TECH126-0907: Large Breed Special Canine Nutrition

INSTRUCTOR:
Geneva Acor, DVM, MS

DATES:
September 17-October 7, 2007
Real Time Sessions: Thursday evenings; September 20 and 27 from 9:30pm - 11:00pm ET (USA)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

According to the American Kennel Club, in 2006 the Labrador Retriever was the most popular dog breed in the United States with German Shepherds as number two and Golden Retrievers number four. Certainly, veterinary practices have a large percentage of patients as large breed dogs. Also, according to Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. osteoarthritis or joint problems rank as number six (6) in the reasons owners take dogs to the veterinarian. Certainly we want to give these large breed dogs a good start in life and the best quality of life in later years. Nutrition is an important component of management of joint problems beginning with the growth period.

This course presents the clinical research supporting special recommendations in nutrition for the large breed puppy to achieve optimum health and reduce the risk of developmental orthopedic disease. Also, recent advances in the role of fatty acids in reducing inflammation in joint problems will be presented to improve the quality of life in the mature or aged large breed dog. Practice in calculating the energy requirements and giving a specific food recommendation will be emphasized. Dr. Acor has been a veterinary technician educator for more than a decade and has taught several nutrition courses online with VSPN and multiple veterinary technology programs across the USA.

This course will consist of two (2) ninety minute real time sessions; library materials supplementing the chapters in the text; a multiple choice quiz after the first real time session to assist students in identifying the key points; a cumulative final online; and interactive message board discussions.

This course is designed primarily for veterinary technicians. However veterinary staff and veterinary technician students wishing to have a better understanding of current clinical recommendations for the management of canine joint problems through nutrition may also take the course.

Upon completion of this course, the participant should be able to

• identify breeds with predisposition to developmental orthopedic disease.
• list breeds of dogs with genetic predisposition to osteoarthritis.
• explain the recommendations for calcium and energy restriction in the large breed puppy.
• draw the osteoarthritis cycle of degeneration.
• describe the action of NSAIDs, fatty acids, and chondroprotectives on the osteoarthritis cycle of degeneration.
• define Nutragenomics and give one example.

TEXTBOOK: There is no required text for this course. The instructor highly recommends the following texts.

• Recommended Text:
  Hand & Novotny. (2002). Pocket Companion to Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, 4th Ed, (available through the VIN Store at a significant discount to participants in this course through a generous educational grant from Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc.) Use this VIN Store link to purchase this text: https://store.vin.com/custom/edit.asp?p=99698

• Additional recommended text (the large full text is an essential for veterinary libraries):
  Hand, Thatcher, Remillard, & Roudebush. Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, 4th Ed., Available at www.barnesandnoble.com ISBN 0-945837-05-4

COURSE OUTLINE:

Week 1: Nutrition and large breed growth
Week one will emphasize the importance of nutrition in developmental orthopedic disease. The concept of weight management and dietary recommendations will be discussed. The session will also include calculation of the energy needs and providing a specific feeding recommendation for the puppy including the neutered pet and transitioning to adult pet food.

• Defining developmental orthopedic disease
• Key nutritional factors in developmental orthopedic disease
• Calculating energy needs for the puppy, early neutered puppy, and older puppy

Week 2: Nutrition during adult, mature adult and senior life stages
Week two will continue from management of the puppy through the adult, mature adult and senior life stages. The osteoarthritis degenerative cycle will be presented with emphasis on the area of intervention of NSAIDs, fatty acids, and chondroprotectives. The session will also include calculation of the energy needs of the overweight adult and providing a specific feeding recommendation.

• Diagramming the osteoarthritis degenerative cycle
• Medical management of osteoarthritis including nutritional recommendations
• Calculating energy needs for the mature adult

LIBRARY MATERIALS:
Library materials will be made available prior to the topic week so participants will have plenty of time to prepare for the real time sessions and discussion.

MESSAGE BOARD DISCUSSIONS:
Message board discussions regarding the topic presented will begin on the day the course opens and continue for one week following the last real time session. These discussions will be held in the VSPN CE course area.

CE HOURS: 3

TUITION:
$56 ($50.00 early bird special if registered before September 4, 2007).
* 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). You must include the following information in the comments section of the CE enrollment form in order to be eligible for this discount: your program director's name and contact information (email/phone) and school name.

** NOTE: Registration will be closed when the maximum number of participants is reached or at 5pm ET the day of the first real time session.

** Minimal computer requirements for participating in VSPN and VPSNCE: http://www.vspn.org/CE/MinReqs.htm

**For More Information on how our online CE courses work please read the following:
How to's of online CE: http://www.vspn.org/CE/VSPN_M02233.htm
Policies and Procedures: https://www.vin.com/Members/VSPN/Library/Misc/VSPN_M06292.htm

TO REGISTER:

1. Each enrollee must individually be a registered member of VSPN or VIN (www.vspn.org). Membership in VSPN is free; VIN membership includes VSPN membership.
2. To enroll in any VSPN CE course click on the ENROLL NOW link below the course title on the right side of the page at www.vspn.org/CE
3. Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses. This is our major form of communication with participants. It is highly recommended that course participants use their own, personal emails rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
4. VIN Member veterinarians SHOULD NOT register for their staff. Please have the staff member register through VSPN. Please email VSPNCE@vspn.org if you have questions.

Note: "This course has been submitted (but not yet approved) for 3 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB RACE approval; however participants should be aware that some boards have limitations on the number of hours accepted in certain categories and/or restrictions on certain methods of delivery of continuing education. Call VSPN CE at 1-800-700-4636 for further information." (Attendees are encouraged to check with their licensing jurisdiction(s) for information regarding recognition by their board).

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COURSE WITHDRAWAL AND REFUND POLICY: Withdrawal prior to the listed start date of a course entitles the registrant to a complete refund or a credit toward a future VIN CE course, whichever is preferred. Withdrawal within 1 week after the listed start date (i.e. including no more than one real-time session) entitles the registrant to a credit toward any future VIN CE course. (Does not apply to courses with only one real-time session.) After the first real-time session, a registrant may withdraw due to special circumstances and receive prorated credit towards a future VIN course. These requests will be handled on an individual basis. The amount of the prorated credit will be determined based on 65% of the time remaining in the course at the time of withdrawal. It is not possible to withdraw retroactively.
Note: To ensure rapid handling of your request for withdrawal, we recommend that you call the VIN office at 1-800-700-INFO (4636).

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Nanette R. Walker Smith, M.Ed., RVT, CVT, LVT
VSPN Content Director & CE Coordinator
VSPNCE@vspn.org
1-800-846-0028 or 1-530-297-4950, ext 187

Ginger Sanders (Ginger@vspn.org), ext 183
Charlotte Waack (Charlotte@vspn.org), ext 193
VSPN CE Services
1-800-846-0028 or 1-530-756-4881

**For More Information on VSPN's upcoming CE Courses, check out http://www.VSPN.org/CE

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