At this time, we'd also like to take special note of the wonderful VIN consultant/editors who form the core of the VIN community. If VIN's wonderful database is our brain, the VIN community is VIN's heart.

This would be a great time to mention to your favorite VIN consultant(s) how much you appreciate their contributions to the VIN community. You can post your appreciation on the message boards or email Feedback@vin.com and we'll forward your note.

We also say thanks to all who contribute their expertise on the message boards -- whether you are a specialist or not, sharing your experience and expertise is a great gift to your VIN colleagues. It is our joint willingness to share our knowledge and experience that makes the VIN community so strong.

Please, never hesitate to contribute to ongoing discussions. And if you are interested in joining the wonderful VIN team of consultant/editors, email Paul@vin.com.

Here's to a wonderful 2004!

>>Paul<<

Paul D. Pion, DVM, DipACVIM (Cardiology)
co-founder, VIN

Transpupillary Diode Laser Retinopexy in Dogs: Ophthalmoscopic, Fluorescein Angiographic and Histopathologic Study
The diode laser effectively produces lesions suitable for retinopexy in both the nontapetal, pigmented fundus and the tapetal fundus, although variably so in the latter region.

Schirmer Tear Test Results in Normal Horses and Ponies: Effect of Age, Season, Environment, Sex, Time of Day and Placement of Strips
There appears to be wide variability in the STT I in normal horses and ponies.

Reselling Free Samples
Are there any ramifications of selling drug samples to clients? If not, what specifically makes it not legal?

Bagging A Patient
You decide its time to bag the patient; what is the correct procedure for doing this?

Practical Dentistry & Feline Viral Pathogens

• Smile every time a dental case comes in the door.
• Purr with contentment at knowing just which tests to run on that next feline URI case.
• Bask in the security of knowing how to take diagnostic dental radiographs.

VIN has two great CE courses to prepare you for those golden moments!

Sign up for Practical Veterinary Dentistry and Purrfect Tests: Diagnostics For Feline Viral Pathogens, and you won't be gritting your teeth when those patients walk in.

Practical Veterinary Dentistry is a 12 CEU course designed to help you obtain a thorough understanding of the fundamentals of veterinary dentistry.

Instructors: Steve Holmstrom, DVM, DAVDC and Bill Gengler, DVM, DAVDC
Dates: January 26 - March 8, 2004
Tuition:
Member/$173, Non-Member/$250 before January 12
Member/$192, Non-Member/$278 after January 12

Purrfect Tests: Diagnostics For Feline Viral Pathogens is a 4 CEU course that will describe basic techniques for diagnosis of viral diseases. This will be followed by specific discussion of diagnostics for the major feline viral pathogens.

Instructor: Melissa A. Kennedy, DVM, PhD, DACVM
Dates: February 25 - March 10, 2004
Tuition:
Member/$58, Non-Member/$101 before Feb. 11;
Member/$64, Non-Member/$112 after Feb. 11

To register or learn more about these courses, click Practical Veterinary Dentistry and Purrfect Tests: Diagnostics For Feline Viral Pathogens. (These courses are open for enrollment to veterinary technicians.)

Sunday Rounds
Sunday, January 4 - NO Rounds
Take time to recover from your busy holiday season.

Want to learn more about how to use VIN?
We've got three great ways!

1. Use the How To Use VIN tutorial.
2. Click the FAQ button on VIN's main nav bar.
3. Sign up (email Nate@VIN.com) for the free three-part How To Use VIN course. (Next course starts January 7.)

Abstract Of The Week:
Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease

Website Of The Week:
Epilepsy

Book Review:
Bovine Anatomy, An Illustrated Text, First Edition

eVetSite Systems Tip Of The Week:
Add a Dancing Holiday Message Marquee to your eVetsite

VINner Survey Results:
* Veterinary Support Staff
* Client Sympathy Response
* Grape/Raisin
* Consumer Reports
* ACE Inhibitor Use in Dogs
* Imaging & Telemedicine
* Nasal Mites
* Euthanasia Procedures
* FATE
* Veterinary Career Survey, Part 1

Recent Rounds:
* Highlights Of The Annual Dental Forum
* Chemistry Pitfalls
* Puzzled About FIP?
* Neighborhood Demographics And Client Fees
* Applying For An Internship Or Residency?
* ECVIM 2003 - Cardiology Updates

From the Boards:
* New Grad Complaints
* Brain Teaser (Dentistry)
* Analgesics For Goats
* VIN Access

Basic Fish Medicine

• Is your fish anatomy knowledge limited to 'head, tail, and fins'?
• Do you go "glub, glub, glub" and start to drown when faced with a finny diagnostic challenge?
• Do you feel like you are swimming upstream whenever a client asks for help with her aquarium care?
• Has "Finding Nemo" become more than a film title in your practice?

VIN has a great CE course to help prepare you for your aquatic patients! Enroll in Basic Fish Medicine now and learn more about this challenging and exciting area of veterinary medicine. Included in this course is an overview of the basic aquarium system, water quality, fish anatomy, nutrition, behavior, the multitude of agents of disease, common diagnostics, and fish therapeutics.

Instructors: Drs. Drury Reavill, DVM, ABVP, certified in avian practice, DACVP and Joseph M. Groff, VMD, PhD

Dates: March 3rd - April 14th, 2004

Tuition:
Member/$173, Non-Member/$250 before Feb 18, 2004
Member/$192, Non-Member/$278 after Feb 18, 2004

To register or learn more about these courses, click on Basic Fish Medicine. (This course is open for enrollment to veterinary technicians.)