9.30 Welcome

Loni Loftus BSc (Hons) MSc PGAed CCAB – Events Subcommittee Chair, FAB Clinicians

Many Thanks to our conference and topic Sponsors

9.45 Mechanisms which drive and maintain chronic pain

Dr James Hunt BVetMed MSc PhD CertVA DipECAWBM(AWSEL)

Persistent pain is often associated with signs such as hyperalgesia, allodynia, and spontaneous pain, which indicate the altered processing of painful and non-painful stimuli by the nervous system. An appreciation of the mechanisms responsible for these signs can help to guide the rational treatment of persistent pain.

In this session we will review the alterations commonly associated with persistent pain, and identify potential targets for interventions.

10.45 Considering the emotional and cognitive dimensions to chronic pain

Dr Sarah Heath BVSc PgCertVE DipECAWBM(BM) CCAB FHEA FRCVS

Chronic pain is a physical disease with sensory and motor components but the emotional and cognitive dimensions are of equal importance and often hold the key to diagnosis as well as treatment approaches. This presentation will consider the chronically painful patient using a comprehensive veterinary healthcare approach. The impact of chronic pain on emotional health will be discussed in relation to the emotional bias of the patient and also their level of emotional arousal. These factors not only influence the potential behavioural presentations of the chronic pain patient but can also influence other aspects of both their emotional and physical health. The cognitive component of pain will also be considered in relation to its impact on behavioural responses and memory formation.

11.45 Morning Q&A Panel

Join our Morning speakers to ask all your questions

12.15 Lunch And Breakout Rooms

13.00 Conformation and Behaviour

Åshild Roaldset BVSc

This presentation aims to help you to:

• Assess the impact conformation can have on behaviour
• Consider how breeding for a specific purpose may impact behaviour

14.00 – Acute on chronic pain and our hiding in plain sight contributors 

Dr Hannah Capon MA Vet MB MRCVS CCRP

Osteoarthritis is a prevalent cause of chronic pain in our canine companions. A disease that leads to progressive debilitation punctuated by, less well understood,  acute on chronic episodes.

Interest in holistic management practices, in addition to interventions, continues to grow. In this lecture Hannah aims to explain the background as to why simple environmental modifications can have profound effects on pain state.

15.00 Coffee Break

15.15 Red Flags in our patients’ clinical and behavioural histories

Dr Hannah Donovan BSc (Hons) BVM&S MVetSci MSc (Clinical Animal Behaviour) MRCVS CCAB, RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Companion Animal Behaviour

This talk will look at certain aspects of a patient’s history, clinically and behaviourally, and whether these would be a cause for further investigation. Many patients are referred for behavioural issues and this talk will highlight the “detective work” that goes on whilst working with these cases. These aspects are important to consider, ensuring we are taking an holistic approach to improving the animal’s wellbeing (emotional, physical, cognitive) and not missing something important.

16.15 Afternoon Q&A Panel

Join our Afternoon speakers to ask all your questions

17.00 Conference Close