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

APOLOGIES....
...for any inconvenience you may have experienced after some unannounced changes to the VINDEX drop down menu. You may have noticed some of the links were re-named and some new ones were added. You can access the VINDEX from almost anywhere on VIN. Just hit CTRL-E (press E while holding down the CTRL key) on your keyboard and up pops the VINDEX, front and center, on your screen. Please let us know what you think at Feedback@vin.com.

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

• Accounts likely safe despite Heartland security breach, officials say
  - VNS Report | Discussion
• Consulting firm avows pet insurance merits - veterinarians not convinced
  - VNS Report | Discussion
• Can we eat it?
  - VNS Report | Discussion
• UPDATE: Pet Food Recall
  - Discussion
• AVMA announces new strategy for annual meeting
  - 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.

New Content ~ Always!
Thousands of new and updated message board discussions, journal abstracts and other information resources are added to the VIN Database and Library each month.

Above and beyond what the VIN Content Team creates and indexes, many VINners create and contribute up-to-date summaries on timely topics.

Save time. Search the VIN Database, and check the Medical FAQs and the VIN Library (see MyToolbox) -- before you post.

New Medical FAQ:

• Feline Heart Size and Hypertrophy

New Proceedings:

• International Canine Valvular Disease 2008 Symposium
• World Veterinary Congress 2008

New Clinical Studies:

• Genetics of spina bifida and cleft palate in brachycephalic dogs
• PLE in Yorkies

(If you have a patient who fits the criteria for any of these newly added clinical trials, click the link to see how to enroll. Check the clinical trials page to see if one of the other ongoing trials might make new or novel therapies available for your patients.)

Three Cheers for the 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 never need to 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 they'll be happy to remind you and let your buddy know you want to get re-introduced.

New in VeterinaryPartner:

• Two's Company
• Insulin Administration Guide revised
• Snail Bait Poisoning (Metaldehyde Toxicity) revised

Texas Farm Radio

• Electrolytes in Endurance Horses

How often do veterinarians assess the body weight and body condition of dogs?
Information derived from 148 dogs was analysed to determine how often their bodyweight and body condition had been assessed.

Epidural analgesia and anesthesia in dogs and cats
Proper selection of drugs and dosages can result in analgesia of specific segments of the spinal cord with minimal side effects.

Management of fractures in field settings
Cattle are excellent patients for treatment of orthopedic injuries because they spend a majority of time lying down, have a tremendous potential for bone healing, are more resistant than other animals to contralateral limb breakdown and stress laminitis, and usually do not resist having orthopedic devices on their limbs.

Modifying office hours during a slow economy
Last year I said we would "never" close on Saturdays. Guess what - we are closed now every other Saturday. We still get all the people who need a Saturday for their schedule, Fridays and Mondays have become busier as well as Tuesday and Thursday evenings. So far very few client complaints.

Which poisonings would respond to intravenous lipid solutions?
After placing an NE tube for charcoal and enteral feeding I bolused 20ml of Liposyn and followed it with 200ml IV over 90 minutes. The dog is 25 pounds. Needless to say, I am absolutely amazed; these dogs usually take days to weeks to improve and this one is standing and somewhat alert after 3 hours.

Can animals be euthanized via feeding tubes?
We use a red rubber catheter for wildlife and squirt the euthasol orally; most don't seem to mind the taste (not an issue for a feeding tube) and they fall asleep very quickly. We then can administer more via intracardiac or intraperitoneal injection when asleep.

Virtual Coffeehouse
Tuesday, February 3, 9:30 p.m. ET
(Wednesday, February 4, 2:30 a.m. GMT)
Stop by and chat with your fellow VIN addicts!

How To Use VIN: Part 1
Wednesday, February 4, 9:30 p.m. ET
(Thursday, February 5, 2:30 a.m. GMT)
Learn how to use VIN like a pro!
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

• Disc Disease and Spinal Cord Trauma
• Concurrent Renal & Cardiac Disease ~ AAFP
• Feline Diabetes & Acromegaly @
• The Obama Tax Plan @
• Resistant Bacteria and Novel Therapies @
• Elephant Medicine @

Member Benefit:
Need a summary of your 2008 VIN Community membership and related fees for tax preparation or reimbursement? Try the easy Membership Statement tool - in your MyVIN -- click on MyVIN in the main navigation bar near the top of the page. From there, choose Membership>Payment info.

Your VIN membership and online access charges are likely tax deductible (check with your tax professional).

Please let us know if anything doesn't seem right to you. Email feedback@vin.com or join the discussion.

Get More From VIN!
Post a Medical Video
Want your VIN colleagues to take a peek at a case for you? Email your video to Videos@vin.com and the VIN multimedia team will compress and convert it to a format your fellow VINners can easily view on the message boards. Read the FAQ for detailed instructions.

Funny Bones:
You know you're getting old when...
"...you hear a muzak version of the Ramones' Blitzkrieg Bop at the bank."

What's Your Diagnosis?
Archives of the Challenging and Fun Cases
* Public Health Case 2

Book Review of the Week
Sheep Flock health, a Planned Approach
Purchase it in the VIN Bookstore!

Website of the Week
Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmitis and more...

eVetsites Tip of the Week
How To Verify Your eVetsite with Google Analytics/Google Webmaster Tools

Associate - Updated and New:
Essential benign hematuria in cats and 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: WVC, EAAV and SAVMA.

These courses are now open for enrollment. Click on the links below to see the details, register and find more upcoming CE.

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.

OSHA & Practice Safety
April 20 - July 13, 2009

This course is designed for the Practice Owner, Manager or Administrator who desires to understand OSHA's Standards as well as practical ways to implement them in a veterinary practice. We attempt to avoid debating the merits of any particular requirement and focus on how to achieve compliance!

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.