Upon discovering the situation an alert was sent to all VIN members. The response by all has been amazingly supportive and understanding. Thank you!

That this happened is very serious. Fortunately, the design and protections in place within the VIN membership database frustrated the enemy's probes and they abandoned their quest. A more detailed account of the event will be sent by early next week. The short version:

• There were 3 intrusions; March 17, 24 and April 4; and no evidence of any prior.
• The information obtained from 2933 active VIN members (plus approx an equal number of inactive members) was limited to: username, password, primary VIN email, secondary security name
• All impacted have been notified
• Changing passwords occasionally is a good practice. All affected should and soon will be forced to change their password.

The greatest concern has been "Did they get my secondary security NUMBER?"

• NO THEY DID NOT.
• In fact, VIN doesn't have it and never has.
• From the time you entered it in the application, 3 of the digits were replace with a *.
• In the VIN database Paul's secure ID remains something like 06*6*97*1 - and he's not changing it.

Still, you are welcome to change the number or truncate it. A new tool for doing so should be out soon or you can email VINGRAM@vin.com and ask them to call you or you can call them at 800-700-4636

NOT just for veterinary support staff.
You and your staff can print and customize the VSPN Notebook or you can purchase a hard copy in the VIN Bookstore.

VIN members will find it in the books section of the VIN Library. VSPN members should look for the banner on the VSPN front page or in the VSPN Library.

You and your staff can also participate in the evolution of the Notebook by providing feedback on what you would like to see included, corrected, or updated.

UC Davis Neurology Symposium
UC Davis is presenting the Eighth Annual Veterinary Neurology Symposium on April 22. While you're in Davis, consider stopping by the VIN main office to meet folks and see where the magic happens.

Can't make it to Davis? The veterinary talk will also be streamed as a webinar. Before you go, review the UCDavis Neurology 2011 proceedings in the VIN Library.

Your Recalculating Days are Over!
The new MyCalculations tool makes it super easy to save calculations you've done with the VIN suite of calculators and attach them to patient records saved in your MyCalculations for quick reference.

You'll find MyCalculations located under the 'Stuff' menu in your MyVIN and in the VIN Library.

Keep an eye on this section of VIN This Week to learn about the latest toys Beta.vin.com.

If you want to be on the "bleeding edge" make Beta.vin.com your VIN Homepage.

NEWS THAT'S FIT TO CLICK
and discuss.
News Reported for YOU...

• AVMA issues email fraud alert
  Public | VIN | Discussion
• Veterinarians try to make sense of Cuddon case
  Public | VIN | Discussion
• Judge orders FDA to assess antibiotic safety in livestock
  Public | VIN | Discussion
• Labor Department job outlook for veterinarians: 'Overall ... good'
  Public | VIN | Discussion

Evolving stories
* How to counsel aspiring veterinarians?
* Job scarcity and veterinary school enrollment growth - ominous combination?

Be a VIN newshound:
VNS is YOUR news service. Got an idea for a story? Have a story that needs covering? Post it on the boards or e-mail Reporters@vin.com.

Share news.vin.com with nonVINners. The VIN News Service (without access to the community discussions) is now publicly available.

Follow VNS on Twitter! Send a Twitter request to receive the VNS Tweets.

New and Revised
Share these with your clients!

• What Happens in Heartworm Disease (revised)
• Flea Control For Ferrets (revised)
• Pick a Pair of Bunnies

Texas Farm Radio

• Glue-on Shoes for Horses

Efficacy of a 0.0584% hydrocortisone aceponate spray in presumed feline allergic dermatitis: an open label pilot study
The cats initially received two sprays/100 cm(2) of skin once daily. Clinical lesions (a Feline Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index; FeDESI), pruritus (10 cm visual analog scale with grade descriptors) and owner assessments of efficacy, tolerance and ease of use (from 1=very poor to 5=excellent) were assessed every 14 days.

Reportable animal diseases in the United States
In the United States, each state has the authority to regulate reporting of diseases. While past research has reviewed reportable human diseases, the research on reportable animal diseases has assessed only veterinarian knowledge and understanding of law rather than identifying the actual statutes and regulation that exists.

Prevalence of Coxiella burnetii in ticks after a large outbreak of Q fever
Q fever has emerged as an important human and veterinary public health problem in the Netherlands with major outbreaks in three consecutive years. Goat farms are probably the prime source from which Coxiella burnetii have spread throughout the environment, infecting people living in the vicinity.

Can an unemployed licensed veterinarian call in a prescription for his own pets?
If you have a license in the state in which you prescribe for animals that fall within the legal definition of a valid V/C/P relationship (your own dogs would qualify) and the drugs are not controlled substances, then you can call in a prescription. You do not need to be employed in order to prescribe. For controlled substances you would also need a DEA registration.

Is the relationship between Trupanion and Petco potentially damaging to my practice?
Wondering why you are losing some puppy/kitten visits to Petco? Check out the email I received today from a client with an 11-week-old puppy: "Trupanion has a partnership with Petco and they actually just sent us some info on in-house vet days at the local Petco store in which they say most of Rockley's required puppy vaccines are being administered over a 45-day schedule as a benefit. We were planning on taking them up on the promotion and getting the paperwork to you. Please let us know if you need anything specific for his file. They also say there will be something for neutering but we would feel more comfortable following up for blood work and neutering with you. Trupanion covers it."

Treatment recommendations for a dentigerous cyst in a dog with an unerupted tooth
Just gotta get it out of my system - loving the dental rads! In the last 4 weeks, have found three dogs with a total of four dentigerous cysts. Two cysts on a 5-year-old dog that had a dental cleaning at Elsewhere Animal Hospital the year prior, the other two dogs were puppies. Absolutely nothing visual save for the missing tooth.

Virtual Coffeehouse
Tuesday, April 10, 9:30 p.m. EDT
(Wednesday, April 11, 1:30 a.m. GMT/UTC)
Stop by and chat with some of your fellow VINners.

How To Use VIN: Part 2
Wednesday, April 11, 9:30 p.m. EDT
(Thursday, April 12, 1:30 a.m. GMT/UTC)
Learn how to use the most popular VIN features.
Email Nate@VIN.com for more information about this free, three-session course.

Full Rounds Schedule and Countdown Clock
Use the Rounds link to join these discussions.

Want to See What You've Been Missing?

• VIN & World of Research @
  Why and How: The Cat Friendly Practice @ AAFP
• EAP and Equine Back Pain
• Evaluation of Hemostasis
• VIN Search 3.0 @
• Nasal Radiographs @ - VIN/VSPN

Download VINCasts
Too busy to read past Rounds sessions? Download VINCasts to your MP3 player and listen on the go. Rounds available as VINCasts are marked with an @.

If you've reserved time for some quiet reading, click the Rounds button on the VIN Main Navigation bar and read the transcripts of the last few Rounds. You can also browse the complete list of the last 300 Rounds transcripts or you can click on Rounds and Discussions in the VIN Library.

Rounds are also searchable via the Search button. Just remember to choose Rounds (under the Clinical Resources tab) as the "Source" in your search parameters.

Who's your Buddy?
Every VINner in practice is assigned a buddy from the VIN Representative team! Your buddy will help you learn the tips and tricks to get the most from your VIN membership.

You never need feel lost or alone. Your buddy can help you navigate VIN like a pro, find the information you're looking for and personlize your VIN experience to fit your needs.

Don't remember who YOUR VIN buddy is? Email VINgram@vin.com and they'll be happy to remind you and let your buddy know you want to get re-introduced.

Not in practice? Don't have a buddy and need help? Email Feedback@vin.com and help will soon be on the way -- you might even find you suddenly have a new buddy :)

Need Help?
Have questions about your membership? Can't find that reference you need for a tough case? Help is a click, email or phone call away! (Hint: you can find this page anytime by clicking HELP on the main VIN Navigation Bar, and then clicking on "Member Support Team" in the left side column.)

Book Review of the Week
Diagnostic Imaging of Exotic Pets: Birds, Small Mammals, Reptiles
Catch up on previous Book Reviews!

Website of the Week
FDA's National Drug Code Directory
Health-e-Cards

eVetSites Tip of the Week
New Content for your eVetSites

What's your Diagnosis?
Archives of the Challenging and Fun Cases
Pathology Case 93 - Opened 4/3
Zoonosis Case 117 - Opened 4/2
Dental Case 87 - Opened 4/1

Associate - Updated and New
Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS; feline)
Explore the rest of Associate!

Upcoming Conferences
Looking to attend or contribute a paper to a veterinary conference? Check out the On the Road with VIN folder, or the Press Releases folder, to see what conferences are coming up and to visit their websites! Links to information about upcoming conferences include: ABVP, BSAVA, IAAAM, AVA, ACVIM, ISFM, and EVECCS.

The Murphy's law of vet med

1. The amount of suture you need to close your incision is inversely proportional to the amount you have left. Same for number of sponges and drops of tissue adhesive.
2. If it's a crucial instrument and it can be dropped, it will.
3. The monetary cost of the instrument you're using (like the tonopen) is directly proportional to your likelihood of breaking it. While the boss is in the building.

NOW OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT!
Click on the links below to see the details, register, and find more upcoming CE.

IVAPM Pain Management Core Review
June 10 - August 15, 2012

This course is a comprehensive review of the most contemporary concepts of pain management in dogs and cats, from neurobiology to neuropharmacology to physical modalities, and "pulling it all together" in applications across a broad spectrum of clinical presentations.

Advanced Hematology
August 16 - October 14, 2012

The primary purpose of the course is to increase familiarity with blood cells and apply this knowledge to specific conditions in hematology including unusual hereditary conditions, toxicities, changes associated with chemotherapy and immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. A review of pathophysiology is included to enable correlation between function and disease.

For CE opportunities for yourself, your veterinary technicians, receptionists, or practice managers, check out the Course Catalog on the CE Main Page.

Follow VIN CE and VSPN on Twitter! Simply click the "Send request" button to prompt the (VIN-VSPN) crews to accept you as a follower.