The current VIN date & time: Eastern

VIN ALTM105-0721: Using Herbs in Veterinary Practice for Liver and Kidney Disease

The lectures for this course will be presented in an audio format using a webinar platform.

Presenters: Barbara Fougere, BSc BVMS (Hons) BHSc (Comp med) MODT MHSc (Herb Med) Grad Dip VA, Grad Dip VCHM, Grad Dip VWHM
Steve Marsden, DVM, ND, MSOM, L.Ac, Dipl.C.H., RH (AGH) Grad Dip VA, Grad Dip VCHM, Grad Dip VWHM
Course Open: July 14-August 14, 2021
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Wednesdays, July 21, 28, and August 4, 2021; 9:00-11:00 pm ET (USA) World Clock Converter
Total CE Credit: 6
RACE Category: 6 hours Medical

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Course Information:
Your clients are using herbs in their animals and want to use herbs. Where is the evidence for herbal medicine in veterinary practice? How do they work? We show you how you can you treat challenging liver cases and acute and chronic kidney disease in practice using herbs alongside conventional medicine. Join us in this lively short course which will give you practical skills and knowledge to use herbs straight away, safely and effectively.

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of the course, the participant should be able to
  • discuss the historic use of herbs in veterinary medicine.
  • discuss the evidence supporting the efficacy of herbal medicine, current research with a focus on liver and kidney disease, and herbal/drug interactions.
  • discuss the evidence and rationale for using Western and Chinese herbs to support patients with liver and kidney disease.
  • use both Western and Chinese herbs to support patients with challenging liver and kidney disease safely and effectively.
  • use Chinese herbs to support patients suffering from acute and chronic kidney disease.
  • describe the role of circulation and endothelial function in the development of disease.
  • describe the role of herbs in altering the pathophysiology of chronic disease.

Level and Prerequisites: This specialty VIN CE course is open for enrollment to veterinarians and veterinary technicians/technologists interested in integrative medicine and the use of herbs in veterinary practice for the support of patients with liver and kidney disease.
Accreditation: This course is approved for 6 hours of continuing education credit by RACE for veterinarians and veterinary technicians/technologists. (RACE 20-844141)

Course Agenda:

Week 1 (Real Time Session July 21, 2021)
Presenters: Dr. Barbara Fougere
The first session introduces some key principles. Why herbs? Historic use and Herbal actions. Evidence base supporting efficacy in liver and kidney disease. Herb drug Interactions and use of herbs.

Week 2 (Real Time Session July 21, 2021)
Presenters: Dr. Barbara Fougere and Dr. Steve Marsden
The first part of the presentation introduces the materia medica for liver and kidney from a Western herbal medicine perspective and the mechanisms by which they can influence health and pathology. In the second half of the presentation we will take a fresh look at renal pathology as a dynamic process dependent upon the blood supply of the kidney and the patient’s metabolism. This perspective helps us understand how renal disease can be combated, stabilized and even reversed using herbal compounds in the dog and cat.

Week 3 (Real Time Session August 4, 2021)
Presenters: Dr. Steve Marsden
Liver disease, like renal disease is not a static process, but waxes and wanes over the year and in tandem with the liver blood supply, offering an opportunity to stabilize and even reverse liver disease using herbal compounds in the dog and cat. This lecture will review some of the most important tools for doing so in small animal medicine.

Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required to earn a certificate of completion for the course. To learn more about the requirements for earning a CE certificate, please refer to Receiving Your CE Credit and Course Completion Certificate.

Course Materials: Course materials will be available in the course library prior to each Real Time Session.
Required Textbook(s): There is no required textbook for this course.


Enrollment is closed.


Tuition: Member $138 ($124 early bird special if enrolled by June 30, 2021)
Non-Member $231 ($208 early bird special if enrolled by June 30, 2021)
Prices are listed in US dollars.

*To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close on July 21, 2021 at 5 pm ET (USA) or when the maximum number of participants is reached.

*For more information on how online CE works, see the Participant Resource Center.

  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. For further assistance call 800-846-0028 ext. 797 or email . Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.

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 office 800-846-0028 ext. 797 to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.

*For more information on VIN's upcoming CE courses, check the VIN Course Catalog.

Katherine James, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM)
VIN Education Director

VIN CE Services:
800-846-0028 or 530-756-4881; ext. 797
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01 45 222 6154
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from Australia: 02 6145 2357