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OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT
TO
VETERINARY SUPPORT STAFF

    
VSPN CE Course TECH115-0314: Action Program for Overweight Pets
Audio and Text: In some of the course Real Time Sessions the lecture will be predominantly audio
while in others the lecture will be predominantly text.

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INSTRUCTOR(S): Geneva Keene Acor, DVM, MS
COURSE OPEN: March 12-April 5, 2014
REAL TIME SESSIONS (RTS): Wednesdays, March 19 and 26, 2014; 9:30pm - 11:00pm 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. 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.

*The instructors 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 one of the Practice Sessions.

Level and Prerequisites: This intermediate level course is directed to the veterinary technicians and practice nutritional counselors. Participants should be knowledgeable in basic small animal clinical nutrition.
VSPN CE course: This course has been RACE approved for veterinary technicians only. Veterinary Information Network’s RACE provider is #22.

Course Description:
In a 2011 survey of veterinarians by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 54 percent of pets in the United States are overweight (http://www.petobesityprevention.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/APOP-Survey-2011.pdf). Do you already have a weight loss program in your clinic? If you have a program, would you like to improve results? This course will take the participant through the steps to create a weight loss program from the intake process of history and assessment to calculating requirements and diet recommendations and implementation of a program. Help your patients lead healthier lives and increase their longevity through a commitment to achieving healthy weight goals!

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.

*The lecture portion of this course will combine audio and text presentation, please be prepared to listen.

Upon completion of this course, the participant should be able to Course Materials: Course materials will be available in the course library prior to each Real Time Session.

Required Textbook(s): Recommended Textbook(s): About the Instructors:
Geneva Acor has been a long time educator and lecturer on all aspects of veterinary medicine. She created this course for VSPN to enable those working in small animal practice to create and facilitate weight loss programs.

Course Outline:
Week 1 (Real Time Session March 19, 2014): Patient Assessment, Energy Calculations, and Recommendations for Weight Management
Required Reading(prior to March 19th):Required reading (prior to March 19): Chapter 27: https://s3.amazonaws.com/mmi_sacn5/Chapter+27+-+Obesity.pdf
Content: This session will cover the elements of weight and body condition score assessment of the canine and feline patient. The student will be guided through the rationale of weight loss recommendations and will practice calculating the DER based on the target weight and the calculation of the recommendation for the volume of food based on the food calorie content. The importance of a feeding history and the common errors in history recording will be emphasized.

Week 2 (Real Time Session March 26, 2014): ACTION Implementing the Weight Management Protocol
Required Reading(prior to March 26th): Chapter 27: https://s3.amazonaws.com/mmi_sacn5/Chapter+27+-+Obesity.pdf
Content: Using specific case examples, this session will implement the program with recommendations for monitoring and coaching the pet owner to success with the pet’s weight management program. Specific tools to use in the practice including weight charting will be included.

CE CREDITS: 3

Tuition: $60 ($54 early bird special if enrolled by February 26, 2014)

* 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 at 5 pm ET March 19, 2014 or when the maximum number of participants is reached.
*For more information 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 is approved 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 VSPN Course Catalog.

The CE team:

Charlotte Waack, RVT, CVT
VSPN CE Director

VSPN CE Services: VSPNCE@vspn.org
800-846-0028 or 530-756-4881; ext. 972
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01452226154

800.700.4636  |  CEonVIN@vin.com  |  530.756.4881  |  Fax: 530.756.6035
777 West Covell Blvd, Davis, CA 95616
Copyright 2014, Veterinary Information Network, Inc.