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.

National Feline Abscess/Bite Wound Retroviral Prevalence Study
Cats with abscesses or bite wounds appear to have a 1 in 5 chance of being FeLV and/or FIV positive.

Dr. July Levy of the University of Florida is looking for cats that have bite wounds or abscesses in which FIV and FeLV testing can be performed. See the Clinical Trial page for specific information on eligibility.

Let's lead the way in clinical trial participation and, as a community, help advance the way we practice medicine.

Check and see if one of the many listed clinical trials might make new or novel therapies available for your patients!

What do YOU think?
Twice a week you receive this "VIN This Week" email newsletter.

The VIN This Week Team would love to know what you think (anonymously of course), about the VIN This Week(end) newsletters they prepare for you.

Please help us help you and all VINners by responding to this short survey. The survey should take less than 5 minutes to complete.

Veterinary Clinical Pathology - Online - Full Text!
Thanks to the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology (ASVCP) and the VIN Foundation, VINners have free access to full text journal articles from 30 years of Veterinary Clinical Pathology. Journal articles are available via either Search or Library (Journals). You can even get pretty PDF versions that look just like the Journal. Enjoy!

New in VeterinaryPartner:

• Splish, Splash, and Caution
• Kidney Failure: Where to Begin (revised)
• Dietary Therapy of Renal Failure

Texas Farm Radio:

• Weight Loss in Horses #1 11/9/06
• Weight Loss in Horses #2 11/10/06

In case you were unable to attend...
Browse the Veterinary Neurology Symposium 2007 online proceedings online by speaker/category or search by topic.

Featured Book:
Pathologic Basis of Veterinary Disease, 4th Edition, McGavin, Zachary, 2007

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in cats: a review
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should be used with caution in cats because of their low capacity for hepatic glucuronidation, which is the major mechanism of metabolism and excretion for this category of drugs. However, the evidence presented supports the short-term use of carprofen, flunixin, ketoprofen, meloxicam, and tolfenamic acid as analgesics in cats. There were no data to support the safe chronic use of NSAIDs in cats.

An automated method for the measurement of methaemoglobin in avian blood
Results obtained using the original manual method and those using the new automated technique were compared and no significant differences were found. Intra-day and inter-day variabilities were acceptable for samples containing high levels of methaemoglobin (metHb). Methaemoglobin measured in blood samples stored in liquid nitrogen was stable for 10 days, but increased significantly by day 20 in nitrite-treated samples.

Thoracic trauma in horses
Types of trauma to the thoracic region of the horse include pectoral and axillary lacerations, penetrating chest wounds, flail chest, fractures of the ribs, blunt thoracic trauma, and several potential sequelae that include pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, hemothorax, pleuritis, fistulae of the sternum or ribs, and diaphragmatic hernia.

Schirmer tear test, phenol red thread tear test, eye blink frequency and corneal sensitivity in the guinea pig
Our objectives were to establish reference values for Schirmer tear tests (STT) I and II, phenol red thread (PRT) tear test and eye blink frequency, and to determine corneal sensitivity for normal guinea pigs. As there were no significant differences between STT I and STT II results, reflex tear secretion in the guinea pig may not exist. Because of the small amount of tears, PRT is the preferred test for tear measurement in the guinea pig.

Diagnostic approach to pruritus in dogs and cats
I'm a little lost with how to approach my pruritus cases. I feel like I'm missing a step. I have searched for a concise workup plan, but couldn't find anything, so if I've missed something in the archives, point me in the right direction.

Differentials for cat with episodic blindness and behavior changes; tips and sedative suggestions for checking blood pressure in fractious cat
How about teaching the owner to feel the dorsal pedal artery pulse in the hind foot while the cat is relaxed at home? Once that is reliably palpable, they may be able to use a blood pressure cuff and do a blood pressure by palpation. It's crude, but should tend to underestimate the true blood pressure and may give you a yes or no on hypertension.

Seizing dog being fed a raw beef diet; seizures associated with Escherichia coli infections and bacterial lipopolysaccharides
I find food allergy common in seizing German shepherds, and have had some success using elimination diets. Raw diets contain some of the more common allergens, especially beef. Here are 2 abstracts about E. coli and seizures ...

Was I inappropriate? Handling frustrating clients
When I'm in a situation like that, I now try to remind myself that people may be ignorant, or they may be stupid, but it doesn't change the oath I took to my patients. Helping a pet in need means that I have to find a way to effectively communicate with its owner, and explain the problem in terms he can understand. It isn't always possible, but there are tactics we can use that can either help or hinder the choices that our clients make to treat their pet, or storm out of our office.

Virtual Coffeehouse
Tuesday, August 7, 9:30 pm ET (August 8, 01:30 am GMT)
What's new with you? Stop by and share with your colleagues!
Use the Coffeehouse link to join the discussion.
This Week's Rounds Schedule

EBM Journal Club
Tuesday, August 7, 10:00 pm ET (August 8, 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.

How To Use VIN: Part 2
Wednesday, August 8, 9:30 pm EDT (August 9, 01:30 am GMT)
Learn how to use VIN. Email Nate@VIN.com for more information about this free, three-session course.
Attend the How To Session

Recent Rounds

Member Benefit:
Need Books?
The VIN Bookstore has textbooks and other information resources. Save 10% or more off the list price every day and free shipping on US orders of $90.00 or more.

Book Review of the Week:
Blackwell's Five-Minute Consult Clinical Companion: Canine and Feline Behavior
You can purchase this book in the VIN store.

Associate - Updated and New:
* What can cause a reddish brown colored synovium? Villonodular synovitis, a rare joint disease!
*Explore the rest of the Associate!

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

Website Of The Week:
Cardiology Site 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:
Forms Converted to PDF

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 Central.

From the Boards:
* Humeral Cyst
* Weimaraner Vaccination Issues
* Weirdest Tibia I've Ever Seen
* Pediatric Spays In Shelters

Organ System and ABVP Core Examination Review Module C
Please note new course start date is August 16 (one week earlier).
Early bird deadline is still August 9.

The Organ System and ABVP Core Examination Review course is divided into 3 modules. Each module provides a systematic review of the physiology & pathophysiology of the organ systems included in that section.

You will be able to use the 3 modules of this course as a focused and comprehensive preparation tool for the ABVP Core Examination.

Even if you aren't going to take the exam, the depth and breadth of this material will provide you with an up-to-date review of organ system pathophysiology.

Module C includes the following topics: Cardiology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Reproduction and Hematology/Chemistry.

Course Coordinator: Katherine M. James, DVM, Ph.D

Dates:
August 16 - October 25, 2007

Real-time sessions: Thursdays, August 16, 23, 30, September 6, 13, break, 27, break, October 11 and 18; 9:30 - 11:30 pm ET (Fridays, 01:30 - 03:30 am GMT)

CE Hours: 16

Course Outline and Instructors:
Week 1: Hematology/Chemistry -- Michelle L. Plier, DVM, DACVP
Weeks 2-3: Endocrinology -- Ellen Behrend, VMD, MS, DACVIM and Jill C. Lurye, DVM, MS, DACVIM
Weeks 4-5: Gastroenterology -- Chris Ludlow, DVM, MS, DACVIM and Margie Scherk , DVM, DABVP
Week 6: Reproduction -- Joni Freshman, DVM, MS, DACVIM
Weeks 7-8: Cardiology -- Mark Rishniw, BVSc, DACVIM (Internal Medicine & Cardiology); Mark Kittleson, DVM, PhD, DACVIMjo

Tuition:
Member/$266, Non-Member/$373 by August 9, 2007;
Member/$296, Non-Member/$414 after August 9, 2007

Required Textbook: None

Recommended Textbooks: Will be listed when the course opens

To find out more:
Visit the Organ System and ABVP Module C course information page.

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