Tentative Schedule

Wednesday, November 11, 2025

Registration Open 4-8pm (Laurel Foyer)

Thursday, November 12, 2026

Registration Open 8am (Laurel Foyer)

Continental Breakfast 8am (Biltmore Foyer)

Exhibit Hall Open 8am (Blue Ridge)

Speaker

Time

Topics

Laurie Dohmen, VMD, MS, RH (AHG), FACVBM, Sponsored by Purple Moon Herbs and Studies

8:30 am - 10:00 am

10:00 am - 11:30 am

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

2:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Using Food as Medicine: 1.5 hours

Like your morning coffee? Have a cocktail to unwind? Then you use food as medicine. This talk will teach you to do the same for cats and dogs. I will cover a few home-cooked recipes for healthy animals and chronically ill patients. I will also explain easy home-cooking techniques for clients.

Bach Flower Essences - Psychological Therapy: 1.5 hours

Dr. Bach believed emotional imbalances were the root of all disease, and correcting these imbalances could cure any condition. Many conditions in animals are psychological, such as inappropriate urination, separation anxiety, OCD’s, etcetera. I will discuss which Bach Flower Essences are appropriate for a variety of conditions.

Introduction to Essential Oils: 1.5 hours

This lecture will discuss Essential Oil use for pets. Essential Oils are a concentration of specific phytochemicals from plants. They are a strong medicine of great value, when used correctly and safely. We will discuss their extraction, safety and uses. There will be case examples.

Apitherapy - Medicine from Bees and their Products: 2.0 hours

Not only do bees keep our food chain intact through pollination, but they offer us a myriad of sources of medicine. Honey is used both internally for many conditions as well as a topical wound healer. Propolis, Pollen and Royal Jelly are all nourishing and medically active. Lately, there is burgeoning research on the use of bee venom for pain and conditions that are associated with pain, such as arthritis. In this lecture, we will discuss all these great medicines we obtain from bees.

Steve Dale, CABC, Sponsored by SIGNS Labs

8:30 am - 10:00 am

10:00 am - 11:30 am

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

2:30 pm - 4:30 pm

1. The Science of Pheromones: Why Understanding Chemical Signaling is Essential

Pheromones play an integral role in the daily lives of many animals, including dogs, cats, and rabbits. These chemical signals, which often go unnoticed by humans, are crucial forms of communication for animals. Pheromone analogs are not magic; they are science. Discussion points will include how dogs and cats utilize pheromones in their daily lives to communicate a variety of messages. Veterinarians and technicians can utilize pheromones in the clinic for the benefit of improving patient emotional wellness. With ongoing research and development, the application of pheromone analogs in clinical and home settings continues to evolve, offering an effective and scientifically supported tool for improving the well-being of dogs, cats, and rabbits. Veterinary professionals now have a deeper understanding of how to integrate these products, improving the quality of life and welfare of their patients.

• Analogs of pheromones were originally released decades ago; recent research reveals new scientific breakthroughs to utilize them with multiple species including dogs, cats and rabbits and how new products may be more efficient and a better value.
• Explanation of what pheromones are and are not, and how these chemical communications occur daily for dogs, cats and rabbits.
• How veterinary professionals can utilize pheromone products in practice and why this is advantageous.
• How pheromone products may prevent behavior problems and can be used for a wide range of behavior issues.

2. Bonding Puppies to Your Practice Early: A Sometimes Overlooked Investment

Beyond the basic vaccines and medical check, veterinary professionals have a role to play in the future emotional health of puppies to support clients raising resilient, socially appropriate dogs. And how from the first visit there can be a positive association with the clinic utilizing the notion of consent, not only bonding the puppy with the practice but also the pet parents. Should you go so far as to offer puppy classes? And how important is positive reinforcement dog training? This talk explores how to successfully introduce puppies into a household by creating a safe environment, establishing routines, encouraging positive socialization, and preventing common problems before they begin – including the use of various tools.

• Understand how to create a safe, puppy-friendly home environment that reduces stress and prevents unwanted behaviors.
• How to support not only the puppy, but family members to your practice using techniques which promote consent from the puppy and Fear Free standards.
• Develop practical communication strategies veterinary teams can use to educate clients about enrichment, handling, training, and positive veterinary experiences.
• Recognize the importance of early socialization and positive introductions to people, pets, and new experiences.

3. Bonding Kittens to Your Practice Early: A Sometimes Overlooked Investment

One key to a lifetime of cat care is setting up kitty’s first veterinary visit for success. For some this sounds challenging – but it doesn’t need to be using today’s tools. Cats who are more carrier friendly and don’t appear to mind vet visits are more likely to see the veterinarian. What’s more, of course, cats mask illness – the more you can support the human animal bond, the more those most bonded clients may notice a change and are more likely to see you. And even for cats, you can support consent training. Increasingly, Gen-X clients want to do better for cats. There will also be a discussion of kitten classes, and a focus on your role to prevent behavior problems before they occur.

• While different than in dogs, early socialization makes a difference for cats too.
• While teaching clients how to carrier train cats is beneficial for cats – it also enhances the bond you have with cat owners.
• Increasingly younger clients want to do better for cats but aren’t as likely to choose you if you don’t support their interests.

4. A new thought on preventing dog bites, ASK THE DOG!

With dog bites increasing (including fatalities), we must be missing something. Appropriately, we teach our children (and hopefully adults follow the same advice) ask the handler, “Can I pet your dog?” That’s obviously not enough. Why not also ask the dog? A new protocol, called S.T.O.P.P. is described, and why asking the dog permission to be petted may not only lower dog bites but also educate the public about dog signaling, as well as to improve dog welfare. Considering the dog is consistent with Fear Free standards and the relatively new concept of consent. It turns out, if you ask dogs, they do answer. Other explanations for the increasing dog bite numbers are also discussed. Veterinarians and technicians can make a difference in clinic to instruct clients on dog signaling, even during routine exams. If bite numbers continue to escalate so will clinic insurance, and other repercussion which will make America less dog friendlier.

• Why the profession still experiences many bites – and overall the majority of these bites are preventable, even in-clinic and certainly among the public.
• Current dog bite data, and the escalation of bites is significant; who gets bitten most often and why.
• Why clients paying close attention to what dogs are saying may lower dog bite claims (and why that will benefit anyone with homeowners/renters insurance whether they have a dog or not).
• Why S.T.O.P.P. matters, and asking consent of the dog improves canine health and welfare.

5. It May Not be the Fountain of Youth: But It May Help - Enrichment for Senior Dogs and Cats

We know how enriching lives and environments helps captive animals of all ages in zoos, so why wouldn’t the same be true for dogs and cats of all ages? Dogs are used as a model for human aging, and it turns out that lifetime learning and movement may possibly delay (even prevent?) the onset of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome. Movement may also keep pets more limber, and enrichment may provide a “purpose” in life and offers cats an opportunity to activate their hard-wired prey drives throughout life. Even elderly cats maintain that drive to hunt and pounce. In some ways, enrichment in golden years may be most valuable, in part, so that an older pet isn’t ignored in a home that also has younger and more active pets. Various examples of creative methods to enrich older animals’ lives, even those with physical limitations, are offered. Steve authored a chapter on this topic in the book The Treatment and Care of the Veterinary Geriatric Patient.

• Why older pets, even geriatric pets, require enrichment and what some of the benefits are.
• How cats/dogs brain ages similarly to our own. We know keeping mentally active is good for us as we grow old and so is lifelong learning. The same is true for cats/dogs. Although, too much change can cause problems.
• How to communicate with cat/dog parents on ideas to enrich their older animals’ lives.

Friday, November 13, 2026

Registration Open 8am (Laurel Foyer)

Exhibit Hall Open 8am-4pm (Blue Ridge)

Speaker

Time

Topics

Randy C. Lynn, DVM, MS, DACVCP, CertHbV

8:30 am - 10:00 am

10:00 am - 11:30 am

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

2:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Vaccine Stories: Why we do what we do?

Vaccination is the single most powerful tool in the fight against disease of people and animals. It has eradicated or controlled the most severe and debilitating diseases on the planet. Despite this tremendous track record, the use of vaccines is surrounded by controversy and doubt. Why do we vaccinate? When do we vaccinate? How do we vaccinate? Do we do it for proper reasons or are mainly trying to line our pockets?

This three-hour lecture will review the history of vaccination and provide a clear picture of recent events that add to the controversies in vaccination of dogs and cats. We will examine the opinions of current experts and the hard data which support available vaccines.

Finally, we will look at several approaches to the prevention of infectious disease in dogs and cats and provide the veterinarian with facts and resources that will provide sound scientific support for modern vaccination protocols.

Osteoarthritis in dogs: A Multifactorial Disease…

Osteoarthritis in dogs is a very common condition that affects dogs of all ages. This condition can lead to pain and discomfort and when not managed properly it can result in a shortened life-span.

This lecture will review the current theories on the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. This lecture will review all available tools for the management of this important disease and will specifically discuss the various dietary and therapeutic options including several new products that were recently approved by the FDA.

Otitis Externa... Can we solve this clinical conundrum?

Otitis externa in dogs is a complex, multifactorial disease that affects dogs all over the world. Unfortunately, unresolved otitis externa is the number one reason that clients leave a practice and seek resolution elsewhere. This condition is an old and ever present problem for veterinary practitioners.

This lecture will review the current theories on the pathogenesis of otitis externa. Although the initial diagnosis is usually straightforward, it is critically important to reveal any and all confounding factors as part of the initial workup.

This lecture will also review the collection, preparation and interpretation of cytology specimens. Once a thorough evaluation is completed then we will discuss various dietary and therapeutic options including several new products that were recently approved by the FDA.

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8:30 am - 10:00 am

10:30 am - 11:30 am

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Saturday, November 14, 2026

Registration Open 8am (Laurel Foyer)

Exhibit Hall Open: 8am-4pm (Blue Ridge)

Speaker

Time

Topics

Joseph Jordan, PhD, CEO, NC Physicians Health Program, NC Veterinary Health Program

1:00PM - 1:30PM

8:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Recognizing and Dealing with Substance Abuse in the Workplace (required by NCVMB)

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8:30 am - 10:00 am

10:30 am - 11:00 am

11:00 am - 12 Noon

8:30 am - 10:00 am

10:30 am - 12:00 pm

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Sunday, November 15, 2026

Speaker

Time

Topic

8:30 am - 11:30 am