9:30-10:20am | The Big Impact of a Small Tick: Lyme Disease & the Black-Legged Tick

This course gives veterinary technicians a thorough overview of how to identify the black-legged tick, where it’s found in the United States, and what environments it prefers to inhabit. With a focus on tick questing habits and the transmission of Lyme disease, this live medical presentation is designed to help technicians communicate technical tick content to clients in order to encourage the use of year-round methods of tick control and prevention.

10:40-11:30am | Troubleshooting Common Anesthesia Complications Part 1: Hypotension, Bradycardia, Hypothermia
The first part of this 2-part lecture series provides a practical, interactive overview of three of the most frequently encountered complications in veterinary anesthesia: hypotension, bradycardia, and hypothermia. Designed for veterinarians (or technicians) in primary care practice and/or specialty settings, the session breaks down the underlying physiology, common causes, and step-wise diagnostic and therpeutic approaches for each problem. Attendees will learn how to best identify these complications, choose appropriate interventions, and tailor treatment strategies to individual patients. Emphasis is placed on decision-making, drug selection, monitoring techniques, and communication with the anesthetic team to improve patient safety and outcomes.

11:40-12:30pm | Troubleshooting Recovery Challenges: Pain, Dysphoria, Prolonged Recovery, & Desaturation
Part 2 of this lecture series equips veterinarians and technicians with strategies for recognizing and managing common complications that arise during the post-anesthetic recovery period. Through case-based examples and clear physiologic explanations, we will explore how to differentiate pain from dysphoria, address drug- and procedure-related delays in recovery, and quickly evaluate and treat respiratory complications such as desaturation. Attendees will gain practical approaches to assessment, monitoring, and intervention that can be immediately applied in clinical practice to improve patient comfort, safety, and overal recovery quality.

1:50-2:40pm | Empowering Technicians for the Diabetes Revolution: Leading the Way to Sweet Solutions
This presentation will equip veterinary technicians with the knowledge and skills to educate pet owners about diabetes mellitus (DM), including new treatment and management options for cats and dogs. By combining background on the disease, risk factors, and pain points with technical information on treatment and management, this presentation will provide veterinary technicians with a solid foundation of how DM can affect canine and feline patients. Technicians will leave with communication tools and strategies to help pet owners feel confident caring for their diabetic pets.

2:50-3:40pm | Diabetic Emergencies
Attendees will leave understanding why diabetes occurs and the emergencies that can follow. DKA, hypoglycemia and hyperosmolar nonketonic diabetes and the treatment and nursing care of these pets will be discussed.

4:10-5:00pm | Compassion in Action: Mitigating the Impact of Emotional Labor in Veterinary Practice

The reality is that our emotions have a significant impact on our professional wellbeing. This session will reframe how emotions, communication and self-regulation skills combine to influence day to day practice. The concept of emotional labor will be explored in detail alongside recommendations for aligning emotions and behavior. Participants will learn how to recognize, and effectively respond to, the core emotions that drive client and team member interactions. Tactical self-regulation and help-seeking skills will also be reviewed to build participant capacity to successfully manage - and recover from - emotionally-charged situations.

8:00-8:50am | ER/High Risk Anesthesia/Cases - Approach to Anesthesia and Protocol Considerations
This lecture provides veterinary technicians with a practical framework for managing anesthesia in emergent and high-risk patients using real case scenarios. We will review how to assess patient status, identify key risk factors, and prioritize stabilization before anesthesia. We will discuss protocol selection based on cardiovascular stability, underlying disease, and procedure urgency, with an emphasis on drug effects, monitoring priorities, and team communication. Attendees will learn how to anticipate/prevent complications, prioritize interventions, and contribute improved outcomes for the most fragile patients.

9:15-10:05am | Acute Pain Management: Recognition and Treatment Approach
This lecture provides technicians with guidance for identifying and managing acute pain in their patients. We will review how to assess acute pain using validated pain-scoring tools, and understand species-specific differences in treatment. The session covers multimodal analgesia strategies, including opioid and non-opioid options, local blocks, and non-pharmacologic support. We will review the pros and cons of some of the most commonly used analgesic drugs in most practices. Attendees will gain confidence in recognizing painful animals, advocating for appropriate interventions, and playing a critical role in creating effective, compassionate pain-management plans in the clinical setting.

10:10-11:00am | Caring for Brachycephalic Patients
In this session, participants will discuss ways to protect the brachycephalic patient from GI distress, aspiration pneumonia, and other complications seen in brachycephalic breeds. This session explores how to work as a team when preparing to consult, anesthetize, hospitalize, and/or transfer a brachycephalic case. This session is broken into the following sections of care: history taking/registration forms, care plans, nursing care, monitoring, emergency planning, and anesthesia consderations. Each participant, regardless of their role in the hospital, can impact the care of these patients and help guide clients to optimize their pets' health.

11:20-12:10pm | Explaining, Managing and Communicating About Seizures
Seizures can be sudden and stressful, not only for the pet owner, but also for the support team providing the patient care. In this session, participants will develop a better understanding of what seizures look like, treatment options, and how to answer common seizure questions clients may have. Beyond clinical skills, this session emphasizes effective communication: how to explain seizure activity, how to set realistic expectations, and how to deliver calm, clear guidance. This session is meant to strengthen your comfort and ability to manage seizures confidently and to communicate about them with clarity, empathy, and compassion.

1:20-2:10pm | Navigating Human Dynamics in Animal Behavior Cases
Almost all animals are brought into families with the hope that they will provide emotional and instrumental support to their people. When an animal's needs and behaviors do not align with these expectations, there is a significant risk to quality of life for both humans and animals, as well as significant challenges for those who are tasked with managing that animal's medical and behavioral care. This session will explore the human dynamics that influence how animals' problematic behaviors are perceived and managed, as well present strategies for working with clients in a way that optimizes wellbeing for patient, client, and oneself.