VSPN TECH298-0919: Emergency & Critical Care of Exotic Companion Animals

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

Enrollment is closed.
Instructor: Sarah J. Kolb, BAS, RVT, VTS(Exotic Companion Animals)
Course Open: September 30-November 7, 2019
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Mondays, October 7, 14, 21, and 28, 2019; 8:30-10PM ET (USA)
Course RTS Times in Your Area: World Clock Converter

To prepare for your online experience, review the VIN-VSPN CE informational video prior to the course open date.

Level and Prerequisites: This intermediate course will be open to veterinary technicians/technologists and support staff, actively interested in emergency and critical care treatment of exotic companion animals.
VSPN CE Course: “This program has been submitted (but is not yet approved) for 6 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. “

Course Description:
This course is designed to provide the foundational principles of emergency and critical care nursing of exotic companion animals. General triage concepts, common emergency presentations, nursing care, and hospitalization will be discussed as related to critically ill patients of varying species. Participants will learn a variety of nursing skills, including stabilization techniques, catheter placement, fluid therapy, venipuncture and blood volume limitations, hand feeding, injection routes, wound management, and CPR. Participants will also gain a basic understanding of clinical signs, treatments, and prognosis for common disorders.

Week 1 (Real Time Session October 7): Ferrets, Sugar Gliders, & Hedgehogs
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:
  • Discuss triage, nursing care, and hospitalization of ferrets, sugar gliders, and hedgehogs
  • Identify catheter, venipuncture, and injection sites.
  • Calculate fluid rates and blood volume.
  • Discuss dietary needs and hand feeding of ferrets, sugar gliders, & hedgehogs.
  • Identify clinical signs for common emergent conditions and discuss treatments and prognosis.
Week 2 (Real Time Session October 14): Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Chinchillas, & Rodents
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:
  • Discuss triage, nursing care, and hospitalization of rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, and rodents
  • Identify catheter, venipuncture, and injection sites.
  • Calculate fluid rates and blood volume.
  • Discuss dietary needs and hand feeding of rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, and rodents.
  • Demonstrate proper capture and restraint techniques of critically ill patients.
  • Identify clinical signs for common emergent conditions and discuss treatments and prognosis.
Week 3 (Real Time Session October 21): Birds
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:
  • Discuss triage, nursing care, and hospitalization of avian patients
  • dentify catheter, venipuncture, and injection sites.
  • Calculate fluid rates and blood volume.
  • Demonstrate low stress handling techniques of critically ill avian patients.
  • Identify clinical signs for common emergent conditions and discuss treatments and prognosis.
Week 4 (Real Time Session October 28): Reptiles
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:
  • Discuss triage, nursing care, and hospitalization of reptiles
  • Identify catheter, venipuncture, and injection sites.
  • Calculate fluid rates and blood volume.
  • Discuss how husbandry relates to illness in reptiles.
  • Identify clinical signs for common emergent conditions and discuss treatments and prognosis.
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.

About the Instructor:
Sarah Kolb, RVT VTS-CP (Exotic Companion Animals) graduated from Minnesota School of Health Science/Globe College in 2005 and obtained a bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology through St. Petersburg College in Florida in 2018. She has worked in the Primary Care/Exotic Companion Animal Department and Wildlife Care Clinic at Iowa State University Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center located in Ames, Iowa, since 2006. In 2015, Sarah achieved VTS status with the AVTCP- exotic companion animals. Sarah is also a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and parrot foster home for her local Animal Rescue League. Sarah is a member of the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV) and the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and serves on multiple committees for the Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Clinical Practice (AVTCP). In addition, Sarah has published articles in both the NAVTA Journal and Veterinary Nurses Today and has lectured at various national conferences. Sarah resides in Boone, IA, with her three wonderful kids, 6 parrots, and a small backyard flock of chickens.

Total CE Credit: 6

Tuition: Member $126 ($113 early bird special if enrolled by September 16, 2019)
Prices are listed in US dollars.

*To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close on October 7, 2019, 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.

To Enroll:
  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. Each person is individually responsible for his/her own registration. To ensure that all information received is secure and correct, please do not enroll for a course on behalf of another individual.
  4. For further assistance call 800-846-0028 ext. 792 or email . Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.
Enrollment is closed.

*Note: "This program has been submitted (but is not yet approved) for 6 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. " ;

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. 792 to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.

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

Lisa Kernaghan, LVT, RVT, CVT, VTS (ECC)
VSPN CE Coordinator

VSPN CE Services:
800-846-0028 or 530-756-4881; ext. 792
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