Course Open: September 10, 2020-October 4, 2020
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Thursdays, September 17 and 24, 2020; 8:00-9:30pm ET(USA)
Course RTS Times in Your Area: World Clock Converter Level and Prerequisites: This basic course will be open to veterinary technicians/technologists and support staff actively interested in Obesity, Weight Management and Physical Rehabilitation in Dogs, Cats, Horses and Rabbits. This course will provide resources to learn more about weight loss programs. Remember it is a basic course. The exercises are an overview of what can be used. The student needs to read about exercises through texts and papers that will be listed in the course library.
VSPN CE Course: “This program has been approved for 3 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. (22-42968)“ Course Information:
This course will give beginning information to help evaluate if dogs, cats, horses, or rabbits are obese. Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in these pets. It can cause other comorbidities to be exacerbated. Starting with the beginning, the pet must be evaluated, the owner must be educated, and a plan must be developed for the pet. Pain must be assessed, and various routines of physical rehabilitation will be discussed to help the pet lose weight. Various titles of texts and papers will be placed in the library to encourage the student to try to get these documents whenever they have time. Week 1 (Real Time Session September 17): HELP, My Pet Looks Like Jabba the Hutt: Part 1
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to
- Identify an obese dog or cat from an overweight pet from a normal weight pet.
- Explain documentation for increasing obesity in dogs and cats.
- Discuss what makes obesity/overweight bad for health.
- Discuss educating owners about the problem.
- Discuss differences in calories.
- Examine evidence for physical exercise.
- Discuss pain assessment prior to physical activity.
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to
- Discuss exercises for dogs and cats
- Recognize basic concepts of hydrotherapy
- Identify equine obesity
- Discuss diseases equine obesity predisposes horses to
- Discuss equine therapeutic exercises
- Examine considerations for beginning ridden work
- Discuss consequences of rabbit obesity
- Explain some ways to help rabbits lose weight with exercises
Required Textbook(s): There is no required textbook for this course. About the Presenter:
Mary Ellen Goldberg LVT, CVT, SRA, CCRA, CVPP, VTS-lab animal medicine (research anesthesia), VTS-physical rehabilitation: Mary Ellen Goldberg is a graduate of Harcum College and the University of Pennsylvania in 1976. She worked at Virginia Commonwealth University in the Division of Animal Resources and for Research Scientists advising on their choices for anesthesia and pain management on their protocols. She was a member of VCU’s IACUC for 10 years. She has been the instructor of Anesthesia and Pain Management at VetMedTeam, LLC since 2003. She was the Executive Secretary for the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM) from 2008-2018. She is the Exam Chair for IVAPM. She is a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner through IVAPM. Mary Ellen is also a Surgical Research Anesthetist certified through the Academy of Surgical Research. She is on the Exam Chair for APRVT (Academy of Physical Rehabilitation Veterinary Technicians). She is Exam Chair for the Academy of Laboratory Animal Veterinary Technicians and Nurses (APRVT). Currently, she is a staff member at the Canine Rehabilitation Institute, as a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Veterinary Nurse. (CCRVN). Mary Ellen was chosen NAVTA’s Veterinary Technician of the Year 2017. In 2019, Mary Ellen received the 1st VTS-anesthesia, analgesia – honorary title from the Academy of Veterinary Technician Anesthesia and Analgesia. Mary Ellen has written several books, and contributed to numerous chapters regarding anesthesia, pain management and rehabilitation. She speaks at national meetings on these topics and gives private CE to organizational groups. She has worked in various aspects of veterinary medicine from small animal and equine to mixed practice, coccidiosis research for a pharmaceutical company, zoo animal medicine and laboratory animal medicine since 1976. Total CE Credit: 3
Tuition: $63 ($57 early bird special if enrolled by August 27, 2020)
* Students currently enrolled in and taking at least 2 classes or 5 units at an AVMA accredited or CVMA approved Veterinary Technician Program may be eligible to receive a 50% discount off the regular rate for this course (upon verification of student status).
Prices are listed in US dollars. *To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close on September 17, 2020 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. 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. 797 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. 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