Our main goals are to keep VINners of all experience levels -- from rookie to master -- informed about and connected with the VIN community.

• New members can learn where to find some of the most popular VIN tools and features.
• Experienced members can learn new tips and tricks to help them continue to make the most of their membership.
• EVERYONE can find out about brand new content, tools, and features and keep up with what's going on in the VIN community.

The VTW team hopes you'll think of yourself as part of the team and encourages you to share your suggestions and feedback. Email your comments and ideas to the VTW chief cook and bottle washer --Laura Hedden -- at Laura@vin.com.

The Clinical Nutrition Specialty Center incorporates information from VIN and from outside websites on a variety of nutritional subjects. These resources include:

• Pertinent lectures
• Notes
• Proceedings
• Rounds
• Slide shows
• Videos

The Websites section of the center includes links to helpful government websites (like FDA and FARAD), appropriate journals, and product resources as well as direct links to various nutritional services and nutritional organizations. There's even a handy section full of Client Handouts!

Reach the Clinical Nutrition Specialty Center through the About Page for the Clinical Nutrition Message Board and the Specialty Centers section of the VIN Library.

VINner Shares Startup and Business Plan
Starting your own practice can be scary. Frustrated by the lack of resources available when she was starting out, VINner Christine Ortner wanted to help others avoid some of that stress. She's shared the diary of her startup and her business plan with the VIN community.

If you're thinking about starting your own practice, or know someone who is, take advantage of this resource! You may also want to join the SUCers: aka the Startup Club, a group for VINners who have or are planning a startup. Interested?
Contact Paul Pion, DVM, DACVIM

Help grow this collection of Business Startup materials. Share your experiences and lessons learned from your own startup and during the life of your practice. Email to Feedback@vin.com.

New Look for Message Board Quotes
Quoted text in message boards discussions (on Beta.vin.com only) now has a new, easier-to-distinguish look. See some examples in this discussion and let the VIN Geeks know what you think!

Keep an eye on this section of VIN This Week to learn about the latest toys on 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, reported for YOU...

• Dr. Sophia Yin leaves legacy of compassion, insight
  Public | VIN | Discussion
• Court fight effectively discredits Yelp, veterinarian says
  Public | VIN | Discussion
• Controlled-drugs disposal options expanded
  Public | VIN | Discussion

The VIN News Service (VNS) is here to give you a voice and to report news that is important to you. Have an idea for a story? Have a story that needs covering? Email News@vin.com.

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

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

New and Revised Articles to Share With Your Clients!

Veterinary Partner

• IMHA: Four Letters You Never Want to Meet

Texas Farm Radio

• Novel Bioelectric Wound Healing Device

VetzInsight

• Chasing Zebras

Management and complications of anaesthesia during balloon valvuloplasty for pulmonic stenosis in dogs: 39 cases (2000 to 2012)
Management of anaesthesia requires intense monitoring and immediate treatment of complications. Anaesthetic risk increases during ballooning and may result in cardiac arrest.

Ultrasound-guided block of sciatic and femoral nerves: an anatomical study
This study provides a detailed anatomical description of the localization of the sciatic and the femoral nerves and presents an effective and safe yet simple and rapid technique for performing peripheral nerve blocks with a high success rate.

Validation of the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (CADESI)-4, a simplified severity scale for assessing skin lesions of atopic dermatitis in dogs
The CADESI-4 had satisfactory validity, reliability, and sensitivity to change. On average, the time to administer a CADESI-4 was one-third that of a CADESI-3.

Risk Of HIV Transmission Via Dog Bites
HIV transmission via mechanical means is limited mostly to IV drug users. We must balance paranoia with a healthy dose of science and reality.

Opinions Of The Three-Step Heartworm Protocol
I've been doing the "new" (extended) protocol for 6 years, and it has no effect on compliance. People either want to treat heartworm with Immiticide or they don't.

Cat Carries Pickerel Frogs In Mouth: Risk Of Poisoning From Skin Secretions; Frog Venom Poisoning In Cats And Dogs
Pickerels, when stressed, secrete a distasteful irritant substance from the skin. The secretions are irritating to the eyes, mucous membranes, and broken skin of humans handling the frogs.

Approach To Group Of Koi With Ulcers, Including Detailed Description Of Skin Scraping Procedure
Commonly sampled locations that may yield a high number of ectoparasites are areas that are least hydrodynamic. Parasites can best adhere to the skin and/or gills in these areas. The slide is not stained and must be examined immediately.

Wondering how long it is until the next Rounds session? Take a look at the Rounds Countdown Clock!

How to Use VIN, Part 2
Wednesday, October 8 - 9:30 p.m. ET
The VIN Representative Committee will show you how to get more out of your VIN experience.
Email HowTo@VIN.com for more information about this free, three-session course.

VIN Rounds
Sunday, October 12 - 8 p.m. ET
Join Bob Stein, DVM, for Understanding And Managing Chronic Pain: Peri- And Post-Operative Pain.
This session will be text only, no audio.

Need help remembering when Rounds sessions are happening? Check out the list of ways to be reminded about VIN Rounds sessions.

Want to See What You've Been Missing?
(@ = VINcast available; R = Replay available)

Download VINCasts (@)
Download VINCasts with your mobile device
Browse Rounds Transcripts

Rounds are also searchable! In Search 3, use the filters on the left of your search results page.

The VSPN Notebook is NOT just for veterinary support staff
"I wish I had this when I was a student and new grad. It's filled with lots of the little factlets that I was always looking for, " says VIN co-founder Paul Pion.

VIN members will find it online 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 can also purchase a copy from the VIN Bookstore.

The Tributes To Lost Colleagues folder is where you can share thoughts, feelings, and memorial information.

Book Review of the Week
Critical Care Management for Laboratory Mice and Rats
Catch up on previous Book Reviews!

Associate - New, Updated & Revised
Canine Immune-Mediated Neutropenia
Explore the rest of Associate!

Website of the Week
Office of Disability Employment Policy

VIN Community Quick Poll (see the VIN Front Page to participate)
How do you counsel owners with dangerously aggressive dogs?

New Proceedings
British Small Animal Veterinary Association Congress 2014 (BSAVA 2014)
Annual Conference of the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP 2013)

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: WWVC, VCS, ACVC, ACVS, AAZV, ACVR, and ABVP.

Are There Happy Veterinarians?
I LOVE my work!!!!

I have been in the same practice for 19 years -- started out as an associate, now partner. Every day has something of value to me, and every day, I am able to give something of value to my patients and/or my clients. I love bringing my dogs to work with me, I adore new puppies, I like complex medical stuff and buying cool toys!

Is there any other place that I would get to use my head, my hands, and my heart every day?

NOW OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT!
Visit the CE Main Page and check out the Course Catalog to see what other courses are starting soon.

Veterinary Anesthesia Review
November 4 - December 12, 2014

This review course explores the concepts of safe anesthesia delivery to canine and feline patients with a focus on adverse events in the peri-operative period.

Reptile Medicine: From the Wild Set to the Child's Pet
November 18 - December 26, 2014

The primary purpose of this course is to provide an understanding of the principles of care for reptilian wildlife, zoological collections, and captive pets.

To get the most from your CE course, plan to attend a practice session before your course begins. Practice sessions are scheduled for the same days and times each week for your convenience:

• Tues. afternoons 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ET
• Weds. evenings 10:00 - 11:00 p.m. ET
• Thurs. evenings 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. ET

Visit the CE Participant Resource Center to learn the basics of online CE, how to find your course area, CE participation requirements, and much more!

For more information on CE opportunities for veterinary technicians, receptionists, or practice managers, visit the VSPN Course Catalog. Follow VIN CE and VSPN on Twitter! Click the "Send request" button to prompt the (VIN / VSPN) crews to accept you as a follower.