TECH156-0909 : Equine Pharmacology

INSTRUCTOR:
Cindy Ann Shower, DVM

DATES:
September 28-November 4, 2009
Real Time Sessions: Sunday evenings, October 4, 11, 18, and 25, 2009; 9:00pm-10:30pm ET (USA)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is designed to give the basic understanding of commonly used drugs and preparations in equine practice. Mechanism of action, delivery method(s), and the purpose and drug interactions will be the focus of the course. This course will help the veterinary assistant and veterinary technician understand the various drugs used in equine practice, potential side effects, and nursing aspects to aide the equine practitioner in prescribing and treatment regimens.

The course will be presented in four (4) 90 minute real time interactive live sessions and will include online handouts, quizzes, and message board discussion interaction with both the instructor and other course participants. Dr. Shower has a special interest in equine medicine and surgery and raises Ponies of the Americas when off duty from working at her practice in Hawaii. Ann was the principal large animal (equine) practitioner for Rabun Animal Hospital in Mountain City Georgia, previous owner of Leap of Faith Mobile Veterinary Services which emphasized equine work and currently retaining a high interest in equine work and equine relief, currently practices in Ewa Beach, Hawaii.

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

• identify commonly used analgesics, indications and adverse reactions for their use in equines.
• identify commonly used antibiotics, their bacterial class coverage, and antibiotic choices for specific organ system in equines.
• distinguish drug classifications and the common drugs within each class.
• demonstrate drug dosage calculation.
• identify commonly used controlled drugs and the record keeping required.
• describe commonly used antiparasitic drugs and the parasites that are susceptible to each class.
• identify commonly used injectable and inhaled anesthetics, their indications and hazards.
• recognize a drug reaction and how to report it.
• recognize commonly used topical preparations, their indications, and limitations of use.

TEXTBOOK: There is no required text for this course; however, the instructor recommends the following as a resource:

• Knottenbelt, D. C. (2006). Saunders Equine Formulary. Elsevier Health. VIN Store: https://store.vin.com/custom/edit.asp?p=99811

COURSE OUTLINE:

Week 1: Drug Classification and Dosage Calculation
Content: Our first lecture will include an overview of the more common drug classifications, examples of drugs within each class, and a review of drug calculations.

Week 2: Gram Negative, Gram Positive, or Mixed Bag!
Content: The second week will cover the use of antibiotics, their mechanism of action, and delivery methods. Specific organ system usage for antibiotics will be discussed

Week 3: Alpha, Beta, Kappa, Mu! Is this a Frat Party?
Content: Commonly used analgesics and anesthetics, along with their method of action and delivery will be covered. How to do proper record keeping for controlled drugs will also be covered.

Week 4: Inside, Outside, Upside Down
Content: Commonly used antiparasitic drugs, method of delivery and parasite coverage will be discussed. We will also cover topical ophthalmic meds, derm preparations, and recognizing drug reactions. Reporting of drug reactions will also be covered.

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: 6

TUITION:
$120 ($108 early bird special if registered before September 14, 2009).
*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: Enrollment will be closed when the maximum number of participants is reached or at 5pm ET the day of the first real time session.

**The Participant's Resource Center includes all you need to know about online CE with VIN and VSPN.

TO REGISTER:

1. Each person must individually be a registered member of VSPN (www.vspn.org). Membership in VSPN is free.
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 approved for continuing education credits 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 VSPN or 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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** For More Information on VSPN's upcoming CE Courses, check out http://www.VSPN.org/CE

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

Charlotte Waack (Charlotte@vspn.org), ext 193
Chris Upchurch (Chris@vspn.org); ext 197
Darci Palmer (Darci@vspn.org); ext 179
Debbie Bess (DBess@vspn.org); ext 178
VSPN CE Services
1-800-846-0028 or 1-530-297-4950

[ CE MAIN | COURSE CATALOG | RACE/GETTING CREDITS | ONLINE CE HOW TO | SUGGEST A COURSE | VIN MAIN ]

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