VIN PHAR206-0321: Spring into Toxicology

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

Presenters: Laura Stern DVM, ABVT
Sharon Gwaltney-Brant, DVM, ABVT, ABT, PhD
Tina Wismer, DVM, ABVT, ABT
Charlotte Means, DVM, MLIS, ABVT, ABT

Course Open: March 16-April 23, 2021
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Tuesdays, March 23, 30, April 6, and 13, 2021; 8:00-10:00 pm ET (USA) World Clock Converter
Total CE Credit: 8
RACE Category: 8 hours Medical

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Course Information:
Participants will learn about a variety of common toxicologic hazards that are frequently encountered by pets. The initial session will cover the basic understanding of toxicokinetic principles and how they apply to managing toxicology cases. Followed by a session on commonly fatal poisonings, the mechanisms of action, clinical signs, and treatment for the deadly toxin. The third and final sessions will comprehensively cover three drug groups that are commonly encountered with toxicosis, rodenticides, insecticides and mushrooms.

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of the course, the participant should be able to
  • understand the basic toxicokinetic principles that apply to managing toxicology cases.
  • perform dosage and other calculations used when managing toxicology cases.
  • understand appropriate and effective decontamination techniques for managing toxicology cases.
  • recognize and triage toxins that can cause fatal signs quickly.
  • be familiar with the mechanism of action, clinical signs, treatment for deadly toxins.
  • identify and treat common rodenticide and insecticide toxicoses.
  • identify and treat common mushroom toxicoses.

Level and Prerequisites: This intermediate VIN CE course is is geared toward veterinarians and higher level/credentialed veterinary technicians/technologists. Participants in this course should have an interest in learning about how different toxicologic hazards affect our pets and the best way to utilize diagnostic tools to aid the general practitioner in treating them.
Accreditation: This course is approved for 8 hours of continuing education credit by RACE for veterinarians and veterinary technicians/technologists. (RACE 20-810780)

Course Agenda:

Week 1 (Real Time Session March 23, 2021): Practical Toxicology Concepts
Presenter: Sharon Gwaltney-Brant, DVM, ABVT, ABT, PhD

Week 2 (Real Time Session March 31, 2021): Why is my patient dead? A look at fatal veterinary poisonings
Presenter: Laura Stern DVM, DABVT

Week 3 (Real Time Session April 6, 2021): When the outside comes in – Rodenticides and Insecticides
Presenter: Tina Wismer, DVM, ABVT, ABT

Week 4 (Real Time Session April 13, 2021): Mushroom Toxicity
Presenter: Charlotte Means, DVM, MLIS, ABVT, ABT

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.


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Tuition: Member $184 ($166 early bird special if enrolled by March 2, 2021)
Non-Member $292 ($263 early bird special if enrolled by March 2, 2021)
Prices are listed in US dollars.

*To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close on March 23, 2021 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.

  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. 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