The current VIN date & time: Eastern

VIN Reptile Medicine, Anesthesia, Analgesia & Important Infectious Diseases (EXOT503) Self-Study

This course is a self-paced, non-interactive course.

Presenter: Amanda Guthrie, DVM, Dipl. ACZM, Dipl. ECZM (ZHM), MRCVS
Course Open: July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022
Total CE Credit: 3.5
RACE Category: 3.5 hours Medical

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Course Information:
This course will focus on the clinically relevant anatomy, techniques, and diseases of commonly held reptiles that you may see in your practice, and will cover the basics of reptile anesthesia and analgesia, which drugs to use and how to monitor these patients. We will discuss a new emerging disease in snakes, Ophidiomycosis (SFD), that is rapidly spreading in free-ranging and captive snakes and the conservation significance of this disease. Lastly, we will focus on the top 5 reptile viruses that you might see in your practice.

To earn a certificate of completion the participant must complete all learning modules and score 80% or better on the end-of-course test. Completion of the course will take a minimum of 212 minutes. Participants must complete the participation requirements by June 30, 2022 to be eligible for a certificate.

To learn more about the requirements for earning a non-interactive CE certificate, please refer to Non-Interactive CE Certificate Requirements.

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of the course, the participant should be able to
  • perform an examine and obtain diagnostic samples from a range of reptiles and amphibians.
  • understand basic anatomy and physiology of reptiles and amphibians and the clinical relevance of these.
  • understand some common disease manifestations and their clinical presentations.
  • understand the etiology and pathogenesis of SFD and to diagnose it.
  • understand the conservation significance of SFD in wild snakes.
  • understand the basics of therapy, prognosis, and pathology of SFD.
  • discuss the variety of anesthetic techniques and drugs used in reptiles and amphibians.
  • understand how to monitor anesthesia in reptile and amphibian patients.
  • understand analgesia in reptiles and amphibians and how to apply our (limited) current knowledge on this topic.
  • discuss the common viral infections in captive reptiles and amphibians.
  • understand diagnostic techniques, diagnostic tests, clinical signs, treatment, prognosis and pathology of these common viral diseases.
  • understand biosecurity, disinfection, and management of these common reptile and amphibian viruses.
  • discuss the most recent scientific literature regarding this important emerging disease.
  • discuss the most current literature regarding anesthesia and analgesia in reptiles and amphibians.

Level and Prerequisites: This intermediate VIN CE self-study course is open for enrollment to veterinarians actively interested in reptile medicine. This course is open to VIN members only.
Accreditation: This non-interactive course is approved for 3.5 hours of continuing education credit by RACE for veterinarians. (RACE 20-774525)

Course Agenda:

Module 1: Clinically Relevant Anatomy and Physiology of Reptiles and Amphibians
Total Time: 64 minutes
Video: 49 minutes
Handouts(1): 15 minutes
Polls: 2

Module 2: Snake Fungal Disease (Ophidiomycosis)
Total Time: 35 minutes
Video: 35 minutes
Polls: 2

Module 3: Reptile and Amphibian Anesthesia and Analgesia
Total Time: 46 minutes
Video: 46 minutes
Polls: 2

Module 4: Reptile Viruses (Ferlavirus, Herpesvirus, Ranavirus, Arenavirus, Adenovirus)
Total Time: 52 minutes
Video: 32 minutes
Handouts(1): 20 minutes
Polls: 2

Module 5: End of Course Test
Total Time: 15 minutes
Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required to earn a certificate of completion for the course.

Module 6: Course Evaluation

To learn more about the requirements for earning a non-interactive self-study CE certificate, please refer to Non-Interactive CE Certificate Requirements.


Enrollment is closed.


Tuition: VIN Member $81
Prices are listed in US dollars.

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

  1. Enrollment qualifications: VIN CE courses are open to VIN 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. For further assistance call 800-846-0028 ext. 797 or email . Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.

Course withdrawal and refund policy: A complete refund of the paid course price will be issued when your withdrawal request is received prior to starting the course. If you wish to withdraw after you have started this self-study course, please contact the VSPN office 800-846-0028, ext. 797 to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.

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

Katherine James, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM)
VIN Education Director

VIN CE Services:
800-846-0028 or 530-756-4881; ext. 797
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01 45 222 6154
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from Australia: 02 6145 2357