Thursday Schedule

MVMA President, Dr. Rob Memmen, and MAVT President, Amanda Kriesel, MA, CVT, welcome you to the 2026 Annual Conference!

Our ability to feel safe to share ideas, to grow from failure, and to be honest with empathy allows our team to bypass the “interpersonal mush” that can exist otherwise. A sense of belonging, ability to be vulnerable, and strong interpersonal relationships are the initial ingredients to create this environment. We can assess psychological safety in a team using different tools. If psychological safety is lacking, we can help foster it using specific interventions, including civility and growth mindset work.

This presentation provides a nationwide snapshot of how small ruminant operations are managed today, drawing on data from the USDA NAHMS Sheep 2024 and Goat 2019 studies. This presentation highlights key trends and benchmarks in flock and herd management, including breeding strategies, lamb and kid health, identification, and biosecurity practices. By examining differences across regions, operation sizes, and production types, it offers valuable insight into the evolving landscape of the U.S. sheep and goat industries.

What is a complaint, how to register a complaint, how to respond to a complaint, potential outcomes, and the Boards authority.

Currently, data exists on (literally) millions of dogs & cats that address the risks associated with vaccine adverse events (reactions). But, there exists a paucity of information in the veterinary literature regarding the TYPES of VACCINES REACTIONS that occur in companion animal practice. This lecture will not only categorize the types of reactions that can occur but provides a number of graphic examples….along with recommendations on preventing, or managing, vaccine adverse reactions.

Dr. Joe will discuss a dairy-beef case study in detail. Together we will find an initial solution for the BRD outbreak and then investigate a similar outbreak over a year later after the initial solution appears to fail.

“Soft tissue injury” is a generic diagnosis and many patients with muscle injury do not respond to rest and NSAIDs. You will be provided tools to diagnose a muscle strain, grades of strains can be inferred from physical examination, and this will aid decision for referral.

At the end of this session you will be able to: -Recall the most common cardiac diseases in dogs and cats and be familiar with the available tools for diagnosing and assessing cardiac diseases. -Understand what the NT-proBNP diagnostic test is and how it can play an important role in your patients’ cardiac disease evaluations. -Recognize how the inclusion of NT-proBNP benefitted the patients in the case studies presented. -Identify opportunities in your own practice for adding the NT-proBNP test when assessing patients with signs of cardiac disease or when screening those that may be at a higher risk for cardiac-related complications.

Veterinary Technicians and others trained on-the-job applying for licensure this year will need a total of five affidavits, two of which must be from actively licensed veterinarians. Find out all about the two different affidavit templates, how to complete the affidavits, potential liability exposure, and how to get affidavits notarized. We’ll go over the MVMA supplied templates in detail as well as answer your licensing questions.

We will cover essential official identification (ID) requirements (e.g., USDA 840 tags, RFID’s, ear notching with registration papers, Premises Identification Numbers) and the importance of having an accompanying Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) for interstate movement. Key topics include implementing effective biosecurity measures before, during, and after an event, such as daily health monitoring, not sharing equipment, proper sanitation, and establishing an isolation plan for returning animals. Learn the signs of a sick pig and the proper procedures for reporting health concerns to ensure the health of the animals and the broader swine industry. We will also discuss the process and steps taken during a Foreign Animal Disease Investigation (FADI).

Poor husbandry contributes to many reptile diseases, and educating clients is a significant part of preventative reptile medicine. This presentation will highlight some of the important components of appropriate husbandry, particularly nutrition, for commonly maintained reptile species and how inappropriate husbandry can lead to significant changes to the overall health of reptiles.

This presentation centers on one of the most common, yet under-diagnosed, respiratory conditions in adult dogs: chronic lower airway disease. When the cough is determined NOT to be associated with pneumonia, neoplasia, or cardiac disease, chronic airway disease is a key consideration. The presentation focuses on practical diagnostic strategies and long-term management considerations designed to prevent potentially serious complications associated with chronic cough and lower airway collapse.

Session will review basic principles of Growth Promotion Implants, the new FDA regulations on reimplantation, as well as label updates for products labeled for reimplantation.  Participants should come away with general approaches on how to choose different implants for different cattle types and situations. 

Case-based presentation to aid understanding in the discipline of sports medicine which is crowded with paraprofessionals. Cases will include acute and chronic sports related injuries, tips and tricks in finding these injuries as a primary care practitioner, and generalized treatment plans.

At the end of this session you will be able to: -Discuss prevalence, pathogenesis, and diagnostic testing options for FeLV, FIV, and Feline heartworm -Understand prevention strategies for each disease -Discuss management strategies for infected cats

The science and study of character strengths is the backbone of modern positive psychology. We are most efficient and effective when leaning into our “neurologic superpowers”, or character strengths. Assessment of character strengths and working to utilize our signature strengths serve to keep us engaged at work, home and life. The concepts of repletion & self-regulation are examined, as well as ways to increase them all. When our team members are aware and use their character strengths at work, they experience significantly higher levels of engagement and flourishing.

This session will provide an update of current events and new findings in the world of swine foreign animal diseases that are relevant to veterinary practitioners. This session is informed by lessons learned through the University of Minnesota Center for Animal Health and Food Safety’s international ongoing research and outreach activities.

Conflict isn’t the problem, unspoken needs are. This session discusses how neurodiversity shapes the way team members perceive and respond to tension. By understanding different “fight languages” and communication patterns, leaders and peers can prevent emotional breakdowns before they happen. You’ll explore practical tools for de-escalating conflict, reading the cues behind silence or defensiveness, and transforming disagreement into collaboration. Attendees will gain language and frameworks for managing emotionally charged moments with empathy and clarity, creating safer, more productive team dynamics. Because when every brain feels seen, conflict becomes fuel for connection instead of friction.

Veterinary advancements in the application of anesthetics and analgesics to reptile species have been particularly significant during the past 2 decades. This presentation will emphasize effective approaches to sedating, anesthetizing and providing analgesia to commonly maintained reptile species.

This presentation explores the hidden but significant toll internal parasites take on sheep productivity, health, and profitability. This presentation highlights the biology, life cycles, and transmission dynamics of common gastrointestinal nematodes and liver flukes, emphasizing how climate, grazing management, and anthelmintic resistance shape infection patterns today.

This presentation will discuss important economic diseases that impact sheep and goat operations. Drawing on recent national data and field observations, this presentation explores the cost and management implications of key health challenges, including gastrointestinal parasites, enteric pathogens, and footrot. It also highlights trends in veterinary involvement, antibiotic stewardship, and preventive health strategies that influence both flock performance and profitability.

While diagnostic techniques applied to reptiles tend to be similar to those applied to mammals, interpretation of results can be more difficult and sometimes downright confusing. This presentation will focus on commonly used diagnostic techniques and how best to try to interpret results. In addition, basic supportive care and appropriate antimicrobial administration will be included in this presentation.

This clinical update stresses several key issues pertaining to the diagnosis, management, and prevention of retroviral infections (FeLV & FIV) in the cat.  Emphasis is placed on long-term patient management as it relates to pathogenesis of infection, interpretation of diagnostic test results, the practical side of FeLV vaccination decisions, and (new) use and interpretation of the latest testing platform to assess prognosis the FeLV-infected patient. 

“Toxic” has become a convenient label but what if it’s often wrong? This session breaks down the six most common cognitive biases that lead leaders to misjudge behavior, especially in neurodivergent or misunderstood team members. You’ll unpack how confirmation bias, attribution error, and other mental shortcuts shape perceptions of performance and professionalism. Through real-world veterinary scenarios, you’ll learn to separate patterns of harm from patterns of difference and replace judgment with informed curiosity. This session will help leaders move from labeling to leading, developing a culture where accountability and inclusion can coexist. Because true leadership isn’t about naming the problem, it’s about seeing the person behind it.

Coming Soon…

We will cover topics related to the Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) and Theileria orientalis including identification, transmission, symptoms of infection and how to establish endemic stability within herds. Tick identification and integrated pest management options will be discussed as well as correct insecticide application and rotation.

The science and study of character strengths is the backbone of modern positive psychology. We are most efficient and effective when leaning into our “neurologic superpowers”, or character strengths. Assessment of character strengths and working to utilize our signature strengths serve to keep us engaged at work, home and life. The concepts of repletion & self-regulation are examined, as well as ways to increase them all. When our team members are aware and use their character strengths at work, they experience significantly higher levels of engagement and flourishing.

Inherited myopathies and neuropathies can lead to detrimental changes to our patient’s longevity and quality of life. With the advancement of Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) in veterinary medicine, we now have a tool to use in conjunction with muscle and nerve biopsies to identify specific gene variants that are damaging to our patients and can hopefully lead to elimination of these variants from breeding populations. In this presentation, we will discuss how the clinical utilization of muscle and nerve biopsies and WGS led to the discovery of 1) Two novel variants in CLCN1 and PDE4C in French Bulldogs that is associated with muscle hypertrophy, dysphagia and gait abnormalities; and 2) A CNTNAP1 missense variant associated with laryngeal paralysis and polyneuropathy in young Great Danes.

At the end of this session you will be able to: -Identify indications for testing dogs for tick-borne infections. -Review testing options for tick-borne infections. -Review clinical signs, laboratory abnormalities and methods for interpreting results associated with tick-borne infections. -Discuss case studies associated with tick-borne infections

This interactive panel discussion will delve into the complex challenges and innovative approaches to sustaining a robust veterinary workforce in rural communities. Panelists will explore complex challenges and practical strategies for recruitment, retention, and long-term support that meet the evolving needs of practitioners, producers, and communities alike. Rural veterinary professionals are essential to protecting animal health, ensuring food safety, safeguarding public health, and supporting the economic vitality of rural and agricultural regions.

Feline Coronavirus (FeCoV) infections, although very common among cats, can and do lead to the disease we call: Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)…a highly fatal infection associated with a uniquely virulent form of FeCoV called the “FIP virus” (FIPV). Clearly among the most biologically complex viral infections to infect domestic cats, this presentation addresses the spectrum of clinical signs associated with “wet” and “dry” forms of FIP, challenges associated with establishing a diagnosis, population management, and now…treatment options? (“remdesivir” in cats?…a look at nucleoside analogues in the treatment of FIP).

Have you ever noticed how some clinic systems only work when everything goes perfectly? The Toilet Paper Principle challenges that assumption by asking a simple question: Is everything your team needs within arms reach, especially on their hardest day? This session introduces universal design as a leadership framework for creating veterinary workplaces that are functional, accessible, and inclusive for every brain and body. You’ll learn how small design shifts in workflow, communication, and environment can dramatically improve efficiency, reduce burnout, and help your team thrive without constant accommodation requests. Participants will leave with actionable strategies to redesign systems that support everyone, because great medicine starts when no one is left reaching.

We will address the northward expansion of the New World screwworm (Cochliomyia homnivorax) and the potential for reinvasion of the US. Life cycle, infestation monitoring, sterile insect technique and state response plans will be discussed as well as answers to questions frequently asked by producers to help you with client discussions moving forward.

Unlike the earlier presentation, which focused on some of the common husbandry-related diseases, this presentation will focus on several of the common infectious and other non-infectious diseases in reptiles.

This lecture will give an overview of the common bacterial, fungal, parasitic, viral, immune-mediated, nutritional, and hereditary dermatologic conditions that occur in small ruminants. It will also discuss diagnostic approaches to confirming which disease process is present.

Effective cross-cultural communication begins with understanding ourselves. This session invites veterinary professionals to explore how personal and social identities, values, and biases shape perceptions, interactions, and decisions in practice. Through guided reflection and discussion, participants will examine how their own “lens” influences client and team communication. The session also introduces strategies for bias awareness, grounding, and emotional regulation, helping participants build self-awareness as the foundation for empathy, cultural humility, and sustainable compassion in veterinary care.

With the release of new drugs in the Janus Kinase Inhibitors class for treatment of atopic dermatitis, we will discuss how they compare and contrast to Apoquel. Highlighted will be how the mechanisms of the drugs differ which might lead to slightly different applications and side effects, and most importantly when to choose one drug over the other in clinical practice.

At the end of this session you will be able to: -Understand the prevalence of cancer in dogs -Recall the clinical presentation of canine lymphoma -Explain IDEXX Cancer Dx™ testing and how it can be used in practice for at-risk sick and well patients -Compare performance and utilization of other oncology diagnostics with IDEXX Cancer Dx testing

What is Your Diagnosis: The Lumpy Ferret-This session describes a case regarding a 14 month old jill that presented for multiple subcutaneous masses along her mammary chain. Presentation will cover patient history, specific health concerns related to ferrets, histopathological diagnosis, and incidental findings. The Effects of Enrichment Options on Measures of Sheep and Pig Welfare in a Research Environment-Findings for a resident research project testing the effects of various enrichment devices on pigs and sheep and evaluating how they affect behavior, time budgets and physiological markers of stress. The findings from this project are intended to help research facilities prioritize their funds to purchase enrichment devices for agricultural species that maximize welfare benefits. Transient Lymphadenopathy in Pigs: A Model for Breast Cancer Research-This session discusses the development of a swine model to replicate transient reactive lymphadenopathy, mirroring favorable response of metastatic axillary lymph nodes to neoadjuvant systemic therapy in patients with breast cancer. Such a model is crucial for refining the use and detection of fiducial markers, which are essential for targeting lymph nodes during de-escalation axillary surgery in humans. The goal of this study is to develop a reproducible model of resolving reactive lymphadenopathy to advance surgical techniques that reduce morbidity, like extremity lymphedema, in patients with breast cancer. What’s Your Diagnosis?-This case-based session will guide participants through the diagnostic approach, including relevant differentials and interpretation of clinical findings of a tree shrew with non-specific respiratory signs.

As the human-animal bond has evolved through time, so too has veterinary care and creative patient management. Among other various practice evolutions, our veterinary pharmacies have grown to include a myriad of well targeted drugs in a vast array of formulations to accommodate ease of administration for our animal owners. Through a case-based approach, we will discuss the toxicological consequences of palatable and flavored veterinary pharmaceutical overdoses. We’ll more closely assess the consequences and management of flavored or chewable oclacitinib maleate (Apoquel®), NSAID, antibiotic, phenylpropanolamine (PPA, Proin®), and joint supplement overdose ingestions.

Coming Soon…

We will take a tour of the oral cavity, how to examine, document, discuss, and treat common (and maybe not so common) oral health concerns. How is a technician vital to this process?

Dr. Anderson will present draft legislation developed by the MVMA Small Animal Welfare Committee to amend Minnesota laws for licensure and regulation of dog and cat shelters, rescues, dealers, and breeders. Topics for discussion will include licensing requirements, provisions for foster care providers, data transparency and privacy concerns, consumer protection, requirements for facilities, standards of care, provisions for socialization and enrichment, and enforcement. Further discussion will focus on possible solutions for dealing with the tens of thousands of dogs imported into Minnesota from southern states each year that are infected with heartworm disease.

An interactive session informing attendees of Cambridge Technologies capabilities to produce autogenous vaccines for small ruminants. Specific points to be covered include: history of Cambridge, disease causing organisms currently being manufactured into vaccine/bacterin. autogenous regulations and how to manage at the practitioner level and collaborations and working relationships.

This session focuses on the communication, trust, and understanding that form the foundation of effective veterinary practice. Participants will explore how culture, background, and personal experience shape client expectations, decision-making, and views of care. Through guided reflection, attendees will explore strategies to communicate respectfully and effectively across cultural, socioeconomic, generational, linguistic, and worldview differences. Emphasizing empathy and cultural humility, this session equips veterinary professionals with skills to build rapport, strengthen trust, and improve collaboration with both clients and colleagues in diverse care settings.

Despite the routine use of vaccines against viral upper respiratory disease in cats (feline herpesvirus-1 and calicivirus) these 2 viruses are still recognized as the cause of over 90% of respiratory disease affecting cats. While acute-onset feline viral upper respiratory disease is commonly seen among kittens housed in multiple cat household/shelters…it is the adult chronic carrier cat that poses the greatest threat to the population of susceptible cats and kittens. This presentation addresses the clinical identification of chronic carrier cats (you see them regularly in practice), long term management options, and the role of vaccination in preventing infection…Why are so many cats infected…yet so many cats are vaccinated? Just how effective are FHV-FCV vaccines??

Understanding reptile anatomy is an important component of providing quality surgical management of reptile diseases. This presentation will focus on surgical preparation and descriptions of surgical procedures in commonly maintained reptile species.

During this session we review of the diagnostic investigation and diagnosis of HPAI in dairy cattle

Hyperlipidemia, seen as an incidental finding in dogs and cats can, in fact, result in significant clinical illness…and occasionally death. Although multiple types of hyperlipidemia occur in companion animals, the majority of patients manifesting clinical signs have a common, easily recognized problem: hypertriglyceridemia. Abdominal discomfort and vomiting, with or without diarrhea (“pseudopancreatitis”), and (rarely) seizures, are clinical findings reported in affected dogs. Neurologic disorders (paresis) are more likely in cats with familial hypertriglyceridemia. This presentation addresses a number of key factors in establishing a diagnosis and long-term management options for the hypertriglyceridemic patient.

Understanding ventilation and the use of capnography is an important part of monitoring anesthesia. We will discuss the physiology of ventilation, production of CO2 as well as explain why and how to monitor. We will also touch on oxygenation and mechanical ventilation, along with their physiological effects on the body.

In this session, representatives from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) will share timely updates on key developments shaping the future of veterinary care. Discussion topics will include barriers to accessing care, the growing role of emerging technologies, and ongoing efforts to better support and integrate veterinary technicians within practice teams. The session will begin with a look at the AVMA’s upcoming comprehensive online resource center, designed to help practices navigate common barriers to care. This new platform will offer practical, adaptable tools and guidance that can be customized to meet the needs of your practice and your clients. Attendees will also learn about the AVMA’s leadership in emerging technologies, with particular attention to the work of the Task Force on Emerging Technologies and Innovation (TF-ETI). The task force is developing practical tools and resources to help veterinarians ethically and responsibly integrate artificial intelligence (AI) and other innovations into their practices—supporting improved patient care, greater efficiency, and more effective workflows. The session will conclude with an emphasis on the essential role of veterinary technicians in addressing workforce challenges and enhancing veterinary care. Discussion will highlight how fully utilizing the talents of credentialed technicians eliminates the need for a midlevel practitioner. The AVMA will also review recent policy changes—such as Minnesota’s transition from volunteer certification (CVTs) to mandatory licensure (LVTs)—and how these advancements contribute to elevating the technician profession and strengthening veterinary teams

We will offer small ruminant stakeholders a comprehensive overview of laboratory diagnostic strategies by integrating current peer-reviewed literature with practical insights from the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL). Drawing from recent publications in leading veterinary journals, the seminar will highlight advancements in serological and molecular testing, explore diagnostic challenges in both field and laboratory settings, and showcase innovations in disease detection for conditions such as Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE), Ovine Progressive Pneumonia (OPP), parasitic infections, and respiratory illnesses. Participants will also review diagnostic trends based on VDL case data from the past five years, with focused discussion on issues and resolutions related to OPP/CAE testing. In addition, the session will introduce new testing initiatives and disease-specific panels available at the VDL, equipping attendees with practical knowledge in sample handling, test interpretation, and the application of emerging diagnostic tools to improve herd health and disease management.

Amphibian patients showing up in your clinical practice may seem intimidating. To help conquer your initial fears, this presentation will describe practical approaches to chemical restraint, diagnostic techniques and common diseases in amphibians that you can get comfortable using in practice.

Detecting cancer early can often improve outcomes and reduce the cost and intensity of treatments needed. Even if prognosis or the owner’s final decision on treatment is not affected, knowledge of the diagnosis can still empower clients to make the most informed medical decisions for their pets and can help veterinarians provide the best medical management. We’ll cover the current animal cancer screening tests on the market, review what they can (and can’t!) tell us, and provide information to help general practitioners know when these tests are most appropriate to use.

Handling mice by the tail has been an unofficial standard practice for decades. But several publications over the past 15 years have shown this negatively impacts mice and the data they produce. Despite the strong evidence, people and programs can be resistant to change. I will share our program’s ongoing journey to change minds about the best way to change mouse cages. In this session you will learn what refined handling of mice entails, how it benefits animals and science, and how you can bring this practice to your facilities.

During this session we will review of research findings to date and a discussion of the many still unanswered questions regarding this disease.

Coming Soon…