Echocardiography in Small Animals - A 2-Day Practical Course
Species
Small Animal
Venue
Tierklinik Leimental
Contact Hours
14 Hours
Early Booking Deadline
Sun, 23 August, 2026
Registration Deadline
Fri, 11 September, 2026
Language
English (German & French Moderation)
Discipline
Cardiology
Diagnostic Imaging
Growth Partners
Europe
Veterinary Partners
Global
Europe
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Echocardiography has become an essential diagnostic tool in modern small animal practice, enabling clinicians to accurately assess cardiac health and support confident clinical decision-making. With increasing access to high-quality ultrasound equipment, veterinarians are expected to have a solid practical understanding of cardiac imaging and interpretation.
This intensive 2-day practical workshop has been designed for small animal practitioners who wish to develop or refine their echocardiography skills in a supportive, hands-on learning environment. Through a carefully balanced combination of expert-led lectures, interactive case discussions, and supervised practical sessions on live dogs, participants will gain the confidence and competence to apply echocardiography effectively in everyday clinical practice.
Open and constructive discussions are encouraged throughout the course, and the speakers will share their extensive clinical experience, including practical tips, common challenges, and real-world problem-solving approaches.
In the mornings, the following topics will be covered through highly illustrated lectures and interactive case presentations:
- Optimising your echocardiography machine and settings
- Principles of cardiac imaging and examination protocols
- Right-sided views and Doppler echocardiography
- Accurate measurement techniques
- Left-sided views and advanced imaging
- Interpretation of echocardiographic findings
- Application of echocardiography in clinical decision-making
- Interactive review of real-world cardiology cases
Across both afternoons, extensive practical sessions will provide participants with ample opportunity to develop hands-on skills in small groups under close supervision by the instructors.
Participants will work on live dogs in small groups, allowing for individual guidance and feedback. Each attendee will rotate through structured practical stations covering:
- Machine optimisation and image acquisition
- Right-sided cardiac imaging
- Doppler echocardiography techniques
- Left-sided cardiac imaging
- Measurement protocols
- Complete echocardiographic examinations
- Case-based image interpretation
These sessions are designed to reinforce lecture content and to build confidence in performing systematic, high-quality echocardiographic studies in daily practice. The course fee includes lunches, coffee/tea breaks, extensive electronic course notes and a certificate of attendance. Early course registration is recommended as there are only a limited number of places available.
Chris is both an RCVS Specialist and a European Specialist in Small Animal Cardiology and sees both medical and surgical cardiology cases.
Chris graduated with Honours from the University of Liverpool in 2007 and following 2 years in small animal practice in Lincolnshire, returned there to complete further specialist cardiology training. This included an internship and three-year residency in Cardiology before being promoted to the position of Lecturer in Cardiology. Chris has also undertaken further training in human interventional cardiology and is the first veterinary cardiology specialist to hold a Master of Science in the subject.
Having already developed the busiest interventional cardiology service (key-hole surgery) in the UK during his 5 years at Willows Veterinary Centre & Referral Service in the Midlands, Chris moved to Yorkshire and joined the Paragon team in 2021 where he is the clinical lead and Head of the Cardiology team.
Chris loves developing patient-vet and owner-vet bonds and believes it is the key to successfully caring for his cardiology patients. He has a keen interest in congenital heart disease and performing cardiac catheterisation procedures for correction of heart defects. Due to the excellent reputation of the cardiology service amongst fellow cardiologists and primary practice vets, Chris is one of the most experienced minimally invasive cardiologists in the UK and Europe.
He has close links with the charity Animals Asia in Chengdu, China and is involved with investigating heart disease in rescued moon bears from the bile-farming trade and helping to improve their health and general well-being. Chris is also an avid instructor in cardiology to both undergraduate students and vets in practice, he has presented and lectured around the globe and loves to share his passion for cardiology with others.
More InfoFabio graduated from the University of Bologna (Italy) in 2012. After graduation, he completed an externship in small animal cardiology at the University of Liverpool.
Subsequently, Fabio completed a 12-month rotating internship for small animals at Rutland House referral, St Helens (UK). Following this experience, he spent two years in general practice in the UK, further deepening his interest in cardiology.
In 2016 he started a Residency programme in small animal cardiology at the Small Animal Teaching Hospital of the University of Liverpool, later obtaining the Diploma of the European College of Internal Medicine ECVIM- CA (Cardiology) in 2021. Fabio then went on to work as a cardiology specialist in a large multidisciplinary referral hospital with a busy interventional cardiology service, where he also served as Head of the Cardiology Service. In 2025, Fabio joined the team at Sarah Smith Cardiology in Derby, UK.
Fabio enjoys all aspects of cardiology, but his main interests lie in interventional cardiology as well as congenital heart disease and mitral valve disease.
Please download the Program PDF to view it: Download PDF
CONTACT DETAILS FOR CLINIC
Tierklinik Leimental
Gewerbestrasse 4
CH-4105
Biel-Benken
Phone: 0041 61 722 10 10
Fax: 0041 61 722 10 11
Mail:info@tierklinik-leimental.ch
DIRECTIONS
Please visit the clinic website to calculate your route: www.tierklinik-leimental.ch/kontakt
NEARBY AIRPORTS
Distance from Basel Airport: approx. 13.8 km
Distance from Zurich Airport: approx. 96.7 km
NEARBY HOTELS
| Hotel Rynach Brunngasse 3, 4153 Reinach. Tel: +41 61 712 11 22. Email: info@hotelrynach.ch
|
Distance to clinic 5.4km |
Rooms from CHF118 |
|
Hotel Sonne |
Distance to clinic 7.9 km |
Rooms from CHF120 |
|
Hotel Gempenblick
|
Distance to clinic 5.9 km |
Rooms from CHF120 |
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Hotel Eremitage Gartenweg 2, 4144 Arlesheim.
|
Distance to clinic 9 km |
Rooms from CHF135 |
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Hotel Ochsen Ermitagestrasse 16, 4144 Arlesheim.
|
Distance to clinic 9 km |
Rooms from CHF175 |
|
Heidy SCHOCH-VON ARX - Bed & Breakfast |
Distance to clinic 9 km |
Rooms from CHF90 |
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For more options use the following (or similar) website: www.booking.com |
Qualified Vet
Lectures & Practical Sessions
USD 1667.53
USD 1538.26
2nd vet, same clinic
Lectures & Practical Sessions
USD 1583.51
USD 1460.70
Intern/Resident/PhD (Requires proof of status)
Lectures & Practical Sessions
USD 833.76
USD 833.76
If the options you are looking for are unavailable, please contact us.
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