Vet Tech Purr-posium

The FelineVMA is excited to bring a brand new virtual event to our roster of expanding CE education, sponsored by Zoetis! Join us on the evening of March 25 for the inaugural Vet Tech Purr-posium, our first CE event for veterinary technicians by veterinary technicians. Featuring three CE sessions from two expert speakers – Alison Gottlieb, BS, CVT, VTS (ECC) and Kara Burns, MS, MEd, LVT, VTS (Nutrition) – in one evening, attendees will learn fundamental principles of Cat Friendly handling and interactions, the veterinary technician’s foundational role in treating chronic feline pain, and how to be a Cat Friendly advoCat for cats with urgent respiratory distress. Learn more below.

Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Free for FelineVMA Technician Members, $75 for Non-members
3.5 RACE approved CE Credits

Understanding and Handling Feline Patients the Cat Friendly Way

5:00 pm – 6:15 pm ET

Presented by Alison Gottlieb, BS, CVT, VTS (ECC), Elite FFCP/LSHC-S

Speaker Bio

Alison graduated from Towson State University with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Behavior. She earned certification in emergency and critical care in 2000. Alison has served on the board of AVECCT as a member at large and on the application committee. Alison is the Co-founder/Owner of Four Paws Consulting LLC, an education-based veterinary consultant. She is an active member of FelineVMA (formerly AAFP) and iCatCare Veterinary Society (formerly ISFM). Over the years Alison has published many feline articles, frequently on pain; as well as authored a chapter on pain in the ICU. Alison has lectured extensively with Australia and New Zealand being amongst her favorites. Her favorite topics/areas are anything feline, osteoarthritis, analgesia, and low-stress handling. In the clinic, you can usually find Alison giving the patients catnip and feeding cats. She spends most of her free time outside with her pit bull and her cats

Having an understanding of the feline patient is vital to appropriate handling and care. Careful observation, attentive listening, and empathy are essential. Cat Friendly principles provide veterinary professionals with a set of unique techniques to employ when handling and interacting with these very special patients. Additionally, educating and engaging cat caregivers is a valuable investment of time and needed to provide optimal care for our feline patients. This session will provide tips on how to help communicate with your cat caregivers to ensure a Cat Friendly veterinary visit for their beloved cats.

Feline Pain and Technicians – A Perfect Match

6:25 pm – 7:20 pm ET

Presented by Alison Gottlieb, BS, CVT, VTS (ECC), Elite FFCP/LSHC-S

Speaker Bio

Chronic pain is a prevalent, but often overlooked issue for feline patients. This is where veterinary technicians can play a critical role. By detecting pain, educating caregivers, and providing post-visit follow-up care, veterinary technicians can significantly improve a cat’s quality of life. Empowering veterinary technicians to take ownership of this important aspect of feline health benefits the entire veterinary team. Educating caregivers and team members, as well as advocating for the feline patient, provides job satisfaction and improves the lives of cats. Specific considerations for Cat Friendly handling of painful cats and supporting caregivers throughout this long-term journey will be discussed.

Cat Friendly Approaches to Urgent Respiratory Distress

7:30 pm – 8:30 pm ET

Presented by Kara Burns, MS, MEd, LVT, VTS (Nutrition), VTS Hon (Internal Medicine, Dentistry)

Speaker Bio

Kara Burns is a licensed veterinary technician with a master’s degree in physiology and a master’s degree in counseling psychology. She began her career in human medicine working as an emergency psychologist before attaining her veterinary technician license and worked in small animal and avian practices. Kara is the Founder and Past President of the Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians. She teaches nutrition courses around the world and is an independent nutritional consultant as well as a well-being consultant. In addition to founding AVNT, Kara has served in numerous volunteer roles, such as the Editor in Chief of Today’s Veterinary Nurse, NAVTA Past President, Pet Nutrition Alliance Past President, and served on the boards of the American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition, Society for Veterinary Medical Ethics, Collaborative Care Coalition, and as one of the inaugural veterinary technician representatives for the Feline Veterinary Medical Association. She has authored many articles, textbooks, and textbook chapters and is an internationally invited speaker, focusing on topics of nutrition, leadership, and technician utilization.

This session will provide practical tips for handling urgent feline patients, including effective triaging methods and essential do’s and don’ts. Participants will learn how to advocate for their feline patients and communicate potential diagnoses to caregivers. The importance of thorough follow-up on these cases will also be discussed. Effective caregiver communication strategies will be shared to ensure optimal care and understanding for the feline patient.

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