Vets Course

Point of Care Ultrasound and the Use of Ultrasound in Emergency Practice

Course Dates & Locations

01 Jun - 04 Nov 2026

7 Modules (2 Practical sessions)

52 CPD Hours

Online/Sheffield

Point of Care Ultrasound and the Use of Ultrasound in Emergency Practice

Price From £1,999.00 + VAT

Master Practical POCUS Skills with Confidence

This immersive hands-on two-day course is supported by five comprehensive online modules, designed to fully prepare you for the practical sessions held in your choice of venue, Swindon or Sheffield.

The online modules consist of video tutorials, detailed course notes, case examples and interactive knowledge checks. Content is immediately applicable to everyday clinical work.

During the face-to-face practical training you will benefit from innovative teaching methods such as, an AR/VR station to develop core scanning techniques. These techniques are then practised on well behaved dogs using state of the art ultrasound machines provided by Mindray. Invasive procedures, such as ultrasound guided biopsies, are taught using phantom models.

By the end of the course, you will be well equipped with the skills and confidence to start using POCUS effectively in your own clinic, helping you make faster, more informed clinical decisions for your patients.

This course is aimed at veterinary surgeons of all levels, from those with no experience - who wish to start their POCUS training with a strong theoretical learning before practical application - to those who wish to further their knowledge in more niche areas of POCUS ultrasound scanning and want to practise using novel techniques.

Lunch, and refreshments will be provided.

Day 1: 09:00 AM to 11:00 PM

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Hear what our delegates have to say

Don’t just take our word for it - our delegate feedback speaks for itself.

Garrick Ponte

BVSc GPCert(SAM) MRCVS

The teaching at Improve is excellent and I have been able to take what I have learnt back to use in practice. It’s not just the lectures themselves but the practical work we did straight afterwards which drives home everything, which is why Impro … Read more

Colin Dickson

BVMS CertAVP MRCVS

Having previously completed a postgraduate surgery certificate with another provider, I was confident in my knowledge and understanding of the theory but felt underprepared from a practical perspective. I was initially hesitant to register for another … Read more

Key features of this programme

Varied online teaching methods

Engaging online content in the format of video lessons, written notes and knowledge quizzes

Two days of 100% practical hands on training

Techniques and strategies for avoiding common errors

Master advanced applications

Caudal vena cava assessment
POCUS within CPR
Echocardiographic examination and measurements

Personalised tutor support

Sessions are limited to 12 delegates, and four practical stations to help you quickly build confidence and refine your skills

Programme details

Module Summary

2 Practical sessions

5 Online sessions

01 - Basics of Ultrasound and Imaging

E-learning

Online

Learning Objectives:

Explain the evolution of the different point of care ultrasound protocols that have been developed over the last decade

Compare POCUS and radiographs, reviewing the pros and cons in general and more specific situations

Describe the main user-controlled settings on an ultrasound machine and how these can be manipulated to optimise an image

Review concepts of velocity, acoustic impedance, attenuation and penetration

Review ultrasound artefacts, including shadowing and the mirror effect

Explain different types of probes (Linear, Curvilinear, Phased-array) and their specific applications

Describe different probe movements and angulation

Explain the principle and the use of M-mode and colour flow Doppler

Discuss some of the common mistakes to avoid with POCUS including air trapping, head of patient and screen on same sightline, drifting phenomenon, and incorrect orientation marker

Laurent Blond DV, IPSAV, MSc, DACVR

02 - POCUS of the Thorax

E-learning

Online

Learning Objectives:

Definition of thoracic POCUS: introduction and image acquisition: ultrasound settings, probe preferences, image optimisation.

Describe the different thoracic POCUS techniques and give clinical examples of abnormal manifestations and pathologies.

Discuss the utility and limitations of thoracic POCUS.

Appraise different methods for detection of pneumothorax on POCUS.

Describe different pulmonary signs on thoracic POCUS, including B lines, shred sign, tissue sign and their clinical applications.

Describe POCUS techniques for detection of pleural effusion.

Describe the mains view of a focused cardiac ultrasound.

Describe findings supportive of congestive heart failure, cardiac tamponade and pulmonary hypertension on cardiac focused ultrasound.

Laura Cole MA VetMB MVetMed Cert VPS PgCert VetEd Cert AVP (ECC) DipECVECC DipACVECC MRCVS FHEA

03 - POCUS of the Abdomen

E-learning

Online

Learning Objectives:

Define abdominal POCUS, and discuss what abdominal POCUS can and cannot do.

Describe how to perform an abdominal POCUS including ultrasound settings, probe preferences and image optimisation.

Describe how the positioning of the patient and how the different views, artefacts and pitfalls can create false positives and false negatives.

Describe the clinical integration of abdominal POCUS and the evaluation of abdominal fluid presence by using a fluid grading system.

Discuss the use of abdominal POCUS for canine anaphylaxis and the notion of canine anaphylaxis related heparin induced haemoabdomen.

Use of POCUS for urinary bladder volume evaluation.

Discuss POCUS of the liver and gallbladder: what it can and cannot do, normal and abnormal images and their clinical significance.

Discuss POCUS of the spleen: what it can and cannot do, normal and abnormal images and their clinical significance.

Discuss POCUS of the kidney: what it can and cannot do, normal and abnormal images and their clinical significance.

Discuss POCUS of the urinary bladder: what it can and cannot do, normal and abnormal images and their clinical significance.

Discuss POCUS of the gastrointestinal and pancreas: what it can and cannot do, normal and abnormal images and their clinical significance.

Ludivine Boiron DVM, MSc, DipECVECC, DipACVECC

04 - Use of POCUS for Reproductive Emergencies, Vascular Access and Volaemia Evaluation

E-learning

Online

Learning Objectives:

Describe the use of POCUS to diagnose testicular torsion and prostatitis.

Describe the use of POCUS for pyometra diagnosis.

Describe the use of POCUS in dystocia: what it can and cannot do, evaluation of foetal stress and its clinical application for decision making.

Describe the use of POCUS in ultrasound guided central venous jugular catheterisation, describing the equipment needed and the technique.

Describe the use of POCUS in ultrasound guided femoral arterial catheterisation and the sampling process.

Describe how to build a realistic practice phantom to learn the technique.

Discuss the use of POCUS in the visualisation of vein versus arteries using colour Doppler and its clinical application for thrombosis.

Discuss what POCUS of the caudal vena cava can and cannot do.

List and explain the three methods for POCUS of the caudal vena cava: subxiphoid caudal vena cava view, intercostal caudal vena cava view, paralumbar caudal vena cava view and illustrate the measurements to assess volaemia.

Explain and understand the concept of fluid responder versus fluid non-responder using POCUS of the caudal vena cava.

Define the concept of caudal vena cava distensibility/collapsibility and the caudal vena cava/aorta ratio.

Maxime Cambournac DVM; Dipl. ECVECC

05 - Use of POCUS for CPR, Monitoring and Ultrasound Guided Procedures

E-learning

Online

Learning Objectives:

Describe the use of POCUS in the rapid detection of treatable shock: with regards to hypovolaemia/hypotension, hyperkalaemia, hypocontractility and hypertension.

Describe the use of POCUS in the rapid detection of treatable shock: with regards to tension pneumothorax, trauma/haemorrhage, thromboembolism, tamponade and toxin (canine anaphylaxis).

Explain the importance of monitoring and tracking abdominal effusions with POCUS in critical patients.

Describe the use of POCUS in advanced life support.

Describe the use of POCUS in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Describe the techniques that can be used for ultrasound-guided sampling (including cystocentesis, abdominocentesis, pericardiocentesis and fine needle aspiration).

Explain the two methods of ultrasound guidance for lung and thoracic sampling: free hand and using probe guides.

Describe how POCUS can be used to check endotracheal intubation.

Sinziana Radulescu GPCert(EM&S) PGDip VCP MVetMed DipACVECC DipECVECC MRCVS

06 - Point of Care Ultrasound Practical Day 1

Practical

03/11/2026

Swindon

Learning Objectives:

Operate an ultrasound machine, selecting optimal transducer types and machine settings for cardiac, transthoracic and abdominal scanning.
Conduct a point of care thoracic ultrasound scan.
Conduct a point of care abdominal ultrasound scan.
Demonstrate where to find evidence of pleural or pulmonary disease on thoracic POCUS and discuss expected normal and abnormal findings.
Perform a basic echocardiographic examination, obtaining the standard, short axis right-sided views, and perform 2D measurements of the left atrium and aortic root.
Demonstrate ultrasound-guided sampling technique(s) on a model.

Tiziana Liuti DVM, PhD, Dipl. ECVDI, Pg. CAP, FHEA, FRSB, FRCVS

07 - Point of Care Ultrasound Practical Day 2

Practical

04/11/2026

Swindon

Learning Objectives:

Operate an ultrasound machine, selecting optimal transducer types and machine settings for cardiac, transthoracic and abdominal scanning.
Conduct a point of care thoracic ultrasound scan.
Conduct a point of care abdominal ultrasound scan.
Demonstrate where to find evidence of pleural or pulmonary disease on thoracic POCUS and discuss expected normal and abnormal findings.
Perform a basic echocardiographic examination, obtaining the standard, short axis right-sided views, and perform 2D measurements of the left atrium and aortic root.
Demonstrate ultrasound-guided sampling technique(s) on a model.