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*Bookings close at 12pm on Wednesday 7 February 2024. Any bookings after Friday 2 February will not be eligible for a delegate pack*

What is Rehab Congress?

Rehab Congress is a one day virtual event focused on veterinary rehabilitation.

This congress offers 7 hours of evidenced CPD. We'll be welcoming expert industry speakers deliver lectures on topics including:

  • Rehabilitating the Cranial Cruciate Patient
  • Post-Op Management of the Neuro Patient
  • Feline Rehabilitation: Where to start
  • Physiotherapeutic techniques: Effective support and care in the inpatient setting
  • Weight management support for rehab

Who should attend?

Veterinary nurses and members of the veterinary profession looking to develop their knowledge and understanding of different veterinary rehabilitation techniques and disciplines. This congress will be particularly useful if you're:

  • Aiming to progress within your role
  • Interested in keeping up-to-date with everything happening in the industry

Why attend?

  • Listen to lectures from a range of speakers who will be sharing their experiences and knowledge
  • Q&A sessions mean your questions will be answered by the speakers themselves
  • Gain practical takeaways that you can implement in your practice
  • Gain information, product knowledge and offers from our virtual exhibitors
  • Earn 7 hours of evidenced CPD
  • Gain online access to recordings of all the lectures and lectures from previous congresses up until the next event
Download the agenda (PDF)

Online Registration and Exhibition

Chair's Welcome

Rehabilitating the Cranial Cruciate Patient

Diane Messum, MCSP HCPC BSc(Hons) MSc VetPhysio ACPAT Cat A RAMP, Davies Veterinary Specialists

Partial or complete rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament is one of the most common causes of hind limb lameness in dogs. It can result in pain commonly associated with lameness, muscle atrophy and poor limb function as a result of dynamic joint instability. During this presentation we will cover the following key points:

 

  • Discuss the effect that cranial cruciate disease has on the joints structure, motion and function
  • Factors that might predispose a patient to bilateral cranial cruciate disease
  • Conservative and surgical management options for cranial cruciate disease
  • Should stifle orthotics be factored into our management plan
  • Biomechanical considerations post-surgery and navigating the problems that may be encountered
  • The importance of restoring range of motion, muscle strength and neuromuscular control to minimise the progression of degenerative joint disease

Post-Op Management of the Neuro Patient

Mathilde Granger, DVM, MRCVS, Dip APhys, CVPP, Vet&Physio Ltd

After spinal cord injury, several basic neurological functions can be affected; from subtle proprioceptive deficits to paraplegia and incontinence.

In this session, we will briefly present the consequences of spinal cord injury and see how this will guide the different phases of the rehabilitation program. We will explain the basics behind different rehabilitation techniques such as acupuncture, physiotherapeutic exercises and laser therapy.

We will end with suggesting some standard rehabilitation programs to apply in your clinic, adapted with specific goals for the affected patient and based on regular review of the progress.

Live Q&A Panel

Present questions (anonymously if desired) to the speakers.

Online Exhibition and Lounges

Feline Rehabilitation: Where to start

Sian Baker RVN, SMART Veterinary Clinic Ltd

This presentation will focus on looking at the best ways to successfully manage feline rehabilitation in practice and the main starting points to consider.

We will look at the basics of feline behaviour, home environment and pain presentation. We will then consider how this can impact their rehabilitation management and the ways in which we approach their assessment and treatment (at home and at the practice) so we can look to gain the most successful outcomes.

Cats are not small dogs and this talk aims to highlight this and to arm delegates with simple tips and tools to help target our feline patients treatments more appropriately.

Live Q&A Panel

Present questions (anonymously if desired) to the speakers.

Online Exhibition and Lounges

Physiotherapeutic techniques: Effective support and care in the inpatient setting

Sarah Conley, Chartered Physiotherapist ACPAT (Cat A), MCSP, HCPC, MSc, PGDip, BSc (Hons) PGCE, Davies Veterinary Specialists

This session will consider the needs of a variety of patient presentations - how best to support your patients from a physiotherapeutic point of view, how to optimise the rest environment and make use of efficient support systems.

Strategies for proactive management of recumbent patients will also be considered in relation to associated pathology and we will discuss a range of support techniques and ergonomics that can optimise independence, mobility and comfort.

A concise overview of canine biomechanics will also be included to deepen understanding and allow you to offer the best targeted support alongside manual techniques; looking at when (and when not) to use them.

Weight management support for rehab

Dr Eleanor Raffan, BVM&S PhD MRCVS CertSAM DipECVIM-CA AFHEA, University of Cambridge

In this presentation, Dr Eleanor Raffan, a vet and researcher from the University of Cambridge will outline recent research on how genetics, hormones, feeding practices, owner management and much more interact to cause obesity.

She will discuss how we can use that knowledge to improve our management of overweight patients by targeting interventions to match the particular challenges individual pet/owner combinations face, particularly in the context of rehab patients with their particular challenges.

Live Q&A Panel

Present questions (anonymously if desired) to the speakers.

Chair's Close

Virtual Exhibition and Lounges

Diane MessumDiane Messum MCSP HCPC BSc(Hons) MSc VetPhysio ACPAT Cat A RAMP
Davies Veterinary Specialists

Diane has been a Chartered Physiotherapist for over 19 years, qualifying from the University of Birmingham in 2002. She went on to specialise in musculoskeletal outpatients and hand therapy developing knowledge and skills that were key to her current practice within the small animal field. Diane completed her Masters Degree in Veterinary Physiotherapy in 2007, awarded by the Royal Veterinary College, London.

Diane joined Davies Veterinary Specialists in 2011 to develop the therapy service. The growth of this led to the launch of the Davies Therapy and Fitness Centre in January 2017 where services now include Physiotherapy, Hydrotherapy, Splinting and Orthotics and Pain Management.

Diane continues to share her own passion for the work she does by lecturing nationally and internationally and being an active clinical educator for the Masters/Post Graduate Veterinary Physiotherapy Programmes in the UK.

Mathilde Granger HeadshotMathilde Granger DVM, MRCVS, Dip APhys, CVPP
Vet&Physio Ltd

Mathilde graduated as a vet in France in 2002 and has been working in the UK since 2006; initially as a general practice vet and then an emergency vet. She passed a Diploma of Animal Physiotherapy in 2012.
In 2019, Mathilde founded Vet&Physio Ltd, a small animal physiotherapy, pain management and rehabilitation centre based in Somerset, UK. She is particularly interested in looking after older pets and chronic pain patients and in 2022, became a certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner.
Mathilde has been Chair of the British Veterinary Rehabilitation and Small Animal Association (BVRSMA) since 2021 and she is also a member of the International Veterinary Association for Pain Management (IVAPM).

Sian Baker HeadshotSian Baker RVN
SMART Veterinary Clinic Ltd

Sian qualified from the University of Bristol in 2006 with a 2:1 degree in Veterinary Nursing and Practice Administration and is a registered Veterinary Nurse. She has been working at the Smart Clinic since 2011, and is now Practice Management Director.
Sian is also Treasurer of the BVRSMA and has been an active committee member for nearly 10 years.
Her main interest is still the nutritional management of the cases seen at the clinic but she has always had a keen interest in feline medicine and the approach to feline patient management and treatment. Her own beloved cat Hugo has been a constant support in her learning, having received rehabilitation treatment for the last few years.

Sarah Conley HeadshotSarah Conley, Chartered Physiotherapist ACPAT (Cat A), MCSP, HCPC, MSc, PGDip, BSc (Hons) PGCE
Davies Veterinary Specialists

After an initial career lecturing in equine studies and as Assistant Head of Department (FE) at Myerscough College in Lancashire, Sarah completed an MSc in Physiotherapy in 2012 at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Since then, she has worked as a Chartered Physiotherapist in both acute and primary care settings within the NHS, in predominantly neurological and musculoskeletal settings.

Following completion of a Veterinary Physiotherapy post graduate diploma from the University of Liverpool in 2016, Sarah has worked as a Veterinary Physiotherapist at Davies Veterinary Specialists, seeing a variety of case presentations in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Sarah has a specialist interest in vestibular and acute neurological rehabilitation.

Eleanor Raffan HeadshotDr Eleanor Raffan, BVM&S PhD MRCVS CertSAM DipECVIM-CA AFHEA
University of Cambridge

Eleanor Raffan is a vet and researcher at the University of Cambridge.
Having trained as a small animal internal medicine specialist and spent time in general practice, she now divides her time between offering a clinical obesity referral service and researching how genetics, behaviour, owner management and hormones interact to predispose our pets to weight gain.

 

Kathryn Scroope HeadshotKathryn Scroope AFHEA PGCert VBM RVN VNRT
The College of Animal Welfare

Kathryn is currently based at The College of Animal Welfare, where she is the Deputy Programme Leader on the Veterinary Nursing degree programme, delivered through Middlesex University.

She is based in Ireland, where she is from, and where she gained her qualification as an RVN in 2012.

Kathryn went on to work in small animal practice for nine years, working her way up from clinical coach to head nurse and then on to practice manager. During this time, she gained a certificate in small animal rehabilitation through CPD solutions and more recently completed her Post Graduate Certificate in Veterinary Business Management at Liverpool University.

She has recently been awarded an Associate Fellowship title in higher education which demonstrates a personal and institutional commitment to professionalism in learning and teaching in higher education.

CAW LogoThe College of Animal Welfare

The College of Animal Welfare is one of the largest providers of veterinary nurse training in the UK, with centres in Cambridgeshire, North London, Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, West Midlands, County Durham and Scotland. We strongly believe that education and training is the key to raising standards of animal welfare. To this end, we strive to create new and accessible opportunities for learning, and encourage employers and those working with animals to undertake appropriate levels of training and continue with lifelong learning and education.

CAW Business School

CAW Business School was set up in 2012 to offer business related qualifications. CAW Business School offers a number of highly recognised qualifications including the opportunity to study AAT Accounting, Business Administration, Customer Service, TAQA and ILM leadership and management, and coaching and mentoring courses.

 

Millpledge Veterinary LogoMillpledge Veterinary

Millpledge Veterinary has been manufacturing innovative products designed specifically for the veterinary professional for over 30 years.

Ranging from Pharmaceuticals to Nutraceuticals, Bandaging and Fluid Therapy, encompassing products for companion and large animal use. Providing complete peace of mind for the veterinary profession.

Popular products include Rapz Eazy Tear® Cohesive Bandages, Eaze-Off® Tape and Bandage Removal Spray, Tom Tiddle™ Urinary Cat Catheters, Millpack™ Sterilisation Pouches with built-in sterility test strips, Aniset™ IV Sets for small and large animals, and V-GEL® advanced species-specific supraglottic airway devices for Rabbits, Cats, and Dogs.

Visit our website at www.millpledge.com to view our full range.

VetlifeVetlife

Vetlife is a charity dedicated to supporting the veterinary profession.

Everyone in the veterinary community is welcome to contact the Vetlife Helpline for free, independent and confidential support – including veterinary nurses, veterinary students, and non-clinical staff. The Helpline can be reached on 0303 040 2551 or by anonymous email.

Following contact with the Vetlife Helpline, volunteers can refer those needing further care to our award-winning Vetlife Health Support service which provides mental health support.

Vetlife Financial Support is available for eligible veterinary surgeons, registered veterinary nurses, and their dependants in the UK.

Pet RemedyPet Remedy

Pet Remedy is a natural plant based range of calming products for pets. Easy to use and fast acting. This unique and patented formula is valerian root oil based and is made in the UK.

Pet Remedy works with the pet's own natural calming mechanisms and is suitable for use in all stressful situations. Pet Remedy will also help with developing emotional resilience and wellbeing. Now used by most veterinary practices and rescues on a daily basis. Visit the vet zone on our website and you will see a detailed explanation by Dr Robert Falconer-Taylor (veterinary neuro surgeon and author), about how Pet Remedy works. You will also see links to 9 published studies showing efficacy in multi-species including cat, dog, rabbit, pig and horse.

VBS Direct LogoVBS Direct

VBS Direct are the UK leader in Rehab and Pain Management therapies: K-Laser clinically proven therapeutic lasers: wounds, surgical rehabilitation and pain management, with K-Laser surgical head accessories.

Indiba global leader in radiofrequency rehabilitation accelerated healing, enhanced blood flow, and pain management for equine and small animals. Orthokine and RegenVet small animal and equine clinically proven regenerative medicine equipment: rehabilitation and osteoarthritis. Surgically: dual-purpose K-Laser, C02 surgical lasers and Bovie electrocautery/diathermy, with CryoPen for accurate cryosurgery and ophthalmic procedures. VBS produce a full range of palatable, premium vet supplements that can be own-branded; for more information visit our website.

BVRSMABVRSMA

The BVRSMA aims to provide continuing professional development for veterinary surgeons, physiotherapists, and nurses who have an interest in small animal rehabilitation and sports medicine. BVRSMA is affiliated with the BSAVA.

Membership benefits include access to clinical club discussions, member’s library, case study presentations plus more.

The main aims of the BVRSMA are to:

Regulate the use of hydrotherapy, physiotherapy and rehabilitation to ensure it is performed by qualified and experienced professionals

Maintain standards of excellence in our field

Encourage and fund scientific research and evidence based clinical trials

Achieve recognition from regulatory bodies such as the RCVS.

Pioneer

As comprehensive suppliers to veterinary practices and hospitals, Pioneer actively work to improve patient care, maximise time and reduce stress daily. We achieve this through promoting best practice and providing quality products at affordable prices, with bespoke support to suit individual needs.

As exclusive distributors for Multiradiance, we specialise in a range of therapeutic Lasers to suit all needs and budgets as well as providing Thermal imaging cameras designed by and for the veterinary sector. We are also the proud founders of 30 Under 30 Initiative in partnership with London Vet Show.

Register your details now to receive information about this event and other CPD courses

CPD, Short Courses and Congresses
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Rehab Congress is a one day virtual event that focuses on veterinary rehabilitation.

Why exhibit with us?

  • Limited exhibitor numbers - Unlike larger congresses where hundreds of exhibitors often mean that visitors will not remember everyone, exhibition space for these events is strictly limited. As such you will get the opportunity to engage with the delegates attending our congresses personally.
  • Make meaningful business connections – Network with those that influence decision making in veterinary practice and make relevant industry contacts virtually.
  • Cost effective – with exhibitor packages starting from just £50+VAT, our prices offer value for money and fall considerably below that of larger events within the industry.

To find out more contact Claire Gregory on 01480 422060.