EXOT800-0112: Basic Captive Marine Mammal Husbandry, Physiology, and Medicine

INSTRUCTOR(S): Laurie J. Gage, DVM, Dipl ACZM
COURSE OPEN: January 1-18, 2012
REAL TIME SESSIONS (RTS): Sundays, January 8, 15; 8:00-9:30 pm 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 of speakers to listen. If you have any concerns regarding your computer's audio capabilities, please be sure to attend one of the Practice Sessions.

Level and Prerequisites: This basic course will be open to veterinarians, veterinary technicians, veterinary teams, etc. actively interested in basic pinniped and cetacean husbandry and medicine.

VIN CE Course: Open to veterinarians and veterinary technicians. This course has been submitted for RACE approval for veterinarians and veterinary technicians.

Course Description:
This course will be an overview of basic husbandry and medicine of the commonly maintained captive marine mammals such as California sea lions and bottlenose dolphins.

This course consists of two (2) ninety (90) minute Real Time Sessions, 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 earn a certificate of completion for the course.

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

• Understand basic husbandry issues of marine mammals such as proper housing, life support systems and nutrition.
• Be familiar with the common diseases of captive marine mammals.
• Understand the basic physiology of pinnipeds and cetaceans.

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.

Recommended textbook:

• Dierauf, L.A., & Gulland, F. (2001). CRC Handbook of Marine Mammal Medicine. CRC Press.
  ISBN-13: 978-0849308390, 2 edition

About the Instructors:
Dr. Laurie Gage is the Big Cat and Marine Mammal Specialist for the USDA. She is board certified with the American College of Zoological Medicine and spent 23 years in practice as the Director of Veterinary Services at both The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, CA and Marine World Africa USA/ Six Flags Marine World in Vallejo, California.

Course Outline:
Week 1 (Real Time Session January 8): Husbandry and Physiology
Content: Basic Physiology of cetaceans and pinnipeds necessary to understanding their medical issues and housing issues. Basic husbandry to include water quality, life support systems, fish handling, and nutrition. Hand rearing pinnipeds will also be discussed.

Week 2 (Real Time Session January 15): Medicine and Physiology
Content: Common medical problems seen in captive pinnipeds and cetaceans, diseases, ocular problems, geriatric issues, neoplasia, diagnostics, and basic clinical pathology.

CE CREDITS: 3

Tuition: Member $60 ($54 early bird special if enrolled by December 18, 2011).
Non-Member $124 ($112 early bird special if enrolled by December 18, 2011).

*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 enrollment will close on the Friday before the first Real Time Session.

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

TO ENROLL:

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 is submitted for approval for 3 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/VIN 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).

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).

*For More Information on VSPN's Upcoming CE Courses check the Course Catalog at http://www.vspn.org/CE/VSPN_M02231.htm

Katherine James, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM)
VIN Education Coordinator

VIN CE Services: CEonVIN@vin.com
1-800-846-0028 or 1-530-756-4881 or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01452226154
Andrea Pomposo (Andrea@vin.com); ext 126
Debbie Friedler (Debbie@vin.com); ext 756
Heather Schoffstall (Heather@vin.com); ext 116
Jennifer Boyle (JenniferB@vin.com); ext 169

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