If the last time you saw a chest tube was on an episode of ER, join Chris Byers, DVM, DACVECC, DACVIM, Tony Johnson, DVM, DACVECC and Adam Reiss, DVM, DACVECC and find out how to use them in the real world.

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.

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

• Calif. sales tax on veterinary services loses steam
  - VNS Report | Discussion
• Salmonella poisoning in dog linked to peanut-butter recall
  - VNS Report | Discussion
• Blockbuster Pfizer-Wyeth deal stirs veterinary medicine
  - VNS Report | Discussion
• Veterinary Behaviorists Question Dominance Theory in Dogs
  - VNS Report | Discussion

Be a VIN Newshound:
VNS is here to give YOU a voice and report news that is important to YOU. Got an idea for a story? Have a story that needs covering? Post it on the boards or email News@vin.com .

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.

VINner Lounge at WVC
On Tuesday, February 17 (9 a.m.-6 p.m.), VINners are invited to join together in the VINner Lounge (Captain's Boardroom on Level 0 of the Mandalay Bay Convention Center).

Enjoy refreshments and lively discussion about VIN and current topics with fellow VINners. Meet Paul and other VIN staff. Get a sneak preview of stuff that's 'coming soon' to VIN. Learn how you can get more out of VIN and tell us how we can make VIN better for you. We look forward to seeing you there!

If It's Not One Thing It's Another...
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 Clinical Content:

• Guide to Common Poison Emergencies
• Infection Prevention and Control Best Practices for Small Animal Veterinary Clinics
• Taxonomy for the Avian Veterinarian: The Orders and Families of Birds

New Form:

• Anesthesia Record

New Clinical Study:

• Evaluation of Fatty Acid Supplementation in Dogs with Severe Pulmonic Stenosis

(If you have a patient who fits the criteria for this newly added clinical study, 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.)

New in VeterinaryPartner:

• Let me Play!
• Medications for Degenerative Arthritis revised
• Bartonella and Cat Scratch Fever revised

Texas Farm Radio

• Septic Metritis in the Mare

Nonsurgical management of osteoarthritis in dogs
This article presents a review of the published material regarding various nonsurgical treatments for osteoarthritis. When there are no data regarding a specific treatment, or when a statement is the opinion of the authors, such a deficiency is identified.

Feline aelurostrongylosis and canine angiostrongylosis: A challenging diagnosis for two emerging verminous pneumonia infections
This article provides a review of A. abstrusus and A. vasorum infections in cats and dogs, focusing on the advantages and shortcomings of classical diagnostic methodologies and on present diagnostic advances as well as future perspectives instrumental to epidemiological and clinical studies.

Prevalence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in domestic cats from Mexico City
We found 37 (21.8%) seropositive cats to T. gondii with an increase in frequency related to age. Main risk factors were female gender, feeding the pet with raw meat, and infrequent cleaning of the litter box. The frequency of T. gondii antibodies found in domestic cats of Mexico City suggests active transmission within an urban environment.

Emergence of canine ocular thelaziosis caused by Thelazia callipaeda in southern Switzerland
The most common symptoms were conjunctivitis and epiphora, while keratitis was present only in a low number of animals. Young and small sized dogs were significantly less involved than large animals and over 3 years of age.

Should we breed a foundered pony?
Even with those unknowns, a mare with active laminitis should not be made to carry the extra weight of a growing fetus, nor have to deal with the stresses of late gestation and lactation.

Lumpectomy Vs. Mastectomy
If it is a cat, I tend to lean toward unilateral (if not bilateral) mastectomy since their malignancy rate is pretty high - even with small masses.

Does Sante's rule apply to digital radiography? Reducing white noise and graininess in digital radiographs
We grew up accustomed to film, where exposure and the display state were tightly linked: too much exposure = too dark, and too little exposure = too light. With digital radiography, exposure and brightness are not linked.

Trauma patients: minimum recommended bloodwork
Don't use the economy as a reason to change your best medical recommendation. That is where the art of veterinary medicine comes from -- when you can't do everything that you want.

Virtual Coffeehouse
Tuesday, February 17, 9:30 p.m. ET
(Wednesday, February 18, 2:30 a.m. GMT)
Stop by and chat with your fellow VIN addicts!

How To Use VIN: Part 3
Wednesday, February 18, 9:30 p.m. ET
(Thursday, February 19, 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

• Feline Diabetic Ketoacidosis Case
• Diagnosing And Treating Feline IBD @
• Disc Disease and Spinal Cord Trauma @
• Concurrent Renal & Cardiac Disease ~ AAFP
• Feline Diabetes & Acromegaly @
• The Obama Tax Plan @

Member Benefit:
Continual Education
Don't just attend CE - learn and enjoy! VIN continual education courses are unlike any CE you've experienced. If you need CE credits, VIN can help you meet your continual education requirements and have fun at the same time - all from the comfort and convenience of your home or office!

Experience direct interaction among instructors and fellow participants daily on the message boards and during the weekly real time sessions. Please visit the CE Main Page and check out the Course Catalog for information on current courses.

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:
Grammar snobs, unite!
Yesterday one of my techs came to me, asking about a particular call from a client. She started the discussion with, "Mrs X called about her dog, Fluffy. She HAD BROUGHTEN the dog in on Thursday..."

What's Your Diagnosis?
Archives of the Challenging and Fun Cases
* Ophtho Fun Case 75
* Public Health Case 4

Book Review of the Week
Veterinary Hematology: Atlas of Common Domestic and Non-Domestic Species
Purchase it in the VIN Bookstore!

Website of the Week
Animal Health Literacy and more..

eVetsites Tip of the Week
Linking Pharmacy Web Sites to your eVetsite

Associate - Updated and New:
Canine Demodectic Mange
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.