Dr. Helen Philp graduated from the University of Glasgow, Scotland and spent several years in practice before completing an internship in small animal emergency and critical care at the University of Edinburgh. She then moved to UC Davis in California in 2018 to complete a residency in emergency and critical care followed by a fellowship in nephrology and extracorporeal medicine. She has stayed on at UC Davis as faculty in the ECC and extracorporeal services. Dr. Philp recently completed an American College of Veterinary Nephrology and Urology residency program. Her interests include critical care nephrology, extracorporeal therapies, circulatory support, and mechanical ventilation.
10:15 AM–11:15 AM
Practical Emergency and Critical Care: Early Assessment and Stabilization of the Unstable Patient
This case-based session will provide a structured framework for approaching the unstable small animal patient. Emphasis will be placed on triage, recognition of clinically significant abnormalities on major body system examination, and initial stabilization priorities. The integration of widely available point-of-care diagnostics, including focused ultrasound (POCUS), will be discussed as tools to refine early clinical decision-making. The focus throughout will be on strategies that can be implemented immediately in clinical practice.
11:25 AM–12:25 PM
Practical Emergency and Critical Care: Approach to Common Emergent Presentations
Building on the foundational principles introduced in the first session, this lecture will explore the structured management of common emergent presentations encountered in small animal practice. Particular attention will be paid to early stabilization in the first hours of care and to the clinical reasoning that supports confident, timely intervention. Cases will increase in complexity, applying previously discussed principles to presentations like trauma, shock, acute abdomen, toxin ingestion, and respiratory distress. The goal is to reduce cognitive overload in high-pressure situations and to bridge the critical period between initial presentation and referral.
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