Ken Yagi is the chief veterinary nursing officer for Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) ER for Pets and is an executive board member for the RECOVER Initiative. Ken has obtained Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) certifications in both Emergency and Critical Care and Small Animal Internal Medicine, and earned a master’s degree in veterinary sciences. Ken co-edited the Veterinary Technician and Nurse’s Daily Reference Guide: Canine and Feline as well as the Manual of Veterinary Transfusion Medicine and Blood Banking.
Technician
Internal Medicine and Emergency Critical Care
Saturday, June 20, 2026
8:00 AM–9:15 AM
A “Crash” Course in Emergency Nursing: Five Key Things to Master
Exceptional ER nursing blends skill, awareness, and connection. This session explores five essentials: sharpening your senses, mastering emergency techniques, connecting deeply with patients, embracing innovation, and holding on to the passion that brought you to nursing. Through interactive exercises, we’ll explore the patient’s perspective, including what it feels like to struggle for breath, endure a needle stick, or be handled in ways we consider routine. We’ll challenge assumptions and find ways to keep purpose at the center of practice as you progress in your career.
9:25 AM–10:25 AM
CPR Breakdown: Making Sense of Interesting Questions in Veterinary Resuscitation
Let’s go beyond the basics of CPR to tackle some of the most challenging and thought-provoking questions that emerge. “How long should you perform CPR?” “What’s different in CPR for cats versus dogs?” “Are techniques like interposed abdominal compressions worth trying?” Not all questions regarding CPR are answered by the RECOVER CPR Guidelines, which focus largely on the execution of CPR. The audience will be asked which topics they would like to focus on during the session.
11:00 AM–12:00 PM
We Need Blood STAT! Emergency Transfusions
“We need blood STAT!” Has this phrase ever been used in your practice? Transfusion therapy and our ability to provide blood components have greatly increased our ability to help patients and can be lifesaving in certain situations. A veterinary team can also maximize the chances of success by being aware of transfusion options, the value of component therapy and blood banking, and indications and contraindications of blood products. In addition, there may be uncommonly used methods in transfusion medicine that can be helpful in true emergency situations. We will explore transfusion options and how we make these decisions during an emergency.
1:30 PM–2:30 PM
Why Your Parvo Patient Should Be Fed Right Away: Say NO to NPO
Canine parvovirus infections cause severe gastroenteritis, and when left untreated can lead to dehydration, shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and sepsis. Enteral feeding is a simple-to-implement therapy that makes a significant difference in survival from parvo when started within hours of admission, even when vomiting. Learn why nutritional intervention serves a key role in the recovery of critical care patients.
2:40 PM-3:40 PM
RECOVER Guidelines: Newborn Resuscitation
Ever wonder what the best way to resuscitate newborns retrieved by C-section? The RECOVER Initiative evaluated evidence to make treatment recommendations for the unique aspects of resuscitating newborn dogs and cats immediately after birth. This algorithm provides a step-by-step approach to essential resuscitation measures for puppies and kittens as they transition from intra- to extrauterine life. Key questions addressed in this presentation are: Which newborns need resuscitation? How does the heart rate guide resuscitation measures? What monitoring should be used during resuscitation? Should oxygen supplementation always be given? How about doxapram? What is the most important intervention to save non-vigorous newborn puppies/kittens? Attendees will further gain awareness of how fundamentally different newborn resuscitation is from CPR in adult dogs and cats.
4:15 PM-5:30 PM
A Veterinary Technician’s Guide to Unblocking Cats
Few emergencies test a veterinary technician’s skill and composure like a blocked cat. This session breaks down the nursing role in recognizing, stabilizing, and managing feline urethral obstruction from triage through recovery. We’ll cover assessment and monitoring, sedation and analgesia choices, catheterization setup and unblocking technique, and ongoing nursing care to prevent complications. Emphasis is placed on teamwork, safety, and the key elements to make nursing utilization in unblocking cats a responsible endeavor. Attendees will leave with practical steps and confidence to assert their role in performing urethral unblocking procedures safely and effectively.
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