VIN's three part How To course is designed to teach you the fast and efficient way to use VIN. This course can be taken live, on the first three Wednesday nights of each month, or you can do it as self study.

Because members (VINners) have various levels of computer knowledge, we have incorporated some basic computer skills into the How To course. VIN's How To course is divided into three sessions: Basic Computer Skills, Message Boards/Associate, and Library/Search.

To sign up send an email to Nate@vin.com.

Are you ready for a comprehensive review of the latest in feline medicine?

"What's New Pussycat?" is just what you need! Module 1 will cover Gastroenterology And Urology, Module 2 will cover Oncology, Infectious Disease, Dermatology, Behavior, And Neurology, and Module 3 will cover Respiratory, Cardiology, And Endocrinology. Each module is worth 10 CE credits. Take one, two, or all three! (PSST! Sign up for all 3 Modules [30 hours of CE] and save!)

Retrospective Analysis of Detomidine Infusion for Standing Chemical Restraint in 51 Horses
An effective method that provides prolonged periods of chemical restraint in standing horses is described. The infusion alone did not provide sufficient analgesia for surgery and a significant proportion of animals required supplemental sedatives and analgesics.

The Clinical Use of the Neuromuscular Blocking Agent Rocuronium in Dogs
Rocuronium produced a neuromuscular block with similar characteristics to those obtained with vecuronium, thus apparently offering little advantage over vecuronium. However, its availability in aqueous solution and a longer shelf-life increases convenience.

Amiodarone-Induced Keratopathy in Healthy Dogs
Although amiodarone-induced corneal deposits are apparently not a common side effect in the dog, serum amiodarone concentrations should be checked and ocular examination should be performed in long-term use; it is also advisable to use artificial tear drops and to avoid ultraviolet light.

Congenital Cataracts and Persistent Hyaloid Vasculature in a Llama (Lama glama)
Congenital cataracts in llamas and alpacas have been reported and may be genetic in origin. Another potential cause of congenital cataracts is in-utero exposure to infectious agents or toxins, or other ocular defects such as persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous, and persistent hyperplastic tunica vasculosa lentis.

Adrenal Tests, Ferrets
In most cases, you don't need to run this test to get your diagnosis. Clinical signs and signalment are your key in more than 90% of the cases. I would not run this test anywhere but U of T, at least for now, because only the test at UT was validated for use in ferrets.

Elevated Uric Acid in Parakeet; Sample Volume/Dilution
The linearity (reproducibility giving same value at serial dilutions) of our assays- 10x dilution for just about any assay is, well forget it. Uric acid at greater than 3x dilution will start departing from reality. Calcium is particularly unforgiving. Ideally undiluted or 2x dilution is the goal. That means adhering to the lab's requested PLASMA volume.

Hindlimb Parasis In Hedgehogs

An emerging neurologic disease of pet African hedgehogs is a demyelinating syndrome, sometimes referred to as progressive paresis/paralysis or 'wobbly hedgehog syndrome'.

Vaccination Protocols, Efficacy
Feline upper respiratory vaccines are not "ineffective", however neither the IN nor parenteral vaccines prevent infection with herpes or calicivirus. They do a pretty good job at preventing severe disease. We don't see the awful URI infections we used to see much more commonly in cats. However, in a recent survey in the UK, asymptomatic carriage rates of Herpes haven't changed in 30 years in spite of vaccination. It's still around 25%.

Virtual Coffeehouse
Tuesday, November 5, 9:30 pm ET -
What crazy clients did you see today? Stop by and share!
Rounds Room

How To Course, Part 1

Wednesday, November 6, 9:30 pm ET -
Learn how to use your computer and VIN in part 1 of this FREE three part course. Email Nate@VIN.com to sign up.
Rounds Room

New Grad Rounds
Thursday, November 7, 10 pm ET -
It's Urology Night! Stop by and participate!
Rounds Room

Abstract Of The Week:
Human Exposure To Fipronil From Dogs Treated With Frontline

Website Of The Week:
Handy Non-Medical Websites

Book Review:
ECG For The Small Animal Practitioner

Recent Rounds:
* What's All This About the COX, Doc?
* Do You Need A Consultant?

From the Boards:
* Tooth Discoloration In Sharks
* Those Frustrating Lick Granulomas
* Ear Thermometers
* Can KBr Cause Megaesophagus?

Intermediate Wildlife Medicine

• Are you presented with wildlife cases on a regular basis?
• Do you think you are "kind of" familiar with the ethical and legal problems of treating wildlife, but you want to know more?
• Have you figured out that you really need more medical knowledge to properly care for injured wild animals? (Remember: It's not what you don't know that will get you, it's what you think you know - but don't!)

VIN CE can help!

VIN's Intermediate Wildlife Medicine CE course is structured for practitioners who are presented with wildlife cases on a regular basis and assumes the practitioner is familiar with the basic principles of avian medicine and surgery. Topics will include: ethical and legal considerations;handling, restraint, and examination; zoonoses and other public health concerns; and triage and treatment of common presentations.

Instructor: Sonia Hernandez-Divers, DVM, Dip. ACZM (Diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine)
Dates: Nov 25th - Dec 23rd, 2002
Interactive sessions: Mondays; 11/25, 12/02, 12/9, 12/16, 9:30-11:30 PM ET (USA)

Upon completion of the course, the practitioner should feel comfortable with the legal aspects of accepting wildlife in their practice, the stepwise process of triage, emergency treatment of common injuries in the most commonly presented wildlife species and the steps to follow after medical treatment of such patients.

Click here to learn more about the Intermediate Wildlife Medicine course (EXOT100-1102).