The top 10 sessions at CVC last yearand what to attend in 2017

Organizers of the CVC, the thrice-yearly live event associated with dvm360, Vetted, Firstline and dvm360.com, work hard (and by “hard” we mean meticulously, tirelessly, even obsessively) to identify the best speakers and topics that fit our attendees and readers.

And you know who you are, attendees and readers-busy practitioners who are too busy protecting pets' health and breaking things down for clients to spend hours reading dense journal articles or travel to the other side of the continent for a CE event. You want your education served up with clinical relevance and to get to the point quickly-and if you chuckle (or outright belly-laugh) along the way, so much the better.

Judging by the popularity of the sessions described here, the CVC clinical mavens did all right. Click through the following pages to check out which topics and speakers veterinarians voted for with their feet, then check out our related online resources and highlights from this year's shows. (Ready to register now? Click here.)

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The No. 1 CVC session: Managing chronic otitis: Treating the difficult case and preventing recurrence (James Noxon, DVM, DACVIM)

Similar session at CVC Virginia Beach and CVC Kansas City: Unlocking the mysteries of the ear: Diagnosing otitis and dealing with chronic otitis (Anthea Schick, DVM, DACVD)-click here for the Virginia Beach clinical program and to search by keyword; and here for the Kansas City clinical program.

Similar session at CVC San Diego: An easier way to diagnose and manage otitis externa in the real world (Parts one and two) (Paul Bloom, DVM, DACVD, DABVP)-click here for the San Diego clinical program and to search by keyword.

Helpful resources:

• “Stop the perpetual otitis resurgence,” an article featuring Dr. Noxon's insights from the session above

• The Essentials: Otitis, a curated list of otitis resources to help you manage the condition in practice, plus business and communication tips

• All ear disease content on dvm360.com

Getty ImagesNo. 2 CVC session: Diabetic conundrums: Difficult-to-manage cases (Ellen N. Behrend, VMD, MS, PhD, DACVIM)

Similar session at CVC Virginia Beach: The highs and lows: ER management of diabetic crises (Kari Santoro Beer, DVM, DACVECC)-click here for the entire clinical program and to search by keyword.

Similar session at CVC Kansas City and San Diego: Sweet and sour: Insulin-resistant diabetes-What to do when insulin therapy stops working (David Bruyette, DVM, DACVIM)-Click here for the entire Kansas City clinical program and to search by keyword. Click here for the San Diego clinical program and to search by keyword.

Helpful resources:

• “8 tips to make life easier for owners of diabetic cats,” by Ellen N. Behrend, VMD, MS, PhD, DACVIM

• The Essentials: Diabetes mellitus, a curated list of diabetes resources, including business and communication tips

• All endocrinology content on dvm360.com

Shutterstock.comNo. 3 CVC session: Managing chronic otitis: Tips to maximize the value of your treatment (James Noxon, DVM, DACVIM)

Similar session at CVC Virginia Beach: Primary secretory otitis media (Anthea Schick, DVM, DACVD)-click here for the entire clinical program and to search by keyword.

What to attend at CVC Kansas City: Another ear infection? Dealing with chronic otitis (Anthea Schick, DVM, DACVD)-Click here for the entire Kansas City clinical program and to search by keyword.

What to attend at CVC San Diego: An easier way to diagnose and manage otitis externa in the real world (Parts one and two) (Paul Bloom, DVM, DACVD, DABVP)-Click here for the San Diego clinical program and to search by keyword.

Helpful resources:

• “Use your eyes to detect lies about ears,” an article drawing on Dr. Noxon's session above, heavy on the client communication tips

Shutterstock.comNo. 4 CVC session: When cats retch, heave, yack, gag 'n hurl: What does it really mean? (Stephen Bailey, DVM, DABVP)

Similar session at CVC Virginia Beach: Helping cats that have chronic vomiting (David Twedt, DVM, DACVIM)-click here for the entire clinical program and to search by keyword.

What to attend at CVC Kansas City and CVC San Diego: It's just a hairball...or is it? Understanding the vomiting cat (Kelly St. Denis, DVM, DABVP)-Click here for the entire Kansas City clinical program and to search by keyword. Click here for the San Diego clinical program and to search by keyword.

Helpful resources:

• “Those frustrating vomiting cats!” by Gary D. Norsworthy, DVM, DABVP

• “Algorithm: Diagnostic and therapeutic approach to chronic vomiting in cats,” by Jen Olson, DVM, and Gary D. Norsworthy, DVM, DABVP

• The Feline Center on dvm360.com

Getty ImagesNo. 5 CVC session: Updates on treating feline gingivostomatitis (Barden Greenfield, DVM, DAVDC)

Similar session at CVC Virginia Beach: Feline dentistry: Stomatitis, tooth resorption and more (John Lewis, VMD, FAVD, DAVDC)-click here for the entire clinical program and to search by keyword.

What to attend at CVC Kansas City: How many ways can cats get rid of teeth? (Heidi Lobprise, DVM, DAVDC)-Click here for the entire Kansas City clinical program and to search by keyword.

What to attend at CVC San Diego: Uncommon facts about common feline oral pathology (Mary Volker, DVM, DAVDC)-Click here for the San Diego clinical program and to search by keyword.

Helpful resources:

• “Feline gingivostomatitis: How to relieve the oral discomfort,” by Daniel T. Carmichael, DVM, DAVDC

• “New stem cell treatment zaps feline mouth pain, inspires human researchers”

• “When it comes to dental radiography, do you know what's normal?” by Barden Greenfield, DVM, DAVDC

• All dentistry content on dvm360.com

Shutterstock.comNo. 6 CVC session: Feline hyperthyroid disease: New guidelines (Stephen Bailey, DVM, DABVP)

Similar session at CVC Virginia Beach: Feline hyperthyroidism: Diagnosis, treatment, and where dietary management fits in (Karen Eiler, DVM, DACVIM)-click here for the entire clinical program and to search by keyword.

What to attend at CVC Kansas City and CVC San Diego: Resolving feline thyroid problems (David Bruyette, DVM, DACVIM)-Click here for the entire Kansas City clinical program and to search by keyword. Click here for the San Diego clinical program and to search by keyword.

Helpful resources:

• Hyperthyroid cats: Is iodine restriction enough?

• AAFP announces new guidelines for feline hyperthyroidism

• “Feline iatrogenic hypothyroidism,” by Anthony P. Carr, Dr. med. vet., DACVIM

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No. 7 CVC session: Treating diabetes mellitus: What should I use? (Ellen N. Behrend, VMD, MS, PhD, DACVIM)

Similar session at CVC Virginia Beach: Managing diabetes in cats: How does it differ from that in dogs? (Karen Eiler, DVM, DACVIM)-click here for the entire clinical program and to search by keyword.

What to attend at CVC Kansas City and San Diego: Feline diabetes mellitus: Is remission a reasonable, achievable goal? (Kelly St. Denis, DVM, DABVP)-Click here for the entire Kansas City clinical program and to search by keyword. Click here for the San Diego clinical program and to search by keyword.

Helpful resources:

• “Diabetes? You've got it licked! (with these dvm360 hacks)”

• “The insulin stopped working? Inconceivable!”

• The Essentials: Diabetes mellitus, a curated list of diabetes resources, including business and communication tips

• All endocrinology content on dvm360.com

Shutterstock.comNo. 8 CVC session: Feline vomiting: New tactics for identifying the cause and treating it (Katherine Tolbert, DVM, PhD, DACVIM)

Similar session at CVC Virginia Beach: Diagnosing feline GI disease: Setting yourself up for success (Craig Webb, DVM, DACVIM)-click here for the entire clinical program and to search by keyword.

What to attend at CVC Kansas City and CVC San Diego: It's just a hairball...or is it? Understanding the vomiting cat (Kelly St. Denis, DVM, DABVP)-Click here for the entire Kansas City clinical program and to search by keyword. Click here for the San Diego clinical program and to search by keyword.

Helpful resources:

• “Chronic vomiting in cats: Pictorial pointers for diagnosis,” by Gary D. Norsworthy, DVM, DABVP

• Client handout: Chronic intestinal disease in cats

Getty ImagesNo. 9 CVC session: Antibiotic review: What you wish you remembered or might never have learned in vet school (Melissa Clark, DVM, PhD, DACVCP)

Similar session at CVC Virginia Beach: Antimicrobial decision making: Interpreting culture and susceptibility data (Dawn Boothe, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVIM, DACVCP)-click here for the entire clinical program and to search by keyword.

What to attend at CVC Kansas City and San Diego: Antimicrobial decision making: Interpreting culture and susceptibility data (Dawn Boothe, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVIM, DACVCP)-Click here for the entire Kansas City clinical program and to search by keyword. Click here for the San Diego clinical program and to search by keyword.

Helpful resources:

• “Resist the resistance! Be the antibiotic steward in your veterinary practice,” with Jason Stull, VMD, PhD

• “Antimicrobials and UTIs-What's the best treatment option?” featuring Dawn Boothe, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVIM, DACVCP

Getty ImagesNo. 10 CVC session: Pharma and feline pain: Making the best choices (Robin Downing, DVM, DAAPM, DACVSMR, CVPP, CCRP)

Similar session at CVC Virginia Beach: Updates in feline anesthesia and analgesia (Sheila Robertson, BVMS, PhD, DACVAA, DECVAA, DACAW, DECAWBM [WSEL], CVA, MRCVS)-click here for the entire clinical program and to search by keyword

What to attend at CVC Kansas City: An update on NSAID use and safety (Michael Petty, DVM, CCVP, CCRT)-Click here for the entire Kansas City clinical program and to search by keyword.

What to attend at CVC San Diego: Chronic pain: Struggling with arthritis and obesity (Tara Edwards, DVM, DACVSMR, CCRT, CVPP, CVMA)-Click here for the San Diego clinical program and to search by keyword.

Helpful resources:

• “The great acute pain management pyramid,” by Dr. Robin Downing

• “Infusion confusion? Here are some pointers on CRIs in cats,” also featuring Dr. Downing

• “Why fear can be such a pain in cats,” with none other than-you guessed it-Dr. Downing