Postgraduate Certificate in Small Animal Soft Tissue Surgery
PgCert. ST Surg. Ifevet
Start date
6th March 2027
Modality
Streaming and Workshops
Credits
University Level 7 30 ECTS (European credits), equivalent to 60 UK credits
Duration
5 months for PgCert
Start date
6th March 2027
Timetable streaming
Saturday, 9 to 18:30 Sunday, 9 to 14:30
Timetable presential
Saturday, 9 to 17:30
Sunday, 9 to 17:30
ECTS Credits
30 ECTS credits
Number of modules
12 modules
Modality
Blended
Number of students
20 students
About this course
This intensive course aims to provide students with theoretical foundations for dealing with the most common soft tissue surgeries in veterinary clinics. The primary objective is for students to develop scientifically grounded work habits with immediate practical application.
The postgraduate program comprises modules with theoretical classes enabling students to systematically approach the basics of soft tissue surgery. At the end of each module, students will gain comprehensive insight into treatment possibilities and approaches to surgical patients. They will be capable of conducting a complete patient assessment, making a differential diagnosis, and planning appropriate diagnostic and treatment procedures. Moreover, they will learn to discern different immediate action scenarios, how to proceed, and most importantly, they will know how to confidently establish the next step.
Why study this course?
- Learn from six world-leading veterinary surgery specialists and diplomates.
- Improve confidence in surgery: each module is taught by one or several specialists or diplomates certified in their respective fields to ensure the highest quality training.
- Create better surgical outcomes: learn practical skills and improved techniques both for complex surgeries and more everyday surgeries such as digital and tail amputation.
- Develop your technique: four days of workshops covering grafting, suture techniques, wound management and complex surgeries such as colposuspension and urethrostomy.
- Progress your career: fast-track PgCert taking 5 months, across 12 modules
- Gain current knowledge for immediate application: livestreamed to allow time to relate lectures to cases, ask questions and interact with experienced clinicians
- Manage your time effectively: livestreams are recorded for flexibility. This intensive course offers the same number of teaching hours as our other PgCerts but teaching takes place over three months rather than six.
Timetable
Livestream lectures run on Saturday, 9.00 -18:30 and Sunday, 9.00 – 14:30.
In-person workshops run on Saturday, 9.00-17.30 and Sunday, 9.00-17.30
If you can’t attend the session, all lectures are recorded to watch on demand.
Nicola Kulendra
BVetMed (Hons), MVetMed CertVDI, PGCert (VetEd), DipECVS FRCVS, EBVS® European Specialist in small animal surgery | Director of Soft Tissue Surgery postgradute course
Andrew Phillips
BVetMed MVetMed DipECVS PGCert Vet Ed FHEA MRCVS, EBVS® European Specialist in small animal surgery
Benito de la Puerta
Ldo CertSAS DipECVS MRCVS, EBVS® European Specialist In Veterinary Surgery And RCVS Specialist In Veterinary Surgery
Date: 6-7th March 2027
Modality: Streaming
Competencies and objectives:
- Establish the fundamentals of soft tissue surgery in small animal clinics.
- Understand the justification of antimicrobials and their impact.
- Recognise the most common instruments, suture patterns, knots and suture materials.
- Understand the fundamentals of peri-operative case management including patient stabilisation and pain scoring.
- Establish oncological surgery principles.
- Define the different types of mass excision.
- Recognise the draining lymph nodes to different areas and how to remove them.
Module Summary:
- Halstead’s principles and their application to clinical practice.
- Haemostasis and blood transfusions.
- Theatre checklists and links to outcome in human surgeries.
- How to suture, suture techniques and choosing the correct material.
- How to tie knots, including slip knot and modified Miller’s knot.
- Perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis and appropriate use of antibiotics.
- Principles of oncologic surgery.
- Wound infections and surgical site infections.
- Patient and surgeon preparation.
- Sustainable surgery.
Speaker: Nicola Kulendra, Heather Williams
Date: 6-7th March 2027
Modality: Streaming
Competencies and objectives:
- Identify the anatomical features of the larynx and how to perform an arytenoid lateralisation procedure.
- Interpret clinical and diagnostic findings to manage oropharyngeal stick injuries and salivary mucocoeles.
- Define the treatment options for sinonasal aspergillosis.
- Recognise the most common indications for ear surgeries and the decision making behind the techniques.
- Recognise the features of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) and the principles of surgery.
Module Summary:
- The nose; rhinoplasty, nasal masses.
- Salivary gland diseases and surgery.
- Management of sinonasal aspergillosis; nasal cannulas and frontal sinus trephination.
- The larynx; laryngeal paralysis, biopsy, laryngeal collapse.
- Ventral neck – exploration for stick injuries, foreign bodies, abscesses.
- Ear – aural haematoma, lateral wall resection, total ear canal ablation and lateral bulla osteotomy, ventral bulla osteotomy.
- BOAS surgery.
Speaker: Zoe Halfacree
Date: 20-21th March 2027
Location: Presential – The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, United Kingdom
Practical day summary:
- Instrument handling.
- How to suture: intradermals, continuous.
- Different knots: sliding, Modified Millers, Aberdeen.
- How to drain a chest.
- Mila chest drain.
- Oesophagostomy tube.
- Naso-oesophageal feeding tube.
- Urethral catheter.
- Cystostomy tube.
- Gastrostomy tube.
Speaker: Nicola Kulendra
Date: 20-21th March 2027
Loocation: Presential – The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, United Kingdom
Practical day summary
- BOAS surgery.
- Lip resection.
- Salivary mucocoele.
- Aural haematoma.
- Pinnectomy.
- TECA-LBO.
- Ventral neck exploration.
- Thyroidectom.
Speaker: Zoe Halfacree
Date: 10-11st April 2027
Modality: Streaming
Competencies and objectives:
- Identify features of the gastrointestinal tract and how to improve the outcome for patients.
- Recognise the diagnostic imaging features of common gastrointestinal conditions.
- Understand common indications for gastrointestinal surgery and surgical techniques.
- Define the underlying causes, diagnosis and treatment of septic peritonitis.
- Understand the pathophysiology of portosystemic shunts and surgical management.
- Diagnose and manage a haemoabdomen and understand the principles behind splenectomy.
- Identify a cleft palate and principles of surgical repair.
Module Summary:
- Factors affecting healing of the gastrointestinal tract.
- How to perform a gastrotomy, gastrectomy, enterotomy, enterectomy, biopsy and rectal eversion.
- Diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal foreign bodies, intussusception and neoplasia.
- Diagnosis and management of septic peritonitis.
- GDV: patient stabilisation, diagnosis and management.
- Colonic surgery.
- Rectal masses.
- Portosystemic shunts.
- Perineal hernia.
Speaker: Andrew Phillips
Date: 10-11st April 2027
Modality: Streaming
Competencies and objectives:
- Understand the diagnosis and differentials for haemabdomen.
- Identify the blood vessels to the spleen and techniques of how to perform a splenectomy.
- Understand the anatomy of the abdominal wall and types of body wall ruptures and hernias.
- Define the indications and surgical techniques for types of amputations, diaphragmatic and body wall ruptures and hernias.
Module Summary:
- Haemaoabdomen principles and splenectomy.
- Principles of herniorrhaphy including common hernias.
- Diaphragmatic hernias.
- Amputations: digit, tail, front limb, hind lim.
Speaker: Zoe Halfacree
Date: 24-25th April 2027
Location:Presential – The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, United Kingdom
Practical day summary:
- Exploratory laparotomy.
- Gastrotomy.
- Gastrectomy.
- Enterotomy.
- Enterectomy (simple vs caudal duodenal flexure/iliocaecocolic valve).
- Biopsy techniques (stomach, intestine, liver, pancreas, lymph node).
Speaker: Andrew Phillips
Date: 24-25th April 2027
Location:Presential – The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, United Kingdom
Competencies and objectives:
- Diaphragmatic rupture.
- Incisional gastropexy.
- Splenectomy.
- Inguinal ring and principles of herniorrhaphy.
- Amputate digit, tail, front limb, hind limb.
Speaker: Zoe Halfacree
Date: 8-9th May 2027
Modality: Streaming
Competencies and objectives:
- Understand the anatomy and physiology of the genital and urinary tract.
- Define the techniques for neutering including recent controversies.
- Understand common urinary tract surgeries.
- Identify parameters to diagnose uroabdomen and uroretroperitoneum.
- Differentiate management of different uroliths.
- Understand the pathophysiology of urinary incontinence and how to manage common conditions.
Module Summary:
- Female genital tract: ovariectomy vs ovariohysterectomy, laparoscopiuc ovariectomy, vaginal diseases and episiotomy.
- Male reproductive tract.
- Placement of urethral catheters.
- Diagnostic imaging of the urogenital tract.
- Renal diseases and nephrectomy.
- Ureteric diseases including obstruction and ectopic ureters.
- Cystotomy and cystectomy.
- Management of urolith cases.
- Urethral obstruction and rupture.
- Urethrostomies.
- Urinary incontinence.
Speaker: Lynda Rutherford
Date: 8-9th May 2027
Modality: Streaming
Competencies and objectives:
- Understand the structure of the skin and how wounds heal.
- Understand how to manage open wounds and to encourage wound healing.
- Define the different types of flaps, grafts and methods of wound closure.
Module Summary:
- Skin structure and different types of wound healing.
- How to manage open wounds and dressing techniques.
- Tension reliving techniques including skin stretching.
- Subdermal plexus flaps.
- Axial pattern flaps.
- Skin grafts.
- Management of specific wounds e.g. burns, airgun pellets.
Speaker: Benito de la Puerta
Date: 22-23rd May 2027
Location:Presential – The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, United Kingdom
Practical day summary:
- Basic mass/wounds and reconstruction.
- Subdermal plexus flaps
- Axillary/inguinal fold flap.
- Advancement flap.
- H plasty.
- Phalangeal filet.
- Axial pattern flaps
- Caudal superficial epigastric.
- Thoracodorsal.
- Caudal (tail).
- Skin graft.
Speaker: Benito de la Puerta
Date: 22-23rd May 2027
Location:Presential – The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, United Kingdom
Practical day summary:
- Ovariectomy.
- Cystotomy/cystectomy.
- Identify ureters.
- Nephrectomy.
- Colposuspension.
- Urethrotomy/urethrostomy.
Speaker: Lynda Rutherford
Programme fee – £9,200
Includes clinical teaching, scheduled practical teaching, online learning materials, the standard PgCert MCQ assessment and your university digital certificate upon successful completion.
If an RCVS-approved APR pathway becomes available
If an RCVS-approved APR pathway becomes available for this programme, eligible students and graduates will not pay again for completed clinical teaching recognised towards that route. Your original enrolment price, including agreed discounts, will be respected.
You would only pay the APR supplement applicable at that time and complete the additional professional skills learning and all required APR assessments. Outstanding original instalments remain payable.
APR approval and timing are not guaranteed. Entry would be subject to eligibility, recognition of prior learning and available places.
Payment options
Pay in full by credit or debit card, or bank transfer (BACS). Individual interest-free instalment plans are also available, subject to conditions. Contact [email protected] to arrange your payment plan.
Certificates
Your digital certificate is included upon successful completion. An optional physical university certificate, including issuance and shipping, costs £140 for delivery within the UK and Europe, or US$250 outside Europe.
Payment terms
Enrolment is confirmed upon receipt of your first payment. Direct debit instalments are collected within the first 10 days of each month. All fees must be settled before the final examination and certification. Full payment terms and conditions apply.
Certification obtained
After passing the postgraduate university training, you will be able to obtain the following credentials to use in your CV:
• International Credential: PgCert. ST Surg. ifevet
• Certification obtained: Postgraduate Certificate in Small Animal Soft Tissue Surgery (ifevet)
Course Objective
The course aims to provide students with theoretical foundations for dealing with the most common soft tissue surgeries in veterinary clinics. The primary objective is for students to develop scientifically grounded work habits with immediate practical application.
Structure and benefits of the postgraduate programme
The postgraduate program comprises modules with theoretical classes enabling students to systematically approach the basics of soft tissue surgery. Each module will be taught by one or several specialists certified in their respective fields to ensure the highest quality training.
At the end of each module, students will gain comprehensive insight into treatment possibilities and approaches to surgical patients. They will be capable of conducting a complete patient assessment, making a differential diagnosis, and planning appropriate diagnostic and treatment procedures. Moreover, they will learn to discern different immediate action scenarios, how to proceed, and most importantly, they will know how to establish the next step without the frustration of feeling lost.
Target Audience
Designed for professionals working in first opinion or emergency practice, this course aims to deepen their knowledge in the specialty, update their skills, and introduce innovative aspects applicable to daily practice.
Nicola Kulendra
BVetMed (Hons), MVetMed CertVDI, PGCert (VetEd), DipECVS FRCVS, EBVS® European Specialist in small animal surgery | Director of Soft Tissue Surgery postgradute course
Andrew Phillips
BVetMed MVetMed DipECVS PGCert Vet Ed FHEA MRCVS, EBVS® European Specialist in small animal surgery
Benito de la Puerta
Ldo CertSAS DipECVS MRCVS, EBVS® European Specialist In Veterinary Surgery And RCVS Specialist In Veterinary Surgery
Date: 6-7th March 2027
Modality: Streaming
Competencies and objectives:
- Establish the fundamentals of soft tissue surgery in small animal clinics.
- Understand the justification of antimicrobials and their impact.
- Recognise the most common instruments, suture patterns, knots and suture materials.
- Understand the fundamentals of peri-operative case management including patient stabilisation and pain scoring.
- Establish oncological surgery principles.
- Define the different types of mass excision.
- Recognise the draining lymph nodes to different areas and how to remove them.
Module Summary:
- Halstead’s principles and their application to clinical practice.
- Haemostasis and blood transfusions.
- Theatre checklists and links to outcome in human surgeries.
- How to suture, suture techniques and choosing the correct material.
- How to tie knots, including slip knot and modified Miller’s knot.
- Perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis and appropriate use of antibiotics.
- Principles of oncologic surgery.
- Wound infections and surgical site infections.
- Patient and surgeon preparation.
- Sustainable surgery.
Speaker: Nicola Kulendra, Heather Williams
Date: 6-7th March 2027
Modality: Streaming
Competencies and objectives:
- Identify the anatomical features of the larynx and how to perform an arytenoid lateralisation procedure.
- Interpret clinical and diagnostic findings to manage oropharyngeal stick injuries and salivary mucocoeles.
- Define the treatment options for sinonasal aspergillosis.
- Recognise the most common indications for ear surgeries and the decision making behind the techniques.
- Recognise the features of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) and the principles of surgery.
Module Summary:
- The nose; rhinoplasty, nasal masses.
- Salivary gland diseases and surgery.
- Management of sinonasal aspergillosis; nasal cannulas and frontal sinus trephination.
- The larynx; laryngeal paralysis, biopsy, laryngeal collapse.
- Ventral neck – exploration for stick injuries, foreign bodies, abscesses.
- Ear – aural haematoma, lateral wall resection, total ear canal ablation and lateral bulla osteotomy, ventral bulla osteotomy.
- BOAS surgery.
Speaker: Zoe Halfacree
Date: 20-21th March 2027
Location: Presential – The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, United Kingdom
Practical day summary:
- Instrument handling.
- How to suture: intradermals, continuous.
- Different knots: sliding, Modified Millers, Aberdeen.
- How to drain a chest.
- Mila chest drain.
- Oesophagostomy tube.
- Naso-oesophageal feeding tube.
- Urethral catheter.
- Cystostomy tube.
- Gastrostomy tube.
Speaker: Nicola Kulendra
Date: 20-21th March 2027
Loocation: Presential – The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, United Kingdom
Practical day summary
- BOAS surgery.
- Lip resection.
- Salivary mucocoele.
- Aural haematoma.
- Pinnectomy.
- TECA-LBO.
- Ventral neck exploration.
- Thyroidectom.
Speaker: Zoe Halfacree
Date: 10-11st April 2027
Modality: Streaming
Competencies and objectives:
- Identify features of the gastrointestinal tract and how to improve the outcome for patients.
- Recognise the diagnostic imaging features of common gastrointestinal conditions.
- Understand common indications for gastrointestinal surgery and surgical techniques.
- Define the underlying causes, diagnosis and treatment of septic peritonitis.
- Understand the pathophysiology of portosystemic shunts and surgical management.
- Diagnose and manage a haemoabdomen and understand the principles behind splenectomy.
- Identify a cleft palate and principles of surgical repair.
Module Summary:
- Factors affecting healing of the gastrointestinal tract.
- How to perform a gastrotomy, gastrectomy, enterotomy, enterectomy, biopsy and rectal eversion.
- Diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal foreign bodies, intussusception and neoplasia.
- Diagnosis and management of septic peritonitis.
- GDV: patient stabilisation, diagnosis and management.
- Colonic surgery.
- Rectal masses.
- Portosystemic shunts.
- Perineal hernia.
Speaker: Andrew Phillips
Date: 10-11st April 2027
Modality: Streaming
Competencies and objectives:
- Understand the diagnosis and differentials for haemabdomen.
- Identify the blood vessels to the spleen and techniques of how to perform a splenectomy.
- Understand the anatomy of the abdominal wall and types of body wall ruptures and hernias.
- Define the indications and surgical techniques for types of amputations, diaphragmatic and body wall ruptures and hernias.
Module Summary:
- Haemaoabdomen principles and splenectomy.
- Principles of herniorrhaphy including common hernias.
- Diaphragmatic hernias.
- Amputations: digit, tail, front limb, hind lim.
Speaker: Zoe Halfacree
Date: 24-25th April 2027
Location:Presential – The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, United Kingdom
Practical day summary:
- Exploratory laparotomy.
- Gastrotomy.
- Gastrectomy.
- Enterotomy.
- Enterectomy (simple vs caudal duodenal flexure/iliocaecocolic valve).
- Biopsy techniques (stomach, intestine, liver, pancreas, lymph node).
Speaker: Andrew Phillips
Date: 24-25th April 2027
Location:Presential – The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, United Kingdom
Competencies and objectives:
- Diaphragmatic rupture.
- Incisional gastropexy.
- Splenectomy.
- Inguinal ring and principles of herniorrhaphy.
- Amputate digit, tail, front limb, hind limb.
Speaker: Zoe Halfacree
Date: 8-9th May 2027
Modality: Streaming
Competencies and objectives:
- Understand the anatomy and physiology of the genital and urinary tract.
- Define the techniques for neutering including recent controversies.
- Understand common urinary tract surgeries.
- Identify parameters to diagnose uroabdomen and uroretroperitoneum.
- Differentiate management of different uroliths.
- Understand the pathophysiology of urinary incontinence and how to manage common conditions.
Module Summary:
- Female genital tract: ovariectomy vs ovariohysterectomy, laparoscopiuc ovariectomy, vaginal diseases and episiotomy.
- Male reproductive tract.
- Placement of urethral catheters.
- Diagnostic imaging of the urogenital tract.
- Renal diseases and nephrectomy.
- Ureteric diseases including obstruction and ectopic ureters.
- Cystotomy and cystectomy.
- Management of urolith cases.
- Urethral obstruction and rupture.
- Urethrostomies.
- Urinary incontinence.
Speaker: Lynda Rutherford
Date: 8-9th May 2027
Modality: Streaming
Competencies and objectives:
- Understand the structure of the skin and how wounds heal.
- Understand how to manage open wounds and to encourage wound healing.
- Define the different types of flaps, grafts and methods of wound closure.
Module Summary:
- Skin structure and different types of wound healing.
- How to manage open wounds and dressing techniques.
- Tension reliving techniques including skin stretching.
- Subdermal plexus flaps.
- Axial pattern flaps.
- Skin grafts.
- Management of specific wounds e.g. burns, airgun pellets.
Speaker: Benito de la Puerta
Date: 22-23rd May 2027
Location:Presential – The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, United Kingdom
Practical day summary:
- Basic mass/wounds and reconstruction.
- Subdermal plexus flaps
- Axillary/inguinal fold flap.
- Advancement flap.
- H plasty.
- Phalangeal filet.
- Axial pattern flaps
- Caudal superficial epigastric.
- Thoracodorsal.
- Caudal (tail).
- Skin graft.
Speaker: Benito de la Puerta
Date: 22-23rd May 2027
Location:Presential – The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, United Kingdom
Practical day summary:
- Ovariectomy.
- Cystotomy/cystectomy.
- Identify ureters.
- Nephrectomy.
- Colposuspension.
- Urethrotomy/urethrostomy.
Speaker: Lynda Rutherford
We offer two payment options:
- Pay in full via credit or debit card, or BACS
- Instalment plans available for individuals
We offer flexible payment plans to support candidates paying as individuals or from independent practices.
· Price (exam included):
- United Kingdom:
United Kingdom – £ 9,200
- Other countries:
Europe – 10,800 € 
Australia – $ 17,500
New Zealand – $ 21,000
USA – $ 12,500
* Note: The digital certificate is included in the programme fee.
Terms and conditions of payment
To complete your enrolment, kindly submit the online registration form by selecting ‘Register Now’ and proceed with your first payment, either in full or as the initial instalment.
If you have chosen our instalment plan, the monthly payments must be made via direct debit within the first 10 days of each month.
All payments must be completed before the final exam in order for the PgCert certificate and credentials to be issued.
About this course
This intensive course aims to provide students with theoretical foundations for dealing with the most common soft tissue surgeries in veterinary clinics. The primary objective is for students to develop scientifically grounded work habits with immediate practical application.
The postgraduate program comprises modules with theoretical classes enabling students to systematically approach the basics of soft tissue surgery. At the end of each module, students will gain comprehensive insight into treatment possibilities and approaches to surgical patients. They will be capable of conducting a complete patient assessment, making a differential diagnosis, and planning appropriate diagnostic and treatment procedures. Moreover, they will learn to discern different immediate action scenarios, how to proceed, and most importantly, they will know how to confidently establish the next step.
Why study this course?
- Learn from six world-leading veterinary surgery specialists and diplomates.
- Improve confidence in surgery: each module is taught by one or several specialists or diplomates certified in their respective fields to ensure the highest quality training.
- Create better surgical outcomes: learn practical skills and improved techniques both for complex surgeries and more everyday surgeries such as digital and tail amputation.
- Develop your technique: four days of workshops covering grafting, suture techniques, wound management and complex surgeries such as colposuspension and urethrostomy.
- Progress your career: fast-track PgCert taking 5 months, across 12 modules
- Gain current knowledge for immediate application: livestreamed to allow time to relate lectures to cases, ask questions and interact with experienced clinicians
- Manage your time effectively: livestreams are recorded for flexibility. This intensive course offers the same number of teaching hours as our other PgCerts but teaching takes place over three months rather than six.
Timetable
Livestream lectures run on Saturday, 9.00 -18:30 and Sunday, 9.00 – 14:30.
In-person workshops run on Saturday, 9.00-17.30 and Sunday, 9.00-17.30
If you can’t attend the session, all lectures are recorded to watch on demand.
Nicola Kulendra
BVetMed (Hons), MVetMed CertVDI, PGCert (VetEd), DipECVS FRCVS, EBVS® European Specialist in small animal surgery | Director of Soft Tissue Surgery postgradute course
Andrew Phillips
BVetMed MVetMed DipECVS PGCert Vet Ed FHEA MRCVS, EBVS® European Specialist in small animal surgery
Benito de la Puerta
Ldo CertSAS DipECVS MRCVS, EBVS® European Specialist In Veterinary Surgery And RCVS Specialist In Veterinary Surgery
Date: 6-7th March 2027
Modality: Streaming
Competencies and objectives:
- Establish the fundamentals of soft tissue surgery in small animal clinics.
- Understand the justification of antimicrobials and their impact.
- Recognise the most common instruments, suture patterns, knots and suture materials.
- Understand the fundamentals of peri-operative case management including patient stabilisation and pain scoring.
- Establish oncological surgery principles.
- Define the different types of mass excision.
- Recognise the draining lymph nodes to different areas and how to remove them.
Module Summary:
- Halstead’s principles and their application to clinical practice.
- Haemostasis and blood transfusions.
- Theatre checklists and links to outcome in human surgeries.
- How to suture, suture techniques and choosing the correct material.
- How to tie knots, including slip knot and modified Miller’s knot.
- Perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis and appropriate use of antibiotics.
- Principles of oncologic surgery.
- Wound infections and surgical site infections.
- Patient and surgeon preparation.
- Sustainable surgery.
Speaker: Nicola Kulendra, Heather Williams
Date: 6-7th March 2027
Modality: Streaming
Competencies and objectives:
- Identify the anatomical features of the larynx and how to perform an arytenoid lateralisation procedure.
- Interpret clinical and diagnostic findings to manage oropharyngeal stick injuries and salivary mucocoeles.
- Define the treatment options for sinonasal aspergillosis.
- Recognise the most common indications for ear surgeries and the decision making behind the techniques.
- Recognise the features of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) and the principles of surgery.
Module Summary:
- The nose; rhinoplasty, nasal masses.
- Salivary gland diseases and surgery.
- Management of sinonasal aspergillosis; nasal cannulas and frontal sinus trephination.
- The larynx; laryngeal paralysis, biopsy, laryngeal collapse.
- Ventral neck – exploration for stick injuries, foreign bodies, abscesses.
- Ear – aural haematoma, lateral wall resection, total ear canal ablation and lateral bulla osteotomy, ventral bulla osteotomy.
- BOAS surgery.
Speaker: Zoe Halfacree
Date: 20-21th March 2027
Location: Presential – The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, United Kingdom
Practical day summary:
- Instrument handling.
- How to suture: intradermals, continuous.
- Different knots: sliding, Modified Millers, Aberdeen.
- How to drain a chest.
- Mila chest drain.
- Oesophagostomy tube.
- Naso-oesophageal feeding tube.
- Urethral catheter.
- Cystostomy tube.
- Gastrostomy tube.
Speaker: Nicola Kulendra
Date: 20-21th March 2027
Loocation: Presential – The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, United Kingdom
Practical day summary
- BOAS surgery.
- Lip resection.
- Salivary mucocoele.
- Aural haematoma.
- Pinnectomy.
- TECA-LBO.
- Ventral neck exploration.
- Thyroidectom.
Speaker: Zoe Halfacree
Date: 10-11st April 2027
Modality: Streaming
Competencies and objectives:
- Identify features of the gastrointestinal tract and how to improve the outcome for patients.
- Recognise the diagnostic imaging features of common gastrointestinal conditions.
- Understand common indications for gastrointestinal surgery and surgical techniques.
- Define the underlying causes, diagnosis and treatment of septic peritonitis.
- Understand the pathophysiology of portosystemic shunts and surgical management.
- Diagnose and manage a haemoabdomen and understand the principles behind splenectomy.
- Identify a cleft palate and principles of surgical repair.
Module Summary:
- Factors affecting healing of the gastrointestinal tract.
- How to perform a gastrotomy, gastrectomy, enterotomy, enterectomy, biopsy and rectal eversion.
- Diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal foreign bodies, intussusception and neoplasia.
- Diagnosis and management of septic peritonitis.
- GDV: patient stabilisation, diagnosis and management.
- Colonic surgery.
- Rectal masses.
- Portosystemic shunts.
- Perineal hernia.
Speaker: Andrew Phillips
Date: 10-11st April 2027
Modality: Streaming
Competencies and objectives:
- Understand the diagnosis and differentials for haemabdomen.
- Identify the blood vessels to the spleen and techniques of how to perform a splenectomy.
- Understand the anatomy of the abdominal wall and types of body wall ruptures and hernias.
- Define the indications and surgical techniques for types of amputations, diaphragmatic and body wall ruptures and hernias.
Module Summary:
- Haemaoabdomen principles and splenectomy.
- Principles of herniorrhaphy including common hernias.
- Diaphragmatic hernias.
- Amputations: digit, tail, front limb, hind lim.
Speaker: Zoe Halfacree
Date: 24-25th April 2027
Location:Presential – The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, United Kingdom
Practical day summary:
- Exploratory laparotomy.
- Gastrotomy.
- Gastrectomy.
- Enterotomy.
- Enterectomy (simple vs caudal duodenal flexure/iliocaecocolic valve).
- Biopsy techniques (stomach, intestine, liver, pancreas, lymph node).
Speaker: Andrew Phillips
Date: 24-25th April 2027
Location:Presential – The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, United Kingdom
Competencies and objectives:
- Diaphragmatic rupture.
- Incisional gastropexy.
- Splenectomy.
- Inguinal ring and principles of herniorrhaphy.
- Amputate digit, tail, front limb, hind limb.
Speaker: Zoe Halfacree
Date: 8-9th May 2027
Modality: Streaming
Competencies and objectives:
- Understand the anatomy and physiology of the genital and urinary tract.
- Define the techniques for neutering including recent controversies.
- Understand common urinary tract surgeries.
- Identify parameters to diagnose uroabdomen and uroretroperitoneum.
- Differentiate management of different uroliths.
- Understand the pathophysiology of urinary incontinence and how to manage common conditions.
Module Summary:
- Female genital tract: ovariectomy vs ovariohysterectomy, laparoscopiuc ovariectomy, vaginal diseases and episiotomy.
- Male reproductive tract.
- Placement of urethral catheters.
- Diagnostic imaging of the urogenital tract.
- Renal diseases and nephrectomy.
- Ureteric diseases including obstruction and ectopic ureters.
- Cystotomy and cystectomy.
- Management of urolith cases.
- Urethral obstruction and rupture.
- Urethrostomies.
- Urinary incontinence.
Speaker: Lynda Rutherford
Date: 8-9th May 2027
Modality: Streaming
Competencies and objectives:
- Understand the structure of the skin and how wounds heal.
- Understand how to manage open wounds and to encourage wound healing.
- Define the different types of flaps, grafts and methods of wound closure.
Module Summary:
- Skin structure and different types of wound healing.
- How to manage open wounds and dressing techniques.
- Tension reliving techniques including skin stretching.
- Subdermal plexus flaps.
- Axial pattern flaps.
- Skin grafts.
- Management of specific wounds e.g. burns, airgun pellets.
Speaker: Benito de la Puerta
Date: 22-23rd May 2027
Location:Presential – The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, United Kingdom
Practical day summary:
- Basic mass/wounds and reconstruction.
- Subdermal plexus flaps
- Axillary/inguinal fold flap.
- Advancement flap.
- H plasty.
- Phalangeal filet.
- Axial pattern flaps
- Caudal superficial epigastric.
- Thoracodorsal.
- Caudal (tail).
- Skin graft.
Speaker: Benito de la Puerta
Date: 22-23rd May 2027
Location:Presential – The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, United Kingdom
Practical day summary:
- Ovariectomy.
- Cystotomy/cystectomy.
- Identify ureters.
- Nephrectomy.
- Colposuspension.
- Urethrotomy/urethrostomy.
Speaker: Lynda Rutherford
Programme fee – £9,200
Includes clinical teaching, scheduled practical teaching, online learning materials, the standard PgCert MCQ assessment and your university digital certificate upon successful completion.
If an RCVS-approved APR pathway becomes available
If an RCVS-approved APR pathway becomes available for this programme, eligible students and graduates will not pay again for completed clinical teaching recognised towards that route. Your original enrolment price, including agreed discounts, will be respected.
You would only pay the APR supplement applicable at that time and complete the additional professional skills learning and all required APR assessments. Outstanding original instalments remain payable.
APR approval and timing are not guaranteed. Entry would be subject to eligibility, recognition of prior learning and available places.
Payment options
Pay in full by credit or debit card, or bank transfer (BACS). Individual interest-free instalment plans are also available, subject to conditions. Contact [email protected] to arrange your payment plan.
Certificates
Your digital certificate is included upon successful completion. An optional physical university certificate, including issuance and shipping, costs £140 for delivery within the UK and Europe, or US$250 outside Europe.
Payment terms
Enrolment is confirmed upon receipt of your first payment. Direct debit instalments are collected within the first 10 days of each month. All fees must be settled before the final examination and certification. Full payment terms and conditions apply.
Testimonials from our students...
Testimonials from our students...
Contact us
If you would like to request information about any of our training services, please fill in the following form or contact us by phone or email
- +44 7862 146532
- [email protected]
- From 8.00am to 17.00pm
Request for information
Contact us
If you would like to request information about any of our training services, please fill in the following form or contact us by phone or email
- +44 7862 146532
- [email protected]
- From 8.00am to 17.00pm