Vets Course
Small Animal Soft Tissue Surgery
ISVPS General Practitioner Advanced Certificate (GPAdvCert)
- Overview
- Modules
- Pricing
Mar 2025 - May 2026
Overview
The General Practitioner Advanced Certificate (GPAdvCert) in Small Animal Soft Tissue Surgery is a dynamic and specialized initiative meticulously crafted for veterinary surgeons aspiring to enhance their proficiency in soft tissue surgical techniques. Across 14 modules, this advanced-level course offers a thorough and immersive learning experience, strategically designed to elevate the practical skills and expertise of participants in the field of small animal soft tissue surgery.
Description
This program will allow you to advance your soft tissue surgery skills.
- The pathophysiology and available literature in relation to small animal surgical conditions
- A focus on problem-solving to increase confidence in diagnosing and stabilizing animals with complex pathologies
- Interactive and engaging lectures, demonstrations and practical application
- New surgical techniques and more advanced procedures under close supervision in a wet-lab environment
- The different types of tumors affecting the body systems as well as staging, diagnosis and different treatment modalities
- Complex surgical techniques and minimally invasive techniques
- World-class clinicians provide you with the very latest information in small animal soft tissue surgery
NOTE: Dates displayed on this program are subject to change.
Venue: Greve, Denmark
Date: Mar 2025 - May 2026
GPAdvCert in Small Animal Soft Tissue Surgery
Get in touch
Accredited by
01 - Oral Surgery
Key Learning Objectives
- List the main neoplasms affecting the nasal planum, premaxilla and oral cavity (including tongue and tonsils).
- Discuss pathophysiology, different treatment modalities, expected outcome and associated prognosis.
- Select the appropriate surgical procedure and discuss cosmetic and functional results.
- Prepare the animal and owner for surgical intervention and discuss potential limitations and complications.
- Describe the pathogenesis and surgical principles of most congenital disorders affecting the lips in dogs (cleft palate, abnormal lip conformation, tight lip syndrome and lower lip redundancy and eversion).
- Formulate a treatment plan for traumatic lesions affecting the oral cavity, lips and cheeks.
Surgical techniques: mandibulectomy; maxillectomy; glossectomy; nasal planum reconstruction; lip and facial flaps and cleft palate repair.
02 - Endocrine System Surgery
Key Learning Objectives
- Explain the physiology of the adrenal glands.
- List the different types of adrenal tumours.
- Be confident with diagnosis.
- Outline perioperative management.
- Be familiar and discuss different management options.
- Advise on long-term prognosis.
- Explain the physiology of the thyroid and parathyroid glands.
- List the different types of pathologies affecting these glands including tumours.
- Be confident with diagnosis.
- Outline perioperative management.
- Be familiar and discuss different management options.
- Advise on long-term prognosis.
- Explain the physiology of the pancreas.
- List the different types of pancreatic tumours.
- Be confident with diagnosis.
- Outline perioperative management.
- Be familiar and discuss different management options.
- Advise on long-term prognosis.
Surgical techniques: adrenalectomy with and without vena cava venotomy; thyroidectomy; parathyroidectomy; partial pancreatectomy.
03 - Reconstructive and Skin Surgery
Key Learning Objectives
- Summarize wound classification and types of available management.
- Be confident with trouble shooting and decision making.
- Be familiar with negative pressure wound therapy and preparation of a wound bed for reconstructive surgery.
- Outline the different types of subdermal plexus flaps.
- Be familiar with animal preparation and guidelines for flap development.
- Discuss the most common and reliable axial pattern and myocutaneous flaps.
- Be confident with animal preparation and areas covered by each individual flap.
- Be proficient at managing flap necrosis.
- Explain the general classification and healing process of free skin grafts.
- Be confident with wound bed preparation and perioperative steps required to minimize graft necrosis.
Surgical techniques: negative pressure wound therapy placement; development of subdermal plexus flaps; development of axial and myocutaneous flaps; harvesting and preparation of full thickness skin grafts.
04 - Surgery of the Nose and Ear
Key Learning Objectives
- Discuss the pathophysiology and clinical presentation on specific conditions of the nasopharyngx and nose, i.e. nasopharyngeal polyps and stenosis and neoplasia of the nasal planum and cavity.
- Be confident with diagnosis.
- Be familiar with different management options and approaches to the nasal cavity.
- Advise on long-term prognosis.
- Explain the pathophysiology and clinical presentation of specific conditions affecting the ear canal and middle ear, i.e. otitis, polyps, neoplasia, trauma, avulsion and abscessation.
- Be confident with diagnosis.
- Be familiar with different management options.
- Advise on long-term prognosis.
Surgical techniques: ventral and dorsal rhinotomy; ventral approach to the nasopharyngx; total ear canal ablation and lateral bulla osteotomy; ventral bulla osteotomy
05 - Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Reconstruction
Key Learning Objectives
- Discuss the pathophysiology of specific diseases affecting the stomach, i.e. hypertrophic pylorogastropathy, gastric neoplasia and gastric perforation.
- Be confident with diagnosis.
- Outline perioperative management.
- Be familiar and discuss different surgical options.
- Advise on long-term prognosis.
- Be familiar with indications, maintenance and complications associated with placement of gastrotomy and enterostomy tubes.
- Outline the pathophysiology and clinical presentation associated with hiatal hernia.
- Be confident with diagnosis.
- Outline perioperative management.
- Be familiar with surgical options.
- Advise on long-term prognosis.
Surgical techniques: gastrostomy and enterostomy tube placement; HeinekeMikulicz pyloroplasty; Y-U pyloroplasty; partial gastrectomy; oesophagopexy.
06 - Intestinal Surgery – Caecum, colon, rectum and anal sacs
Key Learning Objectives
- Explain the physiology of the colon and rectum.
- Discuss the pathophysiology of specific diseases affecting these structures, i.e. megacolon, caeco-colonic and colonic volvulus, neoplasia, rectal perforation, anorectal strictures.
- Be confident with diagnosis.
- Outline perioperative management.
- List surgical principles that maximize healing.
- Be familiar and discuss different surgical approaches.
- Advise on long-term prognosis.
Surgical techniques: typhylectomy; colonic resection/anastomosis; subtotalcolectomy; anal sacculectomy for tumour management; abdominal approach for dissection of metastatic sub-lumbar lymph nodes; rectal pull through
07 - Thoracic Surgery I
Key Learning Objectives
- Discuss the aetiology and clinical findings associated with specific lung conditions, i.e. cysts, bullae and blebs, bronchoesophageal fistula, lung abscessation, lung laceration, lung lobe torsion and pulmonary neoplasia.
- Be confident with diagnosis.
- Outline emergency and long-term management.
- Be familiar and discuss different surgical approaches.
- Advise on long-term prognosis.
- Explain the aetiology and clinical findings associated with specific thoracic wall conditions, i.e. pectus excavatum, multiple trauma and thoracic wall tumours.
- Be confident with diagnosis.
- Outline emergency and long-term management.
- Be familiar and discuss different reconstructive techniques including the use of muscle flaps and synthetic meshes.
- Advise on long-term prognosis.
Surgical techniques: intercostal and rib resection thoracotomy; standard and modified closure; partial and complete lung lobectomy (sutured and stapled); intrathoracic esophagotomy; location of the persistent ductus arteriosus area; pericardial window; principles of thoracoscopy; thoracoscopically assisted lung biopsy and pericardial window.
08 - Thoracic Surgery II
Key Learning Objectives
- Explain the aetiology and clinical findings associated with chylothorax.
- Be confident with diagnosis.
- Outline emergency and long-term management
- Be familiar and discuss different surgical options.
- Advise on long-term prognosis.
- Be familiar with advantages, limitations and placement of a pleural port.
- Become familiar with the principles of thoracoscopically assisted thoracic surgery.
Surgical techniques: median sternotomy; subtotal pericardiectomy; caudal thoracotomy and location of the ligation site for the thoracic duct; trasndiaphragmatic approach for thoracic duct ligation and cysterna chilli ablation; Pleural port placement.
09 - Surgery of Liver and Biliary System
Key Learning Objectives
- Explain the physiology of the liver and biliary system.
- Discuss the pathophysiology and clinical presentation of specific hepatic and biliary diseases, i.e. neoplasia, hepatic abscesses and cysts, traumatic biliary tract rupture, extra-hepatic biliary obstruction and gallbladder mucocele.
- Be confident with diagnosis.
- Outline perioperative management and considerations.
- Be familiar and discuss different surgical options.
- Advise on long-term prognosis.
Surgical techniques: liver lobectomy (sutured and stapled), cholecystoduodenostomy, cholecystojejunostomy (sutured and stapled).
10 - Hernia Resolution
Key Learning Objectives
- Discuss the pathophysiology of abdominal hernias.
- Be confident with diagnosis.
- Be familiar with different surgical options including reconstruction of large defects.
- Advise on long-term prognosis.
- Outline the pathophysiology of the different diaphragmatic hernias including pleuroperitoneal and peritoneopericardial.
- Be confident with diagnosis.
- Be familiar with stabilization, timing and indications for surgical intervention and different reconstructive techniques.
- Advise on long-term prognosis.
- Explain the pathophysiology of perineal hernias.
- Be confident with diagnosis.
- Be familiar with different management options and surgical approaches.
- Advise on long-term prognosis
Surgical techniques: abdominal wall reconstruction by external abdominal oblique myofascial flap and cranial sartorius muscle flap; use of polypropylene mesh for reconstruction and omentalisation technique; internal obturator transposition technique; cystopexy; vas deferens pexy; colopexy.
11 - Urinary System Surgery
Key Learning Objectives
- Discuss the pathophysiology of renal calculi, and neoplasia.
- Be confident with diagnosis.
- Be familiar with different management options.
- Advise on long-term prognosis.
- Explain the pathophysiology of ureteral obstruction including ureterolithiasis and neoplasia.
- Be confident with diagnosis.
- Be familiar with different surgical options including stenting and
- subcutaneous ureteral bypass system.
- Advise on long-term prognosis.
- Discuss the pathophysiology of urinary incontinence.
- Be confident with diagnosis.
- Be familiar with different management options.
- Advise on long-term prognosis.
Surgical techniques: nephrotomy; nephrectomy; ureterotomy in dogs; reimplantation of the ureters in cases of ectopic ureters
12 - Upper Airway Surgery
Key Learning Objectives
- Discuss the aetiology and clinical findings associated with laryngeal paralysis
- Be confident with diagnosis of the disease as well as selecting an appropriate anaesthetic regime for laryngoscopy.
- Outline emergency and long-term management for the condition.
- Be familiar with unilateral arytenoid lateralization and discuss associated limitations and possible complications.
- Advise on long-term prognosis for GOLPP (geriatric onset laryngeal paralysis polyneuropathy)
- Explain the pathophysiology for OBAS (obstructive brachycephalic airway syndrome).
- List the primary and secondary conformational changes.
- Describe medical and surgical management for the condition.
- Outline the different grades of laryngeal collapse and discuss
- appropriate management options for each grade.
- Advise on long-term management and outcome.
- List indications for temporary and permanent tracheostomy.
- Be familiar with the surgical technique and postoperative management.
- Outline steps that will minimize postoperative complications.
- Advise on long-term outcome.
- Discuss indications and considerations for tracheal resection and anastomosis.
Surgical techniques: unilateral arytenoid lateralization; staphylectomy and folding palatoplasty; wedge rhinoplasty; resection of everted laryngeal saccules; partial arytenoidectomy; temporary and permanent tracheostomy; tracheal resection and anastomosis.
13 - Surgery of the Reproductive System
Key Learning Objectives
- Discuss the pathophysiology and clinical presentation of uterine prolapse, rupture and dystocia.
- Be confident with diagnosis.
- Be familiar with different management options.
- Advise on long-term prognosis.
- Explain the pathophysiology of specific conditions, i.e. vestibulovaginal stenotic lesions, recessed vulva, vaginal oedema and prolapse and neoplasia of the vagina, vestibule and vulva.
- Be confident with diagnosis.
- Be familiar with different management options for each condition.
- Advise on long-term prognosis for each condition.
- Be familiar with laparoscopic ovariectomy.
- Outline the pathophysiology and clinical signs associated with specific penile disorders, i.e. hypospadias, penile wounds, paraphimosis and tumours.
Surgical techniques: vulvoplasty; episiotomy; partial vaginal resection; episioplasty; principles of laparoscopic ovariectomy; partial penile amputation; phallopexy; preputial advancement
14 - Acute Abdomen and Hepatic Vascular Malformations
Key Learning Objectives
- Summarize the pathophysiology and classification of peritonitis.
- Be confident with diagnosis.
- Outline emergency and long-term management.
- Be familiar and discuss different management options.
- Advise on long-term prognosis.
- Explain the pathophysiology associated with penetrating peritoneal injuries, haemoabdomen, uroabdomen, chylous peritonitis, biliary peritonitis and intra-abdominal abscesses.
- Be confident with diagnosis.
- Outline emergency and long-term management.
- Be familiar and discuss different management options.
- Advise on long-term prognosis.
- Discuss the pathophysiology and clinical findings associated with hepatic vascular anomalies, i.e. portosystemic shunts and hepatic arteriovenous malformations.
- Be confident with diagnosis.
- Outline emergency and long-term management.
- Be familiar and discuss different management options.
- Advise on long-term prognosis.
Surgical techniques: Jackson-Prat abdominal drainage; partial cystectomy, colecystectomy, biliary stent placement, vascular dissection and attenuation by placement of an ameroid constrictor and cellophane banding
Venue: Greve, Denmark
Date: Mar 2025 - May 2026
GPAdvCert in Small Animal Soft Tissue Surgery
Get in touch
Accredited by
Available Plans
Early
Regular
Pricing Billing
Small Animal Soft Tissue Surgery Early price
| Payment Option | First Payment | Second Payment(s) | Total Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Payment | 94.500DKK | - | 94.500DKK |
The fees include ALL registration and exam fees to achieve a GPAdvCert from ISVPS.
Payment Terms & Conditions
1. A non-refundable initial payment is due on registration. Initial payments can be paid by bank transfer.
2. Full payment to be made by bank transfer within 30 days of the deposit payment in order to be eligible for the discounted rate.
3. You will be charged VAT by default. If you are part of an EU country outside of the UK and you have a valid intra-community VAT number the invoice will be exempt of VAT.
4. Please also see our full terms and conditions on our website – Terms and Conditions.
Registration Information
1. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first served basis.
2. Where all available places are full, applicants will be offered first refusal for the next available date.
3. Improve International reserves the right to close the intake early if the number of applications received exceeds the number of available places.
4. Confirmation and enrolment details will then be sent to applicants once we have received a completed application form.
Venue: Greve, Denmark
Date: Mar 2025 - May 2026
GPAdvCert in Small Animal Soft Tissue Surgery
Get in touch
Accredited by
