Small Animal Medicine
This 100% online CPD mini-module has been developed and aimed towards the more experienced veterinary surgeon. The module content has been developed by veterinary specialists at the forefront of current veterinary research.
The module will provide you with 25 hours of designation specific CPD. Over four weeks we will cover a different weekly topic in an area in which there may have been changes, advances or controversy in recent years.
The course is taught and tutored by Liverpool and other external veterinary specialists, following a similar format to the University of Liverpool’s CertAVP modules. With online lectures, discussion boards and weekly MCQ tests designed to help support your learning, this short Small Animal Medicine mini-module will provide a fun and interactive way to ensure you keep up to date in your area of interest.
Course content:
Week 1: 3rd November 2025 - ‘Canine and Feline Chronic Enteropathies' with Mary Trehy and Susanna Spence
This mini module will examine canine and feline chronic enteropathies. We will focus on recent updates to the classification and investigation of these conditions, and evaluate the evidence base for current and emerging management options. The course will comprise four sessions (exploring canine chronic enteropathy, protein-losing enteropathy, targeting the microbiome, and feline chronic enteropathy), as well as an interactive discussion board, and a case-based live session
Mary Trehy BSc BVetMed DipECVIM MRCVS, RCVS and European Veterinary Specialist in Internal Medicine
Mary graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, London, in 2009. After completing an internship at a Veterinary Specialists in Hertfordshire, she worked in general practice in the same area. Mary completed a three year residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Liverpool and joined North Downs Specialist Referrals in April 2014.
She gained her European Specialist Diploma in 2015. Mary enjoys all aspects of canine and feline Internal Medicine, but is particularly interested in haematology, nephrology, endoscopy and endocrinology.
Mary joined the medicine team at London Vet Specialists in 2024.
Susanna Spence BVMS DipECVIM-CA MRCVS, RCVS and European Veterinary Specialist in Internal Medicine
Susanna graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2012, before working in a small animal practice in Lancashire for two years. She then returned to Glasgow in 2014 to complete a rotating internship before starting her Internal Medicine Residency. Susanna achieved her European diploma in Small Animal Internal Medicine in March 2019. After achieving her diploma she moved to Surrey to start working at North Downs Specialist Referrals where she was for 5 years, before starting at London Vet Specialists in summer 2024.
Although Susanna enjoys all areas of Internal Medicine, her particular area of interest is endocrinology and she is soon to complete a Masters in canine hypoadrenocorticism.
Week 2: 10th November 2025 - ‘Concepts in feline infectious disease testing' with Ellie Mardell
Exposure, infection, susceptibility, sensitivity. Positive, negative, or a shade of grey?
What can the results of infectious disease testing really tell us?
Cats love to throw us medical curve balls, and the field of infectious disease is no exception. These lectures will outline the difference between exposure and infection, and highlight how subsequent host-pathogen interactions influence the interpretation of test results. Additionally, we will unpick the meaning behind the terms sensitivity and specificity, in a way that permits a deeper understanding and a more refined approach to any positive or negative result produced by an individual assay. This includes finding other ways to evaluate the accuracy of a test, that offer a better fit for this purpose.
Using examples of particular infections, we will start to see how differing test methodology may offer different advantages in different settings. It will become apparent that both test selection, and critical interpretation of results generated, are important factors in our diagnostic approach and treatment regimes. We will overcome any assumption that the outcome of a diagnostic test is always definitive, and instead develop greater faith in a range of additional tools available to us to achieve a correct diagnosis.’
Ellie Mardell MA VetMB DSAM (Fel) MRCVS (RCVS Specialist in Feline Medicine)
After 3 years in small animal practice, Ellie undertook a residency in Feline Medicine at the Animal Health Trust, and then worked at Bristol University for a year. She since gained the RCVS Diploma and Specialist Status in Feline Medicine while working in a referral hospital in the North West of England. Latterly Ellie continues to work as a feline medicine consultant to local practices and virtually, via her own company. She is also deputy manager of internal medicine at Axiom Veterinary Laboratories.
Week 3: 17th November 2025 - Break Week
Week 4: 24th November 2025 - ‘Updates in Endocrine testing’ with Kathy Lunn
This week we will look into diagnosis and monitoring of adrenal and thyroid disease, and use evidence and clinical experience to help answer the common question: “what’s the best test?”*. We will also discuss how to evaluate pituitary function, as well as glucose and calcium regulation and dysregulation.
*Spoiler alert: the answer is “it depends”!
Kathy Lunn BVMS MS PhD FHEA DACVIM MRCVS, American Board-Certified Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine
After qualifying at Glasgow Univeristy, Kathy spent most of her career in the United States, apart from 3 years at Cambridge University, where she realised that Internal Medicine was the perfect fit for her. She received her master’s and PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and also completed a residency there, becoming board certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 1999. She has worked in private referral practice in Wisconsin, as well as in academic veterinary medicine at UW-Madison, Colorado State University, and North Carolina State University. As well as clinical work, her career has included research, teaching, and mentoring, and while at NC State University she was director of the Small Animal Internal Medicine residency program. Kathy's clinical interests are wide, but she particularly enjoys investigating and managing endocrine and metabolic diseases.
Week 5: 1st December 2025
Content coming soon
Start date: 3rd November 2025
Cost: £435