The current VIN date & time: Eastern

VIN EXOT612-0622: X-Rays for Everyone! Radiology in Wildlife Rehabilitation Cases

The lectures for this course will be presented in an audio format using a webinar platform.

Presenter: Renee Schott, DVM, CWR
Course Open: June 15-July 23, 2022
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Wednesdays, June 22, 29, July 6 and 13, 2022; 9:00-11:00 pm ET (USA) World Clock Converter
Total CE Credit: 8
RACE Category: 8 hours Medical


Enrollment is closed.


Course Information:
Got a broken bird? Did someone dump a cracked chelonian on your doorstep? Do wayward wildlife randomly show up at your clinic sick or injured? Fear not! Radiography is the most used diagnostic tool in every rehabilitation facility and can often provide us most of the information we need to appropriately manage cases! Using (mostly) real cases, we will dive into common (and a few uncommon) presentations and serial radiographs of many mammal, avian and turtle species who have presented to wildlife rehabilitation. Not only will you learn how to interpret abnormal radiographs of many etiologies, but we will follow the case through treatment so you know what to do after you take the radiographs. Topics included (but not limited to): shoulder girdle fractures, pelvic girdle fractures, fracture healing over time, amputations, aspergillosis, shell trauma, foreign body presence (ie projectiles, hooks), assessment of the GI tract, and many more!! Per usual, these classes will be fun and interactive so bring a sense of humor and your questions!


Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of the course, the participant should be able to
  • practice positioning with carcasses (at their own clinic) in order to obtain well-positioned radiographs.
  • practice positioning carcasses to achieve views required for specific injuries.
  • interpret abnormal radiographs in a case-based, practical context.
  • understand the basic tenants of rehabilitation, including caveats, goals, and how to work with wild animal stress.
  • understand how to safely sedate and anesthetize compromised wildlife to achieve high quality radiographs.
  • understand how to treat and when to eutanize for common conditions.


Level and Prerequisites: This basic VIN CE course is open for enrollment to veterinarians and veterinary students actively interested in radiology in wildlife rehabilitation.
Participants need to be familiar with avian and reptile (mainly chelonian) radiology normal anatomy. Resources on these topics will be provided in the course library for participants to review prior to the first real time session webinar.

Accreditation: This course is approved for 8 hours of continuing education credit by RACE for veterinarians. (RACE 20-900639)


Course Agenda:

Week 1 (Real Time Session June 22, 2022): Introduction to Wildlife Radiography
This first session will quickly cover the goals of treating wildlife, the legalities to treating wildlife, requirements for release, and how stress varies compared to domestics in private practice. We will then dive into HOW to take radiographs, walking through anesthesia and positioning. We will get accustomed to how we will look at radiographs together remotely without making anyone dizzy.

Week 2 (Real Time Session June 29, 2022): Making Most of the Mammal Radiograph
This session will be a mix of mammal cases including (but not limited to) cottontails, squirrels, porcupines, mice, fox, bats and more!

Week 3 (Real Time Session July 6, 2022): All the Avian Anomalies! (Avian Radiograph Cases)
This session will be a mix of avian cases including (but not limited to) songbirds, waterfowl, woodpeckers, shorebirds, pigeons, and more!

Week 4 (Real Time Session July 13, 2022): Shimmying around the Shell! (Turtle Radiograph Cases)
This session will be a mix of chelonian cases including mostly painted turtle and common snapping turtle cases. Don’t worry — we have some amazing new views to introduce!


Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required to earn a certificate of completion for the course. To learn more about the requirements for earning a CE certificate, please refer to Receiving Your CE Credit and Course Completion Certificate.

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


Enrollment is closed.


*To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close on June 22, 2022 at 5 pm ET (USA) or when the maximum number of participants is reached.

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


Enrollment qualifications:
  1. VIN CE Courses:
    1. VIN CE courses are open to VIN member, VIN student member, and non-member veterinarians.
    2. Veterinary support staff must be VSPN members in order to enroll in a VIN CE course open to VSPN member enrollment.
  2. VSPN CE Courses:
    1. VSPN CE courses are open to veterinary support staff and veterinarians.
    2. Only VIN and VSPN members can enroll in a VSPN CE course.
    3. Veterinarians will only receive credit for those VSPN CE courses that specify in the Accreditation statement that the course is accredited for veterinarians.
  3. Please check the course Level and Prerequisites, Accreditation, and Tuition before enrolling.
  4. Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses.
    1. Email is our major form of communication with participants; personal emails are highly recommended rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
  5. For further assistance call 800-846-0028 ext. 797 or email . Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.


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 office 800-846-0028 ext. 797 to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.

*For more information on VIN's upcoming CE courses, check the VIN Course Catalog.

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

VIN CE Services:
800-846-0028 or 530-756-4881; ext. 797
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01 45 222 6154
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from Australia: 02 6145 2357