vetprac

FAST ULTRASOUND & BASIC ECHO

June 28, 2025

Brisbane Airport Conference Centre

CPD points: NSW 12.5
Other 8

scotty dog website image

Did you know that ultrasound is more sensitive in detecting pleural effusion and pneumothorax than radiography?

Fluid scores and B lines are not just for emergency vets. If you see trauma, perform surgery or deal with internal medicine cases, then you and your patients can benefit from ultrasound using focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) views of the abdomen and thorax. These ultrasound skills will change the way you think about diagnostic imaging and allow you to make faster clinical decisions. All general practice, emergency and clinical veterinarians are welcome, and no previous ultrasound experience is necessary.

GOT AN ULTRASOUND MACHINE?

Use it to get critical answers, FAST.

As a participant in this workshop, you’ll learn how to use a standard clinic ultrasound set up to get patient-side ultrasound images of the chest, heart and abdomen. You’ll scan a variety of live volunteer demonstration dogs and be able to appreciate healthy-normal images in the locations where trouble sometimes lurks. You’ll also come away from this workshop with an understanding of abnormal findings, and we’ll share which red flags require intervention straight away.

In veterinary practice, we often need answers in a hurry – either because a patient is crashing, or because we have a million other patients awaiting attention. Sound familiar? FAST ultrasound techniques can help you make good clinical decisions under pressure. To help you get across this, we’ve engaged three experienced and practicing emergency veterinarians to show you how to get thoracic and abdominal images that count.

The FAST abdominal scan

  • Rapid screening test for unstable patients & abdominal trauma case
  • Investigate free gas or free fluid
  • Uncover bladder rupture, bile peritonitis, or septic peritonitis

The FAST thoracic scan

  • Rapid screening test for unstable patients, thoracic trauma & respiratory distress
  • Less restraint compared with radiographs & requires no sedation
  • Uncover pleural fluid, pericardial effusion & pneumothorax

Echocardiogram (echo) basics

  • Perform a cardiac FAST scan
  • Assessment of the left atrial to aortic ratio (LA:Ao)
  • Subjective assessment of cardiac contractility and volume status

Ultrasound-guided thoracocentesis using models

With great teaching, any vet can learn these skills in a day.

Our education team is ready to share FAST ultrasound skills with you. Embrace the quick ‘n’ dirty side of ultrasound to increase your clinical scope, get your first cardiac views, and keep current with diagnostic technology and client expectations.

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The workshop is ready …

… just add vets!

Get started with basic echo views and patient-side ultrasound.

Triage & decision making

  • Investigate free fluid in the abdomen or thorax
  • Identify increased fluid in the interstitial and/or alveolar spaces
  • Investigate pneumothorax, pleural effusion & pericardial effusion
  • Learn the pitfalls, artefacts & distractors encountered during FAST scans
  • Determine the next clinical steps

This workshop is for you if…

You’re managing clinical cases & you want to

  • Get answers faster
  • Establish rule-ins & rule-outs
  • Plan your next diagnostic or treatment steps

WHY JOIN A VETPRAC WORKSHOP?

FIND YOUR CONFIDENCE

Ultrasound is fun! Get equipped with the knowledge and skills you need to start integrating patient-side scanning into your practice.

Social network

This is your tribe. Relax with new friends and spend some quality time with people who understand what you do each day.

ENJOY GREAT FOOD

We’ll make sure you’re nourished with healthy food, sweet treats & caffeine, so you can get on with learning new skills.

Hands on experience

It’s all about time on the tools. We prioritise procedures & scanning practice so you have time to see the skills & do the skills with specialist guidance.

Personalised feedback

As a participant, you’ll get real-time feedback on your scanning techniques & positioning, with the chance to refine your approach with experienced practitioners.

Real-world training

Learn in the same way you work. Work together, learn together. We give you clinical context & full support so things make sense when you get back to the clinic.

Workshop Schedule

2025 June Ultrasound AFAST TFAST Final

Your Educators

Dr Adam Whitelock

Qualifications: BVSc(Hons) GC-SAUA MANZCVS (ECC)

Adam graduated as a veterinarian from The University of Queensland (UQ) in 2019 and undertook a rotating internship at UQ while he also worked in emergency practices throughout Brisbane. Throughout his internship he developed a keen interest in critical care, anaesthesia and ultrasound, completing a post-graduate certificate in small animal abdominal ultrasound during this time.

In 2022 Adam began a residency in small animal emergency and critical care at UQ. During his residency, Adam also took on a Master's in Science (anaesthesia and analgesia) and a Doctor of Veterinary Clinical Science developing research interests in vascular ultrasound and equine analgesia.

Sarah Purcell

Dr Sarah Purcell

Qualifications: BVSc (Hons) MANZCVSc MVECC DACVECC

Specialisation: Emergency & Critical Care

Realising her passion for emergency and critical care, in 2012 Sarah moved to Perth to complete a residency in Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care at Murdoch University. During this time she obtained membership to the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Small Animal Surgery, and Small Animal Emergency & Critical Care. Sarah became board certified with the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care in 2015, and completed a Masters of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care in 2016.

Katie Nash

Dr Katie Nash

Qualifications: BVSc MS MANZCVS(ECC) DACVECC

Katie is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care and has worked in the US and Australia in both private and academic practice.

Katie loves breaking complex topics down into digestible pieces and watching staff members and students flourish as they gain knowledge and confidence. Her clinical interests include transfusion medicine, polytrauma, perioperative critical care, mechanical ventilation, and any ‘cool’ case with a chance for a good outcome despite a poor initial prognosis.

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Dr Sarah Stallard

Qualifications: BVSc MACVSC Cert IVUSS

Sarah graduated from the university of Bristol in the UK. She migrated to Australia in 2004, starting off in emergency and critical care and gaining her memberships in 2008. She moved to Cairns, establishing her ultrasound company Mobile Imaging Cairns in 2018. She completed her graduate certificate in abdominal ultrasound from the University of Melbourne and then her certification with the International Veterinary Ultrasound Society (IVUSS) in 2023. She now works at Manly Road 24 Hour Veterinary Hospital in Brisbane.

ONE-TIME INVESTMENT

$1650 

PAYMENT PLAN

x 3 monthly payments of $560

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY
Vet Tech Aus
B.Braun Genia Logo Combo

WHAT OUR PARTICIPANTS SAY…

Your Questions Answered

Are group discounts available?

Absolutely! Work together, learn together, we say. If 3 or more participants register from the same clinic under the same booking, you’ll receive a 5% discount at checkout when you book on our website.

Will I get CPD points and a CPD certificate?

Of course! Each participant will receive a CPD certificate via email. We do this after you’ve provided feedback and the workshop is complete.

What kind of learning materials are included?

Generally, you can choose printed course notes, a digital copy on USB, or both. Everyone gets a printed copy of the procedure guide.

What happens if I pay and then later can’t attend?
  • Transferring or changing registration from one workshop to another will incur a $50 administration fee.
  • Cancellations made up to 45 days prior to the commencement date of the Training Course will incur an administrative fee of 50% of the course investment.
  • Cancellations made up to 7 days prior to the commencement date of the Training Course are not refundable.

Can I pay in instalments, or do you offer payment plans?

Yes! At VetPrac we are pleased to offer payment plans for our online courses and workshops. We want to make it manageable for you to invest in your professional development.

For more information regarding our payment plans, please do not hesitate to contact Ros at [email protected].

What happens if the workshop is cancelled?

If VetPrac cancels any workshops, we will refund your course fees in full. However, VetPrac will not be responsible for any travel, accommodation or any other expenses incurred by you.

Still have questions? We’ve got answers.
Call +61 491 943 260

Still have questions? We’ve got answers.
Call +61 491 943 260