The current VIN date & time: Eastern

VIN The Basics of Exotic Companion Mammal Anesthesia (EXOT110) Self Study

This course is a self-paced, non-interactive course.

Presenter: Sandra Mitchell, DVM, ABVP Feline, ABVP ECM
Course Open: July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023
Total CE Credit: 5
RACE Category: 5 hours Medical


Enrollment is closed.  

Tuition: VIN Member $115
Prices are listed in US dollars.


Course Information:
Have you ever wondered where to start when that rabbit with overgrown teeth needs to be anesthetized? How about the hamster that needs a mass removed? This course is for you! We will discuss the basics of anesthetizing any companion exotic mammal that comes into your practice, starting with the core physical exam findings and working all the way through to monitoring in surgery. This class will focus on the aspects of sedation and anesthesia, and will not heavily discuss the medical or surgical conditions commonly seen in the species under discussion. We’ll cover sedation and anesthesia for ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, hamsters, mice, rats, gerbils, and sugar gliders – and principles that can be applied to a wide variety of other companion exotic mammals.

To earn a certificate of completion the participant must complete all learning modules and score 80% or better on the end-of-course test. Completion of the course will take a minimum of 310 minutes. Participants must complete the participation requirements by June 30, 2023 to be eligible for a certificate.

To learn more about the requirements for earning a Self Study CE certificate, please refer to Self Study CE Certificate Requirements.


Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of the course, the participant should be able to
  • perform an anesthesia – focused physical exam.
  • formulate a complete and safe sedative/anesthetic plan.
  • monitor the patient, anticipating potential complications.
  • rejoice when you can send the animal home again comfortable and alive!


Level and Prerequisites: This intermediate VIN CE self-study course is open for enrollment to veterinarians actively interested in exotic small animal anesthesia. This course is open to VIN members only.
Accreditation: This non-interactive course is approved for 5 hours of continuing education credit by RACE for veterinarians. (RACE 20-795653)


Course Agenda:

Module 1: Introduction
Total Time: 52 minutes
Video: 52 minutes
Polls: 1
Introduction io common diagnostics, intubation tips, fluid administration, and creating a monitoring and anesthesia plan.

Module 2: Ferrets
Total Time: 75 minutes
Video: 75 minutes
Polls: 1
Physical exam, common diagnostics, supplies, fluids, drugs and monitoring that are specific to the ferret.

Module 3: Rabbits
Total Time: 100 minutes
Video: 100 minutes
Polls: 1
Physical exam, common diagnostics, supplies, fluids, drugs, intubation and monitoring that are specific to the rabbit.

Module 4: Other Small Mammals
Total Time: 68 minutes
Video: 68 minutes
Polls: 3
The do’s and don’ts for guinea pigs, chinchillas, small rodents, and sugar gliders.

Module 5: End of Course Test
Total Time: 15 minutes
Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required to earn a certificate of completion for the course.

Module 6: Course Evaluation

To learn more about the requirements for earning a Self Study CE certificate, please refer to Self Study CE Certificate Requirements.


Enrollment is closed.  

Tuition: VIN Member $115
Prices are listed in US dollars.


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

Enrollment qualifications for Self Study CE:
  1. VIN CE Courses:
    1. VIN CE courses are open to VIN members.
    2. Veterinary support staff must be VSPN members in order to enroll in a VIN CE course open to VSPN member enrollment.
  2. VSPN CE Courses:
    1. VSPN CE courses are open to veterinary support staff and veterinarians.
    2. Only VIN and VSPN members can enroll in a VSPN CE course.
    3. Veterinarians will only receive credit for those VSPN CE courses that specify in the Accreditation statement that the course is accredited for veterinarians.
  3. Please check the course Level and Prerequisites, Accreditation, and Tuition before enrolling.
  4. Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses.
    1. Email is our major form of communication with participants; personal emails are highly recommended rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
  5. For further assistance call 800-846-0028 ext. 797 or email CEonVIN@vin.com. 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 starting the course. If you wish to withdraw after you have started this self-study course, please contact the VSPN 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