Exotic Pets
Exotic Pets – Small Mammal: Imaging and Medicine
registration open
Warsaw / Poland
21.10.2023 – 25.10.2023
EURO 2.550.-*
EURO 2.450.-*(early registration deadline: 25.05.2023)
* eLibrary access is included in the course fee
Total hours: 40
ATF hours (Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland): TBA
ECTS credits (Master & Certificate): 5
Principal Course Master:
Course Masters:
Dr. Vladimir Jekl, Ph.D., Dipl. ECZM (CZ)
ESAVS is delighted to organize this new course on Small Mammal Diagnostic Imaging and Medicine. The small mammal courses have been totally reorganized since the first sessions in 2021 with new topics and new lecturers. This course is design for practitioners who already work with small mammals and who are willing to improve their knowledge and practice in this topic. The course will be illustrated by several clinical cases, and the lecturers will always pay attention to share with the participants the latest evidence-based data published and emphasize clinical application of these publications.
The first part of the course will focus on diagnostic imaging with lectures presenting radiography (including contrast), ultrasound techniques and radio anatomy in order to finely interpret the images. The CT scan and MRI lecture will focus on reasonable but necessary indications to perform these diagnostics and interpretations of the main lesions. These lectures will lead to an interactive clinical cases session and an ultrasound wet lab where the participants will be trained to perform abdominal ultrasounds on different live small mammal species.
The second part of the course will be on medicine with lectures on cardiology, pneumology, uro-nephrology, gastroenterology, reproduction, ophthalmology, dermatology, neurology and oncology. During these lecture, new and emerging diseases will be presented as well as updates on common diseases in order to give practical tools the practitioners to be able to improve the medical management of their patients. These lectures will lead to an interactive clinical cases session and a wetlab on cadavers about noninvasive endoscopy (oculoscopy, otoscopy, rhinoscopy, esophagoscopy, gastroscopy, coloscopy, cystoscopy on rabbits and guinea pigs).
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, participants will be able to:
1. Interpret skull, thoracic and abdominal radiographs in small mammals.
2. To perform and interpret an abdominal ultrasound in small mammals.
3. To prescribe and to interpret major lesions on CT scan and MRI in small mammals.
4. To diagnose and to treat the most important medical diseases in small mammals.
5. To perform noninvasive endoscopy in rabbits and guinea pigs.
Main topics:
Radiography. Contrast radiography. Abdominal ultrasound. Introduction to CT scan and MRI.
Cardiology, pneumology, uro-nephrology, gastroenterology, reproduction, ophthalmology, dermatology, neurology and oncology.
Noninvasive endoscopy.
Wetlabs:
Abdominal ultrasound on small mammals supervised by small mammal and diagnostic imaging instructors.
Noninvasive endoscopy in rabbits and guinea pigs.
Journal clubs, discussions and controversies:
Principles of evidence-based medicine in small mammal and its use in clinics.
Two one-hour recorded webinars will be perform at 1 month and 2 months after the course. The topic will be decided depending on the demands of the participants.
Course program (subject to change)
Saturday, 21/10/2023
8:30 – 10:30 Radiography including contrast techniques Jekl
This presentation will provide with insights into thoracic and abdominal radiography of exotic companion mammals, references of different organ radiographic size and location, contrast techniques, tips for reading radiographs, and examples of clinical conditions seen in practice.
10:30 – 11:00 Coffee Break
11:00-13:00 Ultrasound Pignon
Presentation of how to perform an ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity with images, videos and references of the different organs of healthy small mammals.
13:00-14:00 Lunch Break
14:00-16:00 Interactive radiography clinical cases/ Abdominal ultrasound wetlab on ferrets and guinea pigs Jekl/Pignon
Half of the group will be with one instructor (one group clinical cases, one group ultrasound) to promote discussion and interactivity. Radiography clinical cases will be presented, and a discussion will take place to recognize, describe and interpret the lesions in order to obtain a diagnosis and plan the best treatment. Ultrasound will be performed on live animal by participants after a demonstration in order to visualize and measure the main organs.
16:00-16:15 Coffee Break
16:15-18:15 Interactive radiography clinical cases/ Abdominal ultrasound wetlab on ferrets and guinea pigs Jekl/Pignon
The two group will permute in comparison to the previous session.
Sunday, 22/10/23
Presentation with clinical cases on indications to perform CT and MRI, on how to read images using a dedicated software, and description with images, videos and references of the different organs of healthy small mammals.
10:30-11:00 Coffee Break
11:00-13:00 Cardiology Jekl
The presentation summarizes diagnostics and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in selected exotic companion mammals, particularly in rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, and rats.
13:00-14:00 Lunch Break
14:00-16:00 Interactive ultrasound clinical cases/ Abdominal ultrasound wetlab on rabbits and rats Jekl/Pignon
Half of the group will be with one instructor (one group clinical cases, one group ultrasound) to promote discussion and interactivity. Radiography clinical cases will be presented, and a discussion will take place to recognize, describe and interpret the lesions in order to obtain a diagnosis and plan the best treatment. Ultrasound will be performed on live animal by participants after a demonstration in order to visualize and measure the main organs.
16:00-16:30 Coffee Break
16:00-18:00 Interactive ultrasound clinical cases/ Abdominal ultrasound wetlab on rabbits and rats Jekl/Pignon
The two group will permute in comparison to the previous session.
Monday, 23/10/23
Based on clinical cases, and the latest literature, upper and lower respiratory diseases will be described including infectious and inflammatory diseases. Diagnostics and treatments will be discussed.
10:30-11:00 Coffee Break
11:00-13:00 Uro-nephrology Jekl
After a short summary of the anatomy and physiology of the urinary system, the lecture will, based on the latest evidence-based knowledge, provide information on diagnostics, therapy and prevention of urinary tract diseases, with dietary recommendations included.
13:00-14:00 Lunch Break
14:00-18:00 Gastroenterology Pignon
After a review and an update of the treatment of the most common gastroenterological diseases, hot topic diseases (liver lobe torsion, appendicitis, gastric dilatation and volvulus will be described and illustrated with clinical cases.
16:00-16:15 Coffee Break
16:15-18:15 Reproductive disorders Jekl
Get the latest updates in managing reproductive tract disorders in exotic companion mammals. The presentation will be cases-oriented and documented with high-quality images and videos, neonatal care included.
Tuesday, 24/10/23
The presentation will focus on the recognition, diagnostics, and treatment of ophthalmic diseases in selected exotic companion mammals based on up-to-date knowledge. The case-oriented and interactive lecture will also provide the recognition of primary and secondary ophthalmic disorders.
10:30-11:00 Coffee Break
11:00-13:00 Dermatology Pignon
A symptom-based approach (pruritus, alopecia…) will be used to this lecture which will present common and uncommon dermatologic diseases.
13:00-14:00 Lunch Break
14:00-15:30 Interactive clinical cases / Wetlab Noninvasive endoscopy Jekl / Pignon
Half of the group will be with one instructor to promote discussion and interactivity. Clinical cases will be presented, and a discussion will take place to make a differential, choose and interpret diagnostics in order to obtain a diagnosis and plan the best treatment. For the wetlab, after a presentation of the techniques of oculoscopy, otoscopy, rhinoscopy. and a demonstration by the instructors, the participants will be able to train on cadavers.
15:30-15:45 Coffee Break
15:45-17:15 Interactive clinical cases / Wetlab Noninvasive endoscopy Jekl / Pignon
The two group will permute in comparison to the previous session.
Wednesday, 25/10/23
Tricks and tips assisted by videos will be presented on how to perform a neurological examination. The most common neurological diseases will be presented with a highlight on the newest literature.
10:30-11:00 Coffee Break
11:00-13:00 Oncology Jekl
This presentation will discuss current insights on the etiopathogenesis, clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of neoplastic diseases in ferrets, rabbits, rodents, and other exotic companion mammals and offer guidelines for the optimal management of the oncologic disorders.
13:00-14:00 Lunch Break
14:00-15:30 Interactive clinical cases / Wetlab Noninvasive endoscopy Jekl / Pignon
Half of the group will be with one instructor to promote discussion and interactivity. Clinical cases will be presented, and a discussion will take place to make a differential, choose and interpret diagnostics in order to obtain a diagnosis and plan the best treatment. For the wetlab, after a presentation of the techniques of oral cavity endoscopy, esophagoscopy, gastroscopy, coloscopy, cystoscopy. and a demonstration by the instructors, the participants will be able to train on cadavers.
15:30-15:45 Coffee Break
15:45-17:15 Interactive clinical cases / Wetlab Noninvasive endoscopy Jekl / Pignon
The two group will permute in comparison to the previous session.
17:15-17:30 Casus and conclusion of the course.