Finding your way through small animal clinical practice (2023)

17 weeksPrimary Care24 CPD hours

This course has been carefully created to provide a completely holistic approach to CPD for veterinary surgeons in small animal clinical practice. This course is aimed at all levels of veterinary surgeon, but is extremely well suited to new graduates or those returning to practice after some time away. The course is underpinned by a real-time discussion forum where you can ask any questions as you work your way through the lessons. There are also live Q&A sessions where you can chat with our speakers and other course delegates about the content or those challenging cases you may be seeing in practice that you might need some help with.

The course is run by our very own Scott Kilpatrick (EBVS and RCVS Recognised Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine) and Liz Bode (EBVS and RCVS Recognised Specialist in Cardiology). Scott and Liz are joined by a variety of amazing specialist speakers from across the veterinary profession, talking on topics including: internal medicine, cardiology, anaesthesia & analgesia, dermatology, soft tissue surgery, ECC, ophthalmology, neurology and clinical wellness.

The course runs over a seventeen week period and takes around 24 hours to complete.

Access to this course is for 12 months from the start of the course going live on our website. If you sign up to the course after the live sessions have run, you will still be able to access the recordings from the live sessions. The discussion forum will be monitored for the course duration only.

Course Content

Lesson 1: The thirsty patient 04/09/2023

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!
Consider the best treatment options for some of the most commonly diagnosed conditions causing PUPD

Lesson 2: How to crack the cough 11/09/2023

learning outcomes

Review the common reasons for coughing in dogs.
Understand how to differentiate between cardiac and non-cardiac cause of coughing.
What are the treatment options… more than just furosemide and steroids!

Lesson 3: The itchy patient 18/09/2023

learning outcomes

Adopt a logical approach to the pruritic patient.
What do I need to do diagnostically… From scrapes to cytology.
Review the current treatments that help to reduce the itch.

Lesson 4: Getting them to sleep is keeping you awake 25/09/2023

learning outcomes

Feel confident with common sedation and anaesthetic protocols.
Demystify the multiparameter monitoring… what do you really need to monitor?
Learn how to troubleshoot common anaesthetic complications and challenges.

Lesson 5: Abdominal radiography in practice 02/10/2023

learning outcomes

Assess and optimise radiographic quality
Develop a system for looking at abdominal radiographs
Recognise obstructive gastrointestinal patterns on radiographs

Lesson 6: Thoracic radiography in practice; a cardiologist 09/10/2023

learning outcomes

Develop a logical approach to thoracic radiograph interpretation.
Identify cardiomegaly and specific chamber enlargement – when should you pay attention to increased sternal contact?
Recognise various lung patterns and associated differential diagnosis.

Lesson 7: Nutrition and Wellness 16/10/2023

learning outcomes

Be able to discuss, with confidence, the basic nutritional needs of cats and dogs
Understand what can and cannot be learned from a pet food label or claim
The importance of wellness nutrition in cats and dogs

Lesson 8: Approaching the abdomen 23/10/2023

learning outcomes

How to surgically approach the abdomen
What are the common indications for an abdominal exploration?
Understand how to deal with common surgical complications.

Lesson 9: Live Q&A and Case Discussion (Thursday 26/10/2023 @ 8pm BST) Sample Lesson

learning outcomes

Ask any questions relating to the sessions.
Your chance to discuss any cases you are struggling with.
We will bring along a few interesting cases too!

Lesson 10: The bleeding patient 30/10/2023

learning outcomes

Understand the pathophysiology of haemostasis.
Review the diagnosis of the most common haemostatic disorders.
Treatment… what transfusion options do we have?

Lesson 11: The neurological patient 06/11/2023

learning outcomes

Getting the most out of the neurological exam.
Review your approach to the seizuring patient.
What investigations are actually useful in the neurological patient?

Lesson 12: Coping with collapse 13/11/2023

learning outcomes

Review the common causes of collapse… don’t panic!
Feel comfortable with the emergency diagnostic approach.
Treatment… when you don’t always know what you are treating.

Lesson 13: Keep your eye on the prize 20/11/2023

learning outcomes

The ophthalmic exam… what are you looking at?
Spotting the most common ophthalmic conditions in practice.
Treatment…more than just a couple of drops.

Lesson 14: Managing the GI patient 27/11/2023

learning outcomes

Feel comfortable treating the patient with acute gastrointestinal signs.
Chronic problems… How to investigate?
Treatment… from steroids to faecal transplantation.

Lesson 15: Nutrition and Disease 04/12/2023

learning outcomes

Understand the key features and benefits of a variety of clinical diets
Develop a greater understanding of when a clinical diet would be an appropriate choice for their patients
Gain the confidence to recommend diets more effectively in practice

Lesson 16: Keeping your clinical cool 11/12/2023

learning outcomes

Whole host of mindset and self-care techniques to help you go from feeling like ‘spinning plates’ to keeping your clinical cool.
Understanding our own neurophysiology to breathing techniques, gratitude, and delegation.
Tangible tips that you can consider adding to your own toolkit as a clinician.

Lesson 17: Live Q&A and Case Discussion (Wednesday 13/12/23 @ 8pm GMT)

learning outcomes

Ask any questions relating to the sessions.
Your chance to discuss any cases you are struggling with.
We will bring along a few interesting cases too!

Meet the speakers

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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.

Liz Bode

Director, Cardiology Specialist

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Liz graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2006. After spending some time carrying out voluntary work with SPANA, Liz took up a job in mixed practice in East Yorkshire. Shortly after this, Liz completed an internship at the University of Cambridge and solidified her love for all things cardio. She subsequently embarked on a PhD at the University of Manchester looking at cellular calcium handling in heart failure and ageing and was awarded her doctorate in 2013. After another spell in small animal practice Liz completed her residency in cardiology at the University of Edinburgh in 2017. Following her residency she worked at the University of Liverpool as a senior lecturer in small animal cardiology. More recently, she was awarded Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy and has taken on the role of Module Co-ordinator for the CertAVP cardiology modules at the University of Liverpool. She currently works at Chestergates Veterinary Specialists in the UK. In 2022 she was awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (FRCVS) for her meritorious contribution to clinical practice.

Mairi Frame

Diagnostic Imaging Specialist

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Mairi is an RCVS and ECVDI Diplomate who came to imaging literally by accident, having taken a year out from general practice to study for an RCVS Certificate in radiology after a back injury and in doing so found her passion. After her residency, she worked in all aspects of veterinary diagnostic imaging at specialist centres in Switzerland, Austria, Sweden and the Republic of Ireland, returning to the UK in 2001 to develop a multimodality imaging service, undergraduate course and residency program in Diagnostic Imaging at the Royal (Dick) Veterinary School in Edinburgh, where she continued to work for 15 years. Mairi gained postgraduate Certificates in University Teaching and Digital Education with a view to developing new approaches for teaching diagnostic imaging online. She is currently working in specialist referral centres in Glasgow and Switzerland.

Jon Hall

Surgery Specialist (Soft Tissue)

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Jon was born into primary care practice and spent several years working as a small animal GP after graduating in 2004. He became an ECVS specialist in small animal surgery in 2015 and has worked at the RVC, the University of Cambridge and University of Edinburgh. He is a Professor in small animal surgery at the University of Nottingham, a Fellow of the Royal College and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He loves a good bit of surgery and being in a lucky position to help out colleagues with their surgical conundrums and through teaching. Jon has worked on call for his whole career and spent a few months working in a dedicated emergency clinic. He has been a lecturer and examiner on the BSAVA CertECC and helps train Vets Now graduates on practical approaches to emergency surgeries. These experiences mean that he can empathise with colleagues working sole charge OOH and those having to fit in emergencies either in their busy daily routine or through the night with work the following morning! Experiences that encourage a certain pragmatism.

Katie Ford

Veterinary Surgeon

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Katie graduated with distinction from the University of Liverpool in 2012. Since then she has continued to work in small animal first opinion practice, gaining her RCVS Certificate in Internal Medicine in 2017. Realising the power of preventative mindset strategies through her career and journey, she trained as a coach and in CBT, and now teaches other professionals how to use these techniques to thrive in the veterinary world. She regularly helps individuals and companies on topics such as gratitude, self-worth and dealing with imposter syndrome. She was the keynote speaker at BVNA 2020, and has spoken on stages across the world. Aside from being a personal development and human potential enthusiast, she co-runs a virtual event company and can be seen behind the scenes masterminding tech on many events in the veterinary space.

Hilary Jackson

Dermatology Specialist

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Hilary graduated from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Medicine in Edinburgh and spent 7 years in general practice before pursuing specialization. She was on the faculty at North Carolina State University, before returning to Scotland where she works as a clinical director at the Dermatology Referral Service in Glasgow. She has clinical and research interests in canine atopic dermatitis and immune mediated skin disease and has published and lectured widely on these subjects and other aspects of veterinary dermatology. She is a member of the International Task Force on Allergic Diseases of Animals (ICADA) and Co-editor of the journal Veterinary Dermatology.

Josep Brocal

Neurology Specialist

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Josep graduated from University CEU Cardinal Herrera (Valencia) in 2011. After a rotating rotating internship at Ars Veterinaria (Barcelona) followed by a neurology internship at the Animal Health Trust (Newmarket), Josep spent four years at the University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine for residency training in in neurology and neurosurgery. In 2018 Josep passed the European College of Veterinary Neurology examinations and was awarded the European Diploma becoming a European Specialist. The following year Josep was awarded a Masters of Veterinary Medicine for his thesis on Congenital vertebral malformations in dogs. Josep is passionate about teaching and is interested in all areas of veterinary neurology, but has a special interest reflex seizures and brain tumours.

Felipe Grados

Anaesthesia Specialist

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I discovered my passion for anaesthesia already as a veterinary student. I got the chance to learn and be involved with it while doing placement in a first opinion clinic at the same time as I study for my degree. I then qualified from the University of Leon (Spain) in 2011, which I followed with a Master’s Degree in Research. I then moved to UK to pursue the exciting path of specialisation. I completed an internship in Small Animal Anaesthesia at the University of Liverpool in 2015, which I followed by a ECVAA residency in Veterinary Anaesthesia at the University of Edinburgh. After completing my residency in 2018, I worked for two years at Dick White Referrals as a clinical fellow. In 2020 I moved to Wear Referrals, where I currently work as a clinician in Veterinary Anaesthesia. I was awarded my ECVAA diploma in 2021.

Georgina Fricker

Ophthalmology Specialist

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Georgie graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2005. She worked for 3 years in general practice before joining a referral centre in 2008 with the aim of specialising in ophthalmology. In 2011 she was awarded the RCVS Certificate in Veterinary Ophthalmology and she commenced an ECVO Residency Programme in 2012, becoming a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists in 2016. She was admitted to the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Panel in 2018 and was appointed to the ECVO Communications Committee in the same year. Georgie joined the Ophthalmology Team at DWR in 2020; her particular interests include corneal and intraocular surgery which she enjoys teaching to Residents.

Roz Gehring

Veterinary Surgeon

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Roz graduated from the RVC in 2007 and went on to spend some years in mixed practice followed by a few years in small animal practice. She made the move into the nutrition industry in 2012 and has never looked back. Within Hill’s Roz really enjoys the variation her role brings, from helping with nutrition cases via the Hill’s Veterinary Consultation Service, to training and supporting the sales team, to helping organise webinars and CPD events - no two days are the same. Roz loves to share her passion for veterinary nutrition with anyone who will listen and enjoys finding ways to make that message resonate with a variety of audiences.

Fiona Marjoram

VN & Nurse Programme Coordinator with Hills

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Fi Marjoram began nursing in 1987 and qualified as a VN in 1989. She worked in veterinary practice for 13 years, during the last year of which she also worked as a veterinary nursing and animal care lecturer at the West Sussex College of Agriculture. Having achieved her first qualification in small animal nutrition in 1991, Fi moved into her first nutritional sales role in 2000 and joined Hill’s in 2005. Her current role as Nurse Programme Coordinator focuses primarily upon the support and development of veterinary nurses within practice.

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Finding your way through small animal clinical practice (2023)

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