But wait!!! There is more....you can make the VINDEX appear from anywhere on VIN by pressing CTRL-E (hold down your Ctrl button and push the “E” on your keyboard). No need to go back to the Front Page to find the VINDEX.

So the next time you are looking for the VIN News Service, Library, Plumb's or even the calculator you used a few weeks ago, use the VINDEX from anywhere within VIN to find what you need faster.

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.)

Searchable Cancer Clinical Trials Database
The Veterinary Cooperative Oncology Group (VCOG) has sponsored a Searchable Clinical Trials Database for Cancer in Pet Animals.

The database is designed to inform veterinarians about current clinical trials, and to promote the timely completion of these clinical trials while providing state-of-the-art treatment options for pets with cancer. You or your clients can search for trials based on type of cancer, geographic location or species.

Find this and many related resources on the Clinical Research & Surveys page of the Library, in the Website Directory section of the Library, and in the Oncology Specialty Center.

Stuff your Notes in your MyStuff

Do you have notes for yourself left all over your desk, on your computer, in a notebook, or on brightly colored sticky pad paper that you use every day? Tired of trying to organize and access them easily? Give the 'Notes' feature for MyStuff on Beta.vin.com a try!

From your MyStuff, select 'Add', give it a title, and then select 'Add Notes'.

You can add a note individually or associate it with a new or not-so-new link in your MyStuff. To add a note to a MyStuff link you already have stored, select 'modify' then 'Add Notes.' You can even encrypt your notes for added security.

Please take a moment and look around and let us know what you think. If you have any suggestions or comments, your feedback is always appreciated!

Email feedback@vin.com or post on the message boards.

Keep an eye on this section of VIN This Week to find out what new toys you can help us perfect on Beta.vin.com.

If you want the latest and greatest and want to be on the "bleeding edge" of where VIN is going, make Beta.vin.com your VIN Homepage.

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

• Online veterinary pharmacies exploit cross-border regulatory gaps
  Public | VIN | Discussion
• AVMA terminates online CE venture
  Public | VIN | Discussion
• Recovery continues for wildlife affected by Gulf oil spill
  Public | VIN | Discussion
• ‘Party time’s over’ for flea and tick killer ProMeris
  Public | VIN | Discussion
• Merial Frontline/rabies vaccine promotion draws fire
  VIN | Discussion
• Animal health companies move toward consolidation
  Public | VIN | Discussion

Evolving stories
* What is the suicide risk among veterinarians?
* Practitioners discuss robenacoxib (Onsior), newly approved in U.S.
* Fairness to Pet Owners Act would require veterinarians to provide prescriptions


Be a VIN newshound:
VNS is here to give YOU a voice and report news that is important to YOU. Got an idea for a story? Have a story that needs covering? Post it on the boards or email News@vin.com.

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

Now you can follow VNS on Twitter! Send a Twitter request to receive VNS Tweets.

New and Revised
Share these with your clients!

• On the Move
• Compounding Pharmacies (revised)

Texas Farm Radio

• Managing Heaves in Horses

Coccygeal epidural with local anesthetic for catheterization and pain management in the treatment of feline urethral obstruction
Coccygeal epidurals can be used safely to provide analgesia to the penis and urethra. To the authors' knowledge, this is a novel treatment modality to aid in the relief of urethral obstructions in male cats.

Comparison of oral administration of lomustine and prednisolone or prednisolone alone as treatment for granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis or necrotizing encephalitis in dogs
In dogs with granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis (GME) or necrotizing encephalitis (NE), oral administration of lomustine and prednisolone or prednisolone alone had similar efficacy.

Blastomycosis in man after kinkajou bite
We report transmission of Blastomyces dermatitidis fungal infection from a pet kinkajou to a man.

Cat's stomach ruptured because of a large trichobezoar (photograph)
Owner was not interested in surgery, especially due to Charlie's deteriorating condition and his poor prognosis so we posted the poor boy and were surprised to find a huge hairball occupying the entire stomach and 1/3 up the esophagus. The rupture of the stomach was in the pyloric region and intestinal contents had filled the abdominal cavity. Here are the photos of the post mortem. Weird, huh? Guess I'll be more proactive about hairballs in client's cats, especially the long-haired ones. Makes you wonder how the snow leopard handles hairballs in the wild with no Tonolax!

Which antibiotics should you reach for first for these common infections?
I'd like to review my list of first-line antibiotics that I use for common diagnoses, and make sure I'm being reasonable. These are the drugs I would use for dogs and cats while cultures are pending, or what I'd generally use if a culture is declined or deemed unnecessary. I'd appreciate any constructive criticism.

Associate DVM discounts
I've been a part-time associate at this practice for 6 months and recently brought my dog in to update his vaccines. I did this on my lunch hour and gave him DHPP, Rabies and Lepto. The practice policy is for employees across the board (which apparently includes me) to receive a 10% discount so I had a $53 bill. I'm paid on production at 20% and although I did my own vaccines on my own time, the clinic made a profit from me (and I was not credited a percent of this profit). My feeling is that they should have in the name of goodwill just let me pay cost on the vaccines. I can't even begin to explain how bitter this makes me. I hold my own account with MWI, but of course I can't get individual vaccines at cost. I am so upset by this that I went to the local feed store and bought DHPP and Lepto (for under $10) for my other dog. After all the extra late hours I work and off days that I come in to check on patients, that I'm not paid for, I had hoped they would be a little more fair.

Sunday Rounds
Sunday, May 1, 10 pm ET
(Monday, May 2, 2 a.m. GMT/UTC)
Join Ned Gentz, DVM, DACZM, for Exotic Pet Zoonoses.

The Week's Rounds Schedule
Use the Rounds link to join these discussions.

Want to See what you've been Missing?

Listen to or read past Rounds
If you would rather listen to than read a previous Rounds session, download VINCasts to your MP3 player. Rounds that have available VINCasts are marked with @.

Click the Rounds button on the VIN Main Navigation bar and read the transcripts of the last few Rounds, and click the complete list of rounds to get to the 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.

Every VINner in practice is assigned a buddy from the VIN Representative team! Your buddy wants to help you learn the tips and tricks to get the most from your VIN membership.

You never need to 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.)

Continual Education
Want to learn something new while getting credit and meeting some new VINners? VIN's continual education courses are unlike any CE you've ever experienced. If you need CE credits, VIN can help you meet your continual education requirements and have fun at the same time - all from the comfort and convenience of your home or office!

Experience direct interaction among instructors and fellow participants daily on the message boards and during the weekly real-time sessions. Please visit the CE Main Page and check out the Course Catalog for information on current courses.

Book Review of the Week
Exotic Animal Care and Management
Catch up on previous Book Reviews!

Website of the Week
Veterinary Clinical Research - Database in Homeopathy

eVetSites Tip of the Week
Setting Up your eVetSite Google Contact us Page

What's your Diagnosis?
Archives of the Challenging and Fun Cases
Ophthalmology Case 129
Pathology Case 67

Associate - Updated and New:
Pentatrichomoniasis (canine)
Explore the rest of Associate!

From the Boards:
* FDA Has Approved Onsior
* How Is Business this Year?
* NAVMEC Webinar: The Evolution of Veterinary Medical Education
* What Price Increases on Drugs Are Affecting You?

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, IAAAM and AVA.

It smells like victory in the morning
No anal gland smell is pleasant, but I really hate that metallic bouquet that some of them have. I'm surprised I didn't vomit the time I got it right in the face. I had to wash my hair in soap but I still smelled it all day (it was first thing in the morning, naturally). That was when I was an assistant, and I opened my vet school application essay with the quotation, "The best advice I ever received was 'never express anal glands with your mouth open.' " I think that might have been what got me into vet school, since it sure wasn't my interviews.

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

Feline Dermatology 2011 (Year of the Cat)
May 25 - June 25, 2011

This course consists of three (3) 2-hour real-time sessions. This course will afford practitioners an update and review of some of the dermatologic diseases commonly seen in practice. A brief review of current thought will be given to anatomy and physiology with major emphasis given to new and relevant diagnosis and treatment regimes. In the final week there will be an exciting presentation of New Diseases, New Treatments and Cool Cat Cases.

IVAPM Pain Management Core Review
June 12 - August 24, 2011

This course, which consists of eight (8) 2-hour real-time sessions, 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. It may also be used as a review and study tool for IVAPM's Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner (CVPP) examination.

If you're looking for more information on CE opportunities for veterinary technicians, receptionists or practice managers, visit the VSPN CE page. VSPN offers courses specifically tailored to veterinary support personnel, and certain VIN courses also are open to VSPN members.

Now you can 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.