EXOT604-0415: Basic Big Cat Husbandry and Medicine
The lectures for this course will be presented in a predominantly audio format.
Please come prepared to listen.

Enrollment is closed.

Instructor(s): Laurie J. Gage, DVM, Dipl ACZM and Geoff Pye, BVSc, MSc, DACZM
Course Open: April 19-May 20, 2015
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Sundays, April 26, May 3, and May 10; 9:30-11:30 pm ET (USA)
Course RTS Times in Your Area: World Clock Converter

Practice Sessions: In order to prepare you for a successful experience in your CE course, we request you attend a Practice Session prior to the first Real Time Session. Please arrive promptly at the start time; each Practice Session is up to 1 hour in length. For more information, please visit the CE Practice Area.

*The instructors for this course will be using audio which will require you to have a headset or speakers to listen. If you have any concerns regarding your computer's audio capabilities, please be sure to attend one of the Practice Sessions.

Level and Prerequisites: This basic course will be open to veterinarians and veterinary technicians actively interested in big cat medicine.
VIN CE Course: Open to veterinarians and veterinary technicians. This course has been submitted for RACE approval for veterinarians and veterinary technicians. The Veterinary Information Network (VIN) is RACE Provider #22.

Course Description:
The primary purpose of this course is to provide a basic understanding of big cat husbandry and medicine. The course will include an overview of taxonomy nutrition, husbandry, reproduction and basic medicine of big cats. Discussions of basic anesthesia and hand-rearing Panthera will be included. Commonly encountered dental problems will also be discussed.

This course consists of three (3) 2-hour Real Time Sessions, supplemental library materials, interactive message board discussions, and a mandatory end-of-course test. Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required to earn a certificate of completion for the course.

*The lecture portion of this course will be an audio presentation, please be prepared to listen.

*To learn more about the requirements for earning a CE certificate, please refer to Receiving Your CE Credit and Course Completion Certificate.

Upon completion of this course, the participant should be able to

• demonstrate a basic understanding of big cat nutrition and husbandry.
• describe the common nutritional diseases of big cats.
• explain the current considerations regarding vaccination of big cats.
• describe the common diseases of big cats.
• explain the different choices of anesthetic agents.
• demonstrate a basic understanding of reproduction and contraception.
Course Materials: Course materials will be available in the course library prior to each Real Time Session.
Required Textbook(s): There is no required textbook for this course.
Recommended Textbook(s): A list of recommended resources will be provided in the course library.
About the Instructors:
Dr. Laurie Gage is a VIN consultant for the Small Mammal/Exotics and Aquatic Animals Messages Boards. She was the Director of Veterinary Services for Six Flags Marine World/Marine World Africa USA for 23 years and The Marine Mammal Center for 14 years, as well as the attending veterinarian for the Oregon Tiger Sanctuary, Safari World in Bangkok Thailand, and a veterinarian at the Los Angeles Zoo. She is presently the Big Cat and Marine Mammal Specialist for USDA APHIS Animal Care Center for Animal Welfare.
Dr. Geoff Pye is a VIN consultant for the Small Mammal/Exotics Message Boards and a senior veterinarian at San Diego Zoo. Following his Masters degree at London Zoo, he has managed the health of big cats at Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo, Disney's Animal Kingdom, and San Diego Zoo.
Course Outline:
Week 1 (Real Time Session April 26, 2015)
Instructor(s): Laurie J. Gage, DVM, Dipl ACZM
Content:
• Taxonomy
• Husbandry
• Housing
• Training Medical Behaviors
• Nutrition
• Common Nutritional Diseases
Week 2 (Real Time Session May 3, 2015)
Instructor(s): Laurie J. Gage, DVM, Dipl ACZM and Geoff Pye, BVSc, MSc, DACZM
Content:
• General Medicine
• Common Diseases
• Preventive Medicine Including Vaccination Recommendations
• Reproduction and Contraception
• Hand-rearing Tips and Techniques
Week 3 (Real Time Session May 10, 2015)
Instructor(s): Laurie J. Gage, DVM, Dipl ACZM and Geoff Pye, BVSc, MSc, DACZM
Content:
• Behavioral and Manual Restraint for Anesthesia Induction
• Anesthesia Protocols
• Common Surgical and Dental Procedures
CE Credits: 6
Tuition: $126 ($113 early bird special if enrolled by April 5, 2015)
*To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close on April 26, 2015 at 5 pm ET (USA) or when the maximum number of participants is reached.
*For more information on how online CE works, see the Participant Resource Center.
To Enroll:
Enrollment is closed.
1. Enrollment qualifications: VIN CE courses are open to VIN member and non-member veterinarians. Veterinarians enrolling in a VSPN CE course must be a VIN member. Veterinary support staff must be a VSPN member to enroll in a VSPN CE or a VIN CE course open to VSPN member enrollment.
2. Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses. Email is our major form of communication with participants; personal emails are highly recommended rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
3. Each person is individually responsible for his/her own registration. To ensure that all information received is secure and correct, please do not enroll for a course on behalf of another individual.
4. For further assistance call 800-846-0028 ext. 797 or email CEonVIN@vin.com. Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.
*Note: "This course is submitted for approval for 6 continuing education credits in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB RACE approval; however participants should be aware that some boards have limitations on the number of hours accepted in certain categories and/or restrictions on certain methods of delivery of continuing education." Call VIN CE at 800-846-0028 ext. 797 for further information. (Attendees are encouraged to check with their licensing jurisdiction(s) for information regarding recognition by their board).

Course withdrawal and refund policy: A complete refund of the paid course price will be issued when your withdrawal request is received prior to the listed start date of the course. If you wish to withdraw after the start date please contact the VIN office 800-846-0028 ext. 797 to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.
* Note: To ensure rapid handling of your request for withdrawal, we recommend that you call the VIN office at 800-846-0028 ext. 797.

*For more information on VIN's upcoming CE courses, check the VIN Course Catalog.
Katherine James, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM)
VIN Education Coordinator
VIN CE Services: CEonVIN@vin.com
800-846-0028 or 530-756-4881; ext. 797
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01452 226154
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from Australia: 02 6145 2357

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