Thursday, February 13 | Sessions

Companion Animal Session
Bovine Session
Animal Welfare Session
Federal Accreditation Session
Public Health Session








Companion Animal Session – Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal HealthDr. Chad Johannes
8:30-9:30am - The Future of Veterinary Oncology: What is Financially Sustainable?

The veterinary oncology market has changed dramatically over the last two decades. Several factors have impacted the cost of delivering veterinary oncology care to dogs and cats: increasing costs/fees, corporatization of veterinary specialty medicine, more FDA approved and USDA licensed therapeutics that come with higher prices, inflation, etc. Meanwhile, veterinary medicine remains a largely self-pay industry for clients with pet insurance slow to make headway in the US market. This session will provide background to the course of the veterinary oncology market over the past 15-20 years, take a deep dive into the factors impacting the industry currently, and outline potential solutions to keep the veterinary oncology market sustainable for the future.
10:00-11:00am - Oncology for Primary Care Practice
Cancer is a leading cause of death in dogs and cats. While exact numbers are not possible to identify, current estimates are that 1 in 4 dogs will develop cancer with numbers expanding to 50% when considering dogs over the age of 10 years. The combination of incidence rates along with client expectations for advanced diagnostic and treatment options for their pets with cancer has resulted in exceptional growth of the oncology specialty. The growth within oncology and the expanding treatment options will no doubt carry over to veterinary primary care practices. This provides an opportunity for those practitioners with a special interest and skill set to provide oncology care within their practices. This session focuses on practical treatment options that are most amenable to use in primary care practice.
11:00-Noon - What Your Clients Want to Know About Canine Lymphoma Treatment Options           
This session will highlight key updates and available resources regarding canine lymphoma treatments (chemotherapy, immunotherapy), outcomes and costs. These factors are all critical points clients consider as they determine the best treatment option for their pet. Particular emphasis will be placed on a practical approach to succinctly communicating relevant lymphoma information to your clients.
1:30-2:30pm - Oncology Refresher: New Therapeutics Impacting Clinical Practice
The clinical availability of advanced oncology therapeutics for dogs and cats is rapidly expanding. This session reviews the science and clinical use of several new therapeutics for common canine cancers.  Discussion will highlight the potential impact these therapies may have on your canine patients in daily practice. This session will help prepare you for the most common client questions regarding this new treatment options for pets with cancer.
2:30-3:30pm - Cats with Cancer: Diagnostic and Treatment Updates
Cancer is a leading cause of death in cats. While exact numbers regarding cancer incidence in cats are not available, some estimates show that nearly 6 million cats are diagnosed with cancer annually in the US. Given that cats are generally under-medicalized compared to dogs, they often present with more advanced clinical signs and challenging treatment considerations. This session will focus on key updates on diagnostic and treatment options available for cats with cancer. Special emphasis will be placed on options more impactful to the primary care practice setting.
4:00-5:00pm - The Importance of Appetite: The Fifth Vital Sign in the Oncology Patient
Appetite is often a key determinant in a pet owners’ perceived quality of life evaluation for their dog or cat with cancer. Lack of appetite is often the first recognizable sign by pet owners that their dog or cat is not feeling well and triggers inquiry to their veterinarian’s office. Until recently, veterinarians have struggled to have effective, reliable treatment options for dogs and cats experiencing inappetence. Recent FDA approvals of ENTYCE®/ELURA™ (capromorelin oral solution) in dogs and cats, respectively, provide new options in appetite stimulant therapy. This session will review the basic science/mechanism, available data, expected side effects and best clinical use of capromorelin in dogs and cats with cancer. Case examples will be emphasized for tips that can be readily implemented in clinical practice.
 
Bovine - Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health
8:30-9:30am - Calf Immunity I: Development of Immune Protection - Dr. Angel Abuelo
This session will review the multifaceted network of physical, cellular, and soluble factors that the immune system uses to facilitate defense against microbial challenges. This presentation will also outline the challenges of newborn calves’ developing immune systems and how this must be factored into decisions relative to developing disease control programs.
9:30-10:30am - Calf Immunity II: Practical Tools to Improve Passive and Active Immunity - Dr. Angel Abuelo
This session will review strategies to improve passive and active immunity in neonatal calves. This session aims to inform practitioners about types of vaccines (especially newer intranasal products), the immune response post-vaccination, and current scientific information on vaccines that impact how practitioners may utilize these products in practice.
11:00am-Noon - Salmonella Dublin – Relevance and Management Options - Dr. Angel Abuelo
The prevalence of the multi-resistant bacteria Salmonella Dublin continues to rise in dairy farms in the US. This session will discuss the pathogenesis, recognition, and impact of Salmonella Dublin in dairy cattle. Strategies for detecting Salmonella Dublin in a herd, conducting a risk-assessment analysis, as well as control measures will also be discussed.
1:30-3:00pm - Panel Discussion HPAI and Biosecurity Updates:
Dr. Drew Magstadt - Pathologist's View
Dr. Baily Arruda - Insights and applications of highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus inoculation trials in bovine. The outcomes of multiple HPAIV inoculation trials using naive cows, convalescent cows, and calves will be presented in relation to on farm implications and vaccine evaluation. 
Dr. Mo El-Gazzar - What Dairy Industry Can Learn from the Poultry Industry about HPAI
Dr. Jeff Kaisand - Representing the regulatory view on an HPAI and Biosecurity
Dr. Rich McManimon - Dairy Practitioner's View
3:30-4:00pm – Updates on PC Research Grants
Dr. Sara Chaplin - Update on the Iowa Cow-Calf Herd Performance Benchmarking Project
Dr. Megan Hindman - Update on targeted deworming and anthelmintic resistance in an intensive rotational grazing system
4:00-5:00pm – Anaplasmosis and vaccination – Dr. Roman Ganta
This session will discuss the epidemiology and treatment of anaplasmosis in cattle including prevention through vaccination.

Federal Accreditation
8:30-9:30am - Module 2: Role of Agencies (State, Federal, International) and Health Certificates - Dr. Jessica Young
This module reviews the State, Federal, and international agencies that an accredited
veterinarian may interact with and the services these agencies provide. Participants learn how to accurately complete health certificates for animals traveling domestically or internationally.
9:45-10:45am - Module 39: Swine Health for the Accredited Veterinarians - TBD
This module reviews the State, Federal, and international agencies that an accredited
veterinarian may interact with and the services these agencies provide. Participants learn how to accurately complete health certificates for animals traveling domestically or internationally.
11:00-Noon - Module 10: Personal Protective Equipment for Veterinarians - Dr. Andrea Holmes
This module introduces the various items of personal protective equipment (PPE) from basic items such as gloves and coveralls, to expanded precautions like respirators and chemical resistant outerwear. Situations veterinarians might encounter in practice are presented and they will need to select the best PPE to prevent disease or chemical exposure. Finally, this module discusses the PPE used in response to an animal health emergency.
1:30-2:30pm - Module 21: Animals’ Fitness to Travel  - Dr. Jill Shriver
This module describes how to assess an animal’s fitness to travel and explains the appropriate actions that should be taken for animals that are found unfit for transport. This module also discusses suggestions for livestock producers to support the general well-being of animals during transport.
2:45-3:45pm - Module 24: Collecting and Shipping Swine Diagnostic Samples - Dr. Bailey Goos
This module provides information on collection techniques for swine diagnostic samples and the necessary steps for labeling, packaging, and shipping diagnostic samples from any animal species. It also emphasizes occasions when collecting samples is not appropriate, as in the case of suspected foreign animal diseases. Lastly, this module addresses regulations related to shipping samples to veterinary diagnostic laboratories.
4:00-5:00pm - Module 28: Significant and Emerging Viral Diseases of Carp, Koi, and Goldfish - Dr. John McAfee
Significant and Emerging Viral Diseases of Carp, Koi, and Goldfish
Cyprinids (e.g., carp, koi, goldfish) are an important aquaculture species within the United States. These species are susceptible to a variety of reportable, monitored, and emerging diseases. This module describes and differentiates the OIE-listed diseases of susceptible cyprinid (koi herpesvirus disease, spring viremia of carp) as well as other monitored and emerging diseases of concern for these aquaculture species. (e.g., cyprinid herpesvirus 1 and 2, and carp edema virus disease). The module also discusses the role of the accredited veterinarian in monitoring, detecting, and reporting these diseases.

Animal Welfare8:30-10:30am - Forensics: Recognition of Suspected Cruelty - Dr. Melinda Merck
Veterinarians may encounter a variety of presentations of animal cruelty. Recognition of key indicators of non-accidental injury vs. accidental causes will be discussed throughout. Documentation and forensic testing including considerations of investigation findings will be presented.
11:00am-Noon - Blunt Force Trauma: Revealing the Hidden Mysteries - Dr. Melinda Merck
Blunt force trauma is the most common type of physical abuse injury encountered in animal cruelty cases. Detection of blunt force trauma requires careful examination in live and deceased animals. Indicators of trauma may be more subtle or hidden requiring additional imaging and special testing. Discussion will include analysis of injuries and limitations of the veterinary opinion that can be offered.
1:30-2:30pm - Update and Purpose of Iowa Farm Animal Care - Mike Telford
Animal Rescue League of Iowa Update - Dr. M.C. Cats & Robyn Dobernecker Present the ARL’s involvement with animal welfare issues in the state of Iowa. We will discuss our partnership with local law enforcement and the growing need of support from local veterinarians.
IDALS Animal Welfare Handbook Overview- Dr. Katie Rumsey The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) created an Animal Welfare Handbook to assisting stakeholders in understanding the process, applicable statutes, roles and responsibilities within the state, and science-based resources for animal welfare evaluations involving animal cruelty and neglect. This presentation will provide an overview of the handbook.
3:00-5:00pm - Responding to Suspected Cruelty: Video Scenarios on Recognition, Communication and Reporting – Dr. Melinda Merck
Veterinarians may struggle with how to handle cases of suspected cruelty with the client as each case has special considerations. This session will present video scenarios of a client discussion and management of suspected cruelty case within in the hospital setting. Handling of each type of situation and a follow-up detailed discussion of key points will be included. 7 different scenarios will be presented: domestic violence, elder abuse, neglect, euthanasia, hoarding, dog fighting and non-accidental injury. The current and new AVMA Responding to Suspected Cruelty Guidelines will be discussed. Additional resources will be provided.


Public Health
8:30-9:30am - Working with Backyard Poultry Owners on Biosecurity – Drs. Molly Lee and Katie Rumsey
Participants will review important principles related to common infectious, zoonotic, and foodborne diseases of poultry and gain practical tips on how to encourage good biosecurity and safe bird and egg handling practices in their clients’ backyard flocks.
9:30-10:30am - A Dog Walks into a Hospital: Infection Prevention and Control Best Practices for Animal Visitations - Dr. Andrew Hennenfent
Learn the different definitions (some regulatory, some non-regulatory) and it can quickly get confusing. Including two regulatory (legal) definitions and some non-regulatory definitions. Best strategy for pre-screening animals entering a healthcare setting. Infection prevention and control considerations while in a healthcare setting.
11:00am-Noon - Hot Topics in Wildlife Health - Dr. Rachel Ruden
In this session we will cover some hot topics affecting Iowa’s free-ranging wildlife, with a focus on those of public health import.
1:30-3:30pm - Gear Up for Ag Health and Safety™ - Veterinary Training Program – Dr. Jenna Gibbs
This program, developed by the Ag Health and Safety Alliance(AHSA) in conjunction with the University of Minnesota, aims to educate veterinarians on proper recognition of agricultural health and safety hazards. Recognizing the unique health risks faced by veterinarians, particularly those working outside the clinic, the program adapts existing agricultural safety training to address specific needs and concerns of those interacting with pets and livestock. This program involves the delivery of an interactive session, full demonstration of PPE donning/doffing, storage, and care, and additional access to online resources. This program equips veterinarians with essential knowledge and skills to protect themselves from hazards such as needle sticks, zoonotic diseases (e.g., ASF/HPAI), and chemical exposure to pharmaceuticals, insecticides, and disinfectants. This program is crucial for veterinarians as it enhances their safety awareness, promotes the use of appropriate PPE, and ultimately contributes to a safer and healthier agricultural workforce. AHSA has delivered the program at veterinary schools throughout the U.S. and Canada, and this presentation will also highlight some of the challenges and lessons learned from young adults in veterinary training programs both in the U.S., and in West Africa.
4:00-5:00pm - Gear Up for Ag Health and Safety™ - Veterinary Training Program – Dr. Jenna Gibbs - Continued



 
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