IVDD is Intervertebral Disc Degeneration is commonly referred to as intervertebral disc disease, it is a genetic disorder that causes this disease process in the intervertebral discs of the spinal cord.

Education for veterinary professionals’ owners, and breeders, about prevention is vially important; Although there is no proven way to avoid it completely there is actions you can put in place. Also knowing signs and symptoms and how to act on these fast!!

Typical early warning signs/symptoms are:

• Muscle spasms over back or neck
• Hunched back or neck with tense muscles.
• Reduced appetite and activity level
• Loss of bladder and/or bowel control
• Neck pain and stiffness
• Lowered head stance
• Back pain and stiffness
• Yelping unexpectedly when touched or moving.
• Abdominal tenderness or tenseness
• Sensitivity to touch and movement.
• Dragging one or more legs when walking
• Stilted or tentative gait
• Tremors, trembling, shaking.
• Lack of coordination (“ataxia”)
• Abnormal reflexes
• Collapse
• Paralysis in one or more limbs


Once you have presented to a vet a diagnosis of IVDD can be made relevantly easily by a full neurological examination together with the MRI or CT scan.
At grades 1 and 2, conservative (non-surgical) treatment is often a sensible first choice. At grades 3-5, surgical treatment gives a better chance of a successful outcome.
Conservative treatment simply put is – crate rest, medication (pain relief and anti-inflammatories) & alternative therapies such as massage and hydrotherapy
Crate rest means your dog is in his crate 24/7, except for toilet breaks, physiotherapy or maybe some quiet cuddle time. The rule of thumb is that dogs who have a suspected IVDD episode, should be crate-rested for a minumin of 5 to 6 weeks
If you dog is a grade 3 or higher a sugery wiill be reccomended
Surgery involves removal of the compressive disc material to relieve the pressure on the spinal cord. They will come home on medication post op at the vet’s discretion – in my experience it has been Gabapentin and Meloxicam to assist with their recover. Recovery time will depend on each individual case, and your surgeon will guide you
As in conservative method of treatment crate rest especially during the first few weeks after surgery is critical to ensure full recovery. It is also recommended you enlist the help of a qualified canine physiotherapist.

This poster presents the case of Gypsy, a canine patient who experienced an acute adrenergic crisis secondary to an adrenal gland mass. The presentation explores the physiology of the adrenal gland and the pathophysiological changes associated with an adrenal mass.

Key aspects of Gypsy’s clinical crisis are outlined, including diagnostic findings, acute signs, and the interventions required to stabilize her condition. Nursing considerations are highlighted, focusing on monitoring, pharmacological support, and critical care strategies essential during an adrenergic crisis.

This case underscores the importance of timely recognition and multidisciplinary management of adrenal emergencies in veterinary practice, as well as the vital role of nursing care in achieving positive outcomes.

What is laser:
A treatment that promotes faster healing, restore mobility, strengthen muscles and joints and relieve pain through the use of light waves. The light waves produce 3 separate light beams; monochromatic, coherent and collimated. Theses beams emit photons that penetrate the skin to reach the targeted tissues, stimulating cellular activity leading to regenerative repair.
How does it work:
In laser machines power is measured in watts, a decisive factor for tissue penetration. Another is wavelength. The power used in the laser machines, works by carrying photon deeper into the tissue and reduces treatment time. It supplies more photons over a shorter time with weaker laser, by applying the formula; Energy (joule) = Power (watts) x Time (seconds). With this formula the machine is able to efficiently calculate the wattage strength required for the targeted area and the time it would adequately need.
How to use it:
Keeping the surface of the wand flat against the body part requiring the treatment you slowly move the wand up and down and back and forth, ensure you feel the treated areas making sure it is not overheating. When moving the wand, you want to make sure you keep your wrist loose and not locked up, following the curve of the animal’s body.
How long it can be used for:
The first 3 sessions are administered within 7-10days as this allows the best reduction results of pain and inflammation. Once the 3rd session is complete ongoing treatment can be planned out based on the severity of the patient’s condition and reason for treatment
Indicated use:
Skin issues, musculoskeletal abnormalities, gingivitis and post operative dental treatments, ear issues, sprains and strains, muscle atrophy, osteoarthritis, nerve problems, inflammations, hip dysplasia, granulomas, inflammatory bowel disease.
Contraindicators:
Cancer and potential cancer sites, pregnant pets, current infected sites, seizure prone pets and areas with metal implants (TPLO’s)
Safety precautions:
All metal surfaces need to either removed if able or covered with a dark cloth, collars and/or harnesses need to be removed off the patient, all jewelry (rings, watches, bracelets) need to be removed from the user. Goggles must be worn by user, assistant and patient throughout the entire laser treatment. If the patient will not tolerate goggles a dark cloth can be placed over their eyes

With the increasing knowledge of periodontal disease and its prevalence in small animals, our clinics are booking in more dental procedures than ever. But in an industry suffering from an epidemic of vet shortages, are we utilizing our skilled nurses and technicians accordingly? The most important development over the last decade in pet dentistry has been the availability of dental radiography in small practices, this has drastically improved our patient outcomes and dental prophylaxis plans.

In most cases, veterinary nurses/techs have not had consistent training in dental treatment protocols - apart from the occasional chance to scale and polish teeth (if time and resources permitted). But given the correct training, our nursing teams could have the skills to confidently carry out dental radiography of the whole mouth and be knowledgeable enough to accurately assess these images for any abnormalities or the requirement for veterinary intervention. We can begin to upskill our team in one of our most common procedures, whilst significantly increasing job satisfaction for our nurses/techs and reducing the strain on our time-poor vets.

This presentation will focus on how to get the best angles for radiographing the whole mouth in both our feline and canine patients, identifying what a ‘normal’ radiograph profile should look like, how to adjust our radiographing technique based on the quality of the images, how to problem solve angles for plate positioning in challenging oral cavities, and how to identify all the abnormalities we find in dental radiographs, from tooth root abscesses to fused or additional roots. Through an interactive presentation comprising a variety of high-quality radiographs taken with digital dental radiography equipment, delegates will have the opportunity to test their knowledge on the complexities and anomalies we often can uncover through thorough oral radiographs, highlighting the great importance this step is in our dental treatments.

Veterinary nurses/techs can be the biggest advocates for pet dental health and with more focused training in dental radiography they can be empowered to take their patient’s treatment to the next level while maximizing their own fulfillment in their roles. These skills, once mastered, can provide an opportunity to improve our teams’ efficiency, lessen the demand on our vets, showcase our nursing teams capabilities and give our patients the best care we can.

Poultry Health
• Good health of poultry means the flock will be free from injury, illness
or pain. Owners need to be aware of the normal behavior of the birds to be able to recognise when ill health occurs.
• Signs of ill health can be noted from changes in water and food consumption, general behavior and feather condition.
• General signs of disease and illhealth include fluffed feathers, increased sleeping and closed eyes, general lethargy and inactivity,
lack of strength and unable to perch, losing balance or walking in circles, changes in breathing rates, coughing or sneezing, discharge of the nostrils, lack of preening, sticky or cloudy eyes, changes in faeces consistency or colour and weight loss.
• Pathogens such as virus, bacteria, parasites and fungi, and nonpathogenic
influences such as stress, adverse environment, nutritional
problems, genetic problems, metabolic issues and cancers can all cause ill health.
• Common diseases affecting poultry are;
• Viral-
• Avian influenza, Infectious bursal disease, infectious bronchitis,
mereks disease and new castle disease.
• Bacterial-
• Mycoplasma, salmonella and bumble foot
• Protozoal disease-
• Coccidiosis
• Parasites-
• External- Red mite and scaley leg mite
• Internal- Round worms, hook worms, ceacal worms and tape worms.
Disease prevention
• While some diseases can’t be prevented, most can be.
• Infectious bursal disease, infectious bronchitis, mereks disease and Newcastle disease can all be vaccinated for on a commercial basis. Unfortunately the backyard chicken holder is usually unable to vaccinate their poultry due to the vaccine availability only being available in large lots of 1000.
• Basic clean husbandry can prevent most of the bacterial diseases
• Regular worming should be given to the whole frock at least twice a year and can be put into a communal water container.
• External parasites can be treated with ivermectin.

Feeding
• Poultry thrive on a variety in their diet.
• Free range poultry will eat bugs, worms, slugs and snails to
supplement their protein needs but shell grit, pellets, grains and or mash such as pollard should be supplied at all times.
• A free range a chicken hen will eat about 100g of grains/pellets whereas a chicken totally confined to a pen will need 200g a day.
• Commercially produced life stage food is readily available at
produce stores and include starter crumble, growth mix and
adult/layer pallets.

Radiation Therapy (RT) is one of the three major factors of oncology care for animals, along with surgery and chemotherapy. The field is integral to a comprehensive cancer approach; however, it presents a unique set of veterinary nursing considerations and challenges. Through further education veterinary nurses and technicians can be empowered to learn new techniques, read real life case studies exploring what Radiation Therapy looks like in patients with brain tumours.

Outlining the definition of Radiation Therapy, The nursing care and considerations involved whilst looking at a real-life case study of a patient who presented with neurological deficits, leading to the diagnosis of a brain tumour and how radiation therapy was used in the treatment process.


Radiation Therapy and the role veterinary nurses and technicians play in the oncology field, partners with the VNCA in relating to their theme, “Waves of Change - Empowering our Profession” as this is a unique speciality area of veterinary medicine, it would educate and encourage Vet Nurses and Technicians of the VNCA to learn new and exciting techniques, while also following the case study of a patient with a brain tumour.

The following presentation will outline ‘What is Radiation Therapy’, ‘How do nurses play a role in RT’, ‘Nursing Considerations for patients with neurological conditions’ - during and after RT’. Including the general anaesthetic considerations for these patients and how veterinary nurses and technicians can be an integral part in the care for neurological patients.

Specifically, why monitoring end tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) is so important. Techniques veterinary nurse and technicians can use during inductions in anaesthetic such as a ‘head up’ induction. This presentation will explain how using a ventilator can reduce ETCO2 during anaesthetics while patients receive radiation therapy and how this relates to patients with brain tumours specifically.

The case study will show some of the immediate effects radiation can have on improving neurological signs and shows the almost instant increase in quality-of-life seen in patients with brain tumours.

The outcome of this presentation is to educate and highlight an area of speciality that Radiation Therapy is a growing profession and is being used in conjunction with surgical oncology and chemotherapy when treating more patients with cancer diagnosis.

This presentation also highlights how involved nurses and technicians are when it comes to treating patients with Radiation and the patients whose quality of life can dramatically increase through this treatment option.

Preventing and treating Cat Flu in an Animal Shelter
Cat flu is a contagious and rapidly spread respiratory illness that commonly occurs in shelters.
Recognising and responding to cat flu is essential for protecting the health of all cats in your care.
What is Cat Flu?
• Cat flu refers to respiratory infections, caused by Feline Herpesvirus and Feline Calicivirus.
Transmission
Viruses can spread rapidly via:
• Airborne nasal secretions/sneezing.
• Cross-contamination on hands and clothing when handling the cats.
Symptoms
• Frequent sneezing
• Runny nose.
• Watery or swollen eyes.
• Poor appetite
• Fever (39-40c)
• Coughing or trouble breathing
Preventing Outbreaks
• Monitor cats closely each day and isolate any showing symptoms right away.
• Stress Reduction: Stress weakens immunity.
 Provide quiet, comfortable spaces with hiding boxes.
 Feliway plug in diffusers which mimic calming pheromones.
 Feliway sprayed towels as cage covers if cats are in direct sight of another.
• Ensure full cleaning is carried out daily using abroad spectrum disinfectant such as F10 (SC veterinary disinfectant). Dilution of 1;100 (10ml/1l water) with a contact time of 30 minutes. concentration and contact time.
• Use new disposable clothing for each cage.
• Quickly isolate sick cats from the healthy population.
• Barrier nursing for isolated cats- full PPE should be worn– disposable aprons – gloves –shoe covers.
• Restrict movement between different areas of the shelter.
• Vaccination: All cats should be vaccinated to help reduce severity and spread.
Treatment
• Encourage eating by offering tasty or warmed foods; hand or syringe feeding might be required with products such as Hills A.D
• Gently clean away nasal and ocular discharge to help breathing.
• Make sure cats are comfortable, warm, and have a quiet resting area.
• Antibiotics such as Doxycycline are used due to their broad spectrum of activity against common feline nasal pathogens.
• Eye drops or ointments can help if the eyes are affected.
• Nebulisers can be used to ease congestion.
Animal Welfare
• Cat flu is rarely fatal in healthy cats. Euthanasia should only be considered for severe cases where quality of life is poor and treatment isn’t effective.
Summary
Spotting and treating cat flu early is crucial in shelters. Good hygiene, rapid isolation, supportive care, and clear teamwork allow most cats to recover and help keep the shelter population healthy and safe.

Propofol is used widely as an intravenous anaesthetic induction agent in many veterinary practices within Australia. It is valued for its ability to induce a rapid loss of consciousness in the patient and short, smooth recovery time. While generally it is safe when administered correctly, improper injection, causing Propofol Extravasation can lead to serious complications including tissue necrosis. This poster explores the critical role veterinary nurses and technologists play in preventing injection site complications, tissue damage and necrosis when using propofol in small animals.

Key Topics:
-Understanding Propofol : a brief overview of propofol’s pharmacological properties and intended use.
-Pros of Propofol: The benefits of its use in small animal anaesthesia, including rapid onset, smooth recovery and cost efficiency.
-Risks and Complications: The cons of propofol use including pain on injection, and extravasation complications such as tissue necrosis, phlebitis and infection risk.
-Pathophysiology of Tissue Damage: Why does propofol cause cellular injury when administered outside the vein, including its lipid base emulsion and irritant properties that contribute to potential necrosis.
-Nursing Strategies for Prevention: Insight into how to manage the risks by ensuring IV catheter patency before and during propofol administration, communication with the veterinarian during anaesthesia, post-injection monitoring for signs of extravasation.

This poster presentation explores the potential complications of propofol use and highlights the importance of vigilance by nurses and technologists in ensuring patient welfare and prevention of adverse outcomes.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly making waves in veterinary medicine, offering opportunities to enhance clinical efficiency, diagnostic accuracy, and workforce sustainability. This poster looks at how veterinary nurses can use AI in day-to-day practice to enhance patient care and improve efficiency.

Key Topics:

-Making Clinic Work Smoother: Helping with appointment scheduling, automated client communication, creating client education tools. How to make AI work for you to save time and reduce stress.
-Things to Watch Out For: While AI has lots of benefits, it’s important to think about risks like data privacy, algorithm bias, ethical considerations and the importance of maintaining clinical judgement.
-Supporting Diagnosis: AI is already being used in laboratories to enhance diagnosis - such as analyzing cytology slides, xrays, ultrasounds, etc.
-Helping with Staff Shortages: Many clinics are short-staffed - Veterinarians, Nurses and Technologists alike. AI can help by taking care of repetitive tasks, supporting telehealth, and helping nurses, techs and vets free up time by assisting with clinical note taking.

This poster presentation is all about starting conversations on how veterinary nurses can use AI safely, empowering them to embrace technology as a tool to tackle staff shortages and improve efficiency, and allow more time for hands-on patient care and overall better patient outcomes.