2012 New York State Veterinary Conference

7:30 AM

Parking Permit for B Lot and TRB Lot A permit to park at the College is required for Friday, September 28 only. Parking is limited, please consider taking the hotel shuttle. Parking is free and plentiful on Saturday and Sunday.

Bovine

8:00 AM  -  8:50 AM

Update on Emerging/Re-emerging Diseases in the Northeast - Dr. Paul Virkler Salmonella Dublin, Anaplasma marginale, and Mycoplasma wenyoni are being diagnosed more frequently in the Northeast and veterinarians need to be on the alert for these diseases. This lecture will provide a brief overview of the clinical presentation and diagnostic testing strategies for these three diseases. Included in the presentation will be a discussion of a new serology test for Salmonella Dublin.

Controlled Substance

8:30 AM  -  9:20 AM

Regulatory/Drug Enforcement/ Title and description coming soon -- Laurence Martin, DEA Diversion Investigator, and Marcus Brown, DEA Diversion Investigator

Companion Animal

8:30 AM  -  9:20 AM	Coagulation Testing: Beyond APTT and PTT - Dr. Marjory Brooks The APTT and PT are the traditional coagulation screening tests routinely performed in practice, yet many clinicians are not quite sure what the results mean and how to proceed beyond this initial workup. In a case-based interactive session, the audience will gain experience in interpreting these screening tests and become familiar with ancillary diagnostics to manage patients with simple and complex coagulopathies.
8:30 AM  -  9:20 AM	Diagnosis and Management of Canine Myelopathies - Dr. Sofia Cerda-Gonzalez This lecture will review the diagnosis and standard of care of canine degenerative spinal cord disorders, including diseases such as intervertebral disc disease, caudal cervical spondylomyelopathy, and degenerative myelopathy. Recent findings in controversial subjects, such as the use of glucocorticoids for the treatment of acute spinal cord injury, will also be covered.
8:30 AM  -  9:20 AM	Making Stents Out of Tracheal Collapse - Dr. James Flanders This lecture will review the etiology and treatment of tracheal collapse in toy breed dogs. Dr. Flanders will give a detailed description of the treatment of tracheal collapse with intraluminal stents and will discuss the pros and cons of these devices for treatment of tracheal collapse.

Equine

8:30 AM  -  9:20 AM

News Hour - Dr. Tom Divers and Dr. Norm Ducharme The major articles of the year in equine medicine and surgery will be reviewed by the presenters and the clinical significance of the findings briefly discussed while answering questions and comments from the attendees. This thoughtful session strives to present the more accurate practitioner’s perspective from a surgeon’s point of view.

Bovine

9:00 AM  -  9:50 AM

Troubleshooting Dry and Transition Cow Diets - Dr. Tom Overton In this lecture, we will review the major principles for formulating and implementing rations for dairy cows during the dry and transition periods. We will focus particularly on the areas in which these nutritional programs most commonly break in the real world in order to give the practitioner insight into areas to troubleshoot these nutrition programs.

Controlled Substance

9:30 AM  -  10:20 AM

Regulatory/Drug Enforcement/Title and description coming soon -- Laurence Martin, DEA Diversion Investigator, and Marcus Brown, DEA Diversion Investigator

Companion Animal

9:30 AM  -  10:20 AM	Cranial Cervical Malformations - More Than Meets the Eye - Dr. Sofia Cerda-Gonzalez Diseases of the craniocervical junction often present a diagnostic challenge. Multiple abnormalities are often present concurrently, which overlap in their clinical manifestation, complicating management decisions. This talk will discuss the clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment options for canine craniocervical junction disorders such as atlantooccipital overlapping and Chiari-like malformations. Diagnostic challenges and strategies to overcome these will be discussed.
9:30 AM  -  10:20 AM	Critical Tools: Monitoring Oxygen and Perfusion - Dr. Susan Hackner A crucial goal in the critical patient is the optimization of cellular oxygen delivery, which depends on oxygenation of the blood and on tissue perfusion. Monitoring these parameters enables goal-oriented management; but monitoring tools each have pitfalls and limitations. This presentation will review the practical aspects of widely available monitoring tools, including pulse oximetry, capnography, blood gas analysis, blood pressure, and CVP – how to use these optimally and gain maximum clinically useful information from them.
9:30 AM  -  10:20 AM	Laboratory Detection of Tick-borne Diseases - Dr. Heather Priest Ticks are known to carry a cocktail of infectious agents including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Recognition and confirmation of these diseases can be challenging since symptoms can be non-specific and diagnostic tests do not necessarily identify active disease. The lecture will focus on the tick-borne diseases identified in the Northeastern United States and discuss when the diseases should be on our differential list, the diagnostic tests at our disposal and the interpretation of these tests.
9:30 AM  -  10:20 AM	Protein C: A New Biomarker for Liver Disease - Dr. Marjory Brooks Protein C assays have become a useful tool for diagnosing and managing patients with liver disease. This presentation will focus on the clinical applications of Protein C testing, including case examples of congenital portovascular anomalies and hepatic synthetic failure.

Equine

9:30 AM  -  10:20 AM

Brachytherapy in the Horse - Dr. William Bradley Brachytherapy utilizing the Xoft Axxent Brachytherapy unit is proving to be a reasonable therapeutic option for the treatment of some equine tumors. This lecture will briefly discuss treatment for commonly encountered equine tumors emphasizing the use of electronic brachytherapy. There will be some discussion of the equipment and techniques utilized in administering radiation therapy in this manner. Several cases will be presented including discussion of how treatment protocols for these tumors were developed. Finally there will be some discussion of complications associated with radiation therapy.

Bovine

10:30 AM  -  11:20 AM

Advances in Understanding Bovine Innate-defense Mechanisms - Dr. James Roth Cell-mediated immunity is a rather simple label for a broad and complex set of mechanisms that require T-cell activity. The role of T cells in protection from disease will be briefly reviewed. Data will be presented demonstrating the importance of measuring T cell activity in cattle when evaluating immunity and vaccine efficacy.

Practice Management

11:00 AM  -  11:50 AM

Creating Team Buy-In: Marketing - Katherine Dobbs, RVT, CVPM Providing a positive client experience is the most important part of any marketing efforts of the practice, but there is much more involved such as monthly promotions, community outreach and appearance of the practice, all the usual marketing items such as brochures and business cards, and more. Learn how to teach the team that they are an essential piece to the practice’s marketing plan and how to stand behind what the products and services they sell.

Companion Animal

11:00 AM  -  11:50 AM	Canine and Feline Mast Cell Tumors - Dr. Tracy Gieger This 50-minute lecture will review basics about canine and feline mast cell tumors, including staging, pathology, therapy, and prognostic indicators.
11:00 AM  -  11:50 AM	Canine Respiratory Disease Complex: More Complex Than We Thought - Dr. Edward Dubovi Within the past 10 years, the rate of discovery of new infectious disease agents has greatly accelerated. New technologies now permit characterization of agents that have not or cannot be cultured in the laboratory under standard conditions. We now have a much more complex problem in ascribing cause to what is now referred to as acute respiratory disease of canines or canine infectious respiratory disease. Multiple agents can now be detected in a single sample which is causing a reassessment of the old dogmas concerning respiratory disease. New agents, test selection and test interpretations will be discussed.
11:00 AM  -  11:50 AM	Hemostasis for the Surgeon – Predicting and Managing Bleeding Part I - Dr. Susan Hackner Even under the best of circumstances, surgery represents a major hemostatic challenge. This is magnified in patients with inherited or acquired bleeding disorders. This presentation will review hemostasis and its assessment, causes of surgical bleeding disorders, and preoperative screening/assessment.
11:00 AM  -  1:00 PM	Lab: Infectious Disease Cytology - Dr. Deanna Schaefer and Dr. Heather Priest Lab limited to 50 veterinarians and veterinary technicians. -- This laboratory will focus on microscopic identification of various infectious diseases on blood smears and tissue cytology from small animals. There will be a short introductory lecture, with the majority of laboratory time involving evaluation of slide specimens by the laboratory participants. Drs. Schaefer and Priest will circulate during the lab to answer individual questions. The last 30 minutes will be a group question/answer session.

Equine

11:00 AM  -  11:25 AM

Cryopreservation of Stallion Semen: Options and Opportunities - Dr. Robert Gilbert Cryopreservation of stallion semen allows preservation of valuable genetic material and insurance against disease and accidents. Different options exist for successful use of frozen semen in horses. In cases where semen is extremely rare, reduced numbers of sperm can be used in several different assisted reproduction procedures including thawing and refreezing in smaller doses, deep horn insemination, oocyte transfer, in vitro fertilization of intracytoplasmic sperm injection and more. Pros and cons of these options will be addressed.

Bovine

11:30 AM  -  12:20 PM

Advances in Understanding Bovine Cell-Mediated Immunity - Dr. James Roth Cell-mediated immunity is a rather simple label for a broad and complex set of mechanisms that require T-cell activity. The role of T cells in protection from disease will be briefly reviewed. Data will be presented demonstrating the importance of measuring T cell activity in cattle when evaluating immunity and vaccine efficacy.

Equine

11:30 AM  -  12:20 PM

Infection Causes of Abortions - Dr. Ahmed Tibary Infectious causes of abortion in the equine are dominated by bacterial placentitis. The aim of this lecture is to discuss the clinical manifestatino of impending infectious abortion, diagnosis and management of the bbacterial placentitis to prevent abortion. Diagnosis of abortion will be centered on proper examination of the fetus and placenta and samples needed for laboratory support to indentify the causes of abortion. Preventitve measure will also be discussed.

12:00 PM  -  2:00 PM

Friday lunch

Practice Management

12:00 PM  -  1:00 PM

Creating Team Buy-In: Proactive Client Service - Katherine Dobbs, RVT, CVPM Providing client service excellence can only be accomplished with “proactive” client service, where the team member is thinking two steps ahead to any issues or problems the client may experience. This also includes situations that can be wrongly interpreted by the client. For example, if the client doesn’t realize that cats like to use their private potty when they return home, he or she may assume no litter box was provided! Teach the team to take a proactive approach to pleasing clients.

Companion Animal

12:00 PM  -  1:00 PM	Hemostasis for the Surgeon – Predicting and Managing Bleeding Part II - Dr. Susan Hackner Successful surgical outcome demands not only technical expertise but the identification and management of disorders that compromise hemostasis. This presentation will focus on the assessment and management of the patient with operative or postoperative bleeding using clinical cases.
1:00 PM  -  2:00 PM	Dermatopathology: Reading Between the Lines - Dr. Jeanine Peters-Kennedy This lecture will focus on when, how and where to take skin biopsies when working up inflammatory skin disease in dogs and cats and how to interpret the histopathology report. We will also look at the clinical presentation of skin lesions and the histopathologic changes that represent those lesions.
1:00 PM  -  2:00 PM	Practical Veterinary Oncolgoy - Dr. Tracy Gieger This lecture will focus on chemotherapy safety in practice, oral chemotherapy, and management of chemotherapy side effects.

Equine

1:30 PM  -  3:10 PM	Lab A: MRI Foot Problems (case based) - Dr. Peter Scrivani and Dr. Jonathan Cheetham After a brief introduction to evaluating magnetic resonance images by the speakers, three clinical cases of horses with foot problems will be presented. Participants will then have the opportunity to review the MRI scans of each case horses and to identify abnormalities. In the second half of the session, the MRI scans will be reviewed with the whole group and patient treatment discussed.
1:30 PM  -  3:10 PM	Lab B: Best Case of the Year Presentations Patients that require follow up with their referring veterinarian. The Large Animal Medicine and Surgery residents will present a selection of interesting and complex cases they have seen at the Cornell University Equine and Farm Animal Hospital. These cases required collaboration and cooperation with the clients’ regular veterinarians throughout the hospitalization, and especially through the follow-up and recovery stages. There will be time for questions and discussion.

Practice Management

2:00 PM  -  2:50 PM

Creating Team Buy-In: Profit & Budget - Katherine Dobbs, RVT, CVPM Employees often wonder why they don’t take home a bigger piece of the revenue “pie” made by the veterinary practice. Management knows that the profit margin is tough to maintain, but often the team doesn’t have an understanding of how their work directly relates to how big the pie becomes. Learn how to teach the team how the budget divides the revenue, how much profit is really being made, and how it is used to further develop the practice and the team members.

Backyard Poultry

2:00 PM  -  2:50 PM

Introduction to Backyard Poultry Farming; Nutrition and Feeding of Backyard Poultry - Dr. Jarra Jagne -- The United States has seen an increase in the number of people raising small flocks of chickens in towns and cities in recent years. Many chickens are also kept as pets and small and mixed animal practitioners are being increasingly asked to diagnose and treat sick chickens. This session will examine the reasons behind the “chicken movement” and the pros and cons of urban chicken farming. -- A good nutrition program is the most important part of poultry production. Chickens rations are formulated according to the age and type of chicken (broilers or egg layers). Discussions will center on feed ingredients in commercially prepared feeds as well as the practice of feeding backyard chickens homemade feed and kitchen scraps.

Bovine

2:00 PM  -  2:50 PM

Vaccines for FMD and Other Foreign Animal Diseases of Cattle - Dr. James Roth The livestock industry and the U.S. economy are highly vulnerable to the introduction of foreign animal diseases, especially foot and mouth disease. An outbreak of FMD could spread rapidly and exceed the capacity for stamping out, requiring the use of vaccine for control. The considerations for use of FMD vaccine will be reviewed. Vaccines for Rift Valley Fever, a zoonotic disease of ruminants, will also be reviewed.

Companion Animal

2:00 PM  -  2:50 PM	An Introduction to Forensic Pathology - Dr. Sean P. McDonough Forensics is the application of science to legal questions and forensic pathology is just one of many scientific disciplines that may be used in either civil and criminal cases. The questions that need to be answered by a forensic necropsy differ substantially from those of a medical necropsy. Practical guidance will be offered to help veterinarians in private practice to conduct a legally defensible post mortem exam. Due diligence requires a complete necropsy examination be performed, collection of a complete set of formalin fixed tissues and the generation of a timely gross report of the findings. The advantages and limitations of photographs will be discussed as well as the differences in testifying as a material witness as compared to an expert witness. Approaches to the most commonly encountered types of forensic necropsy cases private practitioners are asked to evaluate will be discussed. Finally, consideration will be given to how you can aid the prosecutor in preparation of an animal cruelty case.
2:00 PM  -  2:50 PM	Hemostasis for the Surgeon – Thromboembolism - Dr. Susan Hackner Postoperative venous thromboembolism occurs in dogs, though with a lower prevalence than in human patients. Risk is related to the presence of an underlying thrombotic tendency, as well as to the type and extent of surgical procedure. Thromboembolism in small animals is reviewed with respect to risk assessment, the prevention of surgical complications and to the diagnosis and treatment of venous thromboembolism.
2:00 PM  -  2:50 PM	Nasal Tumors in Dogs and Cats - Dr. Tracy Gieger This 50-minute lecture will review basics about canine and feline nasal tumors, including staging, pathology, therapy, and prognostic indicators.

Practice Management

3:00 PM  -  3:50 PM

Creating Team Buy-In: Safety & OSHA - Katherine Dobbs, RVT, CVPM The leadership of a veterinary practice is obligated by law to keep their employees safe. Many of the safety protocols and policies are designated by OSHA, who is also the administrative body that enforces that a safe workplace is provided. The individual employee is encouraged to follow these protocols, yet still it is the responsibility of the management to see that they do. Learn how to make the topic of safety of interest and concern to each member of the veterinary team.

Backyard Poultry

3:00 PM  -  3:50 PM

Important Diseases and Conditions Seen in Backyard Poultry - Dr. Jarra Jagne Participants will be introduced to descriptions of common poultry diseases with emphasis on etiology, clinical signs, gross lesions and control and treatment methods. Diseases need to be controlled to make poultry keeping economically rewarding. Common poultry diseases are caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. Nutritional deficiencies, particularly those involving vitamins and minerals are also important.

Bovine

3:00 PM  -  3:50 PM

Development of a Secure Milk Supply Business Continuity Plan in the Event of an FMD Outbreak - Dr. James Roth -- In the event FMD is diagnosed in the U.S. livestock and allied industries will feel the immediate impacts of animal quarantines, increased testing, and product movement restrictions. The just-in-time supply practices of milk movement in the U.S. could result in significant interruptions of milk and milk products to consumers, as well as create significant milk disposal and animal welfare issues on dairies. The Secure Milk Supply (SMS) Plan is currently under development with the input of industry and animal health officials.

Companion Animal

3:00 PM  -  3:50 PM	Can We Finally Diagnose Feline Pancreatitis? - Dr. Marnin Forman The frequency of the diagnosis of pancreatitis in cats has increased with advances in pancreatic serology and imaging. Multiple generations of serologic tests and imaging techniques for pancreatitis have been evaluated with the sensitivity, predicative value and specificity established. This lecture will review the new generations of feline pancreatic-specific serology and advances in imaging. Lastly, a classification scheme will be proposed as a tool in the diagnosing the likelihood of feline pancreatitis.
3:00 PM  -  3:50 PM	Canine and Feline Oral Tumors - Dr. Tracy Gieger This 50-minute lecture will review basics about canine and feline oral tumors, including staging, pathology, therapy, and prognostic indicators.
3:00 PM  -  3:50 PM	Parasitology- A Real Infection or Just Passing Through? - Dr. Susan Wade The first part of this lecture will be a description of the tests available in the Parasitology Section for the diagnosis of parasitic infections and the rationale for their use. The second part will cover parasites detected in our laboratory through the testing of blood and fecal samples. The last part will discuss parasites recovered that are not parasites of the animal being tested, but for which the animal has been treated, often multiple times.

Equine

3:30 PM  -  5:10 PM	Lab A: MRI Foot Problems (case based) - Dr. Peter Scrivani and Dr. Jonathan Cheetham After a brief introduction to evaluating magnetic resonance images by the speakers, three clinical cases of horses with foot problems will be presented. Participants will then have the opportunity to review the MRI scans of each case horses and to identify abnormalities. In the second half of the session, the MRI scans will be reviewed with the whole group and patient treatment discussed.
3:30 PM  -  5:10 PM	Lab B: Best Case of the Year Presentations Patients that require follow up with their referring veterinarians - The Large Animal Medicine and Surgery residents will present a selection of interesting and complex cases they have seen at the Cornell University Equine and Farm Animal Hospital. These cases required collaboration and cooperation with the clients’ regular veterinarians throughout the hospitalization, and especially through the follow-up and recovery stages. There will be time for questions and discussion.

Practice Management

4:10 PM  -  5:00 PM

Creating a Compassionate Culture 1 - Katherine Dobbs, RVT, CVPM When employees suffer from burnout and compassion fatigue, it can produce a detrimental effect on the organization as a whole. Explore tactics to counteract the negative effects of burnout. Learn the symptoms of organizational compassion fatigue in order to diagnosis this condition in the practice. Many of these symptoms are common management challenges that we face every day in the practice, never realizing that addressing compassion fatigue can help minimize the issues. This includes absenteeism, inability for teams to work well together, rampant rumors and gossip, and more. Discover ways to create awareness in new hires, monitor the team, and create policies to combat the effects of organizational compassion fatigue.

Backyard Poultry

4:10 PM  -  5:00 PM

Important Diseases and Conditions Seen in Backyard Poultry continued; Poultry Diseases and Treatment - Dr. Jarra Jagne -- Participants will be introduced to descriptions of common poultry diseases with emphasis on etiology, clinical signs, gross lesions and control and treatment methods. Diseases need to be controlled to make poultry keeping economically rewarding. Common poultry diseases are caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. Nutritional deficiencies, particularly those involving vitamins and minerals are also important. -- Poultry farmers who keep small flocks of fifty or less know how difficult it can be to obtain information about suitable medications, dosing etc. This module will provide information on how to treat poultry flocks for different conditions such as mite infestations, bacterial infections, internal parasites and nutritional deficiencies. Discussions will also include drug withdrawal times and the controversy of medication use in food producing animals such as chickens.

Bovine

4:10 PM  -  5:00 PM

New Research in Dry Cow Vaccination - Dr. Abhijit Gurjar Association between lymphocyte phenotype and cytokines profile in response to intramammary coliform challenge in late gestation to understand the complex network of innate immune response during the transition period from late gestation to early lactation.

Companion Animal

4:10 PM  -  5:00 PM	Clinical Anaerobic Microbiology for the Veterinary/New Names for Old Pathogens - Dr. Patrick L. McDonough -- First lecture Clinical Anaerobic Microbiology for the Veterinary -- This presentation will cover practical aspects of anaerobes and the infections that they cause. Proper sampling protocols will be covered, transport media, samples that are appropriate for culturing and those that are not, the importance of direct smears in making a presumptive diagnosis, clinical signs of anaerobic infections, infections by body site and syndromes, treatment protocols, and interpretation of laboratory results…. and more… // Second lecture New Names for Old Pathogens (taxonomy and nomenclature revisited) -- This presentation will cover the new names of bacteria (and Mycoplasma’s) that are confusing you when you see them in your laboratory reports. What is Trueperella pyogenes, and have you heard about Gallibacterium anatis, or Staphylococcus pseudintermedius? This talk will give you the tools to survive and maneuver both your laboratory reports and the veterinary scientific literature.
4:10 PM  -  5:00 PM	Perianal Tumors - Dr. Tracy Gieger This lecture will review basics about perianal tumors, including staging, pathology, therapy, and prognostic indicators
4:10 PM  -  5:00 PM	Treating Feline Pancreatitis From Mild to Life Threatening Disease: A Case Based Approach - Dr. Marnin Forman -- With advances in serology and diagnostic imaging, pancreatitis is being recognized as a relatively common disorder causing significant morbidity and infrequently, mortality. Clinical signs of pancreatitis can range in severity from mild, self-limiting to severe, life threatening disease with an acute or chronic presentation. This talk with review a broad range of therapies for a diverse disease process including, but not limited to, nutrition options, pain control, blood pressure support and indications for fresh frozen plasma, antibiotics and corticosteroids.

Practice Management

5:10 PM  -  6:00 PM

Creating a Compassionate Culture 2 - Katherine Dobbs, RVT, CVPM Once there is awareness of compassion fatigue either in the team members or the organization as a whole, it is time to act! If your practice does not show symptoms of organizational compassion fatigue now, it may just be a matter of time so prevention is important. Review how to create or establish a healthy veterinary practice which exhibits a culture of compassion. Share policies that are helping to combat compassion fatigue, and learn more protocols that can help prevent it in the future. Learn how to develop tools designed to compliment your healthy workplace.

Backyard Poultry

5:10 PM  -  6:00 PM

Collecting and Sending Poultry Samples; Question and Answer: Bring All of Your Poultry Questions - Dr. Jarra Jagne -- The goal of this session is to introduce the different techniques that are used to collect samples from different poultry species for laboratory diagnostic testing. These will include blood collection for serology, tracheal and cloacal swabbing for virus isolation and collection of tissues during post-mortem examination. The session precedes the Necropsy lab session to be held the day after when some of the techniques can be practiced. -- Participants are encouraged to bring questions involving poultry cases they have worked on or any questions related to the materials presented in the class. Questions on management, housing and nutrition are welcome. If time allows, cases will be presented for participants to discuss and work up to reach a definitive diagnosis.

Companion Animal

5:10 PM  -  6:00 PM	Clinic/Hospital Environmental Sanitation and Disinfection for Outbreak Control - Dr. Belinda Thompson -- This session will cover environmental infection control practices for the hospital or clinic, and will apply to companion animal or equine/ food animal facilities. Discussion will include best management practices to minimize transmission of infectious agents by all routes, including direct contact, fomite, aerosol, oral, and vector-borne. Zoonotic transmission will be discussed. In addition, specific agents will be addressed, including Clostridium difficile, Salmonella spp. and Staph. aureus. Some attention will be given to environmental monitoring/testing.
5:10 PM  -  6:00 PM	Diagnosing Canine Hepatopathies: Which Biopsy Technique Will Work, A Case Based Approach - Dr. Marnin Foreman -- Canine hepatopathies includes a broad range of inflammatory, infectious, hereditary, neoplastic, toxic, traumatic and reactive disorders. For most non-vascular disorders a definitive diagnosis is only possible with microscopic evaluation of hepatic tissue. This talk will review the benefits and drawn backs of multiple sample methods including fine needle aspirate cytology and percutaneous ultrasound guided, laparoscopic and open surgical biopsies. Utilization of hepatic histopathology stains will also be discussed.
5:10 PM  -  6:00 PM	GI Tumors in Dogs and Cats - Dr. Tracy Gieger This lecture will review basics about canine and feline GI tumors, including staging, pathology, therapy, and prognostic indicators. The focus in this lecture will be on feline GI lymphoma, including differences in treatment and prognosis between lymphocytic and lymphoblastic lymphoma.

7:00 AM  -  8:00 AM

NYSVMS Annual Business Meeting and Breakfast Registrants who are members of the NYSVMS will receive a complimentary ticket to breakfast at the NYSVMS Annual Business Meeting on Saturday, September 29, held in the cafeteria at the veterinary college. The meeting will be called to order by NYSVMS President Linda Jacobson, DVM, at 7:30 am.

Bovine

8:00 AM  -  8:50 AM

Animal Drug Residues and the Dairy Industry - Dr. Craig Shultz This lecture will provide bovine veterinarians an overview of market cow tissue residue surveillance in the United States. A detailed outline of the process of residue sampling at a slaughter plant will be outlined to provide clarity to the practitioner and the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) based inspection feedback loop from slaughter plant to producer explained.

Camelid & Small Ruminant

8:00 AM  -  8:50 AM

Normal and Abnormal Reproductive Ultrasonography in Males and Female Camelids - Dr. Ahmed Tibary Ultrasonography is the single most important diagnostic imagining in theriogenology. The technical and interpretive skill is required for any reproductive evaluation of camelid infertility. The objectives of this lecture are to review the equipment needed, the anatomy of the reproductive organs and their ultrasonography characteristics during physiological as well as pathological states in the male and the female. The lectures will be richly illustrated by specific case imaging.

Companion Animal

8:00 AM  -  8:50 AM	Fever of Unknown Origin - Dr. Adam Birkenheuer A practical case-based approach to the patient with a fever. Where to look, how to look and when to throw in the towel.
8:00 AM  -  8:50 AM	Simple Paramedian Approach to Cryptorchid Castrations - Dr. Daniel Smeak Learn a simple and quick procedure to expose surgical conditions of the caudal abdominal cavity. Learn methods to readily know where a crytorchid testicle is located BEFORE you enter the abdominal cavity.
8:00 AM  -  8:50 AM	What is New in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ectopic Ureters? - Dr. Heather Knapp-Hoch This lecture will include a quick review of the clinical signs and presentation of dogs with ectopic ureters. It will include a review of the diagnostic imaging modalities available for diagnosis as well as highlight the advances in both diagnostics and treatment. The lecture will highlight the use minimally invasive techniques such as cystoscopy and surgical correction via laser ablation as well as discuss the long term prognosis for this disease process post surgical correction.
8:00 AM  -  8:50 AM	What's New in Elbow Dysplasia - Dr. Ursula Krotscheck This lecture will discuss the diagnostic dilemmas associated with the diseases comprising elbow dysplasia (FCP, OCD, UAP, elbow incongruity). In addition, treatment options, expected outcomes and the influence of regenerative medicine will be presented.
8:00 AM  -  8:50 AM	Wild Bird Clinical Case Challenges I - Dr. George Kollias Members of the public often present practitioners with injured or otherwise impaired wild birds. Having a working knowledge of avian anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology better enables the practitioner to provide optimal care for these patients and to have a better understanding of which presenting problems hold the most favorable prognosis for rehabilitation and release of these patients. A clinical case format will be used to present and reinforce the principles and concepts listed above.

Equine

8:00 AM  -  9:15 AM

Update on Equine Metabolic Syndrome and Cushings Disease - Dr. Nicholas Frank Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) was first proposed as a syndrome in 2002 and since that time there has been an explosion of information about obesity, insulin resistance, and endocrinopathic laminitis. At the same time, we have also expanded our understanding of equine Cushing’s disease, which is better referred to as pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID). New developments in the diagnosis and management of these important endocrine disorders will be discussed.

Veterinary Technician

8:00 AM  -  8:50 AM

Introduction to Electrocardiography and Rhythm Diagnosis - Dr. Marc Kraus To review the principles and practices of electrocardiographic interpretation in dogs and cats.

Camelid & Small Ruminant

9:00 AM  -  9:50 AM

Pregnancy Loss and Abortion in Camelid - Dr. Ahmed Tibary Pregnancy loss is the second most common complaint in camelid theriogenology practice and represents about 25% of all cases. The objectives of this lecture is to present an approach to diagnosis of causes of prenancy loss and abortion including pathological and laboratory examination of the fetus and placenta. The epidemiology of the major causes of abortion and their prevention will be discussed.

Companion Animal

9:00 AM  -  9:50 AM	Practical Approach to Anemia and Thrombocytopenia - Dr. Adam Birkenheuer Case-based approach to the anemic patient. From diagnostics to treatment.
9:00 AM  -  9:50 AM	Practical Use of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (V.A.C therapy) for the Management of Tricky Wounds - Dr. Heather Knapp-Hoch -- This lecture will provide a practical approach to treatment of complex wounds by discussing the utilization and science behind negative wound pressure therapy (NPWT). It will showcase clinical cases in which negative pressure wound therapy and vacuum assisted closer were used as a primary treatment for complicated wounds. It will also discuss key tips to help the practitioner achieve success when using NPWT.
9:00 AM  -  9:50 AM	Simple Mass Ligation Technique for Splenectomy - Dr. Daniel Smeak Learn the critical vascular anatomy and clamp positions to perform a simple splenectomy. Understand the difference in splenectomy technique when dealing with isolated splenic torsion, GDV, and neoplasia. Review the important rules related to secure ligation technique.
9:00 AM  -  9:50 AM	What's New in Cranial Cruciate Disease - Dr. Ursula Krotscheck This lecture will discuss newer treatment modalities for cruciate disease in dogs, ranging from the intra-articular exploration and treatment of meniscal disease to different surgical techniques (TTA, TPLO, extra capsular). Patient selection criteria for the procedures, outcome, and potential complications will be discussed.
9:00 AM  -  9:50 AM	Wild Bird Clinical Case Challenges II - Dr. George Kollias This lecture will be a continuation of the first lecture and also compliment the wildlife pathology labs that will be offered in the afternoon session.

Veterinary Technician

9:00 AM  -  9:50 AM

Cardiopulmonary Auscultation - Dr. Marc Kraus This lecture reviews and practices the physical diagnosis of cardiac diseases through thoracic auscultation. Actual heart murmurs (phonocardiograms) will be presented. The following clinical skills will be addressed. 1) Review of the salient features of heart sounds and pathophysiology of murmurs 2)To improve the skill of cardiac auscultation 3) Familiarize the participants with examples of common heart murmurs

Equine

9:25 AM  -  9:50 AM

Techniques for Diagnosis and Treatment of Equine Sinus Disease - Dr. Richard Hackett This presentation will provide an overview of procedures commonly used in diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting the paranasal sinuses in horses. Field applicable techniques such as sinus radiography, sinus centesis, sinoscopy and formalin injection of sinus masses will be described in detail. Flap sinusotomy in standing horses will be highlighted as well.

Bovine

9:40 AM  -  11:20 AM

Lab - Common Dairy Cow Conditions Associated with Slaughter Plant Condemnations - Dr. Gerald Duhamel and Dr. Craig Shultz -- This wet lab will review common conditions leading to slaughter plant condemnation of dairy cows by US Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS). Special emphasis will be placed on examination of gross postmortem specimens demonstrating common pathological conditions, discussion of lesion significance in relationship to condemnation decision and how veterinarians can prevent occurrence of cow condemnation at slaughter.

Camelid & Small Ruminant

10:30 AM  -  11:20 AM

Reproductive Surgeries in Male and Female - Dr. Ahmed Tibary Several surgeries are performed on the camelid reproductive tract for management or therapeutic pruposes. This presentation will review in details the anesthetic protocols, and surgical approach to the most common surgeries. In the female, a detailed review of cesarean section in the field and in hospital will be provided. Other surgeries, such as ovariectomy and third degree perineal laceration will be discussed. In the male, the focus will be on methods of sterilization (castration and vasectomy).

Companion Animal

10:30 AM  -  11:20 AM	Let's Get Moving: Managing the Constipated Cat - Dr. Susan Little Constipation is a frequently encountered problem in feline medicine. The clinician is faced with a wide variety of potential causes and concurrent diseases. This lecture will focus on recent advances in the diagnosis and both acute and long term non-surgical management of the constipated cat.
10:30 AM  -  11:20 AM	Select Disorders of the Pediatric Feline Patient - Dr. Margret Casal Diarrhea, sneezing, ocular discharge, nasal discharge and weight loss are the most common clinical signs seen in the sick kitten. Differential diagnoses ranging from the most common to the most overlooked conditions will be discussed. Simple, inexpensive and in-depth diagnostics will be presented along with treatment options.
10:30 AM  -  11:20 AM	The 10 minute Gastropexy - Dr. Daniel Smeak Learn a simple and quick technique to perform a lasting gastropexy for prevention and treatment of GDV. This technique uses standard sites for the gastropexy and eliminates complications related to surgical technique. Know the criteria used by surgeons to understand when to perform a partial gastrectomy and splenectomy.
10:30 AM  -  11:20 AM	The Blue Dot Dilemna "AKA What Do I Do With a Positive SNAP Test" - Dr. Adam Birkenheuer Ideas and opinions on how to approach the use of in-house infectious disease screening tests.
10:30 AM  -  12:20 PM	The New 2012 Veterinary CPR Guidelines: What Every Veterinarian and Technician Should Know - Dr. Daniel J. Fletcher -- Less than 7% of dogs and cats survive CPR, compared to 20% of people. A lack of evidence-based guidelines and standardized training has lead to significant variability in the approach of veterinary health professionals, likely contributing to poor outcomes. In 2012, the Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation (RECOVER), a collaboration of over 100 veterinary specialists, generated a evidence-based small animal CPR guidelines. This lecture will review these guidelines and help update your approach to CPR.

Equine

10:30 AM  -  11:20 AM

Abdominal Ultrasound in Equine Practice - Dr. Anthony Pease This lecture will provide examples and case discussion about the use and optimization of ultrasound to evaluate the abdomen in the equine patient. Time will be spent talking about colic examinations, both pre and post-operative, as well as discussion of foal abdominal ultrasound.

Veterinary Technician

10:30 AM  -  11:20 AM

Compassion Fatigue—The Cost of Caring - Katherine Dobbs, RVT, CVPM Knowledge is power, and the more our profession understands about compassion fatigue, the more prepared we will be to identify, prevent, and cope with compassion fatigue in the individual as well as the organization. We begin with complete definitions of the commonly used words compassion, fatigue, stress, and burnout. Then we address the question, “how did we get here?” by exploring the five phases of adjustment to a career in care giving. Specific stressors and satisfiers have been identified for various positions in our profession, including the veterinarian, veterinary technician and assistant, and front office staff and practice management. We take a broad look at the main causes of individual compassion fatigue and its symptoms. The session will conclude with the Eight Laws Governing Self Care.

Companion Animal

11:30 AM  -  12:20 PM	Infectious Causes of Feline Diarrhea - Dr. Adam Birkenheuer A practical approach to diagnosing these important underlying infections.
11:30 AM  -  12:20 PM	Understanding the Factors Related to Intestinal Repair Failure - Dr. Daniel Smeak Even with appropriate and early treatment, when intestinal repairs fail there is a high mortality rate, that is often very costly for the owner. Therefore, prevention of intestinal dehiscence is critical. Review the main causes of intestinal dehiscence, how to predict the risky patient, and procedures to help prevent this catastrophic complication.

Veterinary Technician

11:30 AM  -  12:20 PM

BurnOut—Putting Out The Flames - Katherine Dobbs, RVT, CVPM BurnOut may be a condition we all can relate to, but have we ever really looked at what causes burnout, and more importantly perhaps, how to reduce it? We start with a checklist to help you identify those troublesome feelings. At one time, our flame was burning bright, and we’ll look at what helped us keep the flame. Stress is often the reason our flame begins to dwindle, so we’ll take a closer look at stress as well. To identify burnout, we’ll explore the symptoms that we carry when we have burnout. Finally we close with hope, that this blazing path we’ve taken can turn our lives around for the better.

12:00 PM  -  2:00 PM

Saturday lunch

Camelid & Small Ruminant

12:30 PM  -  1:20 PM

Cria Management and Emergencies - Dr. Ahmed Tibary Neonatal losses are a common problem in camelid practice. Most of these losses occur in the first week of life and of these about half occur in the first 2 days of life. The objective of these lectures are to provide the practitioner with information needed to identify the at risk cria.

Companion Animal

12:30 PM  -  1:20 PM	Diarrhea in Kittens: Getting Back on Solid Ground - Dr. Susan Little Diarrhea is one of the most common health problems of kittens, including those in pet homes, in shelters and in catteries. Common causes include dietary change and infectious diseases. This lecture will concentrate on practical advice for diagnosis and management, including new information on probiotics and dietary management.
12:30 PM  -  1:20 PM	Select Disorders of the Pediatric Canine Patient - Dr. Margret Casal Vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, and failure to thrive are some of the most common clinical signs present in sick puppies. Differential diagnoses ranging from the most common to the most overlooked conditions will be discussed. Simple, inexpensive and in-depth diagnostics will be presented along with treatment options.

Equine

12:30 PM  -  2:10 PM	Lab A: Equine Metabolic Syndrome and Equine Cushings Disease (case based) - Dr. Nicholas Frank Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) was first proposed as a syndrome in 2002 and since that time there has been an explosion of information about obesity, insulin resistance, and endocrinopathic laminitis. At the same time, we have also expanded our understanding of equine Cushing’s disease, which is better referred to as pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID). New developments in the diagnosis and management of these important endocrine disorders will be discussed.
12:30 PM  -  2:10 PM	Lab B: C1-C2 Standing CSF Fluid - Dr. Anthony Pease and Dr. Tom Divers This laboratory will provide hands-on experience using ultrasound guidance to obtain cervical cerebrospinal fluid from a standing horse. Participants will practice on cadavers, but the demonstrations will be performed on live horses. Technique, complications and advice will be given to allow this procedure to be performed in the field.

Camelid & Small Ruminant

1:30 PM  -  2:20 PM

Fundamental Plans for Sheep and Goat Nutrition - Dr. Robert Van Saun This presentation will address the fundamental issues of proper feeding programs in meeting the nutritional needs of small ruminants. Issues relative to water, forage, and protein requirements and consequences of forage quality will be addressed. Some basic guidelines for evaluating small ruminant diets will be detailed.

Companion Animal

1:30 PM  -  2:20 PM	How to Bury That Final Knot of Your Intradermal Line - Dr. Daniel Smeak Learn the steps to consistently produce a cosmetic intradermal line. Emphasis will be given to tips to bury the final knot. The Aberdeen knot will be highlighted since it produces a secure knot with less knot mass.
1:30 PM  -  2:20 PM	How to Manage Vomiting Cats & Keep Your Sanity - Dr. Susan Little Chronic vomiting is a very common clinical sign in cats of all ages and can be associated with a wide variety of underlying disorders, both gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal. Many cat owners as well as clinicians overlook mild to moderate chronic vomiting, and “hairballs” are commonly over diagnosed. This lecture will focus on a practical approach to diagnosis and management.
1:30 PM  -  2:20 PM	New Surgical Options for Non-Responsive Urinary Incontinence - Dr. James Flanders This lecture will review the etiology and treatment of tracheal collapse in toy breed dogs. Dr. Flanders will give a detailed description of the treatment of tracheal collapse with intraluminal stents and will discuss the pros and cons of these devices for treatment of tracheal collapse.
1:30 PM  -  2:20 PM	Pediatric Emergencies - Dr. Margret Casal Neonatal and young pediatric patients in distress do not present with typical clinical signs making the thorough history and physical examination all the more important. Hypothermia, hypoglycemia, and dehydration are the first problems that need to be addressed, often even before in depth diagnostics can be performed. Some handy tools and tricks for diagnosis and treatment of this fragile group of patients will be discussed.
1:30 PM  -  2:20 PM	Practical Applications of Molecular Diagnostics: Holy Grail or Holy Fail - Dr. Adam Birkenheuer How to navigate the changing landscape of molecular testing for infectious diseases.

Veterinary Technician

1:30 PM  -  2:20 PM

Radiation Therapy: A Practical Introduction - Adrian Martin, LVT This lecture will provide LVTs with an overview of different types of radiation therapy with the primary focus on external beam therapy. Some of the subjects covered will be basic concepts in radiation treatment and planning, the linear accelerator, patient positioning, beam modification, definitive vs palliative treatment, and possible side-effects of treatment.

Camelid & Small Ruminant

2:30 PM  -  3:20 PM

Mineral Nutrition and Supplement Usage - Dr. Robert Van Saun This presentation will provide the practitioner with an overview of critical mineral nutrients relative to their potential disease risks for small ruminants. Information contained within a feed supplement label and how this information can be used to evaluate adequacy or appropriateness of a given supplement will be addressed to help evaluate mineral programs.

Companion Animal

2:30 PM  -  3:20 PM	Birkenheuer's "Bone Pile" - Interesting Internal Medicine Cases - Dr. Adam Birkenheuer Case presentations of difficult/interesting internal medicine cases. Try to learn from my “mistakes” so you don’t have to make as many.
2:30 PM  -  3:20 PM	Canine Histiocytic Diseases - Dr. Cheryl Balkman Canine histiocytic diseases represent a spectrum of disorders ranging from a reactive disorder to a variety of neoplastic syndromes. Histiocytic diseases often present a diagnostic challenge to veterinarians as they can have a similar clinical presentation to granulomatous inflammation, immune-mediated hematologic conditions as well as other neoplasia such as lymphoma. This presentation will review the clinical presentation, diagnosis, staging, treatment recommendations and outcome for the various canine histiocytic diseases.
2:30 PM  -  3:20 PM	Feline Procedures - Dr. Susan Little Certain procedures are highly valuable in feline medicine, increasing our ability to manage various diseases and save lives. This lecture will focus on the “how-to” for commonly needed procedures, such as feeding tubes, urethral catheterization, and blind bronchoalveolar lavage, among others. These procedures do not require expensive equipment and can readily be learned by clinicians at all levels of practice
2:30 PM  -  3:20 PM	Neonatal Resuscitation - Dr. Margret Casal Whether dystocia or Cesarean section preceded, some neonates may be in distress and will need resuscitation efforts. The ABC’s of resuscitation are the first line of action: Airways should be cleared; the neonate needs to be stimulated to Breath, and the heart (Cardiac) stimulated to beat. Medications and the controversies surrounding them will be presented along with methods of patient stabilization.
2:30 PM  -  3:20 PM	The Perfect Perineal Urethrostomy, Refining Your Technique - Dr. James Flanders In this lecture, Dr. Flanders will review the feline perineal urethrostomy, step-by-step. Common mistakes will be addressed and important techniques for obtaining an optimal result from this classic surgical procedure will be covered.

Equine

2:30 PM  -  4:10 PM	Lab A: Equine Metabolic Syndrome and Equine Cushings Disease (case based) - Dr. Nicholas Frank Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) was first proposed as a syndrome in 2002 and since that time there has been an explosion of information about obesity, insulin resistance, and endocrinopathic laminitis. At the same time, we have also expanded our understanding of equine Cushing’s disease, which is better referred to as pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID). New developments in the diagnosis and management of these important endocrine disorders will be discussed.
2:30 PM  -  4:10 PM	Lab B: C1-C2 Standing CSF Fluid - Dr. Anthony Pease and Dr. Tom Divers This laboratory will provide hands-on experience using ultrasound guidance to obtain cervical cerebrospinal fluid from a standing horse. Participants will practice on cadavers, but the demonstrations will be performed on live horses. Technique, complications and advice will be given to allow this procedure to be performed in the field.

Veterinary Technician

2:30 PM  -  3:20 PM

Chemotherapy: A Practical Introduction - Adrian Martin, LVT This lecture will provide LVTs with an overview of differerent types, classes, and the mechanism of action of chemotheraputic agents used in cancer chemotherapy. Proper handling, administration, disposal, and possible side-effects will also be covered.

Camelid & Small Ruminant

3:40 PM  -  4:30 PM

Nutritional Pathogenesis and Prevention of Urolithiasis - Dr. Robert Van Saun Development of urinary calculi is a commonly observed condition in small ruminant species. Dietary composition and the animal's nutritional status are critical factors in the pathogenesis of urolithiasis and understanding how to prevent the disease. This presentation will review critical factors associated with urolith formation in small ruminants. Role of nutritional factors relative to pathogenesis and preventive practices will be highlighted.

Companion Animal

3:40 PM  -  4:30 PM	AAFP/ISFM Feline-Friendly Nursing Care Guidelines - Dr. Susan Little Nursing care encompasses interactions between the patient and veterinary team and also between the cat and its owner at home. Good nursing care promotes wellness or recovery from illness or injury and addresses all the patient’s needs. The recently released AAFP/ISFM Feline-Friendly Nursing Care Guidelines are intended to help veterinarians and technicians understand the basic concepts of nursing care and provide practical tips to help implement them in the veterinary hospital.
3:40 PM  -  4:30 PM	Advanced Imaging for the Diagnosis of Portosystemic Shunting - Dr. Michael Broome Various classifications for portosystemic shunts are recognized including single or multiple, intrahepatic or extrahepatic, and congenital or acquired. The preferred method of treatment and prognosis vary widely depending on the specific nature of the portosystemic shunting. Diagnostic imaging modalities available to assist in the diagnosis and classification of portosystemic shunts are numerous. An overview of the clinicopathologic findings in patients with portosystemic shunts will be followed by a detailed description of the diagnostic imaging modalities available to confirm the diagnosis and define the exact nature of the portosystemic shunting. Emphasis will be placed on advanced imaging modalities including scintigraphy, CT and MRI.
3:40 PM  -  4:30 PM	Cytauxzoonosis: A TREATABLE Disease That is Probably Headed Your Way - Dr. Adam Birkenheuer Updates on the diagnosis AND treatment of this disease that you were lied to about in vet school.
3:40 PM  -  5:20 PM	Lab: Wild Bird Post Mortem Laboratory - Dr. Elizabeth Buckles All participants MUST have current rabies vaccinations. Limited to 20 veterinarians. This will be a hands on laboratory where participants will learn the basics of avian necropsy technique while discussing identification of lesions and species specific differences in anatomy.
3:40 PM  -  5:20 PM	Lab: Perineal Urethrostomy - Dr. James Flanders and Dr. Heather Knapp-Hoch Limited to 16 veterinarians. - The purpose of this laboratory is to review the fine points of feline perineal urethrostomies. The target audience are veterinarians who do not routinely perform PUs in practice or who do PUs occasionally and are not satisfied with their results.
3:40 PM  -  4:30 PM	Pediatric Pharmacology - Dr. Margret Casal During pregnancy and lactation, medications may be passed on to the fetus or neonate, respectively, depending on their charge, protein binding, and solubility. Therefore, drugs and supplements given to pregnant dams and queens must be chosen carefully. In neonates, physiological immaturity account for differences in absorption, distributions, metabolism, and excretion. For these reasons, methods of administration, doses and dosing intervals differ in puppies and kittens and will need to be adjusted accordingly.

Veterinary Technician

3:40 PM  -  4:30 PM

Is your disinfectant all its cracked up to be? - Linda Caveney, LVT What does your disinfectant label tell you? Do environmental factors influence its efficacy? Are all disinfectants equally effective in killing microorganisms? Find out the answers to these commonly asked questions as well as learning the characteristics of the categories of available disinfectants and how the Spaulding classification system can help you determine what level of disinfectant is appropriate for specific scenarios.

Camelid & Small Ruminant

4:30 PM  -  5:20 PM

Pregnancy Toxemia and the Metabolic Changes of Transition - Dr. Robert Van Saun This presentation will review the critical metabolic adaptations necessary for successful transition in small ruminant species and highlight the critical role of nutrition relative to the success or failure of this process. Critical control points in managing the transition period through nutritional interventions will be characterized. Practical nutritional evaluation criteria and diagnostic tools will be discussed.

Companion Animal

4:30 PM  -  5:20 PM	Challenging Case Studies: Hyper- and Hypothyroidism and Thyroid Tumors in Dogs and Cats - Dr. Michael Broome and Dr. Mark Peterson Using a case study format, this lecture will highlight some of the difficulties associated with the diagnosis and management of thyroid disorders in dogs and cats. Case examples will include our diagnostic approach for workup of hyper- and hypothyroidism in both dogs and cats. Diagnosis, staging, and treatment of functional and nonfunctional thyroid tumors will also be covered in this presentation.
4:30 PM  -  5:20 PM	Congenital Diseases - Dr. Margret Casal Congenital diseases are defined as abnormalities that are present at birth. The question becomes if a genetic disease is present or if perhaps a toxin caused the disorder. Thorough history taking and an accurate diagnosis often allow for at least an educated case, so that further steps may be taken to elucidate the cause. A series of case studies will highlight the methods in discovering possible causes of congenital disorders.
4:30 PM  -  5:20 PM	Diagnosis & Management of Weight Loss in Senior Cats - Dr. Susan Little Senior cats have a tendency to be underweight and this is often attributed to “old age.” However, loss of both muscle and fat mass is associated with the changes in nutritional requirements with aging in cats, which are different from dogs. Weight loss may also be the earliest sign of systemic disease, and so monitoring is important as well as early investigation of changes. This lecture will discuss the weight changes associated with aging in cats and the diagnosis and management of common causes of weight loss.
4:30 PM  -  5:20 PM	Infectious Disease Potpourri - Dr. Adam Birkenheuer Updates on emerging canine and feline infectious diseases such as babesiosis, RMSF and haemoplasmosis.

Veterinary Technician

4:30 PM  -  5:20 PM

Simple Simon's Guide to Writing an Infection Control Policy for your Practice - Dr. Belinda Thompson and Linda Caveney, LVT -- Writing of an infection control policy/plan for your practice may be viewed as an overwhelming task and you don’t know where to begin. Using the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians model infection control plan, you will be creating a policy during this session for your specific practice. Practical information will be presented to formulate an explicit and well organized document.

5:30 PM

Purple Party and Silent Auction 5:30-7:30 PM The Purple Party celebrates the NYS-VC partnership between the NYSVMS and the College of Veterinary Medicine. This partnership was reflected in the NYS-VC logo and the prominent use of the color purple. NYS-VC registrants and exhibitors are invited to the Silent Auction and Purple Party on Saturday, September 29, at 5:30 pm in the New York State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. At the Purple Party, you will enjoy a selection of food and drinks, and music the veterinary student a cappella group, Ultrasound. Be sure to bid on some of the beautiful, historic and fun items available at the Silent Auction! Money raised at the Silent Auction benefits the NYSVMS scholarship, awarded annually to a veterinary student at Cornell, and NYSVMS legislative advocacy through the veterinary Political Education Committee. The NYSVMS scholarship was established in 1994 as a permanently-endowed scholarship at Cornell University and provides "tuition assistance to New York State residents who are third- or fourth-year students, and interested in organized veterinary medicine.

Backyard Poultry

8:00 AM  -  9:50 AM

Lab: Basics of Chicken Necropsy - Dr. Jarra Jagne [Limited to 25 veterinarians] To round out the poultry sessions, a necropsy lab will be held to introduce participants to basic poultry anatomy, discussions on humane euthanasia of individual birds and the steps involved in doing a proper necropsy. Major organs and their relevant pathologies will be identified and collection of fecal and oral swabs will be practiced.

Camelid & Small Ruminant

8:00 AM  -  8:50 AM

Update on Emerging Issues for Small Ruminants and Camelids - Dr. Mary Smith Come hear the latest news on infectious diseases such as Q fever and Schmallenberg virus, testing for inherited resistance to ovine progressive pneumonia, and improving CAE control programs. Learn how and why owners are giving copper oxide wire particles to their animals. Consider the potential toxicity of commonly used products such as albendazole, florfenicol, and selenium. Audience participation will be encouraged while exploring treatment options for common and not so common conditions.

Companion Animal

8:00 AM  -  8:50 AM	A Review of the Long Term Risks and Benefits of Pediatric Spay and Neuter - Dr. Jan Scarlett Despite the practice of pediatric gonadectomy for over 30 years, questions remain regarding possible adverse effects (short- and long-term) on the health of dogs and cats. While numerous studies have been published, non-standardized terminology and studies of varying quality confound practitioner’s ability to understand the literature. A critical review of current knowledge regarding adverse and beneficial effects of early gonadectomy will be presented.
8:00 AM  -  8:50 AM	Hyperthyroidism Summit Diagnostic Testing for Feline Hyperthyroidism - Dr. John Randolph, Dr. Michael Broome, Dr. Susan Little, Dr. Mark Peterson, Dr. Nathan Dykes The Hyperthyroidism Summit will be a unique opportunity for veterinarians to interact with a panel of veterinary specialists on issues of interest in feline hyperthyroidism. For each session listed below, one of the panel members will provide a 15 minute overview of the topic. Then, panel discussion and audience participation will follow. Although clinical signs and routine laboratory findings may be varied in cats with hyperthyroidism, confirming the diagnosis is usually straight-forward. However, hyperthyroid cats with early/mild disease or concurrent disorders (e.g. inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes mellitus, and renal disease) may be more challenging to diagnose. This session will consist of a brief review of the available tests to diagnose hyperthyroidism in cats, including the effect that non-thyroidal illness may have on thyroid function tests.
8:00 AM  -  8:50 AM	Maxillofacial Surgery in Small Animals - Dr. Santiago Peralta Many dental and non-dental oral and maxillofacial diseases require surgical intervention. Common maxillofacial problems that require a surgical approach include traumatic soft tissue and osseous injuries, developmental abnormalities, and tumors affecting the oral cavity. This lecture will focus on the basic principles of surgical anatomy, diagnosis and treatment of the most common maxillofacial diseases that require a surgical intervention.

Veterinary Technician

8:00 AM  -  9:50 AM

Lab: ECG Interpretation (cased based) - Dr. Marc Kraus and Dr. Anna Gelzer [Limited to 25 veterinary technicians] -- This lab will build upon the principles that were discussed in the ECG lecture, however, the lecture can be taken independently of the lab.

Camelid & Small Ruminant

9:00 AM  -  9:50 AM

Lions and Sheep and Goats, Oh My! Small Ruminant Cases Worth Writing Home About - Dr. Sally Ness A series of interesting and challenging small ruminant cases that have presented to Cornell University Farm Animal Hospital over the past year will be reviewed. Clinical findings, diagnostic plan, treatment and outcome, as well as options for identifying and treating similar cases in the field, will be presented.

Companion Animal

9:00 AM  -  9:50 AM	Hyperthyroidism Summit - Thyroid Imaging for diagnosis and staging of hyperthyroidism and thyroid tumors in cats - Dr. Nathan Dykes, Dr. Michael Broome, Dr. Susan Little, Dr. Mark Peterson, Dr. John Randolph The Hyperthyroidism Summit will be a unique opportunity for veterinarians to interact with a panel of veterinary specialists on issues of interest in feline hyperthyroidism. For each session listed below, one of the panel members will provide a 15 minute overview of the topic. Then, panel discussion and audience participation will follow.
9:00 AM  -  9:50 AM	Small Animal Periodontology - Dr. Santiago Peralta Periodontal disease is among the most common diseases of dogs and cats, with a direct impact on the patient’s general health status and quality of life. As with any other disease, proper treatment requires a comprehensive diagnostic approach. The lecture will emphasize on the diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of periodontal disease in small animals.
9:00 AM  -  9:50 AM	URI Management: Tricks of the Trade from the Trenches of Shelter Medicine - Dr. Jan Scarlett and Dr. Elizabeth Berliner -- Upper respiratory disease is one of the most common infectious diseases in animal shelters, and is often assumed (wrongly so) to be a “natural” part of sheltering. However, new research and innovative approaches to diagnosis, management and prevention can help shelters not only decrease disease incidence, but shorten the course of treatment in the shelter.

9:50 AM

Sunday Brunch

Camelid & Small Ruminant

10:20 AM  -  1:00 PM

Sheep Ultrasound Lab Dr. Robert Gilbert, Dr. S.H. Cheong, Dr. Sonya Lawlis, and Dr. Whitney Brown -- Ultrasonographic diagnosis of pregnancy in sheep allows identification of non-pregnant ewes and those carrying singletons, twins or triplets, thus allowing appropriate management of each group. Techniques for ultrasonography will be demonstrated and participants will have the opportunity to practice.

Companion Animal

10:20 AM  -  11:10 AM	Hyperthyroidism Summit Renal Disease and the Feline Thyroid - Dr. Susan Little, Dr. Michael Broome, Dr. Nathan Dykes, Dr. Mark Peterson, Dr. John Randolph -- The Hyperthyroidism Summit will be a unique opportunity for veterinarians to interact with a panel of veterinary specialists on issues of interest in feline hyperthyroidism. For each session listed below, one of the panel members will provide a 15 minute overview of the topic. Then, panel discussion and audience participation will follow. -- Hyperthyroidism and chronic renal disease are common diseases of senior cats and may occur together. This presents challenges for the practitioner, as diagnosis of chronic renal disease can be difficult in the hyperthyroid cat. In addition, the treatment of these concurrent diseases may require a delicate balancing act. However, the survival of these patients is similar to cats without concurrent disease, so the practitioner should be prepared to tackle management of both diseases.
10:20 AM  -  1:00 PM	Lab: Basic and Advanced Life Support: An Interactive CPR Lab for Vets and Techs - Dr. Daniel J. Fletcher; Pati Kirch, LVT -- [Limited to 20 veterinarians and veterinary technicians] -- Do you feel confident that you are prepared to deal with a patient experiencing cardiopulmonary arrest using the most up to date, evidence-based approaches? This highly interactive lab using high fidelity canine simulators will allow participants to learn and practice the newly published evidence-based veterinary CPR guidelines. Veterinarians and technicians are welcome.
10:20 AM  -  11:10 AM	Small Animal Endodontics - Dr. Santiago Peralta Although many times unrecognized, endodontic disease plays a major role in veterinary patients. Recognition of endodontic disease is based on medical history, and clinical and radiographic assessment. This lecture will focus on the clinical relevance of endodontic disease, as well as basic diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
10:20 AM  -  11:10 AM	Why Did They Do That? Medical Decision Making in the Shelter - Dr. Elizabeth Berliner Medical decision making in a shelter setting takes into account the health needs of individual animals, the dynamics of population health, the resources of the shelter, the teamwork of the shelter staff and the sheltered animal’s quality of life. Through case examples, this presentation will explore how medical decisions in a shelter setting can differ from a private practice setting. Examples will also demonstrate how aggressive, proactive diagnostics and expenditures early in the course of disease can actually be cost-saving, and improve the welfare of sheltered animals.

Veterinary Technician

10:20 AM  -  1:00 PM	Compassion Fatigue Lab - Katherine Dobbs, RVT, CVPM Take a close look at how you define “compassion fatigue”, how it makes you feel, and why you are here today. Compare compassion fatigue with burnout, and learn the importance of accurate diagnosis. Learn about the 5 Phases caregivers experience, and what you recall from moving through each one. The results of an important survey disclose the stressors and satisfiers we experience in veterinary medicine. Move through the causes of compassion fatigue, and which apply to you. Rate the symptoms of compassion fatigue in yourself, in an effort to understand how to heal. We talk briefly about how compassion fatigue follows us home, to affect our friends and families. Attendees will leave this workshop with the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL V) test, and the Life Stress Test, to help measure your feelings. Also have the chance to work through many personal exercises to get in tune with your needs, focus on your self-care, begin to heal, and learn how to minimize your compassion fatigue.
10:20 AM  -  1:00 PM	Lab: Basic and Advanced Life Support: An Interactive CPR Lab for Vets and Techs - Dr. Daniel Fletcher and Pati Kirch, LVT-- Do you feel confident that you are prepared to deal with a patient experiencing cardiopulmonary arrest using the most up to date, evidence-based approaches? This highly interactive lab using high fidelity canine simulators will allow participants to learn and practice the newly published evidence-based veterinary CPR guidelines. Veterinarians and technicians are welcome.

Companion Animal

11:20 AM  -  1:00 PM	Grab Bag: Top Ten Questions from General Practitioners About Shelter Medicine Dr. Elizabeth Berliner and Dr. Jan Scarlett -- The Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program at Cornell University has an email and consultation service open not only to shelter staff, but to medical professionals and volunteers working with animal shelters, rescue groups, and foster programs. In a tag-team approach, Drs. Berliner and Scarlett will discuss some of the most common questions that they receive from veterinarians, technicians, and medical staff.
11:20 AM  -  12:10 PM	Hyperthyroidism Summit What's the best treatment for hyperthyroidism? - Dr. Mark Peterson, Dr. Michael Broome, Dr. Nathan Dykes, Dr. Susan Little, Dr. John Randolph --The Hyperthyroidism Summit will be a unique opportunity for veterinarians to interact with a panel of veterinary specialists on issues of interest in feline hyperthyroidism. For each session listed below, one of the panel members will provide a 15 minute overview of the topic. Then, panel discussion and audience participation will follow. -- In cats, hyperthyroidism can be treated in 4 ways: chronic administration of an antithyroid drug, surgical thyroidectomy, radioactive iodine (131-I), or lifelong feeding of an ultra-low iodine diet. The treatment of choice for each cat should be individualized, based on the age, presence of concurrent kidney disease or other major medical problems, availability of a skilled surgeon or radioiodine treatment facility, and owner's preference for “control” vs cure of the disease. This session will review the major advantages and disadvantages of each of these treatment options.
11:20 AM  -  12:10 PM	Movement Disorders - How to Make Sense of the Alphabet Soup - Dr. Sophia Cerda-Gonzalez Few neurologic conditions have as many potentially overlapping and confusing terms associated with them as do movement disorders, including hypertonicity syndrome, dyskinesia, and myokymia. Despite their clinical similarities, these disorders range widely in their pathophysiology, from muscle ion channel disorders to abnormalities in neurotransmitter levels. This talk will discuss the meaning behind the terminology, as well as the pathophysiology and clinical profile of common movement disorders such as myotonia, “Scottish Terrier Cramps” and “Dancing Doberman disease”.
12:10 PM  -  1:00 PM	Hyperthyroidism Summit Diagnosis and treatment of large thyroid masses and thyroid carcinoma in cats - Dr. Michael Broome, Dr. Nathan Dykes, Dr. Susan Little, Dr. Mark Peterson, Dr. John Randolph -- The Hyperthyroidism Summit will be a unique opportunity for veterinarians to interact with a panel of veterinary specialists on issues of interest in feline hyperthyroidism. For each session listed below, one of the panel members will provide a 15 minute overview of the topic. Then, panel discussion and audience participation will follow. -- Since the recognition of hyperthyroidism in cats in 1979, the medical management of this disease has become increasingly successful due to the availability of antithyroid drugs with lesser toxicities and access to alternate formulations of these drugs. The chronic medical management of hyperthyroid cats leads to increasing thyroid tumor volume and the possibility of malignant transformation. Treatment of hyperthyroid cats with large tumor volumes (+/- thyroid carcinoma) presents unique challenges. This session will review the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges faced when managing cats with larger thyroid tumor volumes.
12:10 PM  -  1:00 PM	Intracranial Neurologic Emergencies: Head Trauma, Status Epilepticus, and Bacterial Meningoencephalitis - Dr. Sophia Cerda-Gonzalez -- This talk will discuss the mechanisms involved in neurologic deterioration following head trauma, such as increased intracranial pressure and hematoma formation. Monitoring and treatment for these conditions, as well as management of other common neurologic emergencies (status epilepticus, bacterial meningoencephalitits) will be covered as well.