Program

2026 Conference Program

Our team is dedicated to delivering top-notch content with topics that will benefit everyone on your team.

Clinical Theaters curated by: Clinician's Brief

Veterinary Technician & Nursing Theater curated by:

NAVTA

All conference theaters are located at: Peppermill Resort Casino

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6:00 AM 6:50 AM
Your local time: )

XABCDE: Finding and Fixing Life-Threatening Problems in Emergency Patients

Your patient is crashing—do you know what to address first? The XABCDE approach provides a lifesaving roadmap for prioritizing care in dogs and cats with severe illness or injury.This session focuses ...

Speakers

Dr Amanda Cavanagh, DVM, DACVECC, Associate Prof Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care - Colorado State University
7:00 AM 7:50 AM
Your local time: )

Antibiotic Resistant Skin Infections: What You Need to Know
8:00 AM 8:50 AM
Your local time: )

Preventing DEA Violations in Veterinary Hospitals: A Practical Program Guide – Part I
Sponsored by:

Speakers

Jack Teitelman, Founder & CEO - TITAN Group
9:00 AM 9:50 AM
Your local time: )

Preventing DEA Violations in Veterinary Hospitals: A Practical Program Guide – Part II
Sponsored by:

Speakers

Jack Teitelman, Founder & CEO - TITAN Group
2:00 PM 2:50 PM
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4:30 PM 5:20 PM
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Looking Beyond Chronic Enteropathy: Identifying Intestinal Lymphoma

Speakers

Dr Teena Price, BSc, BVMS, DACVP, Anatomic Pathologist - AscentPath Veterinary Laboratories

10:15 AM 11:05 AM
Your local time: )

Surgical Site Infections

Speakers

Jeff Mayo, DVM, DABVP C/F, MANZCVSc (Surgery), Owner - Mayo Veterinary Services
11:30 AM 12:20 PM
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1:30 PM 2:20 PM
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Fluid Therapy Made Simple: A Practical Approach for Dogs and Cats

Fluids aren’t one-size-fits-all—this lecture delivers a practical, physiology-driven framework to master fluid therapy in veterinary patients. Attendees will learn how to confidently assess and target ...

Speakers

Dr Amanda Cavanagh, DVM, DACVECC, Associate Prof Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care - Colorado State University
2:30 PM 3:20 PM
Your local time: )

5 CBC Abnormalities You Should Never Ignore
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Hematology, including the CBC report, analyzer graphics, and peripheral blood film, is the most sensitive indicator of ‘deviation from health’ in a pet. This talk will highlight the most important red ...

Speakers

Dr Nancy Sanders, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), DACVECC, Gmo Medical Education Specialist - IDEXX
3:45 PM 4:35 PM
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Frontline Strategies for Treating Heart Disease in General Practice Part I

Speakers

Amara Estrada, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology), Professor of Cardiology - University of Florida
4:50 PM 5:40 PM
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Frontline Strategies for Treating Heart Disease in General Practice Part II

Speakers

Amara Estrada, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology), Professor of Cardiology - University of Florida

10:25 AM 11:15 AM
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Sedating the Sick Patient: Safe and Practical Approaches for Dogs and Cats

This session delivers a practical, patient-centered approach to sedation in dogs and cats, focused on real-world decision-making. Learn how to tailor drug selection based on procedure type, pain level ...

Speakers

Dr Amanda Cavanagh, DVM, DACVECC, Associate Prof Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care - Colorado State University
11:40 AM 12:30 PM
Your local time: )

HCM in Cats: A New Perspective on Subclinical Disease

Speakers

Amara Estrada, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology), Professor of Cardiology - University of Florida
1:45 PM 2:35 PM
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Key Insights for Successful Management of Atopic Disease
3:05 PM 3:55 PM
Your local time: )

Skin Biopsy Pearls and Pitfalls: Enhancing Diagnostic Accuracy

Speakers

Dr Teena Price, BSc, BVMS, DACVP, Anatomic Pathologist - AscentPath Veterinary Laboratories
4:25 PM 5:15 PM
Your local time: )

Helping the Dyspneic Patient: Simple Strategies for Dogs and Cats

Few emergencies are as distressing, for both patient and clinician, as a dyspneic dog or cat. Rapid deterioration is common, and missteps in handling or treatment can worsen outcomes within minutes. T ...

Speakers

Dr Amanda Cavanagh, DVM, DACVECC, Associate Prof Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care - Colorado State University

8:30 AM 9:20 AM
Your local time: )

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9:40 AM 10:30 AM
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10:50 AM 11:40 AM
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It’s Not All About Money: What Today’s Veterinarians Really Want
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Veterinary compensation has changed dramatically in the last ten years. While growth in salaries has been significant, today’s veterinarians are seeking more than just a paycheck. Work-life balance, f ...

Speakers

Dr Sheila Fitzpatrick, DVM, CVA, CEPA, Associate Broker, CEO - VP Veterinary Advisors & VP Veterinary Recruiters
12:50 PM 1:40 PM
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Safeguarding Wealth: Lawsuit Prevention and Tax Strategies
Sponsored by:

This symposium will guide you through the key structures and legal entities designed to protect both your business and personal assets. By implementing proven asset protection strategies, you can sign ...

Speakers

David Gibb, Legally Mine Speaker
4:20 PM 5:10 PM
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6:00 AM 6:50 AM
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Going Beyond Medications in Seizure Patients

Speakers

Dr Ryan Gibson, DVM, M.Ed, DACVIM (Neurology), Assistant Clinical Professor - Auburn University/ The Brain Dogtor LLC
7:00 AM 7:50 AM
Your local time: )

The Problem with Bleeding to Death

Your patient is bleeding to death—and traditional fluid therapy may be making it worse. Severe trauma and hemorrhagic shock trigger a cascade of endothelial injury and coagulopathy that prevents effec ...

Speakers

Dr Amanda Cavanagh, DVM, DACVECC, Associate Prof Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care - Colorado State University
8:00 AM 8:50 AM
Your local time: )

Avoiding Common Pitfalls: Oral Radiographic Findings

Speakers

Brook Niemiec, DVM, DAVDC, DEVDC, FAVD, Chief Of Staff - Veterinary Dental Specialties
9:00 AM 9:50 AM
Your local time: )

Session Title Coming Soon!
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10:40 AM 11:30 AM
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The Transformative Power of Laser Therapy and the Science Behind It
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This seminar will explore the transformative power of laser therapy in veterinary medicine, focusing on its benefits in pain reduction and inflammation control. Attendees will gain in-depth knowledge ...

Speakers

Tom Walsh, DVM, CCAT, CCRP, MBA, Veterinarian - Prime Pet Rehab
2:00 PM 2:50 PM
Your local time: )

Mastering Dental Nerve Blocks & Practical Pain Management

Speakers

Brook Niemiec, DVM, DAVDC, DEVDC, FAVD, Chief Of Staff - Veterinary Dental Specialties
3:00 PM 3:50 PM
Your local time: )

3 Habits of a Healthy Team Culture: Implementing the CAST Framework
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Are individuals at your clinic so toxic that patient care is suffering? Come learn what contributes to a healthy team culture and how to influence positive change within your teams using the CAST Fram ...

Speakers

Sharon D. Vaturi, MS, RVT, Owner - RVT Seminars

10:30 AM 11:20 AM
Your local time: )

Reviewing the ACVIM Consensus Statement on Thoracolumbar Intervertebral Disc Extrusions

Speakers

Dr Ryan Gibson, DVM, M.Ed, DACVIM (Neurology), Assistant Clinical Professor - Auburn University/ The Brain Dogtor LLC
11:30 AM 12:20 PM
Your local time: )

Session Title Coming Soon!
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1:30 PM 2:20 PM
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Session Title Coming Soon!
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3:00 PM 3:50 PM
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Traumatic Brain Injury: More Than Just a Bump on the Head

Speakers

Dr Ryan Gibson, DVM, M.Ed, DACVIM (Neurology), Assistant Clinical Professor - Auburn University/ The Brain Dogtor LLC
4:00 PM 4:50 PM
Your local time: )

Conservative Management of Cruciate Disease

Speakers

Jeff Mayo, DVM, DABVP C/F, MANZCVSc (Surgery), Owner - Mayo Veterinary Services

10:20 AM 11:10 AM
Your local time: )

Oral Surgery for the General Practitioner

Speakers

Brook Niemiec, DVM, DAVDC, DEVDC, FAVD, Chief Of Staff - Veterinary Dental Specialties
11:20 AM 12:10 PM
Your local time: )

From Donor to Storage: Building a Blood Bank in Your Veterinary Practice

When seconds count, having blood on hand can mean the difference between life and death. This practical, hands-on lecture guides veterinarians through building a functional in-house blood bank—from se ...

Speakers

Dr Amanda Cavanagh, DVM, DACVECC, Associate Prof Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care - Colorado State University
1:05 PM 1:55 PM
Your local time: )

Vascular Events and How They Vary Across Species

Speakers

Dr Ryan Gibson, DVM, M.Ed, DACVIM (Neurology), Assistant Clinical Professor - Auburn University/ The Brain Dogtor LLC
2:05 PM 2:55 PM
Your local time: )

New Approaches to Managing the Brachycephalic Airway Crisis

Attendees will walk through a stepwise stabilization strategy, emphasizing early, targeted interventions that can interrupt the vicious cycle of airway obstruction, hypoxemia, and respiratory fatigue. ...

Speakers

Dr Amanda Cavanagh, DVM, DACVECC, Associate Prof Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care - Colorado State University

9:40 AM 10:30 AM
Your local time: )

Session Title Coming Soon!
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10:50 AM 11:40 AM
Your local time: )

Coping with Declining Visits: Tips for Keeping Your Practice Profitable
Sponsored by:

In today’s challenging economic environment, many veterinary practices are facing a decline in visits, making it difficult to maintain profitability. This lecture, Coping With Declining Visits: Keepin ...

Speakers

Dr Sheila Fitzpatrick, DVM, CVA, CEPA, Associate Broker, CEO - VP Veterinary Advisors & VP Veterinary Recruiters
2:00 PM 2:50 PM
Your local time: )

Practice Ownership Outlook: What to Know and How to Prepare

Sponsored by: Bank of America

Speakers

Scott Sams, Vice President – Regional Business Development Officer - Bank of America Practice Solutions

6:00 AM 6:50 AM
Your local time: )

Approach to Feline House Soiling

Elimination outside of the litter box can quickly sour the human-animal bond. By understanding and addressing feline house soiling issues, you can bring empathy and harmony back to your client's home ...

Speakers

Dr Kat Pankratz, DVM, DACVB, Veterinary Behaviorist - Know Your Pet LLC
7:00 AM 7:50 AM
Your local time: )

A Practical Approach to Navigating Oral Tumors

Speakers

Brook Niemiec, DVM, DAVDC, DEVDC, FAVD, Chief Of Staff - Veterinary Dental Specialties
8:00 AM 8:50 AM
Your local time: )

Troubleshooting Common Anesthetic Complications

This session will discuss common perianesthetic complications and their management - Variations in temperature, heart rate and rhythm, blood pressure, pain, etc.Identify common anesthesia complication ...

Speakers

Dr Khursheed Mama, DVM, DACVAA, Professor, Anesthesia and Pain Management - Colorado State University
2:00 PM 2:50 PM
Your local time: )

New Therapeutics in Veterinary Oncology
3:00 PM 3:50 PM
Your local time: )

Session Title Coming Soon!
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10:30 AM 11:20 AM
Your local time: )

Ultrasound Guided Nerve Blocks for Limb Surgery

Speakers

Jeff Mayo, DVM, DABVP C/F, MANZCVSc (Surgery), Owner - Mayo Veterinary Services
11:30 AM 12:20 PM
Your local time: )

Anesthetic Considerations in Brachycephalic Breeds

Attendees will gain further insight to the risks presented by these patients, and how to mitigate these risks through management strategies.Anatomy and resulting risk for brachycephalic patients under ...

Speakers

Dr Khursheed Mama, DVM, DACVAA, Professor, Anesthesia and Pain Management - Colorado State University
3:00 PM 3:50 PM
Your local time: )

Surgical Complications Every General Practitioner Will See

Speakers

Dr Karan Aulakh, BVSc & AH (DVM), MS, MS, CCRP, DACVS-SA, Board-Certified Small Animal Surgeon & Co-founder - Golden State Veterinary Specialists (GSVS) – Mobile Veterinary Surgery
4:00 PM 4:50 PM
Your local time: )

Updates in Feline Interstitial Cystitis

Speakers

Harmeet Aulakh, BVSc & AH, MVSc, Diplomate of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine - Small Animal

10:20 AM 11:10 AM
Your local time: )

Bark Less, Know More: Understanding Canine Separation Anxiety

Canine separation anxiety is one of the most common behavior diagnoses in dogs. This not only causes significant distress to the dog but can significantly impact the family, fraying the human-animal b ...

Speakers

Dr Kat Pankratz, DVM, DACVB, Veterinary Behaviorist - Know Your Pet LLC
11:20 AM 12:10 PM
Your local time: )

A Practical Approach to Mammary Tumors
1:05 PM 1:55 PM
Your local time: )

Mechanism Guided Peri-Anesthetic Pain Management

Attendees will leave with knowledge of different strategies to manage peri-anesthetic pain that they may apply to their practiceBriefly review the pain pathway Understand where drugs and techniques us ...

Speakers

Dr Khursheed Mama, DVM, DACVAA, Professor, Anesthesia and Pain Management - Colorado State University
2:05 PM 2:55 PM
Your local time: )

Recent Advances in Feline Psychopharmacology: What the Evidence Tells Us

As feline behavioral medicine rapidly evolves, so does the evidence guiding psychopharmacologic treatment. This lecture highlights recent clinical research on feline psychopharmacology for the treatme ...

Speakers

Dr Kat Pankratz, DVM, DACVB, Veterinary Behaviorist - Know Your Pet LLC

9:40 AM 10:30 AM
Your local time: )

Your Practice, Your Profit: Preparing for a Successful Sale Amid Market Uncertainty
Sponsored by:

Your Practice, Your Profit: Preparing for a Successful Sale Amid Market Uncertainty explores how veterinary practice owners can maximize the value of their most important asset in today’s unpredictabl ...

Speakers

Dr Sheila Fitzpatrick, DVM, CVA, CEPA, Associate Broker, CEO - VP Veterinary Advisors & VP Veterinary Recruiters
10:50 AM 11:40 AM
Your local time: )

Session Title Coming Soon!
Sponsored by:

7:00 AM 7:50 AM
Your local time: )

Medial Patellar Luxation (MPL): Timing, Techniques, and Complications

Speakers

Dr Karan Aulakh, BVSc & AH (DVM), MS, MS, CCRP, DACVS-SA, Board-Certified Small Animal Surgeon & Co-founder - Golden State Veterinary Specialists (GSVS) – Mobile Veterinary Surgery
8:00 AM 8:50 AM
Your local time: )

Hyperlipidemia in Dogs and Cats: Clinical Approach and Management

Speakers

Harmeet Aulakh, BVSc & AH, MVSc, Diplomate of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine - Small Animal
9:00 AM 9:50 AM
Your local time: )

Approaching Limb Fractures (Case-Based)

Speakers

Dr Karan Aulakh, BVSc & AH (DVM), MS, MS, CCRP, DACVS-SA, Board-Certified Small Animal Surgeon & Co-founder - Golden State Veterinary Specialists (GSVS) – Mobile Veterinary Surgery
10:00 AM 10:50 AM
Your local time: )

Scales, Feathers, and Fur: Navigating Euthanasia in Exotic Species

Euthanasia in exotic companion animals presents unique challenges. This session will explore practical, species-appropriate approaches to euthanasia in rabbits, rodents, birds, and reptiles, with emph ...

Speakers

Dr Krista A. Keller, DVM, Dip ACZM, Associate Professor of Clinical Zoological Companion Animal Medicine - UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
11:00 AM 11:50 AM
Your local time: )

Addison’s Disease: A Practical Clinical Approach for the General Practitioner

Speakers

Harmeet Aulakh, BVSc & AH, MVSc, Diplomate of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine - Small Animal
1:00 PM 1:50 PM
Your local time: )

Diseases of the Iris & Anterior Chamber

Speakers

Dr Jamie Lembo

7:00 AM 7:50 AM
Your local time: )

Proteinuria: Diagnosis, Clinical Significance, and Management

Speakers

Harmeet Aulakh, BVSc & AH, MVSc, Diplomate of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine - Small Animal
8:00 AM 8:50 AM
Your local time: )

Getting to the Root of It: Dental Abscess Management in Rabbits

Dental abscessation is a common and often challenging condition in rabbits, characterized by chronic infection, caseous debris, and frequent recurrence. Effective management requires a thorough unders ...

Speakers

Dr Krista A. Keller, DVM, Dip ACZM, Associate Professor of Clinical Zoological Companion Animal Medicine - UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
9:00 AM 9:50 AM
Your local time: )

Becoming Comfortable with Lymph Node Cytology

Speakers

Jackie Brady, DVM, MS, DACVP, Clinical Pathologist
10:00 AM 10:50 AM
Your local time: )

A Practical Approach to Navigating Stifle Disease

Speakers

Dr Karan Aulakh, BVSc & AH (DVM), MS, MS, CCRP, DACVS-SA, Board-Certified Small Animal Surgeon & Co-founder - Golden State Veterinary Specialists (GSVS) – Mobile Veterinary Surgery
11:00 AM 11:50 AM
Your local time: )

A Practical Approach to Non-Healing Ulcers

Speakers

Dr Jamie Lembo
1:00 PM 1:50 PM
Your local time: )

Outpatient Management of Canine Pancreatitis

Speakers

Harmeet Aulakh, BVSc & AH, MVSc, Diplomate of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine - Small Animal

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