Jonathan Dixon, European Specialist in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging at Rainbow Equine Hospital will be chairing an imaging workshop panel aimed at nurses who are involved in performing imaging within their practices.

The panel comprises: Ceri Sherlock, Equine Surgeon and Head of Diagnostic Imaging at Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic, Rebecca Trousdale, Registered Equine Veterinary Nurse at Rainbow Equine Hospital and Marieke Zimmerman, Equine Radiologist at Equitom Equine Diagnostic Clinic.

The focus will be on practical tips to improve radiographic techniques but there also will be some case discussion and exploration of advanced imaging modalities such as nuclear scintigraphy and computed tomography.

Yvonne Elce, Surgical and Equine Centre Clinical Lead at Langford Vets will be chairing a theatre nursing session covering important principles of theatre nursing and the management of more challenging cases in the operating theatre. Delegates will work in small groups with experienced vets and nurses including Will Barker, Associated Partner at Newmarket Equine Hospital, Lynn Irving, Lecturer of Equine Nursing and Tim Mair, Equine Clinical Director at CVS Ltd. 

Bettina Dunkel, Senior Lecturer in Equine Medicine at the RVC will chair a workshop on nursing the neonate, with support from a panel of recognised experts in equine neonatology including Emily Haggett, a partner at Rossdales Equine Hospital, Peter Morresey from the Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Kentucky and Sarah Smith, Equine Medicine Clinician at Langford Vets. They will help guide participants through case scenarios and give practical advice on nursing critically ill foals. Discussion will include fluid therapy, nutrition and abdominal disease.

Bettina Dunkel will also chair a session on assessing, treating and monitoring colic. She and her panel comprising Kate Loomes, a European Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia at Rainbow Equine Hospital and Patrick Pollock, Senior Lecturer and Head of Surgery at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Surgeons will present clinical cases and facilitate discussion on approaches to the assessment and management of colic in horses.

Marie Rippingale, a Registered Equine Veterinary Nurse working at Scarsdale Veterinary Group said: "Veterinary Nursing has its own individual aspects compared to veterinary surgery and BEVA’s separate stream recognises these important differences, enabling us to build on our individual skills to enhance the practice team. This is especially important now that we are a regulated profession.

"It’s also really useful to meet up with nurses from other practices at Congress to discuss cases and nursing techniques with other professionals. 

"At my practice we do a lot of lameness investigations, so I am particularly looking forward to the diagnostic imaging session. Covering topics such as neonates is also really important. Not every practice has a dedicated foal unit, so covering this subject will keep nurses in general practice up to date."

BEVA Congress 2018 will be held at the ICC in central Birmingham from 12-15 September 2018. To view the full programme and to book your ticket visit www.bevacongress.org.