Course Open: March 9, 2020-April 16, 2020
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Mondays, March 16, 23, 30, and April 6, 2020; 8:30-10:00pm ET (USA)
Course RTS Times in Your Area: World Clock Converter Level and Prerequisites: This intermediate course will be open to veterinary technicians/technologists, support staff, and veterinary teams actively interested in advancing their knowledge of the cause and treatment of cardiac emergencies in small animals.
VSPN CE Course: “This program has been approved for 6 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval." (22-39432) Course Description:
Cardiac disease and dysfunction are a common finding in companion animals kept as pets, particularly as their life spans have lengthened with better veterinary care and nutrition. These pets often present to veterinary practices in a crisis when they are no longer able to adequately compensate and maintain appropriate cardiac output. The ability to quickly identify and help stabilize these patients can mean the difference between life and death. This course will review some of the common cardiac emergencies seen in emergency and primary veterinary clinical practice, such as congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, pericardial effusion, and more. We will discuss the anatomy and pathophysiology involved in these conditions and how treatment is aimed at supporting the body’s needs. Week 1 (Real Time Session March 16): Normal vs. Abnormal, How the Heart Functions
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:
- Identify normal cardiac anatomy and circulation.
- Identify and understand cardiac output.
- Identify normal vitals of healthy dogs and cats.
- Understand the basics of emergency triage.
- Identify common clinical signs observed in emergent cardiac patients.
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:
- Identify and define an arrhythmia.
- Be able to identify a normal sinus rhythm on an ECG.
- Identify how to setup and analyze an ECG.
- Identify some common arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia, electrical alternans, and atrioventricular blocks.
- Identify some common antiarrhythmic drugs used in emergent cardiac patients
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:
- Define heart failure.
- Understand right sided heart failure and the clinical signs observed.
- Understand left sided heart failure and the clinical signs observed.
- Define RAAS and how we utilize it in treating heart failure patients.
- Identify some of the common medications we utilize in the treatment of heart failure.
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:
- Identify and understand Pericardial Effusion.
- Define Tamponade.
- Define Cardiogenic shock.
- Identify some of the medications and procedures utilized in treatment of cardiac emergencies.
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: There is no required textbook for this course. About the Presenter:
Justin Chandlr AAS, CVT, LVT, VTS (ECC) started out in the veterinary field in 1998, first learning on the job as a veterinary assistant and progressing to veterinary technician in a private clinical practice setting. He earned an Associate in Applied Science degree in Veterinary Technology from San Juan College in December 2007. In 2007 he changed jobs and started pursuing his passion in Emergency and Critical Care in a Specialty and Referral Hospital in New Jersey. After years of advanced training and intensive learning, Justin applied for and passed the certification exam for the Academy of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Technicians and Nurses (AVECCTN), earning his Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) in Emergency and Critical Care in 2014. In 2016, Justin was recruited to become the Head Veterinary Technician at Greater Staten Island Veterinary Services. Justin’s special interests include cardiovascular emergencies, ophthalmic emergencies, veterinary math, shock, and more. He has lectured at various local, state, and national veterinary conferences, and enjoys teaching online and in-person. Justin has been active in AVECCTN volunteering as a mentor and serving on the appeals committee. Currently Justin is a Member at Large serving as part of the Board of Directors for AVECCTN. Total CE Credit: 6
Tuition: $126 ($113 early bird special if enrolled by February 24, 2020)
* Students currently enrolled in and taking at least 2 classes or 5 units at an AVMA accredited or CAAHT approved Veterinary Technician Program may be eligible to receive a 50% discount off the regular rate for this course (upon verification of student status).
Prices are listed in US dollars. *To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close on March 16, 2020 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- For further assistance call 800-846-0028 ext. 797 or email VSPNCE. Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.
VSPN CE Coordinator VSPN CE Services: VSPNCE
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