ACVIM study plan

Map the cardiology blueprint into subtopics and rank them by your baseline confidence

Review cardiac auscultation, murmur grading, and the physiology of pressure/volume overload

List the ACVIM consensus statements relevant to cardiology and neurology and note the year and key recommendation of each

Build a spaced-repetition deck covering cardiac and neurologic exam findings and localization terms

Work through acquired and congenital heart disease presentations, differentiating by murmur timing and patient signalment

Compare staging schemes for myxomatous mitral valve disease and dilated cardiomyopathy and state the treatment trigger for each stage

Practice interpreting thoracic radiographs described in text (vertebral heart score, left atrial enlargement, pulmonary patterns) from written case vignettes

Explain the mechanism and monitoring parameters for diuretics, ACE inhibitors, pimobendan, and antiarrhythmics

Drill neuroanatomic localization using written lesion descriptions for forebrain, brainstem, cerebellum, and spinal cord segments

Differentiate intracranial from extracranial causes of vestibular signs and list the distinguishing features

Outline the diagnostic approach to seizures including when to start anticonvulsants and how to monitor therapy

Compare myelopathy, neuropathy, and neuromuscular junction disease by UMN/LMN pattern

Organize large animal medicine into equine and food-animal subtopics and rate baseline confidence for each

Review equine colic decision-making including when surgical referral is indicated and what parameters drive it

Summarize the approach to bovine respiratory disease and the principles limiting antimicrobial resistance

Compare metabolic and electrolyte disorders across species (hypocalcemia, ketosis, grass tetany) by signalment and presentation

Work through equine infectious and respiratory disease presentations including strangles, EHV, and pleuropneumonia

Review small animal endocrine disease including thyroid, adrenal, and diabetes mellitus diagnostic testing and monitoring

Compare renal and hepatic laboratory patterns between large and small animal patients using written case data

Practice fluid therapy calculations and acid-base interpretation on provided written values

Review immune-mediated disease presentations including IMHA, ITP, and polyarthritis with their diagnostic criteria

Outline the approach to gastrointestinal disease including chronic enteropathy and pancreatitis in dogs and cats

Compare respiratory disease presentations in small animals by pattern (upper vs lower, restrictive vs obstructive)

Explain the workup of polyuria/polydipsia and the discriminating tests for each differential

Review oncologic staging principles and the indications, limitations, and adverse effects of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery

Summarize paraneoplastic syndromes and how to recognize them before a diagnosis is made

Outline nutritional assessment and the calculation of resting energy requirements and feeding plans for hospitalized patients

Compare therapeutic diets for renal, cardiac, and gastrointestinal disease by their key nutrient modifications

Complete a full-length timed mixed-domain practice set under exam conditions

Re-rank all six domains by performance and identify the three weakest subtopics per domain

Re-review every missed item and rewrite each as a one-line rule you can apply

Consolidate the spaced-repetition deck and retire cards you consistently answer correctly