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What is Wildlife and Exotics Congress?

Wildlife and Exotics Congress is a one day virtual event that explores the care of wildlife and exotic species in veterinary practice.

This congress offers 7 hours of evidenced CPD and we will be welcoming a range of expert industry speakers to deliver lectures on topics including:

  • Preliminary Veterinary Care of British Wild Fauna
  • Triaging the Avian Patient
  • Rabbits - How to get the Bloods out and the Meds in
  • Reptile Factfile: The ABC's of dealing with reptiles in practice
  • Nursing Aquatic Patients

Who should attend?

Veterinary nurses looking to develop their knowledge of wildlife and exotics nursing. This congress will be particularly useful if you're:

  • Interested in learning more about caring for British wild fauna, avian patients, reptiles or aquatic patients
  • Aiming to specialise in the nursing of wildlife or exotic species
  • 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, Exhibition and Lounges

Chair's Welcome

Preliminary Veterinary Care of British Wild Fauna

Nicola Williams BSc (Hons) RVN C&GCertVNES

This presentation is designed to give nurses a good grounding in how best to approach a wildlife admission within veterinary practice.  We will cover for the following key learning points:

  • The initial first aid of wild fauna
  • The importance of the veterinary practice as a first line in wildlife care
  • The difference between wildlife and domestic patients and how this can affect our nursing interventions
  • The role of the veterinary nurse in being an advocate for wildlife in practice
  • Common case examples

Triaging the Avian Patient

Iain Cope, BSc (VetSci) (Hons), CertAVP(ZM), BVM&S, MRCVS, RCVS Recognised Advanced Practitioner in Zoological Medicine

This presentation will cover what you need to know and think about when a bird is booked in at clinic.
We will cover species, husbandry, clinical presentations, handling, blood sampling and anaesthesia.

Live Q&A Panel

Present questions (anonymously if desired) to the speakers.

Morning Break, Online Exhibition and Lounges

Rabbits - How to Get the Bloods Out and the Meds In

Jo Hinde-Megarity RVN, LagoLearn

This talk will discuss 2 main topics: Blood sampling and common medications including analgesia.

Placing IV cannulas and taking blood samples can be a daunting thought but these top tips including sample sites, local anaesthesia and general stress reduction will help.

Analgesia is vital and we will cover a range of different types to enable you to understand the important pharmacokinetics of each and allow you to take a polypharmacy approach to your treatment plans.

Other common medications such as antibiotics and prokinetics will be delved in to as we look at their potential indications and administration routes.

Live Q&A Panel

Present questions (anonymously if desired) to the speakers.

Lunch Break, Online Exhibition and Lounges

Reptile Factfile: The ABC's of Dealing with Reptiles in Practice

Dr Fabian Rivers MVDr GPCert (ExAP) MRCVS, Dready Vet

Reptile medicine is becoming more developed by the day; but the gap between specialist niche practices and typical GP practices appears to be getting bigger. Where the default before was barely anybody knew, now we have some who know a lot, and many who know very little.

My role is to continue to demystify the idea that reptile medicine and application is *that* difficult and this presentation aims to arm you with some basic skills, know-how and explanations to feel more prepared and confident with reptile work.

Nursing Aquatic Patients

Matthew Rendle RVN, The Association of Zoo and Exotic Veterinary Nurses (AZEVN)

An overview of nursing aquatic species in practice and further afield, this presentation will include some practical suggestions and tips; focusing on the following key learning points:

  • Insight in to need for appropriate water for procedures
  • Common presentation of aquatic species in practice
  • Treatment suggestions
  • How to carry out safe anaesthesia in these challenging species

Live Q&A Panel

Present questions (anonymously if desired) to the speakers.

Chair's Close

Online Exhibition and Lounges

Please note this programme is subject to change.

Fabian Rivers

Dr Fabian Rivers MVDr GPCert (ExAP) MRCVS
Dready Vet

Fabian graduated in 2018 from the University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno. He is currently an exotics and companion animal vet in Birmingham.

More commonly known as Dready Vet, an initiative started in 2013, he has written, featured and given talks to a variety of veterinary and non-veterinary publications, universities and initiatives. He is currently the British Veterinary Association recent graduate representative and is a keen contributor on topics surrounding mental health, racism, new graduate and student welfare, and the wider complexities of the veterinary community.

In 2020, he was awarded BVA Young Vet of the Year.

Fabian is currently undertaking a certificate in exotic animal practice clinically and mentors’ students on exotic specific casework when going into practice. He was a clinical lead at one of the two exotic specific practices in Birmingham and his interests are in preventative welfare particularly in reptiles.

Fabian is also one of the vets on the Pets Factor, a children’s TV show on the CBBC, mainly placed as the exotics focused member of the team.  He also presented a documentary in 2021 named, ‘Britain’s Puppy Boom; Counting the Cost’ which aired on BBC One, BBC Three and iPlayer.

Iain CopeIain Cope, BSc (VetSci) (Hons), CertAVP(ZM), BVM&S, MRCVS, RCVS Recognised Advanced Practitioner in Zoological Medicine

Iain Cope qualified in 2006 from Edinburgh University and gained his certificate in Zoological Medicine in 2011. Having worked in mixed and exotic small animal practices, Iain set up his own clinic in 2016. Iain has published in several journals, teaches at Cambridge University and presents at congresses. His current work involves exotic and zoo species and he is zoo vet at 4 collections.

 

Jo Hinde-Megarity1Jo Hinde-Megarity RVN
LagoLearn

Jo has worked in the veterinary industry since 2007 and has always had a special interest in rabbits. She co-owns LagoLearn, which provides rabbit specific CPD to veterinary professionals in the UK and Internationally. She spends a significant amount of voluntary time highlighting animal welfare, is the Secretary of the AZEVN and is proud have been the President of the BVNA in 2019/2020. Jo has received several awards over the years including the Blue Cross Veterinary Nurse of the Year in 2014, an RCVS Innovation Award winner in 2017 and the IFAW Animal Advocate Award in 2017.

Matthew RendleMatthew Rendle RVN
The Association of Zoo and Exotic Veterinary Nurses (AZEVN)

In 1994 he was made Senior Theatre Nurse. He left in 2003 to pursue his interest in zoo and wildlife nursing at the Zoological Society of London. Matthew left the Zoo in April 2017 to look for new challenges within exotic and wildlife nursing.

Matt has experience in the nursing care for many species from ants to elephants (and most things in-between) and has been fortunate to travel as part of his roles.

Matt has been recognised for his managerial skills and in 2020 was awarded The Bruce Vivash Jones Veterinary Nursing award by the BSAVA, as recognition for outstanding contribution to advancement of small animal veterinary nursing.

He lectures throughout Europe and America to veterinary nursing and veterinary surgeon undergraduates as part of their core modules on topics such as the husbandry and welfare of exotic species and some areas of zoo and wildlife diagnostic imaging and anaesthesia.

Matt has completed a three-year term on the British Veterinary Nursing Association Council, which allowed him to help promote and raise the profile of veterinary nursing in the UK and is currently an elected member of the RCVS Veterinary Nursing council, working on many aspects of progressing and elevating the veterinary nursing profession.

Nicola Williams

Nicola Williams BSc (Hons) RVN C&GCertVNES

Nicola graduated as an RVN in 2015 whilst working at a 24-hour emergency referral practice. During her time in referral, she volunteered at several wildlife hospitals and charities within the UK where she gained valuable skills that helped her to gain employment at RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Hospital.

Once qualified, Nicola went on to complete her certificate in veterinary nursing of exotic species and wildlife.

Outside of her work duties, Nicola pursues her interest in biological monitoring, surveying and conservation, and volunteers for several wildlife organisations such as Shropshire Dormouse Group, Butterfly Conservation, Wildlife Trust and the British Trust of Ornithology.

Wildlife and Exotics Congress
Full Price
£175+VAT
Early Bird
£125+VAT
Saving
£60

Early Bird pricing is available until Friday 25 August 2023. All prices are listed without VAT and savings including VAT.

Book now

Interested in exhibiting at Wildlife and Exotics Congress?

Wildlife and Exotics Congress is a one day virtual event that explores the care of wildlife and exotic species in veterinary practice.

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.