Congress 2025 - Thursday

Dealing with true emergency patients can often be a source of panic and stress for the veterinary team, but it doesn’t have to be that way! Join us for an insightful session where we will share practical tips that you can implement with the whole veterinary team. We’ll cover not only essential clinical approaches to the emergency patient, but also discuss effective communication techniques, and strategies to manage the emotional challenges commonly encountered in the emergency room. By the end of the session, you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to navigate emergency situations with confidence.

Thrombosis is a potentially devastating complication of a number of acquired conditions in the dog including IMHA, protein-losing nephropathy (PLN), protein-losing enteropathy (PLE), hyperadrenocorticism, neoplasia and pancreatic disease and is likely under-recognised particularly in critically ill patients. The decision to institute anti-thrombotic therapy is relatively clear-cut when a thrombotic event has occurred, but more complex when managing a patient with a prothrombotic disease, but where there are no actual signs of thrombosis. In this situation the decision to institute thromboprophylaxis involves assessment of the risk of thrombosis, balanced against the risk of complications of anti-thrombotic therapy (particularly haemorrhage) and cost.

In this session we’ll discuss the current CURATIVE guidelines on the use of anti-thrombotic therapy and discuss the options available.

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This lecture discusses practical tips and guidance on preventing and managing incivility in veterinary practice. The goals of this lecture is to explore some of the challenges to civility that are frequently encountered in practice and learn practical techniques to overcome them.

Continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMSs) measure interstitial glucose. They offer a useful alternative to blood glucose monitoring. The newer systems, like the FreeStyle Libre®, are affordable, provide continuous data, and allow at-home monitoring. CGMSs sensors contain a platinum electrode and glucose oxidase membrane, generating a current proportional to interstitial glucose. Sensors typically last 5-14 days and correlate well with blood glucose levels. Proper placement on a stable, well-prepared skin surface (e.g., lateral thorax or neck) is essential. Owners need to activate sensors via the appropriate UK app.

When interpreting the output from a CGMS, at least three days of data collection is recommended before making any assessment of glycaemic control. These devices are less accurate in dehydrated or hypoglycemic animals and those experiencing rapid glucose fluctuations. This is due to a lag in equilibration of interstitial fluid and blood glucose and also changes in interstitial fluid composition. Studies show that CGMS improve owner experience, with 95% reporting better glycaemic control despite challenges with sensor fixation and cost. This session will discuss how to use and interpret a CGMS and the limitations of these systems using case examples as illustrations.

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This session will give delegates the ability to:

• Assess dyspnoeic cases deciding whether they are cardiac or respiratory pathogenesis.
• Gain confidence for the most appropriate nursing options for cardiac patients.
• Feel more confident about advanced treatment options for patients in refractory heart failure.

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• Learn how to recognise a surgical site infection (SSI) and the importance of SSI surveillance in practice.
• Discover appropriate ways to prevent SSIs including the role of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP).
• Find out how to manage an SSI when it occurs. When is topical treatment enough?

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There are several options for contraception of female dogs and there are strong opinions relating to which method is optimal. Over recent decades, new evidence has emerged about the health risks of removing gonads and the optimal age or pubertal status that this might best be performed. There has also been increased discussion about the risk of iatrogenic pseudopregnancy and whether bitches with pseudopregnancy can safely be sterilised. More information has become available about long-duration contraceptive agents and this further complicates the options that are available to veterinary practitioners.

This session will explore these topics using basic endocrinological concepts and recent studies to provide a foundation for clinical decision-making in individual animals.

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Veterinary fees increasingly feel like a battleground between clients and vets, does it have to be this way? In this session we will explore how the professions, from large organisations down to the individual vet or nurse, can play a role in building a better understand between vets and clients on the topic of vet fees.

The twists and turns of toxicology can be traumatic. Join us for a case-based panel discussion that will review the approach to a common and complex toxins, address common misconceptions and probe into controversies in the toxicology patient. Our carefully selected panel brings a diverse range of perspectives to ensure a well-rounded and insightful exploration of the topics you care about most.