Fetch Charlotte: Lectures to attend

The dvm360 team is heading to Charlotte, North Carolina! From March 13-14, 2026, dvm360’s team—our amazing faculty, exhibitors, and veterinary professionals—will kick off this year’s Fetch conferences with the chance to earn up to 15 continuing education (CE) credits. With lunch-and-learns, hands-on labs, and networking events available, there will be something for every veterinary professional at this show, so come join us!

To give an inside look at Fetch Charlotte, here are some lectures the dvm360 editorial team deemed as must-attends, and why.

Friday, March 13

Steroids and Heart Disease: Practical Guidance for Real Patients

• Speaker: Kelly Cairns, DVM, MS, DACVIM (SAIM)
• Topic: Cardiology
• Time: 7:00 AM-7:30 AM
• Why we are excited: This evidence-based session cuts through the ambiguity around the use of corticosteroids in patients with heart disease. Cairns will dive into the latest literature to compare how different steroids impact cardiac function and analyze the true risk levels across various stages of heart disease. Attendees will walk away with a practical framework for prescribing steroids safely, identifying specific monitoring "red flags," and making confident, rational treatment decisions for complex cases.

We’re Here for Vaccines…Oh, and Yesterday, Fluffy Bit My Toddler: Addressing Behavior Concerns in Primary Care

• Speaker: Maggie O'Brian, DVM, MS, DACVB
• Topic: Behavior
• Time: 7:00 AM-8:00 AM
• Why we are excited: When determining the cause of a behavioral issue, it is important to gather key information from clients. In this lecture, attendees will walk away with a better understanding of how to get information from clients, triage behavior, when to refer a case to a behaviorist, and more.

Where Do We Draw the Line? Deciding When to Start Pimobendan in Dogs With Preclinical Mitral Valve Disease

• Speaker: Rebecca L. Stepien, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology)
• Topic: Cardiology
• Time: 9:15 AM-10:15 AM
• Why we are excited: Kick off the first full day of Fetch Charlotte, and the second day of CE lectures, with our keynote address! Even though the benefits of pimobendan therapy in dogs with preclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) are well established, one of the biggest challenges veterinary teams face is knowing when to initiate treatment. Stepien will help attendees understand the key physical examination findings, radiographic changes, and echocardiographic milestones that transition MMVD from monitoring to treatable, the optimal timing to start pimobendan therapy before the onset of congestive heart failure, and more. This keynote address is sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim.

5 Tips on How to Increase Dental Compliance

• Speaker: Lindsey McMakin, MBA, CVPM
• Topic: Practice management
• Time: 10:45 AM-11:15 AM
• Why we are excited: Dental disease is one of the most prevalent but underaddressed health issues in companion animals due to inconsistent client communication, time constraints during appointments, and client misconceptions. Through her lecture, McMakin will provide attendees with multiple practical strategies they can bring back to their clinics to improve client adherence with recommended dental care.

Finding Balance: Fluid Therapy in Veterinary Anesthesia

• Speaker: Lydia Love, DVM, DACVAA
• Topic: Anesthesiology
• Time: 10:45 AM-11:45 AM
• Why we are excited: This session translates the latest updates in fluid physiology and pharmacology into a streamlined, evidence-based approach for the anesthetized dog and cat. Love will examine the high-stakes balance between fluid responsiveness and fluid overload, using real-world cases to sharpen your clinical judgment.

For Feline Diabetes, It’s a Whole New Game

• Speaker: Jaime Kline, DVM
• Topic: Endocrinology
• Time: 10:45 AM-11:45 AM
• Why we are excited: Managing diabetic cats has traditionally been a challenge of adherence and "insulin fatigue" for owners. Kline will introduce velagliflozin, a once-daily oral sodium-glucose contransporter-2 inhibitor. She will briefly review the unique pathophysiology of feline diabetes and then dive into the renal mechanism of action that enables glycemic control without a needle. Using data from pivotal field studies, this lecture will evaluate safety profiles, efficacy benchmarks, and the practical "whys" of choosing oral therapy over traditional insulin.

Safeguarding Wealth: Lawsuit Prevention and Tax Strategies

• Speaker: Monte Hudson
• Topic: Law and ethics
• Time: 12:00 PM-1:00 PM
• Why we are excited: In an increasingly litigious environment, being a high-quality veterinarian isn't enough to protect what veterinary professionals have built. This session moves beyond basic malpractice insurance to show attendees how to "lawsuit-proof" their life. Hudson and attendees will pull back the curtain on proven legal structures that act as a barrier between professional risks and personal wealth.

Acid-Base Mysteries: Solving the Puzzle in Critical Patients

• Speaker: Justin C. Mathis, DVM, MS, DACVECC
• Topic: Emergency and critical care
• Time: 1:15 PM-2:15 PM
• Why we are excited: Although acid-base imbalances are common in critically ill patients, they can be complex to interpret, so understanding these patients and knowing what to do next can be crucial. To help veterinary professionals, Mathis will provide attendees with a step-by-step approach to understanding, analyzing, and applying the acid-base principle in veterinary clinics.

Probiotic Therapy: The Gut & Beyond

• Speaker: Callie Harris, DVM
• Topic: Nutrition
• Time: 1:15 PM-2:15 PM
• Why we are excited: Do you know what the microbiome is, and the impact it could possibly have on your patients? Microbiome and probiotics have been gaining popularity in human medicine, especially with the rise of brands like Olipop. Harris will explain the critical role of the microbiome in maintaining your patients’ health, as well as the tools currently available to support a healthy microbiota.

Anti-NGF Monoclonal Antibodies: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

• Speaker: Michael Petty, DVM, CCRT, CVPP, MAV
• Topic: Rehabilitation
• Time: 2:30 PM-3:30 PM
• Why we are excited: This evidence-based session provides a comprehensive analysis of how corticosteroids impact cardiac function and systemic hemodynamics. Attendees will examine the relative risks of steroid use across various stages of preexisting heart disease, utilizing the latest clinical literature to differentiate between various drug formulations.

Crystals, Chemistry, and Cuisine: Nutrition Strategies for Canine Urinary Health

• Speaker: Laura Gaylord, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition)
• Topic: Nutrition
• Time: 2:30 PM-3:30 PM
• Why we are excited: This session provides a deep dive into the mechanisms of urinary crystal and urolith formation, offering a strategic approach to managing canine lower urinary tract disorders through nutrition. The discussion analyzes how dietary moisture, nutrient profiles, and feeding patterns directly modulate urine concentration, pH, and relative supersaturation—the critical drivers of stone nucleation. Beyond traditional therapeutic diets, the presentation evaluates the evidence for moisture-rich and fresh-food formulations in reducing the risk of recurrence.

Beyond Kibble: Integrative Whole Food Therapy and Home-Cooked Diets for Pets

• Speaker: Susan Bohrer, DVM, CVA, CVFT
• Topic: Nutrition
• Time: 4:00 PM-5:00 PM
• Why we are excited: Home-cooked diets for pets have risen in popularity over the past couple of years, so clients will most likely be coming into your clinics asking about them. In this lecture, Bohrer will explore how these diets can benefit clients by improving chronic inflammation, plus restoring the microbiome’s balance. She will also share practical, evidence-based guidance on how to formulate balanced diets, coaching clients on safety, effective home cooking, and more.

What’s New in Canine Transitional Cell Carcinoma: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prognosis

• Speaker: Christine Mullin, VMD, DACVIM (Oncology)
• Topic: Oncology
• Time: 6:00 PM-7:00 PM
• Why we are excited: Canine transitional carcinoma is continuing to evolve in how it is managed and diagnosed by veterinary professionals, so it is important for professionals to stay up to date on developments in this field. Attendees at Mullin’s lecture will leave with a clear framework for working up patients with confirmed or suspected canine transitional carcinoma, for guiding practice owners through diagnosis and treatments with clarity and confidence, and more.

It’s a Cat World, We’re Just Living in It: Understanding Cat Behavior

• Speaker: Tiffany Tupler, DVM, CBCC-KA, HABc
• Topic: Oncology
• Time: 6:00 PM-7:00 PM
• Why we are excited: “Feline patients are not small dogs” is a phrase commonly used in veterinary medicine, meaning that understanding their medical conditions as the species they are can really help veterinary professionals communicate with clients and make treatment recommendations.

Saturday, March 14

Too Hot to Handle, Too Cold to Hold: A Quick Tour of Thermoregulation

• Speaker: Amber Hart, RVT, VTS (ECC) 
• Topic: Emergency and critical care
• Time: 7:00 AM-7:30 AM
• Why we are excited: Effective thermoregulatory management is a cornerstone of patient safety, yet the transition from mild dysregulation to life-threatening thermal crisis can occur rapidly. This session provides veterinary technicians with a systematic approach to assessing, classifying, and managing hypothermia and hyperthermia.

Medication Misadventures: Safe and Smart Drug Use in Exotic Species

• Speaker: Peter J. Helmer, DVM, DABVP-Avian Practice 
• Topic: Emergency and critical care
• Time: 7:00 AM-8:00 AM
• Why we are excited: Pharmacotherapy in nontraditional species requires a departure from the "small-animal" paradigm, as drugs formulated for domestic mammals often exhibit radically different metabolic profiles in exotic patients. Attendees in this session will be provided a rigorous examination of analgesics, antimicrobials, and antiparasitics through the lens of comparative medicine. Helmer will focus on identifying species-specific contraindications, understanding the physiological drivers of altered drug metabolism in birds, reptiles, and small mammals, and recognizing common pharmacological missteps.

CSI: Canine Scene Investigation: Cracking the Case in Veterinary Medicine

• Speaker: Christopher Lee, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, DACVM (Parasitology)
• Topic: Keynote address
• Time: 9:15 AM-10:15 AM
• Why we are excited: This high-engagement keynote utilizes a structured "medical mystery" format to explore complex challenges in infectious disease, parasitology, and preventive medicine. Through a collaborative, large-group diagnostic simulation, the session follows a systematic investigation of clinical clues and diagnostic data. This interactive session is designed to sharpen critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning, providing practical insights into the management of common and emerging medical puzzles encountered in canine and feline practice.

You can also watch Lee on his show, Vet Watch, available on dvm360.com!

Catch a Unicorn: Understanding Your Practice's DNA for Relief Vet Success

• Speaker: Charlotte Weir
• Topic: Relief medicine
• Time: 10:45 AM-11:45 AM
• Why we are excited: Relief medicine is no longer considered a temporary fix in veterinary clinics; it has become a way of life for veterinary professionals. In this lecture, Weir will guide attendees in defining their practice’s DNA and explore how to align relief professionals with their clinic’s culture, mission, and workflow to make things more seamless for all.

Infected Corneal Ulcers: Medical and Surgical Management

• Speaker: Joshua Broadwater, DVM, DACVO
• Topic: Ophthalmology
• Time: 10:45 AM-11:45 AM
• Why we are excited: Corneal ulceration represents a critical ophthalmologic challenge where rapid progression can lead to permanent vision loss or globe rupture. This session provides a rigorous framework for the diagnosis and management of septic corneal ulcers and perforations in dogs and cats. Attendees and Broadwater will analyze evidence-based protocols for antimicrobial selection, the use of anticollagenase agents for enzymatic control, and the application of advanced surgical techniques, including conjunctival and biosynthetic grafting.

The Taste of Success: Mastering the Diagnostic Diet Trial

• Speaker: Julia Miller, DVM, DACVD
• Topic: Dermatology
• Time: 1:15 PM-2:15 PM
• Why we are excited: Differentiating between cutaneous adverse food reactions and atopic dermatitis is a fundamental challenge because clinical presentations often overlap. Miller will help attendees gain a better understanding of a systematic approach to allergy workshops, with a focus on the diagnostic weight of historical data such as age of onset and seasonality. Miller will also examine the validity of various testing modalities vs the elimination diet trial with attendees, which remains the diagnostic gold standard.

Hip Dysplasia: Management From the Young to the Old

• Speaker: David Dycus, DVM, MS, CCRP, DACVS-SA
• Topic: Orthopedics
• Time: 2:30 PM-3:30 PM
• Why we are excited: Canine hip dysplasia is a multifaceted developmental condition that requires a distinct therapeutic approach depending on the patient’s age, clinical signs, and radiographic severity. This session provides a comprehensive framework for navigating the decision-making process between conservative and surgical interventions. Dycus and attendees will examine the components of multimodal conservative management, including weight optimization strategies, environmental modifications, and pharmaceutical support to maintain joint comfort.

From Panic to Precision: Mastering the Art of the Veterinary Triage

• Speaker: Suzie Campbell, CVT
• Topic: Emergency
• Time: 2:30 PM-3:30 PM
• Why we are excited: In emergency medicine, triage is the foundational process. Campbell will provide attendees with a systematic framework for rapidly assessing and prioritizing veterinary patients, from the initial telephone screening to the arrival of the critical patient. Attendees will leave this lecture, which could be their final one of the conference, with a refined ability to make data-driven decisions in these potentially high-stress scenarios, implement clear communication protocols for the client and medical team, and more.