The current VIN date & time: Eastern

VIN ANES110-0921: Wild Adventures: Anesthesia and Analgesia in Wildlife

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

Presenters: Heather W. Barron, DVM, DABVP (Avian)
Michelle G. Hawkins, VMD, DABVP (Avian)
Course Open: September 28-November 5, 2021
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Tuesdays, October 5, 12, 19, and 26, 2021; 7:00-9:00 pm ET (USA) World Clock Converter
Total CE Credit: 8
RACE Category: 8 hours Medical

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Course Information:
The primary purpose of this course is to provide a basic to intermediate understanding of the principles of anesthesia and analgesia in avian, mammalian, and reptilian wildlife. The course will include details on understanding analgesia in non-domestic species and will review the latest, cutting-edge information on research in this area. It will also cover the basics of pre-medications, induction, and maintenance of anesthesia, along with monitoring and recovery in a variety of species.

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of the course, the participant should be able to
  • understand the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of NSAIDs, opioids, and other drugs in wild birds.
  • understand the use of multimodal anesthesia and analgesia in avian wildlife.
  • discuss what we know about nociception in birds and know how to use that information clinically.
  • assess the avian anesthetic candidate.
  • discuss the anatomic and physiologic considerations in different species of wild birds.
  • understand how to perform induction, maintenance, and recovery of anesthetized birds with successful monitoring throughout.
  • provide appropriate support during anesthesia and know how to turn it around when something goes wrong.
  • understand the research data on analgesia in reptiles and how to extrapolate to benefit your patients.
  • understand how to perform anesthetic induction, maintenance, and recovery of reptiles.
  • perform restraint, venipuncture and placing catheters, intubation, et cetera for the reptile patient.
  • provide monitoring and support of reptiles under anesthesia.
  • discuss analgesia in mammals and the concerns with data extrapolation from other species.
  • understand how to perform anesthetic induction, maintenance, and recovery of wild mammals.
  • monitor the anesthetized mammal and provide support while under anesthesia.

Level and Prerequisites: This intermediate VIN CE course is open for enrollment to veterinarians and veterinary support staff actively interested in anesthesia and analgesia of wildlife in birds, reptiles, and mammals.
Accreditation: This course is approved for 8 hours of continuing education credit by RACE for veterinarians and veterinary technicians/technologists. (RACE 20-850479)

Course Agenda:

Week 1 (Real Time Session October 5, 2021): Avian Analgesia - Wild Style
Presenters: Heather W. Barron, DVM, DABVP (Avian)
Michelle G. Hawkins, VMD, DABVP (Avian)

Week 2 (Real Time Session October 12, 2021): Anesthesia in Wild Birds
Presenters: Heather W. Barron, DVM, DABVP (Avian)
Michelle G. Hawkins, VMD, DABVP (Avian)

Week 3 (Real Time Session October 19, 2021): Anesthesia and Analgesia in Reptiles
Presenters: Heather W. Barron, DVM, DABVP (Avian)
Michelle G. Hawkins, VMD, DABVP (Avian)

Week 4 (Real Time Session October 26, 2021): Anesthesia and Analgesia of Wild Mammals
Presenters: Heather W. Barron, DVM, DABVP (Avian)
Michelle G. Hawkins, VMD, DABVP (Avian)

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 $184 ($166 early bird special if enrolled by September 14, 2021)
Non-Member $292 ($208 early bird special if enrolled by September 14, 2021)
Prices are listed in US dollars.

*To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close on October 5, 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