Feline Oncology
Program Director:
Dr. Jarno Schmidt MRCVS, DECVIM-CA (DE)
Course Master(s):
Dr. Laurent Findji, DECVS (UK)
Dr. Maurice Zandvliet DECVIM-CA (NL)
Course Overview
Important Note:
This is an online course with mostly live lectures running from Friday to Sunday noon (7–9 February 2025 and 21–23 February 2025). It is the sole responsibility of the student to ensure adequate internet access and availability to follow the course. It will not be possible to view the lectures before or afterwards. Times in the programme refer to Central European Time (CET).
Oncology has become one of the fastest growing fields in small animal practice, as clients and veterinarians are becoming increasingly open-minded about treating pets with cancer. The adage „cats are not small dogs“ holds true especially in oncology. Etiology, incidence, clinical symptoms, tumour biology, treatment and prognosis of feline cancer often differ significantly from that of dogs.
Unfortunately for feline practitioners, most small animal seminars are heavily biased towards canine medicine with cats not getting their fair share.
“Feline Oncology” is specifically designed to provide feline practitioners with the “A to Z” of cancer in cats. It will start with the diagnostic approach to the feline cancer patient, including biopsy taking, staging procedures and diagnostic options.
Further, there will be a comprehensive discussion of cancer treatment options and on formulating suitable therapeutic plans.
This course will address the most common feline tumours in clinical practice. A major emphasis will be on case oriented work using a systematic approach to the feline cancer patients.
This course is ideal for veterinarians with little or no previous knowledge in veterinary oncology, but also highly suitable for feline practitioners, who want to deepen their understanding of feline oncology and get up-to-date with the current state of clinical research.
Topics
“Feline Oncology” includes the following topics (preliminary):
- Etiology, epidemiology and tumour biology in cats
- Diagnostic imaging and tumour staging methods
- Biopsy techniques & tumour cytology (image based, no microscopes)
- Principles of surgical oncology including reconstruction in oncologic surgery
- Principles of chemotherapy & radiation oncology
- Cutaneous neoplasms
- Lymphoma & other haematopoietic tumours
- Tumours of the respiratory tract
- Urinary tract tumours & mammary tumours
- Tumours of the skeletal system
- Oral, gastrointestinal & hepatosplenic tumours
- Important feline endocrine tumours
- Abdominal & thoracic cancer surgery
- Interactive case management
Course Program (Subject to change)
Friday, 7 February 2025: Dr. Schmidt
08:30 – 09:00 Welcome and registration
09:00 – 16:00 Feline cancer epidemiology Schmidt
Tumor biology and etiology of cancer in feline patients Schmidt
Lunch Break
Diagnostic approach to the feline cancer patient Schmidt
Principles of feline tumor cytology Schmidt
90 minutes Cytology Cases (solve cases independently at home) Schmidt
Saturday, 8 February 2025, Dr. Schmidt, Dr. Zandvliet, Dr. Findji
09:00 – 17:00 Cytology slide review (yesterday´s cases) Schmidt
What is tumour staging and why is it important? Schmidt
Feline paraneoplastic syndromes Zandvliet
Lunch Break
Case management: principles of oncologic surgery in the feline cancer patient and
how to take biopsies Findji
Principles of radiotherapy in feline oncology Zandvliet
Practice of radiotherapy in feline oncology (case based) Zandvliet
Sunday, 9 February 2025, Dr. Schmidt, Dr. Findji
08:30 – 13:00 Feline skin tumours: a short overview Schmidt
Case management: Feline soft tissue sarcomas Findji
Chemotherapy principles and practice Schmidt
An overview of feline lymphoma: epidemiology, clinical signs, diagnostic approach Schmidt
Friday, 21 February 2025, Dr. Schmidt, Dr. Findji
09:00 – 17:00 Q&A online lectures and other topics (facultative) Schmidt
An overview of feline lymphoma: treatment strategies Schmidt Case management: feline intestinal lymphoma Schmidt Feline gastrointestinal tumours (excl. LSA) Findji
Q&A on case management: Feline cutaneous lymphoma Schmidt
Lunch Break
Q&A online lectures and other topics (facultative) Findji
Case management: feline oral tumours Findji
Case management: Salivary gland tumours Findji
Case management: Anal sac tumours Findji
Saturday, 22 February 2025, Dr. Schmidt, Dr. Findji
09:00 – 16:30 Q&A online lectures and other topics (facultative)
Feline liver tumours and exocrine pancreatic tumours Findji
Case management:
– Feline mast cell tumours and Tyrosine Kinase inhibitors Schmidt
– Feline splenic tumours and feline haemangiosarcomas Schmidt
Case management: Feline UV-light induced squamous cell carcinoma & Bowen´s disease Findji
Lunch Break
Feline urogenital tumours Findji
Feline mammary tumours I Schmidt
Feline mammary tumours II (surgery) Findji
Sunday, 23 February 2025, Dr. Schmidt, Dr. Findji
08:30 – 13:00 Casus exam and ESAVS Oncology Certificate and Master Schmidt
Feline nasal, laryngeal and tracheal tumours Schmidt
Feline lung tumours + Thymoma and surgical management of respiratory and
intrathoracic tumours Findji
Case management session
– Feline insulinoma: “Does it exist?” Schmidt
– Feline hyperaldosteronism and adrenal tumours Schmidt
– Feline acromegaly Schmidt
Q&A and wrap-up of the Course
Feline Oncology
07/02/2025 - 23/02/2025Venue:
Online