OAVT Discovery 2025 - October 11-12
Join us for Discovery 2025 – OAVT’s premier annual conference for veterinary technicians!
Mark your calendar for October 11–12, 2025, at the Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris, where veterinary technicians from across Ohio will gather for two days of education, networking, and professional growth. Discovery 2025 features a dynamic lineup of lectures and workshops covering clinical skills, patient care, leadership, and team collaboration. This year’s keynote speaker, Amy Newfield, MS, CVT, VTS, will share “How to Survive in This Field”—a candid and inspiring look at building resilience and thriving in veterinary medicine.
Attendees will enjoy a variety of sessions led by respected experts, earn continuing education credit, and connect with colleagues and industry partners. We’re proud to welcome our 2025 sponsors and exhibitors, including Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Midwest Veterinary Supply, Banfield Pet Hospital, Veterinary Emergency Group – Dublin, Humane Ohio, Boehringer Ingelheim, IDEXX, and BLUE Natural Veterinary Diets.
Whether you’re looking to sharpen your skills, discover new resources, or recharge your passion for the profession, Discovery 2025 is your opportunity to learn, connect, and be inspired.
2025 Topics
Amy Newfield, MS, CVT, VTS
Let’s Talk Lifestyle Vaccines: Having the Conversation with Pet Owners
No description provided
Reproductive Emergencies
Lecture focuses on common reproduction emergencies and treatment in both the male and female dog and cat. Everything from testicular neoplasia to uterine torsion to dystocia will be discussed.
- Attendees will learn about common reproduction emergencies.
- Attendees will learn about how to communicate to owners who have pets experiencing reproductive emergencies.
- Attendees will learn how to care for pets who are experiencing reproductive emergencies.
The Big Impact of the Small Tick: Lyme Disease and the Black-legged Tick
No description provided
Becoming a Unicorn Team
What skills are needed to be the best team? This lecture dives into the top 10 ingredients needed to ensure you have the best team.
- Attendees will learn the challenges of working in a team.
- Attendees will learn the ten things all teams need to be great
- Attendees will learn take aways to help redirect negativity
How to Motivate Teams
Feeling like some team members need more motivation than others? You are not alone. This lecture will dive into what drives human beings and the art of motivation.
Dan Wallon, RVT
What’s new from the Ohio Veterinary Medical Licensing Board! Bring your questions for the Q&A session.
Jessie Wiemer, CVT
Fear Fights Anesthesia
Fear Fights Anesthesia Flow will dive into how fear psychologically effects our patients, how these changes can interact with anesthesia and how Veterinary Technicians can support implementing anesthesia protocols to limit these effects.
Tiffany Schweitzer, RVT
Equine Field Anesthesia
This session will cover premedication, induction, and analgesic drug protocols for routine equine field procedures such as castrations, laceration repairs, and euthanasia. We will also discuss ways to minimize risks to the patient (myopathies, neuropathies, ocular injuries, catastrophic fractures, airway obstruction), as well as safety tips for staff.
Keith Stein, DVM
Dentistry 101-Keeping It Simple
This session will introduce fundamental concepts in veterinary dentistry and oral surgery. Topics of discussion will include anatomy, pathology, instrumentation, and marketing as well as systemic implications of dental disease.
Interactive Self-Assessment for Veterinary Technicians
Test your dental IQ by joining us for a lively discussion of common issues in veterinary dentistry. Bring your questions and ideas to share with the group.
Tabitha Kucera, RVT, VTS
It Doesn’t Have to Hurt: Recognizing Chronic Pain in Cats
In this engaging session, as a certified cat behavior consultant and veterinary technician, we will explore the unique challenges in assessing pain in cats, who are both predator and prey animals. Many behavior concerns in cats may have underlying medical roots that often go unnoticed. Therefore, it is crucial for veterinary professionals to develop the ability to identify signs of pain in feline patients and effectively communicate their findings to clients. Through a combination of informative lecture and video demonstrations, this session will enhance your pain assessment skills, providing you with the necessary resources to conduct thorough client and in-clinic questionnaires. By honing these crucial skills, you'll be better equipped to ensure the well-being of your feline patients and strengthen your communication with their caregivers.
Purr-fecting Medication: Techniques and Tips for Medicating Cats with Ease
Medicating cats can be a daunting task for both veterinary professionals and caregivers alike. The challenge of administering medications to our feline companions is a persistent issue in the world of veterinary care, often leading to missed doses and compromised treatment outcomes. In this lecture, I aim to shed light on this critical issue and present practical solutions to help veterinarians and caregivers overcome the obstacles associated with medicating cats. By fostering a positive and cooperative environment, both at the clinic and in the home, we can transform the medicating process into a stress-free and even enjoyable experience for our feline patients.
Behavior is Medicine: integrating Behavioral Guidance in Wellness Appointments
Canine and feline behavioral concerns, particularly related to fear, anxiety, and stress, are significant factors in pet relinquishment. As veterinary professionals, it is crucial to proactively address behavior issues during wellness appointments to prevent potential problems and better support our clients and their pets. In this enlightening session, we will explore effective strategies for initiating conversations about behavior, responding to client concerns, and providing practical guidance to manage and prevent behavioral issues. By embracing behavior as an essential aspect of pet health, we can enhance our role as advocates for our patients and strengthen the human-animal bond.
Muzzles Unleashed: From Stigma to Safety
Muzzles are a vital part of safe and compassionate veterinary care—but they are often misunderstood, misused, and emotionally charged for both caregivers and professionals. This lecture explores how we can shift the narrative around muzzles from fear and stigma to comfort, trust, and preparation. You will learn how to properly introduce and train dogs to wear muzzles using positive reinforcement, how to incorporate muzzle conversations into client education, and how to use muzzles effectively and ethically in clinical settings. Whether it is for safety during procedures or setting dogs up for success in the real world, muzzles can be part of compassionate care when introduced and used thoughtfully.
When Caring Hurts: Managing Compassion Fatigue
Compassion fatigue is an issue that is finally receiving the attention it deserves within the veterinary community. This session will discuss compassion fatigue and burnout in the veterinary profession. Learn why addressing these issues is crucial, understand the differences between compassion fatigue and burnout, and recognize common symptoms. Tabitha will share insights from her, and others experiences and discuss successful strategies for managing and overcoming these challenges. Enhance your ability to care for yourself while providing exceptional care to your patients.
Hill’s Saturday Night CE
Shalene Leddingham, DVM
✔️ Nutritional Management of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction and Degenerative Joint Disease
Learn about Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS) and Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) and the impact these disease processes can have on our pets. This presentation provides clinical signs, tips for diagnosing, and touches on potential treatment modalities. This presentation also discusses numerous research studies and the insights gained from results. Learn how early intervention and nutrition can help improve the lives of aging pets!