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Vets Course

Small Animal Medicine

ISVPS General Practitioner Certificate (GPCert)

Postgraduate Certificate (PgC)

Nov 2026 - Nov 2027
13 Modules
Online
GPCert/PgC Small Animal Medicine Online Learning
Price From $12,655.00

The Most Advanced Training Experience in Small Animal Medicine! 

Completely Redesigned. Powered for Innovation. 

The Small Animal Medicine Certificate Program is a 12-month, fully online course designed specifically for working veterinarians. The program builds your diagnostic confidence and enhances clinical decision-making through real-life case presentations and active learning techniques. Gain practical skills you can apply immediately in practice, while you continue working. 

You’ll learn how to think critically, manage everyday cases with clarity, and develop the mindset to navigate clinical complexity with confidence. 

Designed for the Future of Clinical Decision-Making 

Today’s veterinarians need more than just medical knowledge - they need tools to stay calm under pressure and make sound decisions in unpredictable situations. This program draws on high-performance training methods used by NASA, aviation, and emergency services, blending them with innovative veterinary education to help you thrive in complex, real-life scenarios. 

Tools like Error Management Training (EMT), Reverse Engineering of the Clinical Case, and SHOR (Scan, Hone, Organize, Respond) will help you build strategic thinking, resilience, situational awareness and real clinical leadership. 

 

Reimagined with your Feedback 

We’ve moved beyond outdated, body-system-based learning. Instead, the program takes a Problem-Oriented Medicine approach - starting with clinical signs and working logically through diagnostics and treatment planning. The course blends modular learning, expert mentorship, and interactive content to replace passive CE with a truly engaging, career-advancing experience. 

Secure your place

Hear what our delegates have to say

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

Dr Rob Clark

Dr Rob Clark

DVM CCRT

Improve Veterinary Education's Small Animal Surgery certificate gives veterinarians the skills to take on more challenging surgical cases. Finding a resource that offers practitioners both practical experiences, and the knowledge behind more c … Read more

Dr Gillian Marsh

Dr Gillian Marsh

DVM, GPCert (SAS)

I am an associate veterinarian working in an emergency hospital in Canada who has always had a strong passion for surgery. I have been in practice for 10 years now and I am always on the lookout for high quality CE opportunities, and I was very ex … Read more

Key features of this program

Problem Oriented Learning

Learn through real-life small animal medicine cases based on presenting problems, not body systems, to reflect the way cases unfold in everyday practice.

Active Learning Design

Draw from the best in high-stakes professions. Risk management from NASA, decision-making under stress from air traffic control, and situational awareness from New York firefighters — all adapted to veterinary clinical practice.

Personalized Expert Mentorship

One-on-one feedback from your mentor, continuous guidance from your coordinator, and a safe space to ask anything, anytime and anonymously.

Advanced AI Medical Simulator

Trains veterinarians to master emotional, ethical, and clinical communication in realistic, high-pressure scenarios with clients and colleagues.

Error Management Training (EMT)

Learn from mistakes in complex scenarios to build self-awareness, resilience, and confidence under pressure.

Reverse Engineering of the Clinical Case

Strengthen strategic clinical thinking by working backwards from outcomes, a method inspired by NASA and leading medical schools.

Visual Synthesis Challenge

Create structured visual summaries to clarify decision-making and refine clinical logic.

"How Would You Improve It?"

Critically assess flawed clinical examples and propose improvements to enhance daily diagnostic quality.

Clinical Visual Analysis

Interpret diagnostic images with guided questions and expert comparisons to boost clinical accuracy.

Active Checklists

Use practical guides for real tasks, upload results, and receive feedback to improve real-life clinical execution.

Consensus & Controversies

Evaluate current literature, identify grey areas, and apply evidence-based thinking beyond standard protocols.

Clinical Debate & Communication

Build arguments, defend decisions, and practise communicating with colleagues and clients under uncertainty.

Superior Learning Resources

As well as our online interactive case materials, access to the RCVS Knowledge Library. You will also receive an ebook: The Improve International Manual of Clinical Small Animal Internal Medicine, Volumes 1 and 2.

Program details

Module Summary

13 Online sessions
01 - Clinical reasoning and decision-making under uncertainty
E-learning
November 2026
Online

At the end of this module, candidates should be able to:

  • Define clinical reasoning and explain its fundamental role in everyday veterinary practice.
  • Distinguish between Type 1 (intuitive) and Type 2 (analytical) thinking, and describe when each is typically engaged in clinical decision-making.
  • Identify the most common cognitive biases in veterinary medicine and explain how they can distort clinical judgement.
  • Apply practical strategies to mitigate cognitive biases and interrupt flawed automatic reasoning during consultations.
  • Evaluate the nature and causes of clinical errors and articulate how they can be used constructively as learning opportunities.
  • Use the Problem-Oriented Medical (POM) approach to systematically identify, assess, and manage multiple concurrent clinical issues.
  • Design a structure for clinical cases using the SOAP format to enhance reasoning clarity, communication, and continuity of care.
  • Conduct a cognitive autopsy of a clinical case to identify key reasoning failures and propose alternative approaches.
  • Integrate structured decision-making tools such as checklists and cognitive pauses into routine practice to enhance diagnostic accuracy.
  • Critically reflect on their own clinical decisions and demonstrate awareness of uncertainty as a natural and manageable element of veterinary care.
    • Jana Raessler
    02 - Becoming a competent clinician – mastering diagnostic tests
    E-learning
    December 2026
    Online

    At the end of this module, candidates should be able to:

  • Justify the appropriate selection of diagnostic tests based on clinical context and patient presentation.
  • Interpret blood smears, recognising normal findings, common artefacts, and pathological changes.
  • Analyse and interpret results from biochemical testing to support clinical decision-making.
  • Evaluate cytological samples to distinguish inflammatory, infectious, and neoplastic processes, identifying limitations in cytological interpretation and determining when further diagnostics, such as biopsies, are indicated.
  • Conduct appropriate sampling and submission for microbiological culture, while applying preventive medicine principles, including vaccination risk assessment, infection control and strategies to reduce infectious disease transmission.
  • Interpret culture and sensitivity results critically, integrating them into rational antimicrobial therapy, antimicrobial stewardship and One Health decision-making to reduce unnecessary antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance.
  • Apply the technical and interpretive skills required to obtain and analyse thoracic and abdominal radiographs and point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS).
  • Recognise key ECG patterns and artefacts and justify when ECG findings warrant clinical intervention.
  • Apply safe and effective techniques for placement and management of feeding tubes (NG, NE, oesophagostomy), including nutritional planning.
  • Integrate clinical nutrition into case management, including assessment of caloric needs, dietary selection, and management of obesity.
    • Silvia Funes DVM, ACVIM
    03 - How to evaluate, diagnose, treat, and monitor the patient with vomiting
    E-learning
    January 2027
    Online

    At the end of this module, candidates should be able to:

  • Differentiate vomiting from regurgitation in dogs and cats based on clinical history, physical examination, and diagnostic testing.
  • Generate a prioritised differential diagnosis list for acute vomiting, incorporating patient signalment and clinical features.
  • Formulate a structured diagnostic and management plan for patients presenting with vomiting, considering both outpatient and hospital-based approaches.
  • Interpret haematological and biochemical abnormalities in the context of vomiting and use them to refine diagnostic hypotheses.
  • Identify common causes of gastric ulceration in small animals and design appropriate treatment protocols.
  • Integrate clinical history, presentation and diagnostic test findings to identify gastric and intestinal foreign bodies and formulate appropriate management and monitoring plans.
  • Evaluate the role of abdominal point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in the assessment of vomiting patients, including its indications and limitations.
  • Recognise clinical signs suggestive of toxicological exposure and select appropriate diagnostics to confirm or exclude toxicity as a differential.
  • Devise an evidence-based treatment plan for common toxin ingestions in dogs and cats, considering stabilisation and specific antidotes where applicable.
  • Identify when vomiting may be a manifestation of systemic disease (e.g., Addisonian crisis) and adjust diagnostic priorities accordingly.
    • Silvia Funes DVM, ACVIM
    04 - How to evaluate, diagnose, treat, and monitor the patient with diarrhoea
    E-learning
    February 2027
    Online

    At the end of this module, candidates should be able to:

  • Distinguish between small and large intestinal diarrhoea based on clinical signs, physical examination, and diagnostic findings.
  • Generate differential diagnoses for acute diarrhoea in dogs and cats, categorising by anatomical localisation and disease mechanism.
  • Explain the pathophysiology and clinical implications of chronic enteropathy and dysbiosis, and outline evidence-based therapeutic options.
  • Formulate a stepwise diagnostic and treatment plan for acute and chronic diarrhoea, adapting to case complexity and resource availability.
  • Interpret gastrointestinal-specific biomarker and serological tests and assess their utility in clinical decision-making.
  • Appraise common pharmacological agents used in gastrointestinal disease, including mechanisms of action, indications, and side effects.
  • Evaluate parasitological and bacteriological faecal findings and integrate them into appropriate treatment decisions.
  • Develop treatment plans for protozoal infections such as Giardia and Tritrichomonas in cats and dogs.
  • Incorporate nutritional strategies into the management of patients with diarrhoea, including diet selection and feeding approaches.
  • Identify when diarrhoea may be secondary to extra-intestinal diseases and adjust the diagnostic strategy accordingly.
    • Florent Duplan DMV MSc AFHEA DipECVIM -CA (Internal medicine) MRCVS
    05 - How to evaluate, diagnose, treat, and monitor the patient with polyuria/polydipsia
    E-learning
    March 2027
    Online

    At the end of this module, candidates should be able to:

  • Formulate a structured diagnostic plan for dogs and cats presenting with polyuria and polydipsia, including appropriate prioritisation of differential diagnoses.
  • Interpret the results of diagnostic tests used in the evaluation of polyuria and polydipsia, including urinalysis, serum biochemistry, and endocrine assays.
  • Evaluate the clinical and diagnostic findings of acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease in dogs and cats presenting with polyuria and polydipsia and formulate appropriate treatment and monitoring plans.
  • Design a comprehensive treatment and monitoring plan for canine and feline patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, including insulin therapy and dietary modification.
  • Recognise the clinical signs of diabetic ketoacidosis and outline an emergency stabilisation and treatment protocol.
  • Describe the clinical presentation and initial management of hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic states in small animals.
  • Interpret test results and clinical features used in the diagnosis of hyperadrenocorticism, compare diagnostic strategies and evaluate treatment options, considering drug mechanisms, patient safety, and long-term follow-up.
  • Describe the clinical features and diagnostic approach to feline hyperaldosteronism and explain its relevance to polyuria and polydipsia.
  • Evaluate treatment options for feline hyperthyroidism and describe how comorbidities influence therapeutic decisions.
  • Appraise the common dermatological and ophthalmological manifestations of systemic disease in dogs and cats and integrate these findings into clinical reasoning.
    • Alaina Moon DMV, Diplomate ACVIM (Small Animal Internal Medicine)
    06 - How to evaluate, diagnose, treat, and monitor the patient with stranguria, haematuria, dysuria and urinary incontinence
    E-learning
    April 2027
    Online

    At the end of this module, candidates should be able to:

  • Formulate a structured diagnostic plan for patients presenting with stranguria, haematuria, dysuria, or urinary incontinence.
  • Identify and differentiate the clinical signs and diagnostic features of common lower urinary tract disorders, including urinary tract infections and feline idiopathic cystitis.
  • Design appropriate diagnostic and management strategies for urolithiasis, including struvite and calcium oxalate stones.
  • Interpret urine culture results and distinguish between contamination, asymptomatic bacteriuria, and true infection.
  • Evaluate the causes and treatment options for urinary incontinence in dogs and cats, including urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence (USMI) and ectopic ureters.
  • Recognise the clinical presentation of canine prostatic disease and formulate a diagnostic and treatment plan.
  • Interpret clinical findings indicative of lower urinary tract neoplasia and propose evidence-based management strategies.
  • Create an emergency and long-term treatment plan for feline ureteric obstruction.
  • Integrate principles of antimicrobial stewardship when managing recurrent or complicated urinary tract infections.
  • Justify the use of advanced imaging techniques in complex or recurrent cases of lower urinary tract disease.
    • Kathrina Mathews
    07 - How to evaluate, diagnose, treat, and monitor the patient with abdominal distension or acute abdomen
    E-learning
    May 2027
    Online

    At the end of this module, candidates should be able to:

  • Construct a differential diagnosis list for abdominal distension based on clinical examination and diagnostic imaging findings.
  • Distinguish between different types of abdominal effusion (transudate, modified transudate, exudate, haemorrhagic, chylous) and integrate them into diagnostic planning.
  • Recognise the clinical presentation and emergency management principles of haemoperitoneum in dogs and cats.
  • Identify the clinical features and develop a stabilisation and treatment plan for gastrointestinal obstruction, including foreign bodies.
  • Formulate a diagnostic and therapeutic plan for dogs and cats with suspected acute pancreatitis, incorporating supportive and nutritional care.
  • Interpret imaging findings (radiography and abdominal ultrasound) in cases of abdominal distension and acute abdomen.
  • Develop emergency triage and fluid resuscitation protocols for patients presenting with shock secondary to abdominal pathology.
  • Evaluate the diagnostic and clinical implications of protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) in dogs and cats presenting with abdominal distension.
  • Recognise the abdominal form of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) and differentiate it from other causes of effusion.
  • Design appropriate follow-up and monitoring strategies for patients recovering from acute abdominal conditions, integrating imaging and laboratory findings.
    • Emilia Terradas Crespo DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVECC
    08 - How to evaluate, diagnose, treat, and monitor the patient with weakness, pallor, or jaundice
    E-learning
    June 2027
    Online

    At the end of this module, candidates should be able to:

  • Interpret red blood cell morphology and complete blood count data to distinguish between regenerative and non-regenerative anaemia.
  • Recognise the clinical and laboratory features of immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia (IMHA) and formulate a diagnostic and treatment plan.
  • Identify the indications and protocols for blood transfusions in small animals, including crossmatching and transfusion reactions.
  • Recognise the clinical signs and differentiate the causes of thrombocytopenia and other coagulopathies and justify appropriate diagnostic and evidence-based therapeutic approaches.
  • Describe the clinical approach to immune-mediated polyarthritis and thrombocytopenia, including appropriate use of immunosuppressive therapy.
  • Identify key infectious agents that may cause anaemia or jaundice in small animals (e.g., haemoplasma, Ehrlichia, FIP) and propose diagnostic and management strategies.
  • Develop a structured approach to the diagnosis and management of jaundice, including hepatobiliary and haemolytic differentials.
  • Compare and contrast immunosuppressive medications used in the treatment of immune-mediated diseases, including their mechanisms and side effects.
  • Construct a monitoring and long-term management plan for patients diagnosed with immune-mediated or infectious haematological conditions.
  • Describe the pathophysiology and clinical relevance of hepatic lipidosis in cats and develop a management plan.
    • Alaina Moon DMV, Diplomate ACVIM (Small Animal Internal Medicine)
    09 - How to evaluate, diagnose, treat, and monitor the patient with anorexia
    E-learning
    July 2027
    Online

    At the end of this module, candidates should be able to:

  • Identify anorexia as a non-specific but clinically significant sign and construct a problem-oriented differential diagnosis list across multiple organ systems.
  • Perform a structured clinical evaluation of the anorexic patient, integrating signalment, history, and physical findings to prioritise diagnostic hypotheses.
  • Explain the diagnostic approach and long-term treatment for hypothyroidism in dogs, including common diagnostic pitfalls and the systemic impact of the condition.
  • Evaluate the clinical and diagnostic findings associated with feline pancreatitis and integrate these into the investigation and management of the anorexic cat.
  • Assess the impact of anorexia in patients with systemic disease, including renal, hepatic, pancreatic and neoplastic conditions.
  • Evaluate the indications for assisted nutritional support in anorexic patients and justify the selection of appropriate feeding strategies according to the underlying disease process and clinical status.
  • Justify the use of feeding tubes (NG, NE, or oesophagostomy) in the management of anorexia and outline placement techniques and complication management.
  • Construct an appropriate nutritional plan for anorexic patients, including calculating caloric needs and selecting suitable diets.
  • Identify clinical and laboratory features of anaemia-induced anorexia and integrate this into diagnostic planning.
  • Recognise anorexia as an early sign of systemic deterioration and adjust monitoring and intervention accordingly.
    • Valerie Parker DVM, DACVIM (SAIM & Nutrition)
    10 - How to evaluate, diagnose, treat, and monitor the patient with a cough or dyspnoea
    E-learning
    August 2027
    Online

    At the end of this module, candidates should be able to:

  • Outline a structured diagnostic approach to dogs and cats presenting with cough, dyspnoea, or exercise intolerance, incorporating history, physical examination, diagnostic imaging, and differentiation between respiratory and cardiac disease.
  • Differentiate between upper airway, lower airway, parenchymal, pleural, mediastinal and cardiac disorders based on clinical presentation and diagnostic imaging findings.
  • Interpret thoracic radiographs and point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) findings relevant to respiratory disease in dogs and cats.
  • Develop diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for common respiratory and cardiac conditions including tracheal collapse, feline asthma, chronic bronchitis, myxomatous mitral valve disease, dilated cardiomyopathy, and feline cardiomyopathies.
  • Construct a bronchoalveolar lavage protocol and explain its indications, technique, and limitations.
  • Identify clinical features of pleural space disease and formulate a diagnostic plan to differentiate between effusion types and pneumothorax.
  • Recognise the clinical signs of mediastinal disease and integrate imaging findings into diagnostic reasoning.
  • Formulate an emergency management plan for the dyspnoeic patient, including oxygen therapy and stabilisation techniques.
  • Evaluate infectious causes of respiratory disease, such as canine infectious respiratory disease complex and feline upper respiratory tract infections.
  • Justify antimicrobial use in respiratory disease cases in line with antimicrobial stewardship principles.
    • Rodolfo Oliveira Leal DVM, MIMV, PhD, Dipl.ECVIM-CA (Internal Medicine)
    11 - How to evaluate, diagnose, treat, and monitor the patient with ataxia or seizures
    E-learning
    September 2027
    Online

    At the end of this module, candidates should be able to:

  • Perform a neurological examination in dogs and cats and interpret deficits to localise the neurological lesion.
  • Evaluate the clinical presentation of patients with seizures or ataxia to construct a prioritised differential diagnosis, justify diagnostic test selection, and interpret findings to reach a diagnosis
  • Formulate an evidence-based treatment plan for status epilepticus, including drug selection, monitoring, and emergency stabilisation.
  • Develop a long-term management plan for patients with epilepsy, considering drug side effects, patient-specific factors, and owner communication.
  • Differentiate between central and peripheral vestibular disease and prioritise diagnostic differentials accordingly.
  • Distinguish seizure from syncope based on history and clinical features and develop an appropriate diagnostic pathway.
  • Recognise infectious and inflammatory diseases that may cause neurological signs in dogs and cats, including toxoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, and FIP.
  • Identify clinical signs and appropriate management strategies for hepatic encephalopathy and describe its relationship to neurological dysfunction.
  • Interpret the clinical features of toxicological neurological presentations and evaluate appropriate treatment options for common toxins.
  • Evaluate the clinical presentation, diagnostic investigation, and management of common neuromuscular disorders in dogs and cats, including diseases of the neuromuscular junction.
    • Simon Platt BVM&S, Diplomate ACVIM (Neurology), Diplomate ECVN, FRCVS RCVS Recognized Specialist of Veterinary Neurology, Professor of Neurology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia
    12 - How to evaluate, diagnose, treat, and monitor the patient with a mass or suspected neoplasia
    E-learning
    October 2027
    Online

    At the end of this module, candidates should be able to:

  • Perform fine needle aspiration (FNA) of suspected neoplastic lesions and interpret cytological findings to distinguish between inflammatory and neoplastic processes.
  • Classify cytological patterns (round cell, epithelial, mesenchymal) and evaluate features of malignancy versus benignity.
  • Appraise the principles and clinical importance of tumour staging, and justify staging decisions based on case scenarios.
  • Evaluate the clinical presentation, diagnostic pathway, and treatment considerations for common neoplasms such as mast cell tumours and lymphoma.
  • Design an evidence-based chemotherapy protocol for small animal patients, incorporating drug selection, dosing, side effect management, and monitoring.
  • Recognise safety risks in chemotherapy administration and implement protocols to protect veterinary staff and patients.
  • Interpret clinical signs and diagnostic results supportive of a diagnosis of lower urinary tract neoplasia and outline treatment options.
  • Analyse the role of palliative care and quality-of-life considerations in patients with incurable neoplasia.
  • Evaluate the impact of neoplastic disease on systemic health and integrate supportive care, including nutrition and analgesia.
  • Communicate prognosis and treatment options effectively with pet owners, considering ethical implications and client expectations.
    • Juan Carlos Serra DVM, Dip ECVIM (Onc), MRCVS
    13 - Bonus module - the art of the consultation
    E-learning
    November 2027
    Online

    Key learning objectives:

    • Communicate effectively with clients and veterinary team members across different personality types, emotional contexts and clinical scenarios.

    • Use active listening and emotional self-regulation during high-pressure consultations.

    • Recognise occupational stress and burnout and apply strategies to support resilience and wellbeing.

    • Use the Conversational AI simulator to practise complex or emotionally charged consultations.

    • Reflect on the psychological demands of internal medicine practice and develop sustainable habits for long-term wellbeing and clinical performance.

    To be confirmed

    Qualifications

    General Practitioner Certificate (GPCert)

    This course is accredited by ISVPS and allows you to achieve a General Practitioner Certificate

    Read more

    Upon successful completion of the full structured program and its assessments, you will be awarded the ISVPS General Practitioner Certificate (GPCert) by the International School of Veterinary Postgraduate Studies. You will also receive the GPCert(SAM) designation, a personalized certificate, and inclusion in the ISVPS register of certified General Practitioners.

     

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