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Preview VMX 2026: Inside the World’s Most Comprehensive Veterinary Conference

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VMX

Preview VMX 2026: Inside the World’s Most Comprehensive Veterinary Conference

VMX 2026 Program Now Live: “World Classic – Celebrating the Champions of Care” Offers 1,200 Hours of Continuing Education for Veterinary Professionals

Press Registration Now Open for the Veterinary Industry’s Premier Global Educational Conference

Set to the theme of World Classic – Celebrating the Champions of Care, the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) launches the program this week for VMX 2026. The world’s largest and most comprehensive educational veterinary conference, and the first veterinary event of the year, VMX 2026 will take place January 17–21 in Orlando, FL and virtually worldwide. VMX 2026 is set to deliver first-class programming that spans veterinary care for species of nearly every kind from around the globe and showcase the latest innovations shaping the industry in the year ahead.

VMX

Building on record-breaking momentum from VMX 2025 — where nearly 30,000 attendees from 87 countries and 712 exhibitors gathered to set a new standard for veterinary education and engagement — VMX 2026 returns with a bold and inspiring theme — World Classic. This year’s program raises the bar for a high-energy, globally minded conference that honors the care, dedication, passion and performance of veterinary professionals.

“Our veterinary professionals embody everything it means to be world-class. Like true champions, they rise to challenges with courage and heart – delivering gold-level care to the animals we love,” said Gene O’Neill, NAVC CEO. “VMX 2026: World Classic will celebrate the passion, precision and perseverance they bring to their work every day. We can’t wait to welcome our veterinary community back to Orlando in January 2026 for our most exciting conference yet.”

Extensive CE Sessions

The VMX 2026 program, which is live this week, features 1,200 hours of CE and hundreds of program tracks happening throughout the five-day event. Veterinary professionals from around the globe can “go for the gold” with world-class continuing education, hands-on workshops, behind-the-scenes tours, masterclasses and unforgettable experiences. Sessions that are open to veterinarians, veterinary nurses/technicians and practice managers span a plethora of topics including: medical breakthroughs, new tools and technologies, best practices for veterinary practices, and more. A snapshot of VMX 2026 sessions includes: 

Small Animal Health

  • Navigating the Teenage Dog: Understanding and Supporting Canine Adolescents
  • You Got To Be Kitten Me: Orthopedic Disease in Cats
  • Anorexia in Small Rodents: It’s Not a Small Problem
  • Flatline to Fibrillation: Managing Arrest Rhythms During CPR            

Large Animal Health

  • Standing Sedation in the Horse: An Anesthesiologist’s Perspective
  • Better Living Through Chemistry When Things Get a Bit Too Western in Livestock
  • Behavior and Welfare Considerations for Managing Impaired Cattle 

Exotic Animal Health

  • Exotic Animal Triage and Common Appointment Presentations
  • Why Did the Turtle Cross the Road: Management of Traumatic Injuries in Chelonians
  • The Packed Cell Volume Is How Low? Importance of Blood Transfusions in Reptiles

Zoo and Aquatic Animal Health

  • Vet Techs to the Rescue: Navigating the Deep End of Aquatic Sedation and Anesthetic Procedures
  • Cheetah Conservation
  • What’s in the Box: Unexpected Rapid Fire Wildlife Cases 

Treating Toxins:

  • Urban Legends in Toxicology: Exploring the Myths and Realities of Potential Toxins in the Veterinary Patient          
  • Poultry Toxins: What They Eat When You’re Not Looking
  • Ingested Toxins in Birds: Polly Ate More Than a Cracker… 

Practice Management:

  • Leveraging AI for Enhanced Efficiency
  • Low-Cost Clinics: Supporting Access to Care in the Real World
  • Trying To Keep Rural Veterinary Practice: A New Perspective on an Old Profession
  • Front Desk, Front Lines: How CSRs Drive Practice Growth and Marketing 

Press Registration Now Open

Credentialed members of the media may attend VMX 2026 for free, either in person or virtually. Journalists will have exclusive access to interview world-renowned veterinary experts, explore the latest innovations in veterinary care, and cover key topics. To register and attend as a member of the press or to schedule one-on-one interviews with the experts about the latest in veterinary medicine, in advance of VMX 2026, please contact publicrelations@navc.com.

Veterinary professionals can secure their spot at VMX 2026 with Early Bird rates now available at $125 per person. This year also marks the return of the NAVC’s exclusive Lion Club registration tier. Launched in 2025 as an innovative, industry-first offering for the veterinary community, the Lion Club registration is designed for those seeking a champion’s experience. This includes premium perks such as priority access to sessions and entertainment, lunch vouchers and elevated experiences throughout the event, including exclusive access to the VIP Lion Club Lounge for the attendee and a guest.

Veterinary and veterinary nurse/technician students, as always, may attend for free. Guest registration is also available. VMX Virtual will also take place. Click here for VMX 2026 registration.

About the NAVC

The North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and advancing veterinary professionals worldwide. As the world’s leading provider of veterinary continuing education, the NAVC delivers essential training, tools and resources for veterinary professionals to stay abreast of advances in animal medicine and provide the best care for animals everywhere. Through its commitment to innovation and excellence, the NAVC has developed a diverse portfolio of products and services, including: educational events, headlined by VMX (Veterinary Meeting & Expo), the world’s largest, most comprehensive continuing education conference and launchpad for new products and innovations within the veterinary industry; VetFolio.com, a robust digital platform for virtual learning and engagement; NAVC Media, the veterinary industry’s largest and award-winning portfolio of trade publications; and Embrace, an advocacy arm which unites the veterinary community and pet lovers. The NAVC was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Orlando, FL. Since 2017, the NAVC has been recognized annually as one of the Top Workplaces by the Orlando Sentinel. To learn more about the NAVC’s products and brands, visit https://navc.com/. To see our schedule of upcoming events, visit https://navc.com/calendar/.

Source: North American Veterinary Community

 

Defying Deafness in Pets

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Deafness in Pets

Being the resilient little creatures they are, pets won’t allow losing their hearing abilities to get them down and neither should you. Animals are intuitive, intelligent beings and if taught with patience and consistency, they can learn from an early age to cope very well with their remaining four senses.

What is Deafness?

Deafness can be either partial or complete loss of your pet’s ability to hear. It’s far more common than you might think and while some animals may sadly be born with this impairment, it can also emerge later in life.

Causes

A loss of hearing in cats and dogs can occur due to the following reasons:

  • Conduction: Inflammation of the ear which hampers sound waves from reaching the nerves in the ears.
  • Nerve-related issues: Elderly pets may endure deterioration to the nerve.
  • Disease: Illnesses such as cancer and trauma may contribute to deafness.
  • Inadequate development: This affects part of the ear where nerve receptors are responsible for hearing, leading to an accumulation of fluid on and resultant damage to certain areas of the brain responsible for hearing.
  • Drugs ad Toxins: Administration of certain drugs such as antiseptics, chemotherapy and antibiotics can cause hearing impairments.
  • Genetics: Some breeds of canines are more susceptible to hearing loss, such as German Shepherds, Dalmatians, Cocker Spaniels and Boston Terriers, amongst others.

Symptoms

Watch out for the following indicators associated with hearing loss in pets:

  • gradually becoming unresponsive to sounds
  • stops responding to their name
  • seems to be unaware of loud sounds in their surroundings

As soon as you notice any of the above symptoms, it is best to consult your vet immediately.

Diagnosis

Deafness in puppies and kittens maybe a consequence of hereditary defects however, diagnosis in older animals would usually be based on identifying the underlying causes such as cancer and inflammation. Hearing tests and bacterial cultures are the most common diagnostic tools used to measure the onset of hearing loss.

Treatment

While deafness at birth is unfortunately irreversible, medical or surgical treatment methods can be prescribed depending on the extent of inflammation. Your vet may also recommend a special hearing aid for your pet. Ensure that you follow the treatment plan provided by your vet for addressing hearing loss caused by inflammation and restrict your pet’s physical activities during this treatment period. 

Helping and Caring for Hearing Impaired Pets

A deaf pet should not have to compromise on their quality of life. As their pet parent, you can play an active role in making your fur child’s life more comfortable and contented by:

  • investing in a secure fence to restrict your pet from venturing outside without your supervision (animals with audible impairments are oblivious to oncoming vehicles and this may have a devastating outcome)
  • employing the use of vibrating collars, leashes as well as tags and microchips which can help you locate your buddy in case they get lost
  • ensuring they have a tag on their collar saying, “I’m Deaf”.
  • informing others in your neighbourhood about your pet’s hearing impediment
  • patiently teaching your loyal love non-verbal cues from an early age. While your pet may be hard of hearing, it’s highly likely that their other four senses function at a heightened level to compensate for their hearing impairment. This makes them extremely alert and responsive to people’s body gestures for visual and tactile prompts, such as:
    • getting their attention by waving your hand or aiming a flashlight in their direction (avoiding the eyes) if they aren’t looking at you
    • using touching cues to catch their attention by gently pulling on their leash or softly touching their back
    • making full use of your facial expressions as pets are incredibly intuitive at reading faces. If you’re pleased with them, smile. If not, frown. That’s all it takes for them to get the picture.
    • With this said, never alarm your pet, especially whilst sleeping. Pets with hearing impairments have especially sensitive skin and are incredibly responsive to vibrations. Firmly stomping on the floor or a gentle caress on their body should be able to wake them peacefully.
  • patiently teaching your pet sign language or hand gestures from an early age, so you are prepared to communicate with them throughout their lives without relying on verbal cues, whether they are hearing impaired or not. These cues can be taught by:
    • demonstrating the action, such as tapping their back
    • drawing their interest with a treat, moving it to their nose and up to your eyes to encourage them to make eye contact with you
    • signalling your positive reinforcement sign once eye contact is made and treat your pet for their successful efforts. Treats can eventually be phased out once they’ve got the knack of a particular signal.
    • ensuring each family member is trained to use consistent signals so not to confuse your pet. It’s highly recommended to use the service of a qualified trainer to better equip you, your family and of course, your precious fur baby with the tools to ensure you make the best of your pet’s disability.

Written for inFURmation
by Taliah Williamson