The current VIN date & time: Eastern

VIN REPR300-0122: Medical Care of the Neonatal Puppy and Kitten: Those Important First Weeks

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

Presenter: Joni Freshman, DVM, MS, DACVIM
Course Open: January 26-March 5, 2022
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Wednesdays, February 2, 9, 16 and 23, 2022; 9:00-10:30 pm ET (USA) World Clock Converter
Total CE Credit: 6
RACE Category: 6 hours Medical

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Course Information:
Understanding and competency of neonatal differences in physiology, evaluation, care, response to treatment, and common afflictions is critical to the survival of these youngest patients. Importantly, ill neonates can die quite quickly if appropriate action is not taken in a timely manner. Many owners of pregnant animals have little knowledge of how to care for these small patients as well. This course will discuss the important aspects of home husbandry, the physiologic differences between neonates and older patients, the common causes of illness, evaluation and testing of ill neonates, and finally treatment of these tiny patients.

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of the course, the participant should be able to
  • understand the basic care and monitoring needs for neonates in the home.
  • explain to owners of litters important management actions at home.
  • understand the physiologic differences between neonates and older puppies and kittens.
  • understand the variety of illnesses that commonly affect neonatal puppies and kittens.
  • form a differential diagnosis for the clinical signs presented in a neonatal patient.
  • understand the comorbidities that often occur in this context.
  • understand the pathology of common neonatal health conditions.
  • complete a physical exam on a neonatal puppy or kitten.
  • recognize clinical signs of the ill neonate.
  • understand what diagnostic steps can be taken on a neonate.
  • calculate the amount of blood to safely draw from a neonate.
  • make critical decisions on which tests are the most important for an ill neonate.
  • cetermine treatment plans for the ill neonate.
  • implement care for the ill neonate, including intraosseous administration of medication or blood, intranasal oxygen administration.
  • understand administration of fluids and nutrition in the neonate.
  • understand medication alterations in the neonate.

Level and Prerequisites: This basic VIN CE course is open for enrollment to veterinarians actively interested in Canine and feline neonatal care including husbandry and monitoring, physiologic differences, causes of illness in neonates, evaluation of ill neonates to include diagnostic testing, and treatment of ill neonates.
Accreditation: This course is approved for 6 hours of continuing education credit by RACE for veterinarians. (RACE 20-799692)

Course Agenda:

Week 1 (Real Time Session February 2, 2022): Neonatal Husbandry and Physiology

Week 2 (Real Time Session February 9, 2022): Causes of Neonatal Illness

Week 3 (Real Time Session February 16, 2022): Evaluation of the Ill Neonate

Week 4 (Real Time Session February 23, 2022): Treatment of the Ill Neonate

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 January 12, 2022)
Non-Member $231 ($208 early bird special if enrolled by January 12, 2022)
Prices are listed in US dollars.

*To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close on February 2, 2022 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