TECH176-0609 : Canine and Feline Diseases Overview

INSTRUCTOR:
Barb Burri, MBA, CVT, LVT; Charlotte Waack, AA, AS, BS, CVT, RVT

DATES:
June 30-August 6, 2009
Real Time Sessions: Monday evenings, July 6, 13, 20, and 27, 2009; 9:30pm-11:00pm ET (USA)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Veterinary team members should be able to recognize and describe the many diseases and conditions diagnosed in the small animal veterinary hospital. Support staff should be able to help educate clients in the process of how a veterinarian diagnoses disease, body systems involved, and follow up care after diagnosis. This course will also give an overview of diagnostic testing, symptoms of diseases, follow up protocols, dietary needs for some diseases and client education for canine and feline species.

Barb Burri is a veterinary technology program adjunct faculty member and teaches several VSPN CE courses. Charlotte Waack has over 15 years experience in the field of veterinary medicine and is also a VSPN CE instructor. This course will consist of four (4) real time interactive sessions of ninety (90) minutes each covering body systems involved in several canine and feline diseases, diagnostic testing, dietary concerns, follow up testing and client education. Handouts will be provided as background documents to review prior to each real time session; a weekly online quiz will be provided to test the comprehension of each session; and there will be an online comprehensive final exam.

All members of the veterinary support staff may join the course and its discussions; this course is focused towards front desk/client service staff, veterinary assistants, and veterinary technician students.

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

• identify the body system affected by various common canine and feline diseases.
• explain the diagnostic testing used to identify these diseases in layman's terms.
• identify important signs and symptoms of which clients should be aware.
• explain side effects of commonly used treatment medications.
• explain importance of ongoing testing when using various treatment medications.

TEXTBOOKS: There are no required texts for this course; however, the instructors recommend the following for reference:

• Veterinary Support Personnel Network. (2008). VSPN Notebook�, version 3.0 is online at VSPN for free. The printed version 3.0 is available through the VIN Store at https://store.vin.com/custom/edit.asp?p=99853. VSPN and VIN members MUST LOG IN to the Store to purchase this text

COURSE OUTLINE:

Week 1: Preventive Health and Gastrointestinal Diseases
Content: The first week will include diseases that we commonly vaccinate for, pancreatitis, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, diarrhea and vomiting. Information will include testing, patient care, and client education.

Week 2: Endocrine Disorders
Content: Endocrine disorders can sometimes be difficult to explain to the client. Week 2 will cover testing, treatment and client education for diabetes, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's disease) and hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's disease).

Week 3: Renal and Cardiovascular Diseases
Content: Cardiovascular and renal diseases are diagnosed frequently in the veterinary clinic. While we are not able to "cure" these diseases, they can be manageable medical conditions. Week 3 will include treatment involved, dietary concerns, and management of chronic renal failure, glomerular nephritis, congestive heart failure and high blood pressure.

Week 4: Respiratory Disease and Cancer
Content: Respiratory issues and cancer are becoming more prevalent in veterinary medicine. During our last week we will discuss testing, treatment, and client education of asthma, heartworm disease, lymphoma, osteosarcoma, mast cell tumors and hemangiosarcoma.

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 June 16, 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.

**For more on how online CE works see the VSPN Participant's Resource Center.

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 submitted for approval for 6 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

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