It's June and that means ACVIM Forum time! We're so excited to be heading to the ACVIM Forum in Phoenix next week. It's one of our favorite conferences because get to learn all things internal medicine and, of course, we get to hang out with our fellow IM nerds.

So what is ACVIM? It's the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, the college that credentials the Internal Medicine Veterinarian Specialists (DACVIM). They host the annual Forum with over 450 sessions held over 4 days taught by industry leaders, both technicians and veterinarians. It's the best internal medicine continuing education.

The Forum is where AIMVT holds its yearly credentialing exam. Ashley and I sat for our exams 3 years ago. (What?! It's been 3 years?!)

The following year we went back for our pinning ceremony and I remember the overwhelming sense of accomplishment as we received our pins. We'd worked our butts off for almost 2 years to get to that point and we'd done it. 

Fast forward three years and Ashley will be leading the AIMVT annual meeting as president. I'll be hanging out absorbing the tech case presentations (always my favorite!), learning from fellow technicians, and hanging out with old friends and meeting new ones. 

Here's a list of some of the big things you should check out. You can bet Ashley and I will be there!!

Tuesday:

• AIMVT and AVNT VTS Exams start at 8:00 am - 12:30 pm
• Executive Board Meeting 1:00 pm (Board members only)

Wednesday:

• Technician Case Reports 1:00 pm-4:35 pm Sponsored by Hill's Pet Nutrition
• AIMVT Pinning Ceremony and Reception Sheraton Camelback A 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm. All are invited to attend. Sponsored by Hill's Pet Nutrition
• AIMVT Annual Membership Meeting Sheraton Hotel, Deer Valley 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm. All members encouraged to attend.

Thursday:

• Technician Q&A for AIMVT and AVNT 7:30 pm - 9:30 PM (a must for those looking at getting their VTS in internal medicine)

Friday:

• VTS (IM - Small Animal) Group Dinner 6:30 pm (Must RSVP to attend, so see the Facebook event page to sign up: https://www.facebook.com/events/243909523114660/)
• Other subspecialties contact your Director at Large.

**Make sure to see the ACVIM Forum schedule for any potential changes**

We hope this helps you find you're way around the Forum. Can't wait to see you!!

Has your dog or cat been diagnosed with pneumonia? 

Whether your pet has a mild cough or is struggling to breathe, your vet should take thoracic radiographs (chest x-rays) to view the lungs. These images give us vital information about what is happening within the chest. It can reveal an enlarged heart, lung inflammation or infection, fluid or air in the chest where it is not supposed to be, and even masses.

In the images below you'll see the lung fields outlined in white with the major structures labeled.

In the image on the left, the normal chest x-ray, the lungs are nice and dark/black in color. You can see the heart outlined because it is denser than the surround lungs. On the image on the right, however, it is extremely difficult to see the outline of the heart and the lung fields are 'whited out'. This is what a pneumonia radiograph looks like. 

Pneumonia is described as an infection that causes inflammation in the lungs. This may be in one or many of the lung lobes. Pneumonia can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungal, protozoal, or parasite infections. The air sacs, or alveoli, of the lungs fill up with fluid or pus. (Want a refresher on anatomy? Visit the respiratory page here.)

Have you wondered how the lungs work? What about the different structures that are all part of the respiratory system? Has your pet been diagnosed with an upper or lower respiratory disease?

May is all about basics and diseases affecting dogs and cats breathing. We start with basic anatomy and then we'll talk about some of the common diseases we see in veterinary internal medicine.

Check out the basics in our newest section of the website: the Respiratory System. The main page includes a video explaining how dogs and cats lungs work. It's based on people, but we're all mammals and our lungs work the same way. Visit the respiratory section to see this fun video. 

Then watch for each of the week's topics including:

• Pneumonia
• Collapsing Trachea: part 1 & 2
• Asthma

We hope this helps. If you think someone you know might be interested in the topics we cover, we'd love if you share the website with them!