Making Sense of Chronic Vomiting in Cats
1.0 CE Credit Hour / Christopher G. Byers, DVM, DACVECC, DACVIM (SAIM), CVJ
Christopher G. Byers, DVM, DACVECC, DACVIM (SAIM), CVJ
From the time he was five years old, Dr. Christopher Byers knew he wanted to be a veterinarian. In fact, his first dream was to become a stegosaurus veterinarian, but since extinction made that impossible, he settled on the next best thing: saving the lives of dogs and cats through emergency and critical care and internal medicine.
Dr. Byers is a double board-certified specialist in veterinary emergency & critical care and small animal internal medicine, as well as a certified veterinary journalist. Based in Omaha, Nebraska, he brings more than two decades of experience at the cutting edge of veterinary medicine. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree as a University Honors Scholar in Animal Sciences from Colorado State University and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University.
Dr. Byers is the Co-Editor of the textbook Feline Emergency & Critical Care Medicine and the upcoming textbook Canine Emergency & Critical Care Medicine. He has also authored numerous chapters and peer-reviewed articles in leading medical journals. He is deeply passionate about education and is known for sharing his experiences and delivering practical clinical pearls that help colleagues elevate the care they provide in their own practices.
Overview:
Chronic vomiting is one of the most frequent and diagnostically challenging clinical presentations in feline medicine. This presentation will explore the diverse etiologies of chronic vomiting in cats, highlighting the importance of differentiating between primary gastrointestinal (GI) and extra-gastrointestinal (non-GI) causes. Attendees will learn how to implement a logical diagnostic workup, including imaging, laboratory testing, and endoscopic or surgical sampling, and how to distinguish chronic enteropathy from small cell lymphoma. Emphasis will also be placed on treatment strategies tailored to the underlying disease process, integrating dietary trials, pharmacologic interventions, and advanced diagnostics.
Learning Objectives:
- Differentiate between primary GI and extra-GI causes of chronic vomiting in cats and describe the common conditions in each category.
- Develop a rational diagnostic plan for chronic vomiting, incorporating laboratory testing, imaging, and appropriate biopsy techniques.
- Distinguish chronic enteropathy from enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma using histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and PARR testing.
This course is RACE-approved for 1.0 continuing education credits hours in jurisdictions that accept RACE-approval.
