Join Tom A. McFerson, CPA, ABV, this Sunday for The Obama Tax Plan - What to Expect and How to be Prepared. Let's try to figure out what's coming our way.

Use the Rounds link in the Main Navigation bar to join the discussion. To find out what other interesting rounds topics are coming soon, see This Week's Rounds Schedule.

NEWS THAT'S FIT TO CLICK and discuss
News reported for YOU...

• Reports show veterinary practices hurting
  - VNS Report | Discussion
• Fuel prices drop, yet surcharges remain for diagnostic services
  - VNS Report | Discussion

Share News with nonVINners -- The VIN News Service (without access to the community discussions) is now publicly available at news.vin.com. Check it out and share it.

The VIN Community
-- WE is more fun than ME.
Click HERE to read (posts 14 and on) more about "WE, not ME" as the mindset that will ensure that veterinary medicine remains forever For Veterinarians, By Veterinarians...defining the future of our profession. Don't let the tail wag the dog!

Speaking of WE, if you're a frequent poster (or a frequent lurker or searcher) on the VIN Message Boards, you've probably wondered "Who are those seemingly tireless folks spending their time and energy helping so many VINner's every day?"

Meet the VIN Consultant Team -- over 180 of the most dedicated and talented leaders in veterinary medicine monitor and facilitate clinical discussions that help us all be better clinicians while helping individual VINners manage THEIR cases.

Are you a Specialist who loves helping (and learning from) your colleagues? Call Paul D. Pion at 530-757-6881 or email to Paul@vin.com for more information.

But DO NOT for one minute think that the only ones who should feel welcome to share their knowledge/experience on the boards are the VIN consultants. YOU, YES, YOU are welcome and encouraged to jump in on discussions whenever you feel you have something to share. We are colleagues living in a community/family and we all have a lot to contribute.

Get To Know Your VIN Representatives
It's a big world in here! Between work, family and other obligations it's impossible to find time to explore every nook and cranny of VIN. That's why every veterinarian member of VIN is paired with a buddy from the VIN Representative team! Your buddy wants to help you learn the tips and tricks to get the most from your VIN membership.

You should never feel lost or alone. Your buddy can help you navigate VIN like a pro, find the information you're looking for and personlize your VIN experience to fit your needs.

Don't remember who YOUR VIN buddy is? Email VINgram@vin.com and we'll be happy to remind you and let your buddy know you want to get re-introduced.

Need Help?
Having trouble logging in to VIN? Questions about your membership? Can't find that reference you need for a tough case? Help is a click, email or phone call away! (Hint: you can find this page anytime by clicking HELP on the main VIN Navigation Bar).

New in VeterinaryPartner:

• Parvo: The Virus in the Environment / Disinfection revised
• Sulfasalazine revised

Texas Farm Radio

• Feeding the Geriatric Horse #1
• Feeding the Geriatric Horse #2

Feeding practices and the use of supplements for dogs kept by owners in different socioeconomic groups
The prevalence of feeding practices and supplements for dogs used in private practice (pp) and the non-profit-making People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (pdsa) was evaluated.

Veterinary aspects of ecological monitoring: the natural history of emerging infectious diseases of humans, domestic animals and wildlife
This paper posits that data gathered by veterinary ecologists should be interpreted and used by other disciplines. The importance of a thorough knowledge of the "natural history" (ecology) of the disease agent and its human, domestic, and wild hosts is stressed.

Vaccination of chickens using raw rice coated with novel trehalose nano-organogels containing Newcastle disease (strain I-2) vaccine
All vaccinated chickens (100%) survived the challenge of virulent Newcastle Disease (ND) virus, whereas all unvaccinated chickens succumbed to challenge and died of signs consistent with ND.

How often should we do full mouth radiographs?
Radiographs are not just for evaluating periodontal disease. They are also necessary to look for evidence of tooth resorption (in both dogs and cats), to assess endodontic development, to screen for tumors, to look for subgingival root fractures...

Water quality control in marine mammal exhibits
We have had some issues with inflow of small bubbles (each presumably containing a tiny amount of ozone) entering the pool from our disinfection system, despite a degassing column. The theory is that these bubbles may be causing corneal microtrauma. We are having various elaborate plumbing modifications to try to eliminate this problem.

Career coaching for veterinarians and veterinary staff: link to gifted leaders website
One person is a veterinarian who has branched into providing leadership and coaching opportunities. His website is ...

Goldendoodles: the perfect dog or a genetic nightmare?
I think it is as with any breed -- check out the parents, evaluate the litter, and be careful.

Virtual Coffeehouse
Tuesday, January 6, 9:30 p.m. ET
(Wednesday, January 7, 2:30 a.m. GMT)
Share your New Year's Resolutions!

How To Use VIN: Part 1
Wednesday, January 7, 9:30 pm ET
(Thursday, January 8, 2:30 am GMT)
Learn how to use VIN's Knowledgebase.
Email Nate@VIN.com for more information about this free, three-session course.

This Week's Rounds Schedule
Use the Rounds link to join these discussions.

Want to See What You've Been Missing?
Click the Rounds button on VIN's main navigation bar and read the transcripts of the last few Rounds, click the complete list of Rounds to get to the list of the last 300 Rounds transcripts or click on Rounds and Discussions in the VIN Library.

Rounds are also searchable via the Search button. Just remember to choose Rounds (under the Clinical Resources tab) as the "Source" in your search parameters.

For All You Multi-Taskers:
Download VINCasts to your MP3 player and listen to previous Rounds sessions while you run errands, exercise or steal a few minutes of me-time.

Recent Rounds
@ = VINCast available for this session

• Resistant Bacteria and Novel Therapies
• Elephant Medicine @
• Using the Media Effectively @
• Feline Holiday Hazards ~ AAFP
• Guided Tour: VIN Message Boards 2.0 @
• NCVEI & VBMA Discussion @
• Neonatal Resuscitation @
• Feline Ophthalmology ~ AAFP
• Office Space And Equipment Leases @

Member Benefit:
Got Staff?
The Veterinary Support Personnel Network was created specifically for your technicians, practice managers and other staff members to have access to their own message boards, chats and CE. Have your staff go to www.vspn.org to register! It's free!

Get More From VIN!
"How to Use VIN" resources:
The three-part "How To Use VIN" course can be taken live (on the first three Wednesday nights of each month), or you can do it as self study.

If you'd like to take the live sessions, e-mail Nate at Nate@VIN.com, and tell him you'd like to sign up for the How To Course.

To keep up with VIN's growth, take the time to explore the Front Page at least once a week, read the VIN This Week (VINTW) newsletter twice a week, explore the VINDEX (VIN's Front Page, right hand column) and click all the buttons on VIN's navigation bars.

Funny Bones:
Coincidence? I think not!
"Many will recall that, on July 8, 1947, witnesses claimed an unidentified object, with five aliens aboard, crashed just outside Roswell, New Mexico. "

What's Your Diagnosis?
* Archives of the Challenging and Fun Cases
* Ophthalmology Fun 72

Book Review of the Week
BSAVA Manual Of Canine And Feline Thoracic Imaging
Purchase it in the VIN Bookstore!

Website of the Week
Herbs At A Glance and more...

eVetsites Tip of the Week
New CAPTCHA Feature on All Forms

Associate - Updated and New:
* Cricopharyngeal Achalasia in Dogs
* Explore the rest of Associate!

Upcoming Conferences
Looking to attend or contribute a paper to a veterinary conference? Check out the On The Road With VIN folder, or the Press Releases folder, to see what conferences are coming up and to visit their Web sites! Links to information about upcoming conferences include: NAVC, WVC and EAAV.

These courses are now open for enrollment. Click on the links below to see the details, register and find more upcoming CE.
Intermediate Fish Medicine
February 26 - March 26, 2009

This intermediate fish medicine course is designed to further your experience with fish medicine. The basic concepts will be expanded and applied to case examples. The instructors are experienced fish practitioners who will provide important tips on running a fish practice as well as the important issues facing aquatic medicine.

Veterinary Dental Techniques Module 1
March 9 - April 20, 2009

This course in Veterinary Dental Techniques is designed to allow discussions of current techniques used in veterinary dentistry. Veterinarians practicing all levels of veterinary dentistry are invited to participate, from the veterinarian just interested in getting more information in veterinary dentistry to the Board Certified Veterinary Dentist.

Pharmaceutical Regulatory Review Course
March 30 - April 13, 2009

Participants will be able to evaluate their current practices and, if needed, implement improvements that reduce the risk of theft, diversion or prosecution for failure to maintain an adequate system of security and accountability for controlled substances.

For information on other CE courses, check out the Course Catalog on the CE Main Page.

Please visit How-To's Of Online CE for details about how to register and participate in online CE courses.

If you're looking for more information on CE opportunities for veterinary technicians, receptionists or practice managers, please visit the VSPN CE page. VSPN offers courses specifically tailored to veterinary support personnel, and certain VIN courses also are open to VPSN members.