Endocrinology in crisis: Unravelling hormonal havoc!

11 weeksInternal Medicine13 CPD hours

This veterinary thought exchange online tutored course takes a more detailed look at the investigation and management of endocrine diseases in dogs and cats.

Endocrine diseases are common in small animal practice, but their investigation can be confusing and their management very challenging. How much do we really need to investigate that increased calcium? How unstable can my diabetic dog really be? What is the best test to diagnose Cushing’s disease and how best do I monitor? We aim to answer all these questions and much more.

This course will be delivered and tutored by Scott Kilpatrick (Internal Medicine Specialist), Yvonne McGrotty (Internal Medicine Specialist) and Rodolfo Oliveira Leal (Internal Medicine Specialist). The course runs over an eleven-week period and takes around 13 hours to complete. The course is delivered via video webinars and supplemented with a real-time discussion forum with the course tutor, giving you the opportunity to ask questions or discuss cases you may be facing in clinical practice.

Access to this course is for 12 months from the start of the course going live on our website.  The discussion forum will be monitored for the course duration only.

Course Content

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Lesson 1: Stopping the Stream: Understanding Polyuria, Polydipsia, and Diabetes Insipidus 1 Quiz Available on 07/04/2025 8:00 am 07/04/2025
learning outcomes
  • Review the logical approach to the patient with PUPD.
  • Understand the best ways to get the most out of your diagnostic tests… even when finances are limited, and you lack confidence using the ultrasound!
  • Discuss diabetes and how best to diagnose this condition.
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Lesson Content
Lesson Content
Lesson 2: Canine and Feline Hypothyroidism… do cats get that?! 1 Quiz Available on 14/04/2025 8:00 am 14/04/2025
learning outcomes
  • Understand the pathophysiology of hypothyroidism.
  • Review the best practice in diagnosis… is it really that easy?
  • Consider the best treatment options and what happens when they do not respond.
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Lesson Content
Lesson Content
Lesson 3: Feline and Canine Hyperthyroidism… do dogs get that?! 1 Quiz Available on 21/04/2025 8:00 am 21/04/2025
learning outcomes
  • Understand the pathophysiology of hyperthyroidism… is it just older cats?
  • Review the options for diagnosis… not just T4.
  • Learn about the most up to date treatment considerations.
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Lesson Content
Lesson Content
Lesson 4: Hyperadrenocorticism 1 Quiz Available on 28/04/2025 8:00 am 28/04/2025
learning outcomes
  • Pathophysiology… from the pituitary to the adrenal gland.
  • Review the various diagnostic options… and pick the best one.
  • Understand the best treatment options… do I take the adrenal gland out?
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Lesson Content
Lesson Content
Lesson 5: Hypoadrenocorticism 1 Quiz Available on 05/05/2025 8:00 am 05/05/2025
learning outcomes
  • Pathophysiology… when the cortisol runs out.
  • Diagnosis… do I really need to do an ACTH stimulation test at 3am?
  • Treatment… crisis at the Whitehouse.
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Lesson Content
Lesson Content
Lesson 6: Diseases of the Parathyroid Gland… A crisis of calcium! 1 Quiz Available on 12/05/2025 8:00 am 12/05/2025
learning outcomes
  • Calcium… how high is too high?
  • Review the most common conditions of the parathyroid gland.
  • What are the options for treating disorders of calcium?
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Lesson Content
Lesson Content
Lesson 7: Canine and Feline Growth Hormone Disorders… from surgery to somatostatin 1 Quiz Available on 19/05/2025 8:00 am 19/05/2025
learning outcomes
  • Understand the significance of growth hormone disorders in small animal practice.
  • What is the best way to diagnose these conditions?
  • Learn about the intricacies of treatment options.
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Lesson Content
Lesson Content
Lesson 8: Canine Diabetes Mellitus: Demystifying a difficult disease 1 Quiz Available on 26/05/2025 8:00 am 26/05/2025
learning outcomes
  • Understand the aetiology of diabetes mellitus in dogs.
  • Learn how to use monitoring tools such as interstitial glucose monitoring system devices.
  • Understand the up-to-date insulin therapy strategies (basal-bolus) in dogs.
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Lesson Content
Lesson Content
Lesson 9: Feline Diabetes Mellitus: Current trends and updates 1 Quiz Available on 02/06/2025 8:00 am 02/06/2025
learning outcomes
  • Understand the aetiology of diabetes mellitus in cats.
  • Learn about the best strategies to diagnose diabetes mellitus in this species.
  • Update treatment strategies including the new SGLT2-inhibitors.
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Lesson Content
Lesson Content
Lesson 10: DKA… Don’t sugar coat it! 1 Quiz Available on 09/06/2025 8:00 am 09/06/2025
learning outcomes
  • Understand the pathophysiology and clinical signs of DKA
  • Learn how to better manage DKA patients
  • Learn how to get the most from your in house diagnostics
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Lesson Content
Lesson Content
Lesson 11: Adrenal lumps and bumps 1 Quiz Available on 16/06/2025 8:00 am 16/06/2025
learning outcomes
  • Discuss a logical approach to adrenal masses.
  • Discuss the investigation and management of pheochromocytomas in dogs.
  • Consider the importance of aldosterone secreting tumours in cats.
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Lesson Content
Lesson Content

Meet the speakers

Rodolfo Oliveira Leal

Internal Medicine Specialist

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Rodolfo obtained his DVM degree in 2008 and completed a PhD in 2014 at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon. Achieving Diplomate status from the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Companion-Animals) in 2017, he now serves as an Invited Auxiliary Professor and Supervisor for the ECVIM-CA Residency program at the same faculty. Rodolfo also works as a consultant in internal medicine at VIN (Veterinary Information Network) and holds the position of vice-president of the European Society of Veterinary Endocrinology (ESVE). His clinical research is dedicated to the fields of endocrinology, gastroenterology, respiratory medicine, and leishmaniosis.

Scott Kilpatrick

Director, Internal Medicine Specialist

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Scott graduated from Edinburgh Vet School in 2007. Initially, he worked for the PDSA, before taking a Senior Veterinary Surgeon position with Vets Now in Edinburgh in 2010. Scott started his residency in internal medicine at the University of Edinburgh in 2012 after completing a year as a Teaching Fellow in Anatomy and Physiology. He completed his residency in 2016 after finishing his Masters in the pathogenesis of canine liver disease and has since been working in referral practice. Interventional radiology is something that really interests Scott, and he spent some time in 2018, working in this area at UC Davis in California. Scott has created and delivered a Post-graduate Certificate in Small Animal Emergency Medicine in association with the University of Chester. In 2023 he was awarded Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (FRCVS) for his meritorious contribution to clinical practice.

Yvonne McGrotty

Internal Medicine Specialist

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Yvonne graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1997. After 2 years in small animal practice, she returned to Glasgow Vet School where she completed a residency in small animal medicine. Yvonne was awarded the European Diploma in Small Animal Medicine in 2006 and is both a RCVS and European Veterinary Specialist in Internal Medicine. Yvonne has more than 20 years of experience working in private referral practices across the UK and in France. Yvonne joined IDEXX part time in October 2013 as an internal medicine consultant and continues to work in private referral practice in Angers, France. Yvonne has contributed to many veterinary publications and book chapters including the BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Clinical Pathology. She has a particular passion for critical care medicine, endoscopy and haematology and has recently been lucky enough to be involved with endoscopy of big cats and other zoo animals. In her spare time, she likes exploring the French countryside by bike.

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