If you're sick to your stomach over the recent economy, be sure to come back at 10 p.m and join Michael Porrello, CPA, CVA, for Maintaining Practice Value in a Turbulent Economy.

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...

• Flea product swap causes a flap
  - VNS Report | Discussion
• AVMA, GHLIT respond to VIN survey
  - VNS Report | Discussion
• Veterinary medicine embraces interpersonal skills training
  - VNS Report | Discussion
• EVOLVING STORIES
  - Red Flag Rules delayed
  - From AMC to Banfield
  - The seal in your bathtub

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 .

VIN News Service Needs Your Feedback

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! Oncology Specialty Center
Successfully treating cancer is one of the greatest challenges faced by both human and veterinary practitioners. Learn more about recent developments in veterinary oncology in the new Oncology Specialty Center.

An array of resources including pertinent FAQs and client handouts, open access oncology journals and links to laboratory websites have been compiled in one easy-to-use location.

The Oncology Specialty Center can be reached through the About Page of the Oncology Message Folder and the Specialties Center page in the VIN Library.

"When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs." ~ Ansel Adams
When words aren't enough, turn to the VIN Image Library, built in part from VINner contributions. This is the VIN Community at its best!

Images are immensely valuable in teaching and sharing ideas on cases. The Image Library includes hundreds of photos, radiographs, ultrasounds, illustrations and other images and is divided into easy to use categories and sections. Reach the Image Library through the Multimedia Center or the Specialty Centers in the VIN Library.

If there is a specific image you'd like to see or if you'd like to contribute your own images please contact us at Library@vin.com.

New in VeterinaryPartner:

• Litter Box Rules
• Pituitary Cushing's Syndrome revised

Texas Farm Radio

• Melanoma in Horses

Gastric thermal injury in a dog secondary to ingested barbecued sausages
Initial treatment for gastric ulceration was unsuccessful and endoscopy revealed gastric mucosal damage and ulceration, with histopathology yielding a diagnosis of ulcerative and suppurative gastritis.

Sequelae and complications of Streptococcus equi subspecies equi infections in the horse
This article reviews sequelae and complications of S. equi ssp. equi infection in the horse, including guttural pouch empyema, bastard strangles and immune mediated diseases such as purpura haemorrhagica, myopathies and myocarditis.

Proactive protocols pound parasites
Compliance with parasite protocols doesn’t have to be so tough. Try these tips to improve compliance and keep patients, clients, and your bottom line healthy.

Veterinarians and the red flags rule
I don't really care how "easy" the AVMA has made it, I'm a solo practitioner, and I don't have time for this kind of crap. We try to protect what we have already. The written plan, etc, is a colossal waste of time. My biggest concern, that I cannot get a straight answer from anyone on, is how long I must keep "my" copy of a credit card sales slip before I can destroy it. I've been told anywhere from 5 years to 30 days. These slips laying around are the single biggest threat to anyone, with the CC numbers and signatures on them. The new systems don't print the whole number, but I still have slips from the old system. Can I please burn them now?
*Related VNS article

Kitten with abnormal gait
On palpation of the stifle joint it felt very abnormal and thickened. The anatomy felt very abnormal and there was obvious thickening of the femoral condyles. The hind legs could be extended but there was medial rotation at the stifle joints with inward rotation of the tarsus.When the patient walked it seemed to hobble and hop instead of taking steps. The hock, elbow and carpus also felt very thickened and abnormal. The ribs and dorsal spine felt very coarse and abnormal as well. All other physical exam findings were normal.

The city is going to build an animal control facility that will offer cheap spays, vaccinations, etc.: any advice?
Do you really think this will negatively impact your practice? Has anyone had decreased revenue after a clinic like this one opened?

Asymptomatic cleft palate in a kitten: how to further evaluate to determine prognosis
I haven't been able to follow that many to adulthood, but those that I have have not needed any surgery. Still, someone adopting should be aware of the potential.

VIN Rounds
Sunday, May 17, 10 p.m. EDT
(Monday, May 18, 2 a.m. GMT/UTC)
Join Michael Porrello, CPA, CVA, for Maintaining Practice Value in a Turbulent Economy.

Virtual Coffeehouse
Tuesday, May 19, 9:30 p.m. EDT
(Wednesday, May 20, 1:30 a.m. GMT/UTC)
Stop by and chat with your fellow VIN addicts!

How To Use VIN: Part 3
Wednesday, May 20, 9:30 p.m. EDT
(Thursday, May 21, 1:30 a.m. GMT/UTC)
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 main VIN Search. 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
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Member Benefit:
"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.

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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.)

Funny Bones
Bristol Stool Chart
"After all these years, you'd think I'd know better than to open a thread with that kinda title while I'm eating. But noooooo........."

What's Your Diagnosis?
Archives of the Challenging and Fun Cases
* Zoonosis Case 17
* Ophthalmology Fun 83

Book Review of the Week
Veterinary Disaster Response
Purchase it in the VIN Bookstore!

Website of the Week
Preventing Occupational And Environmental Exposure To Cytotoxic Drugs and more...

Associate - Updated and New:
Muzzle Folliculitis and Furunculosis 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: AVA, ACVIM, EVECCS, SEVC, PVC, and ESFM

NOW OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT!
Click on the links below to see the details, register and find more upcoming CE.

Quality Management for the Veterinary Clinical Pathology Laboratory, Part I
June 7 - September 6, 2009

Participants will be introduced to theories of management and concepts vital to quality planning. Examples of ISO-based and GLP standards will be included. Laboratory design, Westgard Rules, QC Validation and Sigma Metrics will be covered.

Quality Management for the Veterinary Clinical Pathology Laboratory, Part II
October 4 - December 20, 2009

Participants will study personnel specifications, job descriptions, training records and employee appraisals, learn about audits in the veterinary clinical pathology laboratory and determination of reference intervals. Improvement Opportunities, external Quality Assurance performance and a Quality Plan for the laboratory are the final topics in Part II.

*NOTE: Part I is a prerequisite for Part II.

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.