EXOT004-0314: Basics of Exotic Companion Animal Behavior

Enrollment is closed.

INSTRUCTOR(S): Sandra Mitchell, DVM, ABVP Feline, ABVP ECM
Valarie V. Tynes, DVM, DACVB

COURSE OPEN: March 12-May 3, 2014
REAL TIME SESSIONS (RTS): Wednesdays, March 19, 26, April 2, 9, 16, and 23; 8:00-9:30 pm EST (US)
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.

Level and Prerequisites: This basic course will be open to veterinarians and veterinary technicians actively interested in both normal and abnormal behaviors exhibited by ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, rodents, sugar gliders, prairie dogs, reptiles and pet birds.
VIN CE Course: Open to veterinarians and veterinary technicians. This course is RACE approved for veterinarians and veterinary technicians. The Veterinary Information Network (VIN) is RACE Provider #22.

Course Description:
This course will cover both normal and abnormal behaviors exhibited by ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, rodents, sugar gliders, prairie dogs, reptiles and pet birds. We will discuss the influence of proper husbandry, diet, and environmental enrichment to the development and manifestation of abnormal behavior. Species-specific behavior aberrations, such as barbering in mice, self-mutilation in sugar gliders, and feather plucking in birds will be addressed.

This course consists of six (6) 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 earn a certificate of completion for the course.

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

• understand the relationship of husbandry with behavior.
• counsel owners about reasonable and proper species-specific expectations.
• identify normal and abnormal behaviors in the species discussed.
• diagnose common behavior disorders and their likely etiologies.
• treat common behavior abnormalities in exotic species.

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.

About the Instructors:
Sandra Mitchell is board certified in both exotic companion mammal practice and feline practice. She has a firm interest in behavioral medicine, and has served on the AAFP Behavioral Guidelines Panel committee. As a private practitioner and referral practice, she treats patients at all levels from basic to advanced, and deals with day to day client issues and education related to behavior and husbandry as part of her general practice.

Valarie V. Tynes is an Animal Behavior Consultant based in Texas. She gained her Board Certification from the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists in 2003 following a three year residency at the University of California Davis. She previously practiced small and exotic animal medicine for almost 15 years before specializing. Dr. Tynes frequently speaks at veterinary continuing education courses and writes for several different veterinary journals. She is the editor of the text "Behavior of Exotic Pets" and her particular area of interest is exotic animals.

Course Outline:
Week 1 (Real Time Session March 19, 2014): Ferrets
Content:

• Husbandry, diet, and environmental enrichment
• What's normal? Development and manifestation of abnormal behavior
• Specific behaviors:
  • Aggression
  • Destructive behaviors
  • Stealing
  • Litter training

Week 2 (Real Time Session March 26, 2014): Rabbits
Content:

• Husbandry, diet, and environmental enrichment
• What's normal? Development and manifestation of abnormal behavior in rabbits
• Specific behaviors:
  • Aggression
  • Destructive behaviors - digging/chewing
  • Over-grooming

Week 3 (Real Time Session April 2, 2014): Guinea Pigs and Chinchillas
Content:

• Husbandry, diet, and environmental enrichment
• What's normal? Development and manifestation of abnormal behavior
• Specific behaviors:
  • Aggression
  • Barbering

Week 4 (Real Time Session April 9, 2014): Rodents, Sugar Gliders, Prairie Dogs
Content:

• Husbandry, diet, and environmental enrichment
• What's normal? Development and manifestation of abnormal behavior
• Specific behaviors:
  • Aggression
  • Barbering
  • Self-mutilation (sugar gliders)

Week 5 (Real Time Session April 16, 2014): Reptiles
Content:

• Husbandry, diet, and environmental enrichment
• What's normal? Development and manifestation of abnormal behavior in reptiles
• Specific behaviors:
  • Aggression
  • Self-injurious behaviors

Week 6 (Real Time Session April 23, 2014): Bird Basics
Content:

• Husbandry, diet, and environmental enrichment
• What's normal? Development and manifestation of abnormal behavior in birds
• Specific behaviors:
  • Aggression
  • Destructive behaviors
  • Screaming

CE CREDITS: 9

Tuition: Member $180 ($162 early bird special if enrolled by February 26, 2014)
Non-Member $279 ($251 early bird special if enrolled by February 26, 2014)

*To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close at 5 pm ET March 19, 2014 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 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 is approved for 9 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 VIN's upcoming CE courses, check the VIN Course Catalog.

The CE team:

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: 01452226154

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800.700.4636  |  CEonVIN@vin.com  |  530.756.4881  |  Fax: 530.756.6035 777 West Covell Blvd, Davis, CA 95616 Copyright 2002, Veterinary Information Network, Inc.