Gastrointestinal disease… Every bite they take (2022)

14 weeksInternal Medicine

This veterinary thought exchange online tutored course takes a more detailed look at the investigation and management of gastrointestinal diseases in dogs and cats. Gastrointestinal diseases are common in small animal veterinary practice, but their investigation can be confusing and their management very challenging. What really is the microbiome and how much should I care? Why should we be stepping away from the omeprazole? Does inflammatory bowel disease really exist and what are the treatment options? Why is pancreatitis still such a challenge? We aim to answer all these questions and much more.

The course is run by our very own Scott Kilpatrick (EBVS and RCVS Recognised Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine). The course runs over a 14-week period and takes around 16 hours to complete. The course is delivered via video webinars and supplemented with discussion forums and live chats with the course tutor, giving you the opportunity to ask questions or discuss cases you may be facing in your practice.

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.

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Course Content

Lesson 1: Regurgitation and dysphagia… Don’t drop the ball! 28/02/2022
learning outcomes
  • Understand the pathophysiology of regurgitation and dysphagia.
  • Review the most common differential diagnosis for these presenting signs.
  • Consider the best treatment options with a particular focus on the challenges of medical management.
Lesson 2: Vomiting… get it all up! 07/03/2022
learning outcomes
  • Understand the pathophysiology of vomiting.
  • Review the options for diagnosis… is radiography enough?
  • Learn about the most up to date treatment considerations… medicine vs surgery!
Lesson 3: Gastroprotectants, antiemetics and appetite stimulants 14/03/2022
learning outcomes
  • The differences between cats and dogs… Is there one?
  • Review the most up to date evidence surrounding gastroprotection… step away from the omeprazole!
  • Understand the role of appetite stimulation and when it is an appropriate intervention.
Lesson 4: Diarrhoea… Large or small? (Part 1) 21/03/2022
learning outcomes
  • Review the most common causes of diarrhoea in dogs and cats.
  • What is the microbiome and why do we care?
  • Understand the most logical approach to the investigation of these cases.
Lesson 5: Diarrhoea… Large or small? (Part 2) 28/03/2022
learning outcomes
  • Review the role of antibiotics in acute and chronic cases of diarrhoea.
  • What treatment role do probiotics play?
  • Understand the rationale for other treatment options… prednisolone and beyond.
Lesson 6: Dietary management (Part 1) 04/04/2022
learning outcomes
  • Understand which diets are effective in acute vomiting.
  • Review the dietary options for chronic enteropathies.
  • Hydrolysed, exclusion and hypoallergenic; Discuss what these terms really mean.
Lesson 7: LIVE Q&A and Case Discussion (8-9pm) 11th April 2022 11/04/2022
learning outcomes
  • Your chance to discuss any cases you are struggling with.
  • We will bring along a few interesting cases too!
Lesson 8: Pancreatitis… Still a challenge? (Part 1) 18/04/2022
learning outcomes
  • Pathophysiology… what do we know?
  • What is the difference between acute and chronic pancreatitis?
  • What is the difference between pancreatitis in dogs and cats?
Lesson 9: Pancreatitis… Still a challenge? (Part 2) 25/04/2022
learning outcomes
  • Discuss the diagnostic challenges in cases of pancreatitis.
  • What is the best treatment option… are steroids still off the cards?!
  • What are the best strategies to manage pancreatitis long term?
Lesson 10: Cobalamin… To B or not to B? 02/05/2022
learning outcomes
  • What is cobalamin and why do we care?
  • Are we measuring cobalamin accurately?
  • What is the most appropriate way of supplementing cobalamin?
Lesson 11: Dietary management (Part 2) 09/05/2022
learning outcomes
  • Discuss the best dietary options for the acute and chronic management of pancreatitis.
  • Review the options for dietary management of patients with feeding tubes in place.
  • Discuss the best options for dietary management in hospitalised patients.
Lesson 12: Feeding Tubes 18/05/2022
learning outcomes
  • When are feeding tubes appropriate?
  • Which tube should I chose and why?
  • A practical guide to feeding tube placement.
Lesson 13: Gastrointestinal Neoplasia… More than just lymphoma 23/05/2022
learning outcomes
  • Recognising common GI neoplasia
  • Understanding the basics of a diagnostic workup, including when to ask for additional tests.
  • An overview of different treatment options and what can be done
  • An awareness of prognosis, (what can I tell the owners with the results that I have?)
Lesson 14: LIVE Q&A and Case Discussion (8-9pm) 30th May 2022 Available on 30/05/2022 8:00 am 30/05/2022
learning outcomes
  • Your chance to discuss any cases you are struggling with.
  • We will bring along a few interesting cases too!

Meet the speakers

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 Surrey. Scott is currently an Internal Medicine Specialist working with Idexx.

Hilary Noyes

Veterinary Surgeon

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Hillary currently serves as Associate Professional and Veterinary Affairs Manager for the Hill's in the UK and Ireland. She has been with Hill's for over 9 years, previously managing the veterinary student, recent graduate and nursing programmes for the US division and serving as a Professional Consulting Veterinarian prior to that. She loves educating about the power of nutrition and being an advocate for the wellbeing of current and future colleagues in the profession. Hillary is currently a resident with the American College of Animal Welfare and outside of work and study, loves to travel, hike and explore with her fiance and their dog Lupita.

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.

Katie McNaught

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Katie graduated from Glasgow University in 2008. She spent the 6 years working in mixed practice before returning to Glasgow for a rotating/oncology internship. In 2019 Katie completed a combined residency/masters program in oncology and became a European specialist in small animal oncology in 2021. Katie currently works in as a clinician in the oncology service at Glasgow Small Animal Veterinary Hospital.

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