Course Open: March 5, 2019-April 5, 2019
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Tuesdays, March 12, 19, and 26, 2019; 8:30-10PM ET (USA)
Course RTS Times in Your Area: World Clock Converter To prepare for your online experience, review the VIN-VSPN CE informational video prior to the course open date. Level and Prerequisites: This intermediate course will be open to veterinary technicians/technologists and support staff actively interested in small animal nutrition.
VSPN CE Course: “This program has been approved for 4.5 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. (22-35509)“ Course Description:
In disease management, veterinary team members recognize that prevention, early detection, and early intervention are the first line of defense. However, this focus and discussion does not take place as often as it should when disease conditions are diagnosed. Therapeutic nutrition is an integral part of managing disease. This course will build on the foundation of basic nutrition knowledge and will explore prevalent disease conditions in dogs and cats and how best to manage these conditions nutritionally. We will look at the disease condition and discuss key nutrients (Key Nutritional Factors (KNFs) and their role in disease management. Veterinary teams will gain a better understanding of the role of nutrition in various disease processes as well as how to communicate the importance of nutrition to pet owners. Week 1 (Real Time Session March 12): Understanding Therapeutic Nutrition and the Role of the Veterinary Technician and Applying this to Obesity and Osteoarthritis
Recommended reading (prior to March 12):
- Chapter 10 – Nutritional Calculations
- Chapter 18 - Feeding Regimens for Dogs and Cats
- Chapter 19 - Body Condition Scoring
- Chapter 42 – Musculoskeletal
- Chapter 45 – Weight Management
- Perform a nutritional history.
- Perform a diet calculation: DER, RER and feeding amounts.
- Lead a nutrition consultation with a client.
- Communicate the importance of nutrition and disease management with clients.
- Determine ideal body weight of obese and overweight patients.
- Identify KNFs for management of obesity and osteoarthritis.
- Calculate energy needs for weight loss, maintenance and obesity prevention.
Recommended reading (prior to March 19):
- Chapter 33 - Nutritional Management of Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Chapter 38 – Endocrinology
- Chapter 34 - Hepatic Disease
- Chapter 36 - Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease
- Identify nutritional risk factors that predispose patients to disease.
- Describe and identify Key Nutritional Factors and their role in diet selection.
- Identify variations within disease types and stages.
- Discuss physiology of each disease.
- Develop a nutritional plan for management of each disease.
- Communicate the importance of nutrition and disease management with clients.
Recommended reading (prior to March 19):
- Chapter 37 – Dermatology
- Chapter 39 - Cancer
- Chapter 41 - Cardiac Disease
- Discuss physiology of each disease.
- Identify KNFs for each disease.
- Discuss the role nutrition plays in management of disease.
- Communicate the importance of nutrition and disease management with clients.
- Discuss variations within disease types and stages.
- Develop a nutritional plan for each disease.
*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. Recommended Textbook: Wortinger A, Burns KM. Nutrition and Disease Management for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses.2nd ed. Wiley-Blackwell. 2015. Ames, IA
About the Instructor:
Kara M. Burns, MS, MEd, LVT, VTS (Nutrition) is the Founder and President of the Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians (AVNT). As an LVT with two master's degrees - physiology and counseling psychology, she lectures internationally and has authored many articles and textbook chapters on nutrition. Kara sits on many national boards and committees. She was recognized as the NAVTA 2010 Veterinary Technician of the Year and was the 2011 Dr. Franklin Loew Lecturer. She was awarded an honorary VTS by the Academy of Internal Medicine Veterinary Technicians and the Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians.
Prices are listed in US dollars. * 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 5pm ET on March 12, 2019, or when the maximum number of participants is reached.
*For more information on how online CE works, see the Participant Resource Center. To Enroll:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- For further assistance call 800-846-0028 ext. 792 or email VSPNCE. Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.
VSPN CE Coordinator VSPN CE Services: VSPNCE
800-846-0028 or 530-756-4881; ext. 792
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