Small Animal Emergency & Critical Care Conference
Saturday–Sunday, Nov. 7–8, 2026
Small Animal Emergency & Critical Care Conference
Join us for this favorite annual offering from Veterinary Continuing Education (CE) at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS)—the Small Animal Emergency & Critical Care (ECC) Conference takes place at the Veterinary & Biomedical Education Complex (VBEC) in College Station, Texas.
Register Now!About the Conference
Conference Overview
The Small Animal ECC Conference is a two-day continuing education event for veterinarians and veterinary technicians. Participants may attend in person or online.
The conference offers live, interactive sessions focused on emergency and critical care topics.
Continuing Education
This conference offers 16 hours of RACE-approved live, interactive CE.
Registration Pricing
| Registration Type | DVM | Technician |
|---|---|---|
| Two-Day — Early Bird Through Aug. 15 |
$375 | $250 |
| Two-Day — Regular | $425 | $300 |
| Two-Day — Late After Oct. 16 |
$475 | $350 |
| One-Day Registration | $250 | $150 |
| Online Only — Two-Day Regular | $250 | $250 |
| Online Only — Two-Day Late | $300 | $300 |
Keynote Speaker
John Rush, DVM, MS, DACVIM
Dr. John Rush will serve as the keynote speaker for the 2026 Small Animal Emergency & Critical Care Conference. He will present sessions focused on emergency cardiac diagnostics, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, mitral valve disease, and cardiac case management.
Agenda
Saturday, Nov. 7
7:30 – 8:00 AM
Sign In
8:00 – 8:50 AM
Cardiac Diagnostics in the ER
John Rush, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology)
9:00 – 9:50 AM
Emergency Management of CHF
John Rush, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology)
9:50 – 10:10 AM
Break
10:10 – 11:00 AM
After the Emergency: CHF Drugs to Go Home On
John Rush, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology)
11:10 AM – 12:00 PM
Cats, Clots, and CHF
John Rush, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology)
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Lunch
1:00 – 1:50 PM
Hidden Hazards: Navigating Household Toxins
Laura Wheeler, DVM, DACVECC
2:00 – 2:50 PM
Taking Out the Trash: TPE/Hemoperfusion
Laura Wheeler, DVM, DACVECC
2:50 – 3:10 PM
Break
3:10 – 4:00 PM
Peeing is Believing: Urinary Management of the Down Dog
Joel White, DVM
4:10 – 5:00 PM
Better Together: The Team Approach to Transfusion Reactions
Gabriela Rivas, DVM & L. Nelson
Limited Enrollment Lab (1:00 – 3:00 PM)
RECOVER BLS (24 attendees)
Rutter & Heinz
Sunday, Nov. 8
7:30 – 8:00 AM
Sign In
8:00 – 8:50 AM
Life-Threatening Arrhythmias: Diagnosis and Management
John Rush, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology)
9:00 – 9:25 AM
Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs: Update on Diagnosis and Therapy
John Rush, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology)
9:25 – 9:50 AM
MMVD: What Else Can We Do?
John Rush, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology)
9:50 – 10:10 AM
Break
10:10 – 11:00 AM
Cardiac Case Challenge
John Rush & Elizabeth Rozanski
11:10 AM – 12:00 PM
Steroids: Friend, Foe, or Frenemy?
Elizabeth Binagia-Pickard, DVM
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Lunch
1:00 – 2:50 PM
Veterinary Opioids: Texas Board Rules & Federal Laws Concerning Controlled Substances
Andrea Savarino & C. Patterson
2:50 – 3:10 PM
Break
3:10 – 4:00 PM
The Flow Must Go On: Urinary Surgical Solutions
Hollenbeck
4:10 – 5:00 PM
Clearing the Air: What’s New in Brachy Airway Surgery?
Dr. Braiden Blatt
Limited Enrollment Lab (1:00 – 5:00 PM)
RECOVER ALS (24 attendees)
Rutter & Heinz
RECOVER Veterinary CPR
RECOVER will be offered as an optional in-person lab session during the conference.
- Registration period: July 15–Oct. 31, 2026, or until full
- Registration fee: $300 for DVMs or technicians
- Conference requirement: Two-day conference registration is required
Please note: RECOVER fees cover the in-person lab session only and do not include online course registration fees through the RECOVER Initiative. All participants must complete the online Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) courses before attending the in-person lab session.
About RECOVER
RECOVER Certification
- RECOVER certification signifies one’s knowledge and skills are up to date with current evidence-based guidelines for veterinary cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
- Certification for veterinary professionals in BLS and ALS is offered through a two-step process involving online and in-person training.
- Certification is maintained by completing the online recertification course every two years.
Why should I become RECOVER certified?
- RECOVER CPR is the only official veterinary CPR certification recognized by the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (ACVECC) and the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS) and is a non-profit program.
- RECOVER Certified BLS Rescuers® and RECOVER Certified ALS Rescuers® are prepared for the ultimate emergency through the knowledge and skills required to give their patients the best chance of survival.
- Methods supported by evidence reviewed by over 100 experts in the field are boiled down to key points and are made practical to apply.
- Removes the stress and doubts of CPR by making it systematic and organized, leading to better team satisfaction. Communication and trust are improved by empowering the team.
What are the benefits of RECOVER certification?
- Completion of both the Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) online modules will grant a total of eight and a half hours of RACE-approved CE.
- RECOVER Certified BLS Rescuer® and RECOVER Certified ALS Rescuer® certificates are issued for display in veterinary practices and offices to inform pet owners of competent help.
- Certification status can be confirmed by veterinary practice owners, employers, pet owners, and the public through the directory search on the web.
- Your achievement and status can be shown through RECOVER badges to be placed on uniforms, communication materials, business cards, or practice websites.
- Take advantage of the RECOVER community to ask questions, celebrate successes, give and receive support, and share your expertise.
- RECOVER Certified ALS Rescuers® are eligible to become certified instructors to train other veterinary professionals and pet owners in veterinary CPR.
What should I know about RECOVER Certification at a Texas A&M VMBS CE Conference?
- Prior to attending the in-person laboratory sessions of these courses, you must complete the online RECOVER CPR training.
- Please note that refunds cannot be issued for this purchase: once you have been registered in the RECOVER CPR database, your certification process cannot be transferred or canceled.
- Please wear comfortable clothing in which you can safely and easily perform CPR (e.g., scrubs).
- Correctly performed CPR requires moderate physical effort.
- If you have any limitations that could impact your ability to perform two minutes of compressions while standing or kneeling, please describe them in the comment section during registration.
- Our instructors can make accommodations for most candidates.
- If you have any limitations that could impact your ability to perform two minutes of compressions while standing or kneeling, please describe them in the comment section during registration.
Hotel Accommodations
Four hotel room blocks are available for conference attendees.
$169 per night
$159 per night
$129 per night
$238 per night
Don’t Delay!
The Small Animal ECC Conference offers 16 hours of RACE-approved live interactive CE available in-person or online. Register now to secure your spot!
Register Now!