VIN

VSPN

VIN MULT310-2020: Cats and Calcium: A Review of Feline Hypercalcemia

This course is a self-paced, non-interactive course.

The 2020 Non-Interactive/Self-Study courses have closed for enrollment.
However, in consideration of COVID-19 limitations on in-person CE and as a benefit to its members, VIN/VSPN CE is extending enrollment through December 31, 2020. **

Please contact us if you wish to enroll:
Email CEonVIN@vin.com or call 800.846.0028 ext 797

** This course must be completed and the end of course test submitted by December 29, 2020 to be awarded a certificate by December 31, 2020.

Presenter: Audrey K Cook, BVMS, MRCVS, Dip ACVIM, ECVIM, ABVP (Feline)
Course Open: August 6-December 31, 2020

Level and Prerequisites: This basic course is geared towards small animal practitioners and assumes some basic understanding of calcium homeostasis and the consequences of hypercalcemia in feline patients.
VIN CE Course: Open to VIN members only. This non-interactive course is approved by RACE for veterinarians. (RACE 22-43321)

Course Description:
Calcium homeostasis is a complex process involving several hormones and organ systems. Hypercalcemia is increasing recognized in feline practice and is a significant cause of patient morbidity. This course will start with a review the essentials of calcium regulation, with an emphasis on the interactions between the various players. The clinical impact of hypercalcemia will be discussed, with a focus on common clinical signs and those associated with significant morbidity. A logical diagnostic approach based on the most common causes of hypercalcemia will then be outlined. And finally, management options for cats with hypercalcemia will be outlined, with an emphasis on the current evidence to support each approach.

This course will consist of four non-interactive modules that are in the form of videos to be watched. The final module will include an end-of-course test.

To earn a certificate of completion, the participant must answer each of the module poll quiz questions, read the module handouts, and pass the end-of-course test with a minimum score of 80%. Completion of all 4 modules (videos, reading handouts, poll quiz questions, and end-of-course test) will take a minimum of 119 minutes to complete. Participants must complete the participation requirements by December 31, 2020 to be eligible for a certificate.

Course Outline:

Module 1: Calcium Homeostasis
Total Time: 21:28 minutes
Video: 21:28 minutes
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to
  • describe the roles of parathyroid hormone, calcitonin and vitamin D in calcium homeostasis.
  • understand the impact of serum phosphorus concentrations on calcium homeostasis.
  • understand the impact of the kidney, bone and gastrointestinal tract on calcium homeostasis.
Module 2: Consequences of Hypercalcemia
Total Time: 36:17 minutes
Video: 16:17 minutes
Handouts(2): 20:00 minutes
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to
  • recognize the clinical signs associated with mild, moderate and severe hypercalcemia in the cat.
  • identify patients requiring in-depth evaluation of calcium regulation.
Module 3: Common Causes of Hypercalcemia
Total Time: 20:48 minutes
Video: 20:48 minutes
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to
  • describe and prioritize the most common causes of feline hypercalcemia.
  • outline a logical diagnostic approach to the hypercalcemic cat.
  • interpret appropriate diagnostic test results.
Module 4: The Management of Hypercalcemia
Total Time: 40:16 minutes
Video: 25:16 minutes
End of Course Test: 15:00 minutes
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to
  • create an appropriate therapeutic plan for the hypercalcemic cat.
  • describe the mechanisms of the various treatment options.
  • evaluate the limitations and possible complications associated with treatment options.
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 non-interactive CE certificate, please refer to Non-Interactive CE Certificate Requirements.

Course Materials: Course materials in the form of handouts and additional educational online activities will be available in the course library.

Required Textbook(s): There is no required textbook for this course.

About the Presenter:
Audrey Cook is an ACVIM Board Certified Internist and ABVP Specialist in Feline Practice. She is currently Associate Professor at Texas A&M University, with particular interests in gastroenterology and endocrinology.

Total CE Credit: 2

Tuition: $46
Prices are listed in US dollars.

*Enrollment will close on December 1, 2020 at 5 pm ET (USA).
*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 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 800-846-0028 ext. 797 or email . Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.
Enrollment is closed.

"This program (22-43321) is approved by the AAVSB RACE to offer a total of 2 CE Credits, with a maximum of 2 CE Credits being available to any individual veterinarian. This RACE approval is for the subject matter categories of: Medical, using the delivery method of Non-Interactive-Distance: (Online, Correspondence, Journal, or Other Self-Study). This approval is valid in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB RACE; however, participants are responsible for ascertaining each board's CE requirements."

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