This year we are providing hands-on lab experiences with orthopedic fracture and joint instability repair and dental radiograph positioning. General conference registration is not required for lab registration. However, general conference registration is required for any lecture or exhibit hall entry. If you are interested in a lab that is at full capacity, please email us to be put on the wait list.

Orthopedic Lab – Wednesday Nov 11, 2026
Fracture Skills – Common Fracture Repair

General practitioners are now able to successfully repair a variety of fractures in dogs and cats with a good outcome and few complications. Locking plates will be used to repair fractures of the radius, femur and tibia using saw bone models. Fracture repair is fun and will give you a new skill set to jump start your career and give you another source of revenue. This course will teach you the essential principles to repair simple and comminuted fractures. The techniques learned in this lab are an important stepping-stone to other procedures such as TPLO.

Course Objectives:

1. Understand the features of locking plates and screws, headless compression screws, cerclage and pins.
2. To learn how to stabilize transverse and oblique fractures of the radius and tibia
3. To learn how to stabilize comminuted fractures using the simple technique of indirect reduction.
4. To learn how to stabilize articular fractures
5. To learn how to repair fractures of the growth plate

Schedule:
8:30a Locking bone plates – simple to use and affordable
8:50a Essentials to repair of simple fractures (2 fragments)
9:15a Break
9:30a Lab 1 Direct Reduction – Transverse fracture repair – Radius
10:30a Lab 2 Direct Reduction – Oblique fracture repair – Tibia
12:00p Lunch
1:30p Simple repair of comminuted fractures
2:00p Lab 3 Indirect Reduction – Comminuted fracture repair – Femur
3:45p Lab 4 Indirect Reduction – Comminuted fracture repair – Tibia
5:00p End of course

Instructors Brian Beale and Don Hulse
Sponsored by Movora / Veterinary Orthopedic Implants

Orthopedic Lab – Thursday Nov 12, 2026
Common Joint Repair Surgery

Joint instability is a common problem that can be the result of trauma or developmental abnormality. This course will use a variety of implants to return stability to joints of the hindlimb. The course begins by treating the most common cause of hindlimb lameness in dogs – CCL tears and MPL. Hip dislocation will also be treated using a toggle rod stabilization. Lastly participants will learn how to perform a proper FHO.

Course Objectives:

1. To learn how to plan and perform an isometric CCL repair in dogs.
2. To learn how to plan and perform basic MPL repair techniques in dogs.
3. To learn how to treat hip dislocation using a prosthetic round ligament.
4. To learn how to perform an FHO

Schedule:
8:30a CCL Injury and Diagnosis
8:50a Isometric CCL repair using OrthoSta ligament system
9:15a Break
9:30a Lab 1 CCL Extracapsular Repair – Isometric CCL OrthoSta Repair
11:30a MPL – Many techniques …. How do I choose?
12:00p Lunch
1:00p Lab 2 MPL Repair – Trochlear groove deepening & Tibial Tuberosity Transposition
2:30p Hip Dislocation – Do I Repair or FHO?
3:00p Lab 3 Hip Dislocation Repair – Round ligament OrthoSta toggle repair & FHO
5:00p End of course

Instructors Brian Beale and Don Hulse
Sponsored by Movora / Veterinary Orthopedic Implants

Dental Radiograph Positioning Lab – Thursday Nov 12, 2026

Dental radiographs are an essential part of the oral exam. The crown is just the tip of the iceberg. Approximately 42% of dental pathology is found subgingivally or below the gumline. Radiographs will help diagnose pathology that is not visible with the naked eye, confirm suspect pathology, as well as help demonstrate the pathology to the client. Dental radiographs can improve the standard of care in your practice and increase your clinic’s revenue. Learn full mouth positioning on a dog and cat, troubleshoot common errors, and labial mounting.

Learning Objectives:
1. Realize the factors necessary for a diagnostic dental radiograph
2. Understand how to identify the appropriate teeth in the radiograph
3. Learn to correctly position the animal, sensor, and tube head for diagnostic radiographs
4. Recognize normal artifacts that may be found

Two offerings of this lab will run on Thursday 11/12:
9:00a-12:00p & 1:00p-4:00p

Instructor Denise Rollings, CVT, VTS (Dentistry)
Sponsored by iM3