Almost exactly 3 years ago, along with millions living in the Gulf Coast vicinity, our colleagues, their clients and patients, were overwhelmed by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The local veterinary schools and community, the VIN community, the VIN Foundation and many other colleagues worldwide responded with an outpouring of aid and support.

Today's lead story in the VIN News Service (see below) reports what is known about the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav.

Thus far, it seems that due to preparation by government, our colleagues and their neighbors, lessons learned, and a less violent blow by mother nature, the situation is nowhere near as bad as after Katrina.

During the weekend, VIN Consultant Carol Foil (a local relief effort participant) and the VIN Crisis Team worked to prepare for the worst. Although communications are currently somewhat impaired and confused (no power, no cable, no cell phone, only a few emails and text messages have been received), it seems things are relatively stable.

But the most honest answer is that we are currently unsure what help is needed today or will be needed in the weeks to come.

We know you and all VINners want to help. As, and if, the situation changes, we will alert you and let you know how you can help.

NEWS THAT'S FIT TO CLICK...and discuss
News reported for YOU..
Learn more about the VIN News Service (VNS); help make the VNS what you want it to be by sharing WHAT YOU THINK with the VNS staff and all VINners.

There's Something Fishy Going On!
The International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine is making their complete proceedings archive available to the scientific community. Browse articles from 2003 to 2007 by speaker or category or you can search by topic.

The complete archive will be finished in time for the 2009 IAAAM conference. Forty years of information on topics from tumors in Tursiops (dolphins) to fish vaccinations to environmental conservation will be available at your fin-tips!

New in VeterinaryPartner:

• Let Cats Scratch
• Abscesses from Bite Wounds revised
• Azathioprine (Imuran) revised

Texas Farm Radio

• Preventing Fire in your Horse Barn

Evaluation of the adverse effects of subcutaneous carprofen over six days in healthy cats
Subcutaneous administration of carprofen over six days did not cause any adverse effects on gastrointestinal, hematological, or serum biochemical variables.

Sebaceous adenitis in Swedish dogs, a retrospective study of 104 cases
The result of this study implicates that the English springer spaniel is a breed predisposed to sebaceous adenitis and that it has more severe clinical signs than the standard poodle does. A large proportion of the dogs (spaniel, poodle, and akita) investigated regarding survival were reported to have been euthanized.

Interference of iohexol with radioiodine thyroid uptake in the hyperthyroid cat
This study demonstrates that iohexol interferes with the uptake of radioiodine in the hyperthyroid cat, but does not provoke increased turnover. In this study, albeit including a small number of cats, outcome did not seem to be significantly affected.

Staff raises during a recession
We are a one doctor practice in Maryland. Our pay scale is already higher than most other practices but so are our fees and my staff is excellent. Still this recession scares me.

How do you prevent dispensing errors?
I can't say we've had a lot in our pactices lifetime, and none that have been fatal. Just the very occasional refill that an observant owner notices looks different than previous prescriptions. Yesterday we had a near disaster however.

How to fire pleasant, but incompetent, receptionist
I tend to view every *firing* opportunity as a chance to improve. Hire someone more competent and your clients (and other staff) will be thankful.

How To Use VIN: Part 2
Wednesday, September 3, 9:30 pm EDT
(September 4, 1:30 am GMT)
Learn how to be a Super VINner!
Email Nate@VIN.com for more information about this free, three-session course.

Sunday Rounds
Sunday, September 7, 10 pm EDT
(September 8, 2 a.m. GMT)
Join Kendal Harr, DVM, MS, DACVP, and Jennifer Brazzell, DVM, PhD, DACVP, for Quality Control Of In-House Labs: What Do Your Numbers Really Mean?

Use the Rounds link to join the discussions above.
This Week's Rounds Schedule
Recent Rounds
@ = VINcast is available for this session

Member Benefit:
Veterinary Journals Online
When you SEARCH VIN, you scan nearly 2 million content items. Within this mass of information are citations and abstracts relevant to veterinary practice from thousands of clinical and biomedical journals.

In the VIN Library, you'll find a complete (well, likely a few have been missed) collection of citations and abstracts (and sometimes more) from over 150 core veterinary journals.

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. Be sure to include a description of the case, title and/or URL of the discussion where you are sharing the case with VINners.

Funny Bones:
Cat With Four Ears
"But I bet he still doesn't come when you call."

What's Your Diagnosis?
*Dermatology Fun 22: Kitty Paws
*Archives of the Challenging and Fun Cases

Associate - Updated and New:
* Did you know that the hyperdynamic phase of shock is rarely seen in cats as most of them present in the "hypodynamic phase"
* Explore the rest of Associate!

Book Review of the Week:
Flynn's Parasites of Laboratory Animals, Second Edition
Purchase it in the VIN Bookstore!

Website of the Week:
Cumulative Veterinary Adverse Drug Experience (ADE) Reports and more...

eVetsitesTip of the Week:
Page Width Control – Multiple Image Tables

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: IVECCS, AAFP, ESFM and Veterinary Dental Forum.

Great Avian and Exotics CE Offerings!

REGISTRATION OPEN NOW:
Practical Avian Medicine Module 1
October 7, 2008 - October 21, 2008

*Module 1 will cover the following topics: Avian anatomy and physiology, ID and classification, husbandry and nutrition.
Special pricing for AAV members

Exotic and Emerging Animal Diseases: Remembering the Zebras
October 8 - November 19, 2008

*This course will review the major exotic and emerging animal diseases, emphasizing the clinical signs and gross lesions of these diseases in various species and the role of the practitioner and other professionals. Major emphasis will be placed on including exotic diseases in the differential diagnosis of various clinical presentations and the importance of laboratory support for the diagnosis of both "horses and zebras."

Practical Avian Medicine Module 2
October 21, 2008 - November 4, 2008

*Module 2: Avian Handling and Disease Recognition will cover the following topics: Handling, restraint, behavior; disease in commonly kept birds.
Special pricing for AAV members

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 information on CE opportunities for veterinary technicians, receptionists or practice managers, please visit the VSPN CE page. VSPN offers courses tailored to veterinary support personnel, and certain VIN courses also are open to VPSN members.