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TECH198-0711: Diabetic Ketoacidosis in the Canine and Feline

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INSTRUCTOR(S): Katy Waddell, RVT, VTS (ECC, Anesthesia) and Paula Plummer, RVT

COURSE OPEN: July 11-August 11, 2011

REAL TIME SESSIONS: Mondays, July 18, 25, and August 1, 2011; 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 RTS. Times and dates will be listed in your course confirmation email. Expect to spend up to 1 hour at one of the 2-4 practice sessions held prior to the first RTS.

Level and Prerequisites: This advanced course is designed for the experienced veterinary technician working toward a specialty certification in emergency/critical care or small animal internal medicine or those working in or wishing more in depth understanding of diabetic ketoacidosis. VSPN CE course. This course has been submitted for RACE approval for veterinary technicians only.

Course Description:
Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) is a life threatening complication of Diabetes Mellitus in the canine and feline patient. This course will cover the pathogenesis of a diabetic patient as it relates to the wide range of metabolic and endocrine derangements. Following the path of the derangements will lead to a better understanding of the end result of ketoacidosis. Recognition and treatment of this disease is essential for a technician in an emergency or critical care setting. We will cover multiple treatment and nursing care options including the type of crystalloid fluid to administer, insulin dosing and constant rate of infusions, and DKA patient nutrition. Case based interactions will be covered in the message boards to help participant understanding of the disease in real life situations.

This course consists of three (3) Real Time Sessions of ninety (90) minutes each covering library course materials, discussion of situations and cases, interactive message boards to discuss the Real Time Sessions, as well as a mandatory end-of-course test. Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of course-exam is required to be considered for the 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.

TEXTBOOKS: None

About the Instructors: Katy W. Waddell has been in the veterinary field for 38 years in small animal, mixed animal, specialty referral practices, 24/7 facilities as well as in academia and as an author. Katy currently works with the Cardiology service at Texas A & M University as the primary nurse anesthetist and staff liaison for multiple student organizations providing wet labs. She lectures and promotes education to veterinary technicians to improve patient care and advocacy. Paula Plummer has been in the veterinary field for over 10 years in academia and small animal private practice. Paula currently works at Texas A & M University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital in the Small Animal Intensive Care Unit, has been a Swing Shift Supervisor, and is currently a floater technician in the Small Animal Internal Medicine Department. She teaches skills labs to veterinary students and is a guest lecturer at different locations on emergency and critical care topics.

Course Outline:
Week 1: (Real Time Session July 18): Pathogenesis of Diabetic Ketoacidosis
Content: With DKA being a life threatening complication of Diabetes Mellitus in the canine and feline patient, the pathology of how one disease can become a life threatening complication of another will be discussed in great detail. The roles of the pertaining hormones in the body, especially insulin, with this disease will be discussed. Major electrolyte disturbances seen in patients with DKA will be covered to enable veterinary technicians to better recognize and know their role in an emergency or critical care setting.

Week 2: (Real Time Session July 25): The Feline Patient With Diabetes Mellitus and the Potential Causation of a DKA Event
Content: The feline patient presents a different challenge from the canine. This week's session will focus on how and why the feline is different from the canine patient. This will include nutritional needs, current therapy, presenting signs/symptoms, recognition of the need for urgent intervention and medical management.

Week 3: (Real Time Session August 1): Recognizing and Treating DKA in the Canine Patient
Content: Most canine patients that are suffering from DKA will have life threatening complications. This session will cover how to recognize and aid the veterinarian in diagnosing DKA in an urgent setting. Treating DKA can involve glucose curves, insulin constant rate of infusion, fluid therapy and nutritional support while the patient is in the Intensive Care Unit. Participants will understand when and why this treatment in necessary for a successful recovery.

CE HOURS: 4.5

Tuition: $90 ($81 early bird special if enrolled by June 27, 2011).
*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). You must include the following information in the comments section of the CE enrollment form in order to be eligible for this discount: your program director's name and contact information (email/phone) and school name.

** 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 will close on the Friday before the first Real Time Session.

**For more on how online CE works see the VSPN Participant's Resource Center

TO ENROLL:
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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 submitted for approval for 4.5 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 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.
** For More Information on VSPN's upcoming CE Courses, check out http://www.VSPN.org/CE

Nanette R. Walker Smith, M.Ed., RVT, CVT, LVT
VSPN Content Director & VSPN CE Director

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
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Chris Upchurch (Chris@vspn.org); ext 197
Darci Palmer (Darci@vspn.org); ext 179
Debbie Bess (DBess@vspn.org); ext 178
Jennifer Withrow (Jennifer@vspn.org); ext 159
Nanette Walker Smith (Nanette@vspn.org); ext 187

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