his family.

PLEASE NOTE THIS VECCS x VIN WEBINAR DOES NOT OFFER RACE CERTIFIED CE!

By: Kelly Lynn Cronin, MBA, VTS(ECC), CVT, LVT

Description: This session will cover the basics of finance, including saving, debt repayment, investing, and investment vehicles. It will also shed light on budgeting and how to best leverage pay, regardless of income level. Taxation and the importance of emergency funds and how to establish them will be discussed.

The session will address how to identify the best opportunities, compare them in an apples-to-apples manner, ask for additional income, and review initial offers and contracts while understanding different types of compensation. We will also discuss which compensation components are most important for each candidate, review negotiation techniques, and conclude with preparation for retirement.

By the end of the session, attendees will be able to:

1. Understand budgeting and create a budgeting plan
2. Discuss investment vehicles
3. Discuss pay negotiations and offer comparisons

Speaker Info: Kelly Cronin started volunteering in veterinary medicine. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin, Madison with a BS in Animal Sciences, she became licensed as a veterinary technician in Alaska in 2001(inactive license), New Mexico in 2006 (inactive license), Wisconsin in 2016, and Virginia in 2025. Kelly became Certified as a Professional in Human Resources in 2010 (inactive), completing her Master of Business Administration from Mississippi State University in 2012, and became a Veterinary Technician Specialist in Emergency and Critical Care in 2013. Kelly wrote and published “In the Middle”, a book for veterinary technicians in management. She is a national and international speaker presenting leadership, management, and emergency and critical care medicine. She is the CEO of Success Strategies Veterinary Consulting and Chief Advancement Officer at the helm of VetTechLife. Previously, she was the Director of Denovo Operations for the Mission Veterinary Partners and VP of Operations for Partner Specialty and Emergency Hospitals. She is currently Senior Account Executive for Teem Veterinary Scribes. Kelly is an organizer of the VetTechLife CE on the Sea events, which is now planning for its 7th sailing. She offers short courses online in management, technical topics, marketing, presenting, resume review, professional growth, and financial fitness through Success Strategies University.

By: Michelle Lake, AAS, CVT, VTS(ECC)

Description: This session will discuss how to help wild animals presenting to your facility and how to address some of the emergency or critical cases that can be seen. There is some common ground with veterinary care in wild animals and companion animals, but also, a lot of differences because these animals do not have a client paying for their veterinary care.

By the end of the session, attendees will be able to:

1. We will discuss the importance of client communication. Many animals do not have to be admitted if we do appropriate phone triage.
2. Participants will learn emergency and critical care techniques we use on wild animals.
3. Participants will leave with emergency and ICU techniques you can use to help the animals without breaking the bank.
4. Participants will also leave the session with valuable resources for continued training and support.

Speaker Info: Michelle has been a Certified Veterinary Technician for over twenty-five years. She has worked and volunteered in a variety of areas within the veterinary field. She received her VTS specialty certification in emergency and critical care in 2006. Michelle is also a Federally and State permitted Master Wildlife Rehabilitator. Knowing her journey early on, she has volunteered and worked with wildlife throughout her entire career. In 2014, Michelle received the 501c3 status for a small not-for-profit organization she started in December of 2011. The Wildlife Intensive & Critical Care Unit (WICCU) combines her wildlife skills and veterinary technician skills to help the injured and orphaned wildlife. These days you will find Michelle devoting most of her time helping the wildlife as well as running the nonprofit organization. She is also involved in doing wildlife rescues, education events for a variety of communities and teaching online courses as well as volunteering for other organizations and her church. She loves working part-time at a garden center and hanging out with her husband and their furry and feathered family.

By: Cory Woliver, DVM

Description: This lecture will go into the basics of treating snake envenomations in dogs and cats. We will discuss the pathophysiology of snake bites, proper management, pain control, and some dos and don’ts. We will also discuss some of the current literature on treating snake bites.

By the end of the session, attendees will be able to:

1. Learn indications for antivenom and the different types available.
2. Discuss snakebite contraindications.
3. Determine when a patient is a mild, moderate, or severe bite and how to manage these.

Speaker Info: Dr. Cory Woliver is a veterinarian practicing as a Clinical Lecturer in Emergency and Critical Care at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. He earned his BS in biology at SUNY Stony Brook and his DVM at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. During his 18-month emergency and critical care-focused internship at Colorado State University, he treated a large number of snake envenomations. He has also earned a certificate in hemodialysis through the University of California – Davis. After his postgraduate training, Dr. Woliver spent several years in private practice in New York before coming to the University of Florida in 2019. His clinical interests include snakebites (especially coral snake envenomations), acute kidney injuries, and extracorporeal therapies.

By: Heather Carter, MPS, LVT, VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia)

Description: Lateral violence and bullying are well documented in the veterinary profession. The presence of lateral bullying negatively impacts team member morale, mental health, and even patient outcomes. Lateral violence and bullying are the overt or covert behaviors that aim to humiliate or shame a peer. Vertical violence (e.g., doctor to technician or supervisor to veterinary assistant) is also a frequently cited dynamic that has similar deleterious effects as lateral violence. This presentation will discuss the origins, statistics, and resolutions to bullying behaviors.

By the end of the session, attendees will be able to:

1. Learn the origins of bullying behavior.
2. 2.Understand how to navigate bullies as a technician, veterinary assistant, or client service representative.
3. Understand how to navigate bullies as a manager or veterinarian.
4. Understand the role of psychological safety in preventing bullying.
5. Recognize the impact lateral violence and bullying has on morale, retention, and patient outcomes.

Speaker Info: Heather obtained a master’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology after recognizing a need for infrastructure in veterinary medicine. This evidence-based discipline studies human behavior in the workplace and Heather has used this training to support her community by instilling solutions that keep all team members safe and engaged in their roles. A primary focus of her work is preventing or eliminating lateral violence and bullying from the veterinary landscape. She also holds a veterinary technician specialty (VTS) in anesthesia and analgesia. Heather obtained this specialty 15 years ago and another focus of her role as vice president of people & culture is ensuring technicians have all the tools necessary to advocate for their patients and themselves in anesthetic environment. Lastly, she is a devoted Washington Capitals fan, and she is delusional enough to think they will win the Stanley Cup again in her lifetime.

By: Edward Cooper, VMD, MS, DACVECC

Description: This session will provide a general overview of how to approach fluid therapy, with consideration of the different fluid types, their potential applications, and adverse effects. In addition, the session will cover approaches to the different phases of fluid therapy – resuscitation, replacement and maintenance. Clinical examples of fluid calculations will also be covered.

By the end of the session, attendees will be able to:

1. Understand the properties of different IV fluids and how they impact application.
2. Be able to develop a fluid resuscitation plan for a patient in shock.
3. Be able to develop a fluid replacement plan for a dehydrated patient.

Speaker Info: Dr. Edward Cooper received his veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania followed by a small animal rotating internship at Michigan State University. He then completed a residency in small animal emergency and critical care and obtained board certification and a Master of Science degree in Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the Ohio State University in 2007. He has remained at Ohio State and currently holds the position of Professor – Clinical and has been Section Head for the Small Animal ECC service since 2010. Dr. Cooper’s principle clinical and research interests include fluid therapy, shock resuscitation, hemodynamic monitoring and feline urinary obstruction. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and invited book chapters in these areas and others.