TECH123-0410: Equine Essentials-Basic Equine Care

INSTRUCTORS:
Debbie Hembroff, RVT, CVT & Chris Upchurch, AA, VA

DATES:
April 21-May 28, 2010
Real Time Sessions: Tuesday evenings, April 27, and May 4, 11, and 18, 2010; 8:30pm-10:00pm ET (USA)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This is an INTRODUCTORY course designed for veterinary support staff that have an interest in equine sciences but have limited equine experience. The course will offer a BASIC introduction on such topics as: breeds, colors and markings, terminology, nutrition, vaccination, parasitology, common disorders, diseases, and a brief overview of equine behavior.

This course will consist of four (4) weekly online interactive real time sessions of 90 minutes each; library materials including handouts, references, and some appropriate online articles, multiple choice quizzes designed to enhance course effectiveness and material retention; a cumulative online final; and interactive message board discussions. Debbie Hembroff and Chris Upchurch have been involved in equine medicine at the staff level and in clinical practice for several years as well as being pleasure equine owners. This course is designed for all veterinary staff and veterinary technician students wishing to review the BASICS of equine care.

Upon completion of this course, the participant should be able to

• identify common breeds and colors of equines and be acquainted with their differences.
• define and describe common equine terms.
• list basic equine behavior traits.
• identify the general anatomical areas of a equine that are used when communicating with clients and veterinary staff.
• discuss the basics of the care and feeding requirements.
• describe signs, symptoms, discuss treatment, and prevention of some common equine diseases and parasites.
• discuss basic equine first aid.
• distinguish the role of the veterinary support staff in assisting with equine health procedures in a clinic or field setting.

TEXTBOOK: There is no required text for this course; the instructors have places a list of recommended resources in the course library

COURSE OUTLINE:

Week 1: Breeds, Terminology, and Basic Behavior
Content: This week will include a brief history of the equine as a species, breeds/colors/markings, and basic equine medical terms relating to the species as well as commonly encountered layman terms. A basic overview of equine behavior as it relates to handling will be covered.

Week 2: Basic Equine Wellness and Nutrition
Content: In this second week we will cover the basics of equine husbandry including dental anatomy and changes in teeth related to growth (aging) and eating. We will discuss feeding habits and nutrition basics of the equine and touch on supplementation commonly seen in equine feeding regimens.

Week 3: Common Diseases and Ailments of the Equine
Content: We will cover common equine ailments and disease and their clinical signs. We will also discuss disease prevention (to include worming basics and fecal checks as well as fly prevention basics). Safety and how it relates to injury for both the equine and veterinary support personnel will be covered including basic first aid as it relates to accidents. Finally, we will provide an introduction to alternative/complementary treatments a veterinarian may use in a treatment plan.

Week 4: Husbandry
Content: The final session of this course will cover basic housing and grooming requirements. We will introduce and discuss procedures a veterinary technician may be asked to assist with both in the clinic and in the field including vaccinations, dentals, artificial insemination, pregnancy check and birth, castration, abscesses (including feet), and basic lameness checks.

LIBRARY MATERIALS:
Library materials will be made available prior to the topic week so participants will have plenty of time to prepare for the real time sessions and discussion.

MESSAGE BOARD DISCUSSIONS:
Message board discussions regarding the topic presented will begin on the day the course opens and continue for one week following the last real time session. These discussions will be held in the VSPN CE course area.

CE HOURS: 6

TUITION:
$120 ($108.00 early bird special if registered before April 7, 2010).
*Students currently enrolled in and taking at least 2 classes or 5 units at an AVMA accredited or CAAHT approved Veterinary Technician Program may be eligible to receive a 50% discount off the regular rate for this course (upon verification of student status). You must include the following information in the comments section of the CE enrollment form in order to be eligible for this discount: your program director's name and contact information (email/phone) and school name.

** NOTE: Enrollment will be closed when the maximum number of participants is reached or at 5pm ET the day of the first real time session.

**The Participant's Resource Center includes all you need to know about online CE with VIN and VSPN: https://www.vin.com/CE/Public/VSPN/ParticipantVspn.htm

TO REGISTER:

1. Each enrollee must individually be a registered member of VSPN or VIN (www.vspn.org). Membership in VSPN is free; VIN membership includes VSPN membership.
2. To enroll in any VSPN CE course click on the ENROLL NOW link below the course title on the right side of the page at www.vspn.org/CE
3. Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses. This is our major form of communication with participants. It is highly recommended that course participants use their own, personal emails rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
4. VIN Member veterinarians SHOULD NOT register for their staff. Please have the staff member register through VSPN. Please email VSPNCE@vspn.org if you have questions.

Note: "This course has been submitted for approval for 6 continuing education credits in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB RACE approval; however participants should be aware that some boards have limitations on the number of hours accepted in certain categories and/or restrictions on certain methods of delivery of continuing education. Call VSPN CE at 1-800-700-4636 for further information." (Attendees are encouraged to check with their licensing jurisdiction(s) for information regarding recognition by their board).

---

COURSE WITHDRAWAL AND REFUND POLICY: Withdrawal prior to the listed start date of a course entitles the registrant to a complete refund or a credit toward a future VIN CE course, whichever is preferred. Withdrawal within 1 week after the listed start date (i.e. including no more than one real-time session) entitles the registrant to a credit toward any future VIN CE course. (Does not apply to courses with only one real-time session.) After the first real-time session, a registrant may withdraw due to special circumstances and receive prorated credit towards a future VIN course. These requests will be handled on an individual basis. The amount of the prorated credit will be determined based on 65% of the time remaining in the course at the time of withdrawal. It is not possible to withdraw retroactively.
Note: To ensure rapid handling of your request for withdrawal, we recommend that you call the VIN office at 1-800-700-INFO (4636).

---

** For More Information on VSPN's upcoming CE Courses, check out http://www.VSPN.org/CE

Nanette R. Walker Smith, M.Ed., RVT, CVT, LVT
VSPN Content Director & CE Coordinator

VSPN CE Services: VSPNCE@vspn.org
1-800-846-0028 or 1-530-756-4881
Charlotte Waack (Charlotte@vspn.org); ext 193
Chris Upchurch (Chris@vspn.org); ext 197
Darci Palmer (Darci@vspn.org); ext 179
Debbie Bess (DBess@vspn.org); ext 178
Nanette Walker Smith (Nanette@vspn.org); ext 187

[ CE MAIN | COURSE CATALOG | RACE/GETTING CREDITS | ONLINE CE HOW TO | SUGGEST A COURSE | VIN MAIN ]

---

800.700.4636  |  CEonVIN@vin.com  |  530.756.4881  |  Fax: 530.756.6035 777 West Covell Blvd, Davis, CA 95616 Copyright 2000, Veterinary Information Network, Inc.