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Saturday Schedule
Minneapolis, MN
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Jan. 29 - Feb. 1, 2025
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150+ CE Hours
When it comes to the diagnosis and long-term management of feline and canine osteoarthritis, owners need our help. In this talk, Dr. Nikko Grossapoulos will focus on how we as hospital teams can help owners through our methods of screening, diagnosing, treating and following up on treatment response.
When you combine compassion, an affection for caring for the sick and elderly, and some good old fashioned knowhow, any veterinarian can offer hospice services. The fundamentals of care are forged with strong medical principles and philosophies of care to ensure the pet patient’s needs are always being met. In this hour, we will help you get familiar with what hospice and palliative care entails so you can confidently explain it to clients and offer basic services to patients.
Patients presenting in respiratory distress are often veterinarian’s biggest source of anxiety. In this lecture we will discuss practical approaches to localization of respiratory problems which can help expedite care.
We’ve all learned about the “socialization” period for puppies and kittens and how impactful life experiences during that window of time can be for an individual patient. We’ve all experienced the puppy or kitten who returned as an adolescent or young adult with a seemingly different personality or response to veterinary care. And we’ve all heard clients tell us their pet “just wasn’t the same after being neutered”. What is the science behind these phenomena? How accurate might these observations in behavior change may be? How do breed and genetics play a role? And how can you help reduce the potential for life-long deleterious consequences in your adolescent patients? This talk will review our current understanding of behavioral development stages, multiple “sensitive” periods, and simple interventions to help support patients and clients if and when these concerns arise.
Our work environment is one that has high emotion. This is something that not only affects the nurses in the practice, but also the doctors. We often discuss dealing with support staff, however, we don’t routinely discuss dealing with doctors, as this is a delicate subject. In this topic we will cover various types of personalities, and communication styles. In understanding these personalities and communications styles, we can gain a better understanding of our doctor, and the staff around us. We can learn that changing how we respond to situations, can change the atmosphere and attitude of those around us. We will also cover self care, conflict resolution, as well as looking inward to determine the source of difficulty.
Starting January 1, 2026, Minnesota will implement a Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) law that provides most employees with paid leave benefits. The law provides benefits for various types of leave, including personal medical leave, family care, and bonding with a new child. Employers are required to either participate in the state’s PFML program or offer a private plan that meets or exceeds the state’s requirements. As an employer, understanding your responsibilities and options for compliance is crucial. This session will cover how the new law impacts you, steps for preparation, key dates, and the benefits of choosing between a private carrier plan and the state program.
This presentation will summarize 25 years of blastomycosis infections in animals in Minnesota. Key topics include descriptive epidemiology of cases and outcomes, outbreak summaries, trends in diagnostic testing, changing geography of exposure locations, and how animal surveillance helps inform risk to people in Minnesota.
When providing patient care, we can approach it in a variety of ways. In animal hospice situations requiring palliative care, the best approach is the one that alleviates suffering, both physical and mental, as completely as possible. We use a variety of tools, such as medicine, supplements, physical therapies, and more to manage a patient’s symptoms. If one does not work, we switch to another and if necessary, such as with painful conditions, we may start with more than one approach right away. It all depends on our patient’s needs and good medical support to stay ahead of discomfort and distress. We anticipate the patient’s needs early on and prepare the team to act swiftly and efficiently.
And of course we must care for the entire patient. Animal hospice patients include both the pet and the caregiver. In this paper, we will explore the emotional needs of the pet and caregiver as well as the physical needs of the pet. There is much to be learned on these topics, but here we will focus on more common situations and symptoms.
For many years, we have been taught that asthma is the most common respiratory disease in cats. However, this does not mean that it is the only respiratory disease cats get. In this lecture we will discuss many other differentials for cats presenting for evaluation of respiratory signs.
Coming Soon.
This session will piece apart the components of a quality of life consultation, how to offer this to clients, market the new service and perform a gentle and honest consultation with families ready to consider end of life options for their pet. We’ll discuss in person and virtual consultations, review helpful end of life tools such as quality of life scales and pain scales and review some case studies to help you navigate these difficult conversations.
Workforce turnover in the veterinary field is expensive and disruptive. Indeed, the Society for Human Resource Management has determined that, on average, employers, including veterinary practices, will need to spend the equivalent of six to nine months of an employees salary to find and train an appropriate replacement. And those are just the direct costs. Workforce turnover also results in lost and lower productivity, lower morale, and less overall engagement from remaining employees. In addition, in today’s labor market recruiting and finding an appropriate replacement for a trusted employee can be extremely difficult. Thus, it is incumbent upon veterinary practice owners, veterinarians, and practice managers to do whatever they can to retain and care for their team. Not surprisingly, aside from inadequate salary, the top reason great employees report for quitting is inadequate benefits. This is unfortunate, but it also provides an opportunity for engaged veterinary practice owners, veterinarians, and practice managers because a well-designed and well-promoted 401 (k) plan can be a powerful tool to help retain and care for current employees and to recruit new, top talent.This presentation will provide veterinary practice owners, veterinarians, and practice managers with critical information so that they can start to digest, understand, and seek to implement the best in class features that 401 (k) plans can offer. Among other items, this presentation will help veterinary practice owners, veterinarians, and practice managers to understand: What? What features are available in 401 (k) plans that can help to recruit, retain, and care for great employees, including features that have been around, available, and effective for many years and features that are newly available, or will be available soon, via Secure 2.0.How? How can veterinary practice owners, veterinarians, and practice managers effectively inform current employees and potential new hires of the meaningful features and benefits of their 401 (k) plan, including through initial on-boarding, regular education, on-going internal and external messaging, and the appropriate use of gift cards and other small financial incentives. When? Some meaningful and effective recruiting and retention-related 401 (k) features must be instituted by certain deadlines. And some may require plan amendments. Veterinary practice owners, veterinarians, and practice managers will learn what steps to take and when they must be taken to implement positive change.Employee turnover is a big problem and no one thing will ever provide a silver bullet solution. But employee benefits matter. And a better understanding of the significant recruiting and retention power of a well-designed and well-promoted 401 (k) plan can make a big difference. Moreover, if a veterinary practice already has a 401 (k) plan then many of these features may already be available or be relatively easy to institute. And, if not, then setting up a 401 (k) plan is generally straightforward and the most beneficial features can be included and leveraged right from the start.
Topics included in this session include a high-level overview of PFAS – What is it? Where is it? Where did it come from? How are pets exposed and should we be worried about it? We will review preliminary results from the ongoing Pet Exposure Assessment and Health Outcome Study based in Michigan. Finally, we will explore PFAS testing and information resources available for Minnesota veterinarians.
Choosing to end the life of a beloved and loyal companion is a responsibility that many people are unable to bear. This makes it particularly challenging to navigate conversations surrounding decision making for euthanasia. How can you handle these difficult discussions with clients by leading with compassion and empathy, while still advocating for your patients to prevent unnecessary suffering. This lecture will give you some leading questions and supportive statements to create an open and honest dialogue, to allow these clients to say goodbye without fear and regret but with grace and dignity.
This session will review new strategies in the diagnosis, treatment and management of common respiratory problems including pneumonia, brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome and common sequelae based on recent literature.
Coming Soon.
This topic outlines the emerging roles of veterinary technicians in large animal medicine as a valuable asset to the equine and large animal veterinary practice. The session sheds light on the opportunities for technicians to apply their skill set to the aspect of farm and equine medicine.
Provide a basic understanding of financial statements and what they are trying to tell you. Review the three basis ways to analyze financial statements. Using Key Performance Indicators to identify areas that require improvements.
Coming Soon.
Never stop, find your passion and purpose and triumph over the storms that we all face in our lives. For Ian Leonard, this was coming through a traumatic brain injury and returning to TV and hundreds of hours of work every year in our community…then fighting through 3 rounds of ominous skin cancer, losing half his lower lip and returning to TV to raise more money than ever before in service across our community. Ian has helped raise over 20 million dollars locally in the past 15 years all while saying just one simple phrase; “what will I do for someone today?”
MAVT will host our annual business meeting that is free for MAVT members. Lunch will be served, and space is limited. The agenda will include an update on what is happening within our association, installation of new board officers and the presentation of our Vet Tech of the Year.
Euthanasia was ready for an evolution, and much has changed in the past 10 years. Experts and practitioners alike have found ways to celebrate the bond, protect patient comfort, and elevate client pre-planning and communication. And everyone is benefitting from the advancements. Has your veterinary team joined ‘The Good Death Revolution’? In this session, we will highlight their 14 Essential Components of Companion Animal Euthanasia and answer your most pressing questions. It’s time to look deeper into what clients want, what patients need, and how veterinary teams can find fulfillment in euthanasia work.
As brachycephalic breeds become more common, we as veterinarians must be in high alert for some of the most common conditions affecting this group of dogs including dermatologic, ophthalmologic, neurologic, orthopedic, and most importantly respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders. This session will focus on an internist’s recommendations for a more comprehensive approach that consider several common conditions that often co-exist in brachycephalic dogs.
Managing and treating a head trauma patient is stressful. This lecture will dive into the management of the head trauma patient so that you can feel prepared for the next one that comes through your door. I will provide a brief overview of intracranial homeostasis and then focus on the best treatment strategies and management techniques for the head trauma patient.
Veterinary staff turnover, particularly the role of credentialed veterinary technicians, has been a topic of hot discussion in the veterinary world for some time. Much research and fact- finding studies has been conducted with the goal of illuminating the factors related to veterinary technician shortage, turnover rate and short career span. Many of us are aware of findings in multiple publications and at many veterinary related conferences recently. In this discussion, we choose to address these related short-comings by attempting to provide tools for the veterinary technician to employ in an effort to sustain their career longevity in active practice of the veterinary technology trade.
Take a peek behind the curtain of your clinic’s financials and efficiency. Please join Tristyn Gies, veterinary-financing specialist, as she explores the financials that keep all hospitals afloat. During this session, we’ll dive into the vital connection between your bank and hospital, explore essential financial reports and how you can use them to check the health of your practice or focus on growth, and leverage your local network for peak efficiency.
Coming Soon.
Euthanasia requires more skill than just giving an injection. Practitioners need to determine the best approach given the patient’s signalment and the team’s experience. There are 5 common injection sites for use in most companion animals: IV, IC, IP, IR, IH. The goal is to reach for the best one given the situation. Our goal during this session is to review these 5 injection types, with time to review sedation protocols. Worried about those geriatric patients and poor blood pressures? Not any more
Cough is usually considered a sign of primary respiratory disease, however there are other differentials that should be kept in mind when working up a coughing dog. In this session we will discuss these differentials, with a focus on aerodigestive disorders and their impact on the respiratory tract.
You need to act fast, yet carefully, with spinal trauma patients. This lecture will focus on stabilization of the spinal trauma patient, possible differentials (from IVDD to atlantoaxial luxation), and treatment options.
Coming Soon.
Pet health insurance offers a strategic solution for veterinary practices, enhancing client relationships and improving financial stability. By incorporating pet insurance into veterinary practices, we can attract and retain clients, while also ensuring that pet owners can afford necessary care without financial strain. This presentation will explore the benefits of integrating pet insurance into the business model, discussing its impact on client satisfaction, revenue growth, and overall practice success.
Coming Soon
Everyone of us wants euthanasia procedures to go well. A dysthanasia is the opposite of a good death, or at least that’s one way to define it. What is and isn’t considered a good death is complicated. In this session, we review how pet owners and veterinarians define a good death so we understand what’s not. We can then determine how best to address them when they happen, to protect the mental health of loved ones and the veterinary team. Dysthanasias are upsetting. How we correctly handle them makes all the difference. There will be time to talk through challenging cases.
Airway sampling is one of the most important diagnostic tests for a comprehensive evaluation of respiratory diseases in dogs and cats. In this session we will review tips and tricks, indications and contraindications of techniques for airway sampling that can be employed in general practice.
Referral isn’t an option for many clients. In this lecture we are going to go through neurologic case examples, breaking it down to the level of neurolocalization, possible differentials, and best treatment options when definitive diagnosis cannot be obtained.
This session will discuss the various avenues available to veterinary technicians for career pathing including leadership, clinical specialization, research, telemedicine, government, industry, and more! There will also be discussion around strategies individuals can take to get control of their career path journey such as through gaining valuable experiences, networking, and mentorship. Ideas around steps an individual can take if their “dream job” isn’t a reality today will also be discussed, including putting your ideas on paper, proposing job descriptions and positions, and getting creative to think outside the box!
Depending on your age, Google might not be your first destination to find information on the internet. Instead, TikTok and other social media sites are the go to source for knowledge. Plus, depending on your age, social media platforms will vary as the first place to view. Many people use multiple social media platforms depending on the type of engagement they are looking to experience and the content they are seeking. Video has become more woven into the social media experience as well. Many businesses are groaning and trying to figure out how to manage social media needs on top of the other day to day duties. Come to this lecture to learn: What social media sites are the key sites today and for what ages. What content to create for which site and the cadence of posting. Tracking numbers and marketing goals for social media.
The Sick Pig Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) component is part of the USDA’s Swine Hemorrhagic Fevers Integrated Surveillance Plan for African Swine Fever and Classical Swine Fever. This session will review the Sick Pig Program, present data analysis from University of Minnesota VDL and the Iowa State University VDL swine submissions, and show how veterinarians can participate.