If you can't attend, be sure to check the Rounds Page or Front Page of VIN or next Tuesday's VIN This Week for links to the transcript of the discussions.

We Don't Have Harry Potter...
...but the VIN Library has a pretty cool collection of online books, available exclusively to VINners. When you finish reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, check out these texts:

• Associate − VIN's online book, featuring chapters on canine, feline, public health, and foreign animal/bioterrorism diseases.
• Cardiac Auscultation and Phonocardiography − Text and sound recordings that provide a practical guide to the interpretation of normal and abnormal heart sounds.
• Small Animal Cardiovascular Medicine − A comprehensive, illustrated explanation of anatomy, physiology, assessment, diagnosis and management of small animal cardiovascular disease.
• Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook − Browse the full text of the Veterinary Drug Handbook.
• North American Companion Animal Formulary − Online version of the NACAF that includes >1900 references on the use of >950 drugs.
• Understanding Veterinary Dentistry - An introduction to basic concepts and techniques central to veterinary dentistry.
• Smile Book Series on Veterinary Dentistry − Five books on dental diagnostics and procedures, with full-color images.
• Clinical Laboratory Manual − Purpose, specimen collection, and test limitations for specific diagnostic tests.
• Potbellied Pig Manual − A manual compiled by UC Davis veterinarians on the veterinary management of miniature pigs

Recent Pet Food Recall: The FDA has recalled four varities of Natural Balance Eatables canned dog food. Participate in the discussion on the VIN Message Boards.

MyStuff - Your Online Filing Cabinet!
Imagine the power of having all of your favorite links available to you on any computer you use -- home or office or even on a friend's computer. MyStuff gives you that power!

Almost every information-packed page on VIN is MyStuff enabled - just click the RED HEART on the page or choose Save to MyStuff and you are on your way

Do a Search; save the results. When you search the VIN database, look for the "Add to MyStuff" link associated with each search result. If you look at the top of your search result list, you'll notice the "Add Search Results to MyStuff" link that lets you save the list of search results.

• Want to go back later and review something you found browsing the Library? Store the link for review later!
• Find a favorite page in Associate; save the link.
• Create your own categories and subcategories to help you store things as you want them.

You are not limited to VIN Content! ANY internet page can be stored and categorized within MyStuff.

MyStuff is easy to use. Every page or search result on VIN has a little red heart or an "Add to MyStuff" link. For external links, just copy and paste the URL for the page you want to save. To retrieve your MyStuff, click "MyVIN" on the VIN navigation bar, your MyStuff is there waiting for you from any computer, anywhere in the world.

New in VeterinaryPartner:

• In Fine Feather
• Famotidine (revised)
• Reglan (revised)

Texas Farm Radio:

• Endometritis in the Mare #1 1/5/07
• Endometritis in the Mare #2 1/8/07

In case you were unable to attend...
Browse these online proceedings online by speaker/category or search by topic. The topics are timely and practical!
UC Davis Canine Medicine Symposium 2007
ACVC 2006
Register now for ACVC 2007, October 9-11 in Atlantic City!

Featured Book: Veterinary Medicine, 10th Edition - A textbook of the diseases of cattle, horses, sheep, pigs and goats, Radostits, Gay, Hinchcliff, Constable, 2007

Reduced tear production in three canine endocrinopathies
This study shows a significant reduction in tear production in animals with diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism and hyperadrenocorticism. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms by which this reduction in tear production occurs. Assessment of tear production should be undertaken in animals diagnosed with these endocrinopathies, as these animals may progress to clinical keratoconjunctivitis sicca.

Complications and long-term outcomes of the ligation of congenital portosystemic shunts in 49 cats
Thirty (83 per cent) of the 36 cats for which long-term information was available were still alive at a median follow-up period of 47 months (range six to 105 months). The outcome was excellent in 20 of them and good in seven. None of these 27 cats was on any long-term medication or special diet.

Effect of passive stretching on the range of motion of osteoarthritic joints in 10 Labrador retrievers
During the 21 day study, the owners performed 10 passive stretches for a hold of 10 seconds twice daily. Goniometric measurements showed that the passive stretching significantly increased the range of motion of the joints.

The normal electrocardiogram of four species of conscious raptors
The aim of this study was to describe normal ECG patterns and values in the Eurasian kestrel, Griffon vulture, Little owl, and Eurasian Eagle owl. Electrocardiograms were carried out in 75 conscious birds.

Puppy ears: severely swollen pinnae, purulent discharge
I suspect some form of puppy strangles. Would it be ok to start this puppy on prednisone before judging any response to antibiotic treatment alone?

Slippery Sam catheters for blocked cats: how best to use them
Slippery Sams are *fabulous*. I haven't used any other catheter since I first used one. Exactly the right combination of firm and atraumatic.

Addison's disease in a standard poodle with vague signs
I was so focused on the aminopterin angle that Addison's had never entered my mind. With Na+ and K+ still within normal limits and not calculating the ratio, I could easily have missed it until a far worse crisis.

Virtual Coffeehouse
Tuesday, July 31, 9:30 pm (August 1, 01:30 am GMT)
What's going on with you this week? Stop by and share with your colleagues!
Use the Coffeehouse link to join the discussion.
This Week's Rounds Schedule

EBM Journal Club
Tuesday, July 31, 10:00 pm (August 1, 02:00 am GMT)
Join your colleagues for the next meeting of the Evidence Based Medicine Journal Club.
Review the introductory transcript.
Attend the EBM Journal Club.

Recent Rounds

Member Benefit:
Group membership discounts
We offer colleagues, working in the same practice, discounted group membership rates. If more than one member of your practice is using a single VIN log-in, you and your colleagues should each have your own log-in billed as a group membership.

Do your part to support the VIN community you value. Email VINgram@vin.com for information about setting up a Group Membership.

Book Review of the Week:
Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care for Veterinary Technicians, Second Edition
You can purchase this book in the VIN store.

Associate - Updated and New:
* Dancing Doberman disease is probably a peripheral neuropathy
*Explore the rest of the Associate!

What's Your Diagnosis?
* Ophthalmology Case 25
* Case Archives

Website Of The Week:
Genetic Alliance and more...

Get More From VIN!
* Steps To A More Effective Search
* Read The "How To Use VIN" Tutorial
* How Can I ... Learn Associate?
* How Can I ... Become A Super-Duper VIN User?

eVetsites Tip of the Week:
Learn From Mouse Rollovers

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: AAV, SWVS, ECVIM and CVC.

From the Boards:
* Designing A Dental Suite
* Signs Of Distemper In Raccoons
* Blood Types In Swine
* TPLO Vs. Extracapsular Repair

Current Issues in Small Animal Nutrition
With the recent pet food recall crisis, it is more important than ever that veterinarians have an understanding of the pet food industry and that they have all the necessary tools to assess diets appropriate for their patients.

We may soon see a tremendous political and financial impact globally as the consumer, particularly in developed countries, will start to demand more transparency in where food is coming from and how food safety is assured.

Instructors:
Marion Smart, DVM, Ph.D
Claudia Kirk, DVM, Ph.D
Sarah Abood, DVM, Ph.D
Melissa Nixon, DVM

Dates:
August 26 - September 2, 2007

Real-time session: Sunday, August 26; 9:30 - 11:00 pm ET (Monday, 01:30 - 03:00 am GMT)

Practice sessions: Monday, August 20 and Thursday, August 23, 9:30 - 11:30 PM ET (Tuesday, 01:30 - 03:00 am GMT)

CE Hours: 1.5

Required Textbook: None

Recommended Textbooks: None

Dr. Smart's paper, "Pet Food & Nutrition: A Necessary Review for Veterinarians" is available now in the VIN library:
This article will be one of the resources for this course. It is accessible to current VIN members.

Tuition: FREE
Attendance at the real-time session is open to ALL veterinarians and veterinary students and does not require registration. You simply need to go to www.vin.com/CE on Sunday, August 26 at 9:30 pm ET (USA) and click on the banner for the Current Issues in Small Animal Nutrition course. All who attend the real-time session will receive a transcript by email.

**Registration is needed ONLY if you are interested in obtaining CE credits and will be participating in the real-time session and the course message boards (Vet students - please do not register).**

Please remember that all VIN members will have access to the transcript and course library materials, so it is not necessary to register if you are a VIN member, unless you are interested in CE credit.

Registration WILL CLOSE on Thursday, August 23, 2007 at 8pm ET (USA) OR as soon as the course capacity is reached. Free courses fill up quickly, so enroll now!

*If you are not a VIN member, you can register for one of our Free CE courses every six months. If you would like to take multiple free courses, there will be a minimum $55 charge to cover your access to VIN during the additional courses.

*Current VINners can review transcripts of past VIN CE free courses.

To find out more about this course visit the Current Issues in Small Animal Nutrition page.

To register, scroll to the bottom of the course information page and choose the Enroll Now link.