I got an email from BI today, saying there is going to be additional warnings on metacam oral suspension regarding its use in cats... Read more of the discussion....

If you like the Chocolate Toxicity Calculator, you'll love the VIN suite of calculators. The MyCalculations suite allows you to save data for your patients, so that you can compare, print and share results from different visits. MyCalculations is available on Beta.vin.com and WWW.vin.com in the VIN Library and the VINDEX (Calc./Conversions).
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Laboratory Testing Survey
Lori Moon, of Michigan State University, invites you participate in a research study of veterinary laboratory testing practices.

This anonymous survey is part of a graduate research project in the Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Program and is not a VIN survey. Lori promises to share the results with the VIN community when completed :)
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Sherlock Holmes of Pathology
Following clues and trying to solve mysteries is an important part of each diagnostic quest. Let the Clinical and Anatomic Pathology Specialty Center be your Mr. Watson!

You'll find information on diagnostic tests, quality control, laboratory standards, sample acquisition, cytologic stains and specimen submission and more in this new specialty center.

Sherlock Holmes never worked alone, so links to pertinent journals (including many full-text articles), helpful websites and dozens of slide shows, images and videos are included.

Doff your tweed deerstalker cap, get out your microscope, give Watson a call and plunge into the Pathology Specialty Center to solve that next mystery case!

Find the Clinical and Anatomic Pathology Center through the About Page for the Pathology Message Board and the Specialty Centers section of the VIN Library.

More Tools to Help you get Organized!
Do you have a library of notes on your computer or in a notebook or on sheets of paper that you use on a daily basis? Tired of trying to organize and access them easily? Give the new ’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, simply select ‘modify’ then ‘Add Notes’. You can even encrypt your notes for added security.

As always, 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 http:Beta.vin.com your VIN Homepage.

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

• Germ that causes cat scratch disease not necessarily mild
  VNS Report | Discussion
• Veterinary regulators poised to define parameters of lay dentistry
  VNS Report | Discussion
• Scrutiny of secondary topical hormone exposures deepens
  VNS Report | Discussion
• Supplies of injectable butorphanol tartrate to normalize
  VNS Report | Discussion
• CEVA buys Summit VetPharm
  VNS Report | Discussion

Evolving stories:
* Metacam in cats scrutinized; new guidance expected
* Can breed types be altered on medical records?
* Yextvets disappoints practice owners

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.

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

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

New and Revised
Share these with your clients!

• Snuggle Up
• Psittacosis in Birds
• Mirtazapine (Remeron) (revised)

Texas Farm Radio

• Breeding Horses by Artificial Insemination #2

Cardiovascular manifestations of iatrogenic hyperthyroidism in two dogs
Both dogs showed physical examination findings of agitation, tachypnea, and tachycardia. Sinus tachycardia with supraventricular ectopy was diagnosed in one case, and syncope and atrial flutter was present in the other.

Muscle strain injuries of the hindlimb in eight horses: diagnostic imaging, management and outcomes
Muscle tears causing lameness were identified in the middle gluteal (3), semitendinosus (1), semimembranosus (2), and gracilis (2) muscles. Tears were classified by ultrasound imaging as partial (6) or complete (2). The degree of lameness did not appear to be indicative of the extent of injury or of completion of healing. Long-term follow-up was available for seven horses and the outcome was favourable in six cases.

Canine dilated cardiomyopathy: a retrospective study of prognostic findings in 367 clinical cases
Left ventricular diameter (LVDs)-index (P=0.0067), presence of pulmonary oedema on radiography (P=0.043), presence of ventricular premature complexes (VPCs) (P=0.0012), higher plasma creatinine (P=0.0002), lower plasma protein (P=0.029), and great Dane breed (P=0.0003) were negatively associated with survival.

Military vets at work
I would love to see more pictures. Sorry, I am not going to be volunteering (though I had almost joined the Navy way back when - that's another story) but I am grateful to those of you who have. It would be nice to get more of an idea of what goes on behind the scenes, so to speak. I have such a vague idea of what military vets do and how the dogs are handled/trained, etc.

My ketamine is being tampered with
Is there somewhere I can send the ketamine bottles that were at the shelter to have them assayed to see if they have been diluted? I did have a tech who went home for lunch and did not return. Talked to her at the end of the day, and she said the was suddenly feeling ill right after she went home for lunch.

Coping with euthanasias
I think they expect solemnity and sympathy, but I think they actually prefer the vet to be emotionally in control and supportive, so they can rely on their vet to help them through the situation. I think the pets prefer it too, because then we handle them with confidence and a sure hand......well, I'd like to think they find that comforting.

Sunday Rounds
Sunday, September 26, 10 p.m. EDT
(Monday, September 27, 2 a.m. GMT/UTC)
Join David Mittenthal, CPA, for Health Care Reform And Other Current Tax Topics.

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

Want to See what you've been Missing?

For all you Multi-Taskers:
Download VINCasts to your MP3 player and listen to previous Rounds sessions while you run errands, exercise or steal a few minutes of me-time. 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.

Keep Track of Your Continual Education with MyCE!
It's a simple and easy tool to keep track of your past, present and future continual education participation on www.VIN.com or Beta.vin.com.

There are two ways to use MyCE:

• Log into VIN and click CE on the main navigation bar. Click the yellow MyCE banner.

OR:

• Log into VIN and click on MyVIN > Stuff > MyCE.

You'll see previous, current and upcoming course registrations, view/print your certificates and keep track of credits you've earned.

Visit the CE Main Page and check out the Course Catalog to see what's on the schedule.

Post a Medical Video
Want your VIN colleagues to take a peek at a case for you? Email your video to Videos@vin.com and the VIN multimedia team will compress and convert it to a format your fellow VINners can easily view on the message boards. Read the FAQ for detailed instructions.

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.)

Book Review of the Week
Shelter Medicine for Veterinarians and Staff
Purchase it in the VIN bookstore!
Catch up on previous Book Reviews!

Website of the Week
Deaf MD and more...

eVetSites Tip of the Week
Modifying Page Titles for Search
Engine Optimization (SEO)

What's your Diagnosis?
Archives of the Challenging and Fun Cases
Ophthalmology Case 120
Pathology Brain Teaser 46
Zoonosis Case 83

Associate - Updated and New:
Eosinophilic Furunculosis of Face
Explore the rest of Associate!

New Medical FAQ
*Practical Questions about Methimazole (Tapazole) Treatment for Feline Hyperthyroidism
Methimazole treatment is a useful and well-tested method to treat hyperthyroidism in cats. However, it is not indicated if it evokes serious side effects and can be problematic if owner or patient compliance problems are encountered or anticipated.

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: ECVD, SWVS and Veterinary Dental Forum, ACVC, WWVC, AAZV, VCS and ACVP/ASVCP.

A rose by any other name
"Well, I thought I was doing a great job as this kitty cat's vet: did a good work up on her ocular disease, worked closely with the owner, kept the cost within her range, including allowing her to pay off her bill in two payments. Ended up enulceating the eye. Cat recovered beautifully, went home happy, owner happy. Owner returned a couple of weeks later with the cat for suture removal. The cat never looked back (so to speak), healing well, etc. Owner is thrilled. As she's leaving the office, the owner, full of gratitude, turns to me and says with a big smile: "Thanks, Cheryl!" Sigh.... Glenys."

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

Exotic and Emerging Animal Diseases: Remembering the Zebras
October 6 - November 17, 2010

This course includes six (6) weekly one-hour real-time sessions, message boards and a database of information about exotic diseases. There will be a set of overview tests, scenario tests and infectious inquiries designed to help you learn. Participants are required to complete a minimum of one of these tests per week as part of the requirement for CE credit, in addition to participation during the real-time sessions and on the course message boards.

Introduction to Veterinary Herbal Medicine: CHM and TCVM
November 2 - December 7, 2010

Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) can be difficult to understand. This course is designed to provide veterinarians with detailed information on a simple and logical way to grasp the fundamental principles of CHM and TCVM. This course will consist of five (5) 2-hour real-time sessions, detailed presentations with basic theories and clinical case examples on all topics.

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.