Bonnie Wright, DVM, DACVAA
Sheilah Robertson, DVM, DACVAA (Anesthesiology), DECVAA, MRCVS
Mary Ellen Goldberg, BS, LVT, CVT, SRA, CCRVN, CVPP, VTS-Lab Animal Medicine (Research Anesthesia), VTS-Physical Rehabilitation
Tammy Grubb, DVM, MS, DACVAA
Janice L Huntingford DVM, DACVSMR, CVA, CVPP, CCRT CAVCA
Laurie McCauley, DVM, CCRT, CVA, CVC, ACVSMR
Jim Berry, DVM, CVA, CAC, CCR
Course Open: July 1-September 8, 2021
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Sundays, July 11, 18, 25, August 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29, 2021; 8:00-10:00 pm ET (USA) World Clock Converter
Total CE Credit: 16
RACE Category: 16 hours Medical Skip to Enrollment Course Information:
This course is a comprehensive review of the most contemporary concepts of pain management in dogs and cats, from neurobiology to neuropharmacology to physical modalities, and "pulling it all together" in applications across a broad spectrum of clinical presentations. The course may be used as a review and study tool for IVAPM's Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner (CVPP) examination. Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of the course, the participant should be able to
- describe the neurophysiology of pain perception via pain receptors, pathways, and neurotransmitters.
- list the pharmacologic targets of pain modifying drugs.
- describe the difference in the pathophysiology of adaptive and maladaptive pain.
- describe the neuropharmacologic aspects of ketamine as a pain-modifying agent.
- describe the clinical applications of sub-anesthetic ketamine constant rate infusion.
- describe the mechanism and clinical benefits of local anesthetics (LA).
- explain the proper and safe use of LA.
- discuss the common clinical applications of LA in the surgical setting.
- discuss the benefits and proper use of adjunct medications (i.e., tramadol, gabapentin, amantadine, SSRIs, TCAs, alpha-2 agonists etc.).
- discuss the benefits and proper use of intrinsic/endogenous therapies (i.e., acupuncture, massage, etc.).
- describe the mechanism and clinical benefits of opioids, alpha-2 agonists, NSAIDs, and acetaminophen.
- describe the proper and safe use of opioids, NSAIDs, and acetaminophen.
- discuss how pain presents in dogs and cats.
- describe the different scales available for assessing pain.
- discuss what is new and what is on the horizon for pain management.
- discuss the proper treatment for peri-operative acute pain (integrated approach with opioids, NSAIDs, alpha-2 agonists, gabapentin, CRIs, and loco-regional).
- discuss the proper treatment for visceral medical pain resulting from conditions such as pancreatitis, gastroenteritis, and ocular disease.
- discuss the proper treatment for pain resulting from trauma.
- describe how chronic pain develops.
- recognize chronic pain in their patients.
- describe appropriate treatment for the chronic pain conditions discussed previously - pancreatitis, gastroenteritis, and ocular disease.
- recognize adverse effects of certain medications that are used for chronic pain.
- discuss the non-pharmacological modalities available for chronic pain patients.
- discuss the various modalities available for addressing pain resulting from cancer.
- describe the goals and objectives of veterinary rehabilitation as it relates to painful patients.
- discuss the use of adjunct modalities (therapeutics, U/S, laser, TENS, shock wave, etc.) in veterinary rehabilitation.
- recognize how and when the basic modalities and therapeutics for pain relief should be applied.
- discuss the basics of how acupuncture works to relieve pain.
- describe when acupuncture would be beneficial for pain relief.
- discuss the importance of body weight and its role in recovery and rehabilitation.
Accreditation: This course is approved for 16 hours of continuing education credit by RACE for veterinarians and veterinary technicians/technologists. (RACE 20-843713) Course Agenda: Week 1 (Real Time Session July 11, 2021): Neurophysiology of Pain
Presenters: Mark Epstein, DVM, DABVP (Canine/Feline), CVA, CVPP, DAAPM
Week 2 (Real Time Session July 18, 2021): Neuropharmacology I
Presenters: Mark Epstein, DVM, DABVP (Canine/Feline), CVA, CVPP, DAAPM
Week 3 (Real Time Session July 25, 2021): Neuropharmacology II
Presenters: Bonnie Wright, DVM, DACVAA
Jim Berry, DVM, CVA, CAC, CCR
Week 4 (Real Time Session August 1, 2021): Neuropharmacology III
Presenters: Sheilah Robertson, DVM, DACVAA (Anesthesiology), DECVAA, MRCVS
Week 5 (Real Time Session August 8, 2021): Clinical Applications - Pain Assessment and Emerging Modalities
Presenters: Sheilah Robertson, DVM, DACVAA (Anesthesiology), DECVAA, MRCVS
Jim Berry, DVM, CVA, CAC, CCR
Week 6 (Real Time Session August 15, 2021): Clinical Applications - Acute Pain Management
Presenters: Tammy Grubb, DVM, MS, DACVAA
Week 7 (Real Time Session August 22, 2021): Clinical Applications - Chronic Pain
Presenters: Mark Epstein, DVM, DABVP (Canine/Feline), CVA, CVPP, DAAPM
Mary Ellen Goldberg, BS, LVT, CVT, SRA, CCRVN, CVPP, VTS-Lab Animal Medicine (Research Anesthesia), VTS-Physical Rehabilitation
Week 8 (Real Time Session August 29, 2021): Clinical Applications - Non-Pharmacologic Pain
Presenters: Janice L Huntingford DVM, DACVSMR, CVA, CVPP, CCRT CAVCA
Laurie McCauley, DVM, CCRT, CVA, CVC, ACVSMR
Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required to earn a certificate of completion for the course. To learn more about the requirements for earning a CE certificate, please refer to Receiving Your CE Credit and Course Completion Certificate. Course Materials: Course materials will be available in the course library prior to each Real Time Session.
Required Textbook(s): There is no required textbook for this course.
Enrollment is closed.
Tuition: Member $393 ($356 early bird special if enrolled by June 18, 2021)
Non-Member $544 ($492 early bird special if enrolled by June 18, 2021)
Prices are listed in US dollars. *To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close on July 9, 2021 at 5 pm ET (USA) or when the maximum number of participants is reached. *For more information on how online CE works, see the Participant Resource Center.
- Enrollment qualifications: VIN CE courses are open to VIN member and non-member veterinarians. Veterinarians enrolling in a VSPN CE course must be a VIN member. Veterinary support staff must be a VSPN member to enroll in a VSPN CE or a VIN CE course open to VSPN member enrollment.
- Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses. Email is our major form of communication with participants; personal emails are highly recommended rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
- For further assistance call 800-846-0028 ext. 797 or email CEonVIN. Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.
VIN Education Director VIN CE Services: CEonVIN
800-846-0028 or 530-756-4881; ext. 797
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01 45 222 6154
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from Australia: 02 6145 2357