Sessions
Hands-on Labs & Workshops
The OAVT 2025 Conference offers an array of interactive learning opportunities for attendees. Each of the workshops and hands-on labs is an additional cost to the conference pass. Attendees must hold a conference pass for the day that the workshop or hands-on lab is being presented. Register early as space is limited.
Workshops
Workshops are interactive, large group sessions that promote a shared learning environment.
PRESENTED BY: Colleen Best, DVM
FRIDAY, February 28th | PRICE: $35
Navigating the stressors of the veterinary profession while providing high-quality patient and client care is incredibly demanding. Unfortunately, this workshop can’t change that. What it will do is provide practical information about how stress and fatigue impact our physiology, as well as support your unique knowledge of your stress responses. It will delve into the ideas of self-compassion and self-care and discuss practical ways to insert them into one’s day-to-day life as ways to enhance well-being. You will gain insight on how to remain compassionate and empathetic to your clients, your colleagues, and yourself. The strategies and tools shared will be relevant to all tough situations in practice, including burnout and compassion fatigue. Participants will leave with a new perspective on how to manage stress in their lives and feel empowered to effect meaningful change.
PRESENTED BY: LYNDSAY JOHNSTON, RVT, BSc
SATURDAY MARCH 1ST | PRICE: $35
This workshop is designed to give veterinary staff the tools they need to adopt patient-friendly handling techniques for routine feline procedures in the veterinary clinic. Using a combination of slides, videos, and live demonstration, participants will observe the techniques, practice the techniques on models, and complete “case studies” to apply their skills and critical thinking to real-time scenarios. Emphasis will be placed on choosing techniques based on individual patient body language, making adjustments to patient response, safety, and efficiency.
PRESENTED BY: ROBIN SAAR, RVT, VTS (Nutrition)
SATURDAY, MARCH 1st | PRICE: $35
Pets eat every day, making nutrition an integral factor in a health care plan. RVTs are ideal team members for completing a nutrition assessment, discussing nutrition plans, and following up with clients to improve the health outcomes for patients.
Creating nutrition-focused RVT appointments and including nutrition in RVT wellness appointments can seem daunting. How do I propose this to my manager? How do I set protocols? What is the best way to start?
This session will review some key steps when including nutrition in RVT appointments, with a team approach for establishing protocols within the team, creating healthy pet and disease management programs, preparing for your appointments, completing a nutrition assessment, and answering challenging questions.
Presented by: Rebecca Talbott
Saturday, March 1st | Price: $35
This workshop presents four cases highlighting common and complex anesthetic complications and considerations, including hypotension, arrhythmias and ventilatory concerns. After a brief presentation of the case and the intra-operative complication, the RVTs will discuss prevention and treatment options in small groups. Following each case, I will present current best practices for each example case.
Hands-on Labs
Hands-on labs will focus on practicing a specific skill or set of skills in an interactive environment. Hands-on labs are typically smaller groups to ensure everyone has the opportunity to practice the new skills. Register early as space is limited.
PRESENTED BY: Shoshana Verton-Shaw, RVT, VTS (Nutrition) – Supplies sponsored by CDMV
FRIDAY, February 28th | PRICE: $75
This lab will use custom models to allow attendees to practice the placement of feeding tubes. The models are equipped to allow for the placement of nasogastric/ nasoesophageal, esophagostomy and orogastric feeding tube placement. Attendees can verify placement, simulating radiographic confirmation.
Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to get messy (scrubs encouraged, but not required!), with an opportunity to handle and blend diets.
PRESENTED BY: Andrea Steele, MSc, RVT, VTS (ECC) & Scarlett Wong, RVT, VTS (ECC) – Supplies sponsored by Antech
Friday, February 28th | PRICE: $75 – FULL
Saturday, March 1st | PRICE: $75
In this hands-on lab session, RVTs will learn essential skills to effectively manage common emergencies, including triage techniques, initial stabilizations, critical thinking, and team coordination. Participants will engage in scenarios designed to mirror actual clinical situations, such as trauma and anesthesia complications. They will also practice using monitoring equipment, setting up CRIs, and delivering fluid boluses.
By the end of this lab session, participants will be able to:
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Recognize clinical signs of common emergencies, including shock symptoms.
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Implement initial stabilization, including monitoring setup, fluid therapy, oxygen administration, and other drug therapies.
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Develop effective communication and teamwork skills by participating in simulated scenarios that require critical thinking and problem-solving.
Presented by: Jennie Tait, RVT, AHT, VTS (Dermatology) – Supplies sponsored by CDMV
Friday, February 28th | Price: $75
It’s not rocket science, it’s just dermatology. This hands-on lab will take you step by step through the best techniques for in-house sample collection and interpretation. Mastering these basics will up your derm game and improve the care your patients receive. If you are a fellow Derm Nerd, then this is for you: cytology sampling, culture collection, skin scrapings, fine needle aspirates, biopsies, and more!
PRESENTED BY: Felix Portelance, Dispomed
Saturday, MARCH 1 | PRICE: $75
This immersive hands-on lab, covering anesthesia machines, dental units, autoclaves, and microscopes is designed to provide you with a holistic understanding of veterinary equipment. Learn valuable tips and tricks to deepen your understanding and autonomy in troubleshooting & saving valuable time in critical situations. Work through scenarios on the actual equipment to gain actionable tips that make a real difference in your day-to-day operations.
All delegates will receive a take home binder.