Opening Session (presented on June 10th)
Dean Daniel Givens
Sponsored by Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
"SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: A comparative virology perspective"
This program will review coronaviruses of veterinary and human importance. Emphasis will be placed on understanding host range, potential for transmission, pathophysiology, effective diagnostic methodologies, and vaccination strategies for these coronaviruses. Comparison among coronaviruses and the recently emerged SARS-CoV-2 will be highlighted.
Friday Sessions (presented on June 11th)
Small Animal
Dr. Amy Learn
8:00am | "Behavior Disorders Are Such a Pain: Part 1, How Pain Contributes to Bad Behavior"
In the first lecture, we will discuss in-depth what pain is, the pain pathway, how pain is modulated, how some of the common neurotransmitters targeted by behavioral medications are involved, and how to determine whether the problem is medical in nature or both medical and behavioral.
9:30am | "Behavior Disorders Are Such a Pain: Part 2, Current Treatment Options"
In the second hour, we will continue our discussion on pain and behavior. This session will begin with what the future holds for pain control. The remainder will include several case studies where pain contributed to a behavior problem including presenting complaints, diagnostics, and therapies instituted.
Dr. Bobbi Conner
Sponsored by Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
10:50am | "Respiratory Emergencies"
It is common for dogs and cats to present in varying degrees of respiratory distress, and these patients can be quite fragile. We often must make treatment decisions on limited information. Using a variety of patient videos and other images, we will review how you can get more out of your patient assessment and make informed decisions on limited data. Tips for handling a variety of common and not-so-common respiratory emergencies will be discussed, using a case-based lecture approach.
11:50am | "Fluids & the Kidney: Myths & Mistakes"
Renal insufficiency is one of the most commonly encountered issues in our canine and feline patients, and there are common misunderstandings about the role of fluid therapy in kidney disease. In this presentation, we will discuss several myths about giving fluids in patients with azotemia, focusing on those with renal injury. We will explore why fluid therapy is not a treatment for renal failure and how a better understanding of the benefits and potential harms caused by fluids can lead to improved outcomes.
Lunch and Learn: Dr. Holly Roberts
Sponsored by Boehringer-Ingelheim Animal Health
12:50pm | "Ear Nightmares: Management of Otic Disease in Veterinary Medicine"
Clinical signs of otitis are among the top reasons for veterinary visits. This presentation will be a review of ear anatomy as well as the 3 Ps (primary, predisposing, perpetuating causes) of otitis in the veterinary patient. Management of acute and chronic ear infections will also be discussed.
Dr. Holly Roberts
Sponsored by Boehringer-Ingelheim Animal Health
2:10pm | "Dermatology Headaches: Diagnosing and Treating Atopic Dermatitis in the Veterinary Patient"
Allergic skin disease can lead to pruritus, secondary infection, and skin lesions in both canine and feline patients. Although it is one of the most commonly reported reasons for veterinary visits, skin allergies can prove to be challenging to work up as clinical signs can vary in individual patients. This presentation will provide a basic outline regarding the allergy workup including addressing secondary infections, parasites, cutaneous adverse food reactions, and environmental atopic dermatitis.
Equine
Dr. Ann Rashmir
8:00am | "Introduction to equine skin tumors and their impersonators
This lecture will provide a step–by-step review of case-centered techniques which will aid in the diagnosis and treatment of common equine skin tumors and other conditions. The attending veterinarian will obtain the tools and techniques necessary to diagnose and treat a wide variety of tumors and other common equine skin disorders.
9:30am | "Equine Sarcoid: The good, the bad and the ugly."
A cased based, evidenced based review of the diagnosis and management of equine sarcoids. Exemplar cases will be used in an interactive manor to ensure the attendee will have a working knowledge of appropriate treatments for sarcoids of multiple types and locations.
10:50am | "Evidence based diagnosis and treatment of melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, mast cell tumors and other equine skin tumors"
Evidenced based and case based diagnosis and treatment of multiple types of equine skin tumors.
11:50am | Other annoying skin problems of the horse"
Updates on both the day-to-day problems associated with equine skin disease that can be plague the equine practitioner and frustrate the client along with some unusual cases that will benefit from early recognition.
Dr. Sophie Bogers
Sponsored by Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
2:10pm | "Approach to the Upper Airway in the Field "
This session will provide a general overview of approaches to the diagnosis of upper airway conditions. The use of endoscopy, radiography and ultrasound to distinguish between commonly confused conditions will be discussed. The indications and techniques for field upper airway surgery including tracheostomy and sinus trephination will be discussed.
3:00pm | "Fractures in the Field: A Practical Guide to Stabilization "
This session will discuss practical tips for management of the acute fracture patient and provides practical guidance for stabilizing fractures with case-based discussion.
Dr. Becky Funk
Sponsored by Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
4:10pm | "Evidence Behind Alternative Medicine"
This lecture will discuss the research evidence for common alternative medicine practice such as acupuncture, chiropractic, and Chinese medicine.
Public Practice
Dr. Kevin Lahmers
8:00am | "Current understanding of Theileria orientalis and the Asian Longhorned tick in the Mid-Atlantic region"
Since being discovered in the US in late 2017, the Asian Longhorned tick and Theileria orientalis Ikeda have been geographically linked. We have confirmed the transmission of Ikeda by the tick and have new data indicating an increased range and prevalence of Theileria orientalis. Dr. Lahmers will present new data and discuss what may be on the horizon.
Dr. Megan Kirchgessner
9:00am | "Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease"
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus serotype 2 (RHDV2) is a highly lethal Calicivirus that affects all domestic and wild lagomorphs. It is classified as a foreign animal disease in the United States and is not zoonotic. RHDV2 was first detected in France in 2010 and has since replaced the original RHDV1 strain in many European countries. In 2015 RHDV2 was detected in Australia and spread across the continent (approximately 3 million square miles) in 18 months. In North America, RHDV2 was first diagnosed on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, in 2018. It has since been diagnosed sporadically in domestic rabbits in various parts of the United States and in April 2020, RHDV2 was diagnosed for the first time in wild rabbits in North America. As of January 2021, RHDV2 has been confirmed in wild rabbits in eight states in the southwestern US. Field observations consistent with RHDV2 include multiple dead rabbits (i.e. greater than three) found in close proximity over a short period of time, oftentimes with no outward signs of illness. Carcasses are often observed out in the open rather than under cover and dead rabbits may exhibit frothy, bright red blood around the nose and mouth. The virus spreads easily and rapidly through rabbit populations and over 80% of infected rabbits may die from RHDV2, potentially causing severe local or landscape-level rabbit population declines. This presentation will cover the epidemiology of RHDV2 and include measures taken by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources to minimize the risk of RHDV2 introduction into and spread within the Commonwealth.
Dr. Sarah Firebaugh
10:50am | "USDA APHIS National Veterinary Accreditation Program (NVAP) Module 12: Animal Disease Traceability."
This module will: list the official identification devices and methods used for different livestock species; explain why documentation of interstate movement of livestock is necessary for effective traceability; and describe the responsibilities of an accredited veterinarian with respect to ADT, specifically Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). This lecture will count as one module for USDA NVAP Accreditation renewal.
Dr. Mark Crisman
1:00pm | "Vaccine Development 101"
Veterinary vaccine development and licensure is a complex process that is administered by the USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics. This discussion will focus on drivers for vaccine development, timelines and licensing elements. This is a timely topic given the recent rapid development for a human vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 and the issues that were involved.
Dr. Brandy Darby and Dr. Julia Murphy
2:10pm | "COVID-19 Updates"
Dr. Carolynn Bissett (VDACS), Dr. Megan Kirchgessner (VDGIF), Leslie Knachel, MPH (BoVM), Dr. Julia Murphy (VDH), Dr. Sarah Firebaugh (USDA), Dr. Terry Swecker (VMCVM)
3:00pm | "News Hour Panel"
Updates from state agencies/organizations
Dr. Charlie Broaddus
4:10pm |"Experiences as a Military Veterinarian"
Dr. Broaddus has served in the US Army Reserve Veterinary Corps since 2015. In this presentation, he will provide an overview of opportunities available for veterinarians in the US military, as well as provide a report on his recent deployment experiences in Afghanistan.
Food Animal
Dr. Chris Chase
Sponsored by Boehringer-Ingelheim Animal Health
8:00am | "Vaccines and vaccination programs-Fine tuning the immune system so we don't have too much of a good thing?"
This session will review the basics of vaccine immunolooogy protocols and will also critique protocols. This talk will also provide background on cytokine storm- a perfect storm that involves a physiological component (negative energy balance) along with microbiome changes in the gut (diet change) resulting in severe respiratory disease. In the end it affects inflammatory pathways, which results in enhanced disease.
Dr. Brad Thacker
Sponsored by Merck
10:30am | "Current Topics in Swine Medicine"
This session will provide an overview of current topics that are impacting swine production and the practice of swine medicine. In addition, diagnostic strategies and methods for managing herd level disease outbreaks will be presented.
1:00pm | "Diagnosing and Treating Common Diseases & Conditions in Swine"
Common diseases and conditions encountered in swine will be discussed with diagnosing the case and formulating treatment strategies at the farm level. Situations impacting individual pigs will be emphasized.
Dr. Brandon Treichler
2:10 pm| "Value of Diagnostics to Practice & Client"
Diagnostics can make us better practitioners and can help guide clients decision making in ways that allow us to build better prevention, diagnosis and treatment programs and lead to increased efficiencies that can make a difference in the increasingly competitive global dairy market. In this talk we will look at the value of diagnostics, approaches to discussing them with your clients, how to better utilize the results and finally how to set up milk quality labs either on the dairy or refine those within your practice.
4:10pm |"Building Practical Milk Quality Into Practice"
Milk Quality and Milk Components remain one of the few ways producers have a direct way to impact the value of their milk. No matter what a dairies current milk quality may be, or how any potential quality bonuses may be structured, veterinarians can help dairies improve profitability through incorporating milk quality into their service offering. This discussion will discuss how practitioners can begin to build milk quality into their practices and what types of services can be a part of those program offerings.
