Elanco Lunch Symposia
Thursday April 30 | 12:45 – 13:45
Grand Ballroom 5
Expanding the Modern Toolkit: A Comprehensive Portfolio Approach to Canine Atopy
Canine atopic dermatitis is a chronic disease that requires thoughtful and flexible long-term therapeutic strategies. As our understanding of the disease advances, targeted biologic therapies are creating new opportunities to improve outcomes for dogs and their owners. In this session, we will introduce a new monoclonal antibody for the management of pruritus and canine atopic dermatitis. Attendees will gain an understanding of how this new therapy provides veterinarians an additional choice to help control pruritus and support long-term disease management. Additionally, we will discuss our comprehensive therapeutic portfolio that supports care across the full spectrum of atopic disease. By combining our new monoclonal antibody with a robust therapeutic portfolio and a strong commitment to education we aim to advance the standard of care for canine atopic dermatitis.
Merck Animal Health Lunch Symposia
Thursday April 30 | 12:45 – 13:45
Grand Ballroom 6
Numelvi: The Future of Itch Relief
Christine McKinney, DVM, DACVD
Allergic skin disease remains one of the most common and frustrating conditions in small animal practice, and treatment failures can have a negative impact on the overall success of the practice, as well as relationships with pet owners. This lecture will provide a review of management of allergic dermatitis in dogs, including flea allergy dermatitis, adverse food reaction, and atopic dermatitis, and compare currently available treatment options. We will take a detailed look at Numelvi, Merck Animal Health’s new JAK inhibitor for the treatment of allergic dermatitis in dogs, including its mechanism of action, clinical indications, safety profile, and integration into existing treatment protocols.
Ceva Lunch Symposia
Friday May 1 | 12:45 – 13:45
Grand Ballroom 6
Clear the Ear: Optimizing the Management of Otitis Externa
Melissa Hall, DVM, DACVD
Clear the Ear: Optimizing the Management of Otitis Externa” provides a practical and clinically focused review of effective strategies for otitis in dogs and cats. The session begins with an overview of anatomy, then explores a diagnostic approach to otitis externa, including cytology, identifying underlying causes, and recognizing complicating factors. The presentation highlights why appropriate ear cleaning is essential for resolving inflammation, improving medication penetration, and limiting recurrence. Evidence‑based treatments will be presented including in-hospital and pet owner procedures, topical therapies, and systemic medications. The session concludes with actionable clinical pearls to enhance your treatment of these patients in your own practice.
Nextmune Lunch Symposia
Friday May 1 | 12:45 – 13:45
Grand Ballroom 5
Food Fight! Re-Examining Accuracy in Serum Testing for Food Allergy
Valerie Fadok, DVM, PhD, Dip ACVD, Consulting Veterinary Dermatologist, Denver, Colorado
Thierry Olivry, Dr. Vet, PhD, DACVD, ECVD, Nextmune Head of R&D, Stockholm, Sweden
Galia Sheinberg, MVZ, ESP, DLACVD, Dermatología Especializada Centro Veterinario, Mexico City, Mexico
Martha G. Cline, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition), Senior Manager Veterinary Technical Communications, Nestle Purina PetCare
A panel discussion around advances in serum allergy testing for IgE sensitizations to foods. The panel will discuss the history of serum allergy testing for foods, the technologies available today, and the panelists’ current mindset around handling food allergy testing. By connecting the historical with present capabilities and future directions, this symposium will
provide attendees with practical insights and a forward-looking framework for applying serum food allergy testing responsibly and effectively in clinical practice. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how evolving technology can enhance diagnostic confidence while improving patient outcomes.
Hill’s Lunch Symposia
Saturday May 2 | 12:45 – 13:45
Grand Ballroom 5
Maximizing Multimodal Therapy
Sara J. Ramos, DVM DACVD
This one-hour seminar will encompass a review of the importance of multimodal therapy in atopic patients. The current definitions of canine atopic dermatitis and feline atopic syndrome will be covered with a brief review of pathogenesis focusing on canine atopic dermatitis. The goal of this seminar is to provide updated content to attendees on how to recognize, diagnose and properly treat atopic patients using a multimodal approach.
Learning objectives:
Review the definition of canine atopic dermatitis and feline atopic syndrome.
Briefly review the pathogenesis of canine atopic dermatitis.
Learn how to implement and communicate with owners the importance of a multimodal approach in atopic patients.
Zoetis Lunch Symposia
Saturday May 2 | 12:45 – 13:45
Grand Ballroom 6
Pioneers of Change: Charting New Territories in Allergy Therapeutics
Dr. Jenny Schissler – Zoetis
Dr. Nikki Thellman – Zoetis
Dr. Elizabeth Capitano – Zoetis
Zoetis scientists and clinicians will present an expert panel discussion tracing the scientific journey that reshaped the management of canine allergic disease. From the discovery of IL-31 and the development of monoclonal antibody therapy to the first veterinary selective JAK inhibitor in veterinary medicine. Through moderated discussion and supporting data, panelists will explore the translational science behind the development of Cytopoint and Apoquel, highlighting the role of monoclonal antibody engineering, JAK selectivity, and real-world pharmacovigilance data in shaping effective and safe therapies for dogs with allergic dermatitis. The session will emphasize Zoetis’ pioneering contributions to veterinary dermatology while providing clinicians, residents, and researchers with practical insights into interpreting in vitro and in vivo data, the importance of long-term safety and compliance, and the future direction of targeted immunologic therapies in companion animal medicine.
