TECH224-0413: Diabetic Complications in the Canine and Feline

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INSTRUCTOR(S): Katy Waddell, RVT, VTS (ECC, Anesthesia) and Paula Plummer, RVT, VTS (ECC)
COURSE OPEN: April 1-May 9, 2013
REAL TIME SESSIONS (RTS): Mondays, April 8, 15, 22, and 29, 2013; 8:00pm-9:30pm 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. Please arrive promptly at the start time; each Practice Session is up to 1 hour in length. For more information, please visit the CE Practice Area.

Level and Prerequisites: This advanced course will cover the pathophysiology of diabetes in the canine and feline in comparison and contrast including testing, nursing, maintenance, and client education.

VSPN CE Course: This course is RACE approved for veterinary technicians only.

Course Description:
Diabetes in feline and canine patient results from multiple causes. This course will take the experienced veterinary technician cause through diagnostic testing, and incorporate case-based interactions and discussions of complications to integrate appropriate triage and nursing care plans. The pathogenesis of a diabetic patient as it relates to the wide range of metabolic and endocrine derangements, nutritional needs, fluid and medication support including insulin dosing and constant rate of infusions will be included. Message board discussion interaction will incorporate the case based understanding of the disease processes in real life situations and will be an essential learning component of this course.

This course consists of four (4) 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

• appraise and assess the metabolic and endocrine derangements leading to a potential diabetic ketoacidotic (DKA) event.
• recognize and contrast the clinical signs of DKA in a canine and feline patient.
• compare current suggested types of treatment of DKA in a canine and a feline patient.
• design and compose nursing strategies involving the role of nutrition and appropriate medical therapy for the prevention of DKA events for collaboration with the attending veterinarian.
• identify and assess conditions and complications often associated with non-regulated diabetic patients.

Course Materials: Course materials will be available in the course library prior to each Real Time Session (RTS).

Required Textbook(s):
There are no required textbooks for this course.
Recommended Textbook(s): Suggested references will be included within the course library.

About the Instructor: Katy W. Waddell has been in the veterinary field for 39 years in small animal, mixed animal, specialty referral practices, 24/7 facilities as well as in academia and as an author. Katy currently works with the Feline and Canine Internal Medicine Services at Texas A & M University and is responsible for providing nursing care and student instruction for these services. She also is the staff liaison/mentor for multiple student organizations providing wet labs. She lectures and promotes education to veterinary technicians to improve patient care and advocacy. Paula Plummer has been in the veterinary field for over 13 years in academia and small animal private practice. Paula recently attained her VTS (ECC) and currently works at Texas A & M University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital in the Feline Internal Medicine Department. She has worked most of her career in emergency and critical care medicine. She teaches a variety of skill labs to veterinary students and technicians and is a guest lecturer at different conferences on emergency and critical care topics.

Course Outline:
Week 1 (Real Time Session April 8): Pathogenesis of Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetic Ketoacidosis
Content: With DKA being a life threatening complication of diabetes mellitus in the canine and feline patient, the pathology of how one disease can become a life threatening complication of another will be discussed in great detail. The roles of the pertaining hormones with this disease, especially insulin, will be discussed. Major electrolyte disturbances seen in patients with DKA will be covered to enable veterinary technicians to better recognize and facilitate their role in an emergency or critical care setting.

Week 2 (Real Time Session April 15): The Feline Patient with Diabetes Mellitus and the Potential Causation of a DKA Event
Content: The feline patient presents a different diabetic challenge from the canine. This week's session will focus on how and why including feline specific clinical signs and symptoms, nutritional needs, current therapy, and the recognition of the need for urgent intervention and medical management.

Week 3 (Real Time Session April 22): Recognizing and Treating DKA in the Canine Patient
Content: Most canine patients suffering from DKA will have life threatening complications. This session will cover how to recognize and aid the veterinarian in diagnosing DKA in an urgent setting. Treating DKA can involve glucose curves, insulin constant rate of infusion, fluid therapy, and nutritional support while the patient is in the Intensive Care Unit. Participants will differentiate when and why this treatment is necessary for a successful recovery.

Week 4 (Real Time Session April 29): Identifying Complications in the Non-Regulated Diabetic Patient
Content: Complications may arise from unregulated diabetic patients that suffer from diabetic nephropathy, diabetic neuropathy, and/or hyperosmolar, hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome. We will review and discuss each of these syndromes to allow the participant a greater awareness of the complications and causations, ultimately leading to improved patient care and support in the emergency and critical care setting.

CE CREDITS: 6

Tuition: $120 ($108 early bird special if enrolled by March 18, 2013).
*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 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.

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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 is approved 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/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 VSPN Course Catalog.

Nanette R. Walker Smith, MEd, RVT, CVT, LVT
VSPN Content Director & CE Coordinator

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
Barb Burri (Barb@vspn.org); ext. 764 (New Hampshire)
Charlotte Waack (Charlotte@vspn.org); ext 193 (Illinois)
Chris Upchurch (Chris@vspn.org); ext 197 (Florida)
Debbie Bess (DBess@vspn.org); ext 178 (Nevada)
Nanette Walker Smith (Nanette@vspn.org); ext 187 (Colorado)

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