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VSPN CE Course TECH232-0713: AVNT-Nutrition Series: Canine Osteoarthritis

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INSTRUCTOR(S): Kara Burns, MS, MEd, LVT
COURSE OPEN: July 2-July 20, 2013
REAL TIME SESSIONS (RTS): Wednesday, July 10, 2013; 8:00pm-9:30pm 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 instructor 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 a Practice Session.

Level and Prerequisites: This advanced course is geared toward veterinary technicians, especially those working toward their VTS in Nutrition. Participants should already have a strong grasp of basic nutrition and disease processes. The course format is that of a VINgnette where interaction in the message boards discussing case scenarios will be required to enhance the single Real Time Session. Participants should plan on this more intensive study.

The AVNT Nutrition Series is an on-going program hosted by VSPN in cooperation with the Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians (AVNT) and the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) to promote advanced education in animal nutrition for credentialed veterinary technicians. Candidates for Veterinary Technician Specialist-Nutrition (VTS-Nutrition) through AVNT are eligible for education credit as specified by the AVNT credential requirements found at http://nutritiontechs.org.

VSPN CE Course: This course has been submitted for approval for veterinarians and veterinary technicians.

Course Description:
In this VINgnette we will discuss nutritional management of canine osteoarthritis (OA). We will first look at the disease of osteoarthritis, its prevalence and risk factors in small, large, and giant breed dogs. The nutritional management of the disease in these patients will be included. We complete the course with interactive review of cases of OA in a variety of different size and breeds of dogs including concurrent disease conditions often seen with OA.

This course will consist of one (1) ninety (90) minute Real Time Session, 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 be considered for a course certificate of completion.

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

Course Materials: Course materials will be available in the course library prior to each Real Time Session.

Required Textbook(s): About the Instructor: Kara M. Burns is President of the Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians (AVNT). As an LVT with two Master's degrees (Physiology and Counseling Psychology) she lectures internationally and has authored several articles and textbook chapters on nutrition. Kara sits on numerous national boards and committees. She was recognized as the NAVTA 2010 Veterinary Technician of the Year, the 2011 Dr. Franklin Loew Lecturer, and is the 2013 NAVC Technician Speaker of the Year. She was awarded an honorary VTS by both the Academy of Internal Medicine Veterinary Technicians and the Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians.

Course Outline:
Week 1: (Real Time Session July 10): Canine Osteoarthritis
Required Reading (prior to July 10 Real Time Session): Chapter 33 pp. 667-670; Chapter 34, pp. 695-713; and course library contents.
Content: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis recognized in veterinary species. OA is a slowly progressive condition characterized by two main pathologic processes: degeneration of articular cartilage with a loss of both proteoglycan and collagen, and proliferation of new bone. The majority of this discussion will be focused on the nutritional management of OA including key nutritional factors for managing OA in canines and the importance of the veterinary technician in managing OA. We will review cases during the RTS and expect participants to continue to interact in the message board discussions working through actual in clinic cases.

CE CREDITS: 1.5

Tuition: $30 ($27 early bird special if enrolled by June 18, 2013).
* Students currently enrolled in and taking at least 2 classes or 5 units at an AVMA accredited or CAAHT approved Veterinary Technician Program may be eligible to receive a 50% discount off the regular rate for this course (upon verification of student status).
*To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close when the maximum number of participants is reached or at 5pm ET the day of the first Real Time Session unless otherwise noted. If the first Real Time Session is on a weekend, course enrollment will close on the Friday before the first Real Time Session.

*For more information on how online CE works, see the Participant Resource Center.

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  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 1-800-700-INFO (4636) or email (VIN CE) CEonVIN@vin.com or (VSPN CE) VSPNCE@vspn.org. Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.
*Note: "This course has been approved for 1.5 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 VSPN/VIN CE at 1-800-700-4636 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/VSPN office 1-800-700-INFO (4636) 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/VSPN office at 1-800-700-INFO (4636).

*For more information on VSPN's upcoming CE courses, check the VSPN Course Catalog.

Nanette R. Walker Smith, MEd, RVT, CVT, LVT
VSPN Content Director & CE Coordinator

VSPN CE Services: VSPNCE@vspn.org
1-800-846-0028 or 1-530-756-4881 or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01452226154
Barb Burri (Barb@vspn.org); ext 764 (New Hampshire)
Charlotte Waack (Charlotte@vspn.org); ext 193 (Illinois)
Chris Upchurch (Chris@vspn.org); ext 197 (Florida)
Lisa Kernaghan (Lisa@vspn.org); ext 159 (Arizona)
Nanette Walker Smith (Nanette@vspn.org); ext 187 (Colorado)

800.700.4636  |  CEonVIN@vin.com  |  530.756.4881  |  Fax: 530.756.6035
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