TECH175-0811: Nutrition Basics for the Canine and Feline

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INSTRUCTOR(S): Ann Wortinger, BIS, LVT, VTS (ECC, SAIM)

COURSE OPEN: August 31-October 1, 2011

REAL TIME SESSIONS (RTS): Wednesdays, September 7, 14, and 21, 2011; 8:30pm-10:00pm ET (USA)
Course RTS Times in Your Area: World Clock Converter
Practice Sessions: In order to prepare you for a successful experience in your CE course, we request you attend a practice session prior to the first Real Time Session. Times and dates will be listed in your course confirmation email. Expect to spend up to 1 hour at one of the 2-4 practice sessions held prior to the first Real Time Session.

* The instructor for this course will be using audio which will require you to have a headset or speakers to listen. If you have any concerns regarding your computer's audio capabilities, please be sure to attend a Practice Session.

Level and Prerequisites: All members of the veterinary support staff may join the course and its discussions; however, this course is focused toward those veterinary personnel who are familiar with biology and chemistry. This course will not cover specific diets or pet food manufacturers.
VSPN CE Course. This course has been submitted for RACE approval for veterinary technicians only.

Course Description:
The importance of the role of nutrition is being increasingly recognized for both dogs and cats, but if you are like most technicians you get little to no nutrition information in school. This course builds on the basics of biology, chemistry and biochemistry to introduce the fundamentals of nutrition. We will look at the roles of energy and water, the 6 classes of nutrients as well as digestion, absorption and energy balance.

This course will consist of three (3) Real Time Sessions of ninety (90) minutes each, supplemental library materials, interactive message board discussions, a mandatory end-of-course test, and may include online multiple choice quizzes (after each Real Time Session). Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required to be considered for a course certificate of completion.
** The lecture portion of this course will combine both text and audio presentation. Please be prepared to listen.

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

• distinguish the importance of nutrition in health and disease management.
• discuss the 6 different classes of nutrients and how they work separately and together.
• explain the importance of energy balance.

Course Materials: Course materials will be available in the course library prior to each Real Time Session.
Required Texbook(s): There is no required textbook for this course.

About the Instructor: Ann Wortinger is a published author and has specialty certification in both Emergency Critical Care and Small Animal Internal Medicine. Her experience in general, emergency and specialty practices, as well as an educator and Program Chairperson for Sanford-Brown College Veterinary Technology Program provides solid experience in understanding in house and reference laboratory testing for patients. Ann also sits on the organizing committee for the Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians specialty (http://nutritiontechs.org/).

Course Outline:
Week 1 (Real Time Session September 7): Introduction to the First 3 Classes of Nutrients and Energy Use
Content: In this week we will cover water, carbohydrates, fats and energy. Each nutrient will be covered in depth, as well as how energy use is calculated and used.

Week 2 (Real Time Session September 14): The next 3 Classes of Nutrients
Content: This week we will discuss proteins, vitamins and minerals. Protein use varies with each species, as well protein requirements. Vitamins and minerals, while not energy containing nutrients they are essential for the metabolism and use of nutrients and can cause significant disturbances when not provided in sufficient amounts.

Week 3 (Real Time Session September 21): Digestion of Nutrients and Energy Balance
Content: While nutrients are all well and good, what happens to them after they enter the body is the really interesting part. We'll look at digestion of the energy containing nutrients and how energy balance can affect the response to disease management as well as quality of life.

CE HOURS: 4.5

Tuition: $90 ($81 early bird special if enrolled by August 17, 2011.
*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).
** To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close when the maximum number of participants is reached or at 5pm ET the day of the first Real Time Session unless otherwise noted. If the first Real Time Session is on a weekend, course will close on the Friday before the first Real Time Session.

**For more on how online CE works see the Participant Resource Center

TO ENROLL:
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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 1-800-700-INFO (4636) or email (VIN CE) CEonVIN@vin.com or (VSPN CE) VSPNCE@vspn.org). Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.

Note: "This course has been submitted for approval for 4.5 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: 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/VSPN office 1-800-700-INFO (4636) to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.
**Note: To ensure rapid handling of your request for withdrawal, we recommend that you call the VIN/VSPN office at 1-800-700-INFO (4636).

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** For More Information on VSPN's upcoming CE Courses, check out https://www.vin.com/CE/VSPN/VSPN_M02231.htm

Nanette R. Walker Smith, M.Ed., RVT, CVT, LVT
VSPN Content Director & VSPN CE Director

VSPN CE Services: VSPNCE@vspn.org
1-800-846-0028 or 1-530-756-4881 or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01452226154
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
Jennifer Withrow (Jennifer@vspn.org); ext 159
Nanette Walker Smith (Nanette@vspn.org); ext 187

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