With over 20 years of experience in referral medicine, I’ve had the opportunity to reflect on some of the most challenging aspects of small animal care. This session will highlight and explore ‘10 top tips’ drawn from these experiences, aimed at keeping medicine both exciting and fulfilling. Alongside this, hands-on workshops featuring real case studies will encourage discussions on the best strategies for managing cases within the constraints of varying resources and time in a clinical practice setting.

This course is designed to equip small animal, first-opinion clinicians with a structurered approach to commonly encountered emergency and critical care presentations.  The programme includes lectures and workshops on triage, stabilisation and clinical scenarios that allow delegates to apply the day's learning in real-world contexts.

Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) will be discussed, but a follow-on day is available dedicated to it's utility and pratcical skill development.

The course aims to provide small animal, first opinion clinicians with a logical approach to the most commonly encountered cardiac presentations.

This will include 3 lectures, a workshop on ECG interpretation and clinical scenarios for delegates to implement the information from the day.

This highly practical day offers vets in-depth training in the surgical management of perineal hernias. With step-by-step demonstrations and cadaver-based practice, participants will learn how to approach these challenging cases with confidence. The day will cover relevant anatomy, patient selection, peri and postoperative care and surgical repair techniques. This is ideal for general practitioners looking to strengthen their surgical skills and improve patient care in this complex condition.

This practical day with provide vets with a focused, hands-on approach to the diagnosis and surgical management of salivary mucoceles Through some lectures, case discussions and cadaver-based surgery, participants will gain confidence in recognizing clinical presentations, selecting appropriate diagnostic techniques and performing salivary gland excision. Emphasis will be placed on practical tips, avoiding common pitfalls and ensuring good outcomes.

This interactive single day course will comprise of an overview of how we define a significant anaemia and when this becomes something we should treat or monitor. There will be lecture updates on our current understanding of how we characterise, approach and treat anaemias based on their demographic and species in which they occur.

This one day blended theory and practical course will review the routine and emergency presentations of BOAS, a condition that is increasingly managed in first opinion practice with a huge welfare impact. Objectively determining the severity of the disease to then make appropriate interventions or advise referral with confidence can be challenging for vets and owners, so this will be explored with worked examples. We will then perform modified folding flap palatoplasty, alarplasty combined with alar wing resection and tonsillectomy. The risks of investigating and treating these conditions can be high and temporary tracheostomy and review of complications will also be a focus for the course.

Topics to be covered 

• Routine and emergency presentation BOAS 
• Complications arising from BOAS surgery 
• Surgical procedures for BOAS 
• Emergency temp trach and postop management 

This course is suitable for :

• Veterinary surgeons keen to develop their recognition of clinical BOAS and determine surgical versus non-surgical candidates 
• Veterinary surgeons wishing to become confident in URT diversion for airway occlusion of the larynx  
• Veterinary surgeons performing BOAS surgery or refining their current procedural practice  

This will be a practical based cadaver course on ear surgery of cats and dogs aimed at intermediate to advanced surgeons who would like to improve their skills in ear surgery.

This will be an interactive, case-based day, consisting of small group discussions working through a range of ophthalmic presentations.  We will look at some common presentations seen in first opinion practice, as well as covering a few more challenging cases.  The focus throughout will be on developing a thorough, consistent diagnostic approach.

This course aims to make first opinion ophthalmology more rewarding (and less scary) by improving your logical, problem-solving approach to ophthalmic cases.

This course will cover a logical approach to the assessment of patients with respiratory signs, localization of lesions, common causes and diagnostic approach. Case- based discussion of more common differentials and treatment approaches. A practical element including how to safely use the scopes in the airways and how to maximise diagnostic yield.

This pair of interactive, case-based CPD days is designed to help primary care clinicians maximise their approach to medical cases using available resources and budgets.  These two complementary courses will progressively develop a clear, problem-focused strategy for investigating and managing medicine cases within primary care, aiming to achieve more satisfying outcomes – especially for cases where referral may not be an option.

The course will feature real cases from primary care practices that were either referred or where advice was sought, using these examples to explore ways in which referrals might have been avoided.

This pair of interactive, case-based CPD days is designed to help primary care clinicians maximise their approach to medical cases using available resources and budgets.  These two complementary courses will progressively develop a clear, problem-focused strategy for investigating and managing medicine cases within primary care, aiming to achieve more satisfying outcomes – especially for cases where referral may not be an option.

The course will feature real cases from primary care practices that were either referred or where advice was sought, using these examples to explore ways in which referrals might have been avoided.

This course is aimed at general practitioners who would like to enhance their ophthalmic surgical skills and improve their patient outcomes.  This day is designed to be highly applicable to first opinion practice, providing tips and tricks to improve your techniques and avoid potential complications.

This intermediate level course is a highly practical course based on common orthopaedic conditions of the hindlimb. 

Practical / dissection time will be maximised, and theoretical “teaching” time will be minimised. 

Topics to be covered can be adjusted to suit the delegates learning requirements, depending on class size, disparity of requirements and delegate requests. This will be determined by completion of a pre-course questionnaire and used to define leaning objectives specifically tailored to the delegates.   

Topics to be covered:

- Surgical approach to the feline hip 

- Surgical approach to the feline ilial wing & ilial body 

- Surgical approach to the femur 

- Hip: capital physeal fracture repair, hip luxation stabilisation, femoral head and neck excision arthroplasty 

- Ilial body fracture repair 

- Sacroiliac fracture luxation 

- Femoral diaphyseal fracture repair 

- Distal femoral metaphyseal (supracondylar) fracture repair 

An interactive discussion of point of care ultrasound (POCUS), with a focus on the application of both abdominal and thoracic focused assessment using sonography for trauma as well as lung ultrasound. This will focus on the application of POCUS in all emergency cases, not just those involving trauma, to allow detailed assessment of the cardio-respiratory system.

Delegates will then have the opportunity to practice obtaining these skills on live animals and develop a systematic approach allowing for rapid assessment of future cases.

Topics to be covered:

- Application of POCUS in the emergency patient using a standardised approach.

- Utility of POCUS in monitoring or carrying out procedures in critical patients.

- The practical application of POCUS

This highly interactive and practical course will focus on how to get the most out of an abdominal ultrasound examination (including small abdominal structures).  Presentations on each body system will consider imaging techniques, normal findings and common pathological changes.  These are followed by practical scanning sessions supported by experienced tutors.   Delegates will have the chance to use a range of ultrasound machines and get plenty of opportunity to practice their technique on a live dogs.  

This practical two–day hands-on course will focus on the techniques of both flexible and rigid endoscopy in the dog. The course will provide an overview of selecting and handling endoscopes and cover the techniques used in endoscopy of the upper and lower intestinal tract, the respiratory tract and lower urinary tract. The delegates will enjoy the opportunity to perform endoscopy in the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science’s wet lab and enjoy extensive hands-on opportunities over the two days. 

This highly interactive and practical one-day course will focus on how to get the most out of ultrasound machines, and how to image the major abdominal organs and the heart.  Presentations on each body system will consider imaging techniques, normal findings and a brief overview of common pathological changes.  These are followed by practical scanning sessions supported by experienced tutors.  Delegates will have the chance to use a range of ultrasound machines and get plenty of opportunity to practice their technique on live dogs.

This practical course will focus on local anaesthetic techniques in the cat and dog which can be easily employed in general practice. The course will provide an overview of local anaesthetic agents and perineural anaesthesia including peripheral nerve blocks for dental surgery. It will also include an introduction to epidural and spinal anaesthesia and fascial plane blocks. The delegates will enjoy the opportunity to practice techniques including blind approaches to peripheral nerve blocks, epidural and spinal anaesthesia, and a fascial plane (transversus abdominis) block with ultrasound guidance. 

This day combines practical sessions and lectures focussing on: 

• Surgical approach to lumps in practice 
• Practical tension relieving techniques 
• Wound management 

Neurology can feel intimidating for general practitioners.  The perception that every case requires costly imaging, complex tests, or a lengthy neurological exam often makes vets hesitant to tackle neurological cases.  In reality, careful observation - sometimes using video footage - can give you more actionable information than hours of hands on testing.

This full-day lecture-based CPD is designed to help you navigate the 'wild world' of neurology with practical, accessible strategies.  Using a very video-heavy format, you'll see real cases, practical tips, and examples you won't find in textbooks or online couress.  We'll show you how to interpret gait, posture, and subtle movement changes to guide localisation and management - without relying on MRI, CSF analysis, or the often long-winded and difficult-to-interpret traditional neurological examination.

The day is tailored for general practice vets, giving you the tools and confidence to manage a wide variety of neurological presentations using a hands-off, observation-driven approach.  Expect engaging case discussions, clear explanations, and practical strategies you can apply the very next day.

Otitis is common, frustrating and difficult to treat. This course will allow you to develop a clear clinical framework for treating ear disease in your practice and will consider the causes, diagnosis and treatment of otitis externa and otitis media. We will discuss the sometimes-competing factors of cost, antibiotic stewardship and owner and patient quality of life as well as giving a comprehensive account of current treatments.

This practical one day course will focus on the generation and interpretation of basic cardiac ultrasound images in the dog. The course will provide an overview of the equipment and facilities needed and cover the techniques used in the generation and interpretation of right parasternal long and short axis echocardiographic images.  The delegates will enjoy the opportunity to carry our echocardiography in the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science's teaching laboratory with a significant proportion of the time dedicated to "hands-on" echo.

This interactive single day course will comprise of an overview of what we mean by chronic intestinal disease and how this is now classified in dogs and cats. There will be lecture updates on the use of antibiotics and also what new treatments we have for CIE including FMT. This will culminate in a case-based workshop to look at the ways in which we can successfully manage these often very frustrating cases in various clinical settings but particularly primary care practice.

If dermatology cases leave you scratching your head, then this day is for you!  The course will aim to improve your dermatology history-taking and clinical examination, focussing on a logical approach to problem skin cases, as well as providing tips to imrpove your practical microscopy skills.

Topics to be covered:

• Improving your dermatology history-taking
• Making the most of cytology in practice
• A case-based approach to common skin problems 

Learning Objectives: 

• Obtain a thorough dermatology history
• Articulate a logical, problem-based approach to common dermatology presentations
• Approach the microscope with confidence

Required delegate attributes or who this course is suitable for: 

This course is aimed at new graduates, those taking the next step in their career, as a refresher after taking a career break or changing disciplines. The day is designed to be highly applicable to first opinion practice, focusing on common presentations, with tips and tricks to help you evolve as a competent and confident general practitioner.

This course covers a logical approach to cardio-respiratory cases in practice.  A case-based approach to common cardio-respirator presentations in first opinion small animal practice.

Topics to be covered:

History and physical exam- how can they aid decision making

Diagnostic tests- what does my patient need - echo, radiographs, BAL or all of the above?

Therapeutics- what will actually help?

Case-based approach to the coughing patient

If the thought of an eye consult fills you with fear, this day is for you! This highly interactive day will help to build your confidence and develop a logical,  problem-solving approach to common ophthalmic presentations.  The course will include top tips to improve your ophthalmic examination, dealing with ophthalmic emergencies and a case-based approach to corneal ulcers and other common ophthalmic presentations.

Rarely does a day go by without seeing a vomiting dog or an animal with diarrhoea. This course aims to develop your decision making abilities and build your confidence in assessing these cases.  

Topics to be covered:

• Initial approach to vomiting and diarrhoea 
• Is it medical or surgical? 
• Are your bloods helpful? 
• Introduction to intestinal surgical techniques 
• Video for exploratory laparotomy 
• End-to-end anastomoses practical 

This course is aimed at recent graduates, career returners or people changing disciplines.

Overview:

This highly practical one-day course will focus on the surgical management of laryngeal paralysis in the dog and cat. The course will be very practical in nature and will take place in the wet lab of the centre. All surgical procedures will be demonstrated before delegates are given the opportunity to perform each procedure for themselves. Where appropriate the course will also include a number of explanatory seminars/tutorials.

Topics to be covered:

 Diagnosis of laryngeal paralysis

• Surgical anatomy of the larynx
• Surgical management of idiopathic laryngeal paralysis
• Comparison of the disease and its management between the dog and cat

Overview:

This highly practical one-day course will focus on the surgical management of urethral obstruction in the cat. The course will be very practical in nature and will take place in the wet lab of the centre. All surgical procedures will be demonstrated before delegates are given the opportunity to perform each procedure for themselves. Where appropriate the course will also include explanatory seminars/tutorials.

Topics to be covered:

 Surgical anatomy urogenital tract in the male cat

• Diagnosis and emergency management options for urethral obstruction in cats
• How to place a tube cystostomy
• When and how to perform a perineal urethrostomy

This will be a practical based cadaver course on wound reconstructive surgery in cats and dogs.