eCPD Case Study

New for December 2021

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Course Summary: Lens luxation cases can commonly present in practice with the patient displaying acute, painful ocular symptoms. There are various factors to consider when treating this ocular complaint and this case study will go through the ocular examination, treatment options, associated complications and how we might tackle those too! Primary lens luxation is common in terrier breeds but can also present as a secondary problem. This case study follows ‘Max’, a 12 year old Jack Russell Terrier Cross who presented to practice with a four day history of blepharospasm.

Speaker:  Sian Woodham Davies RVN

CPD Hours:  This case study is worth 60 minutes towards your RCVS requirements.

Cost:  £20

Booking:  Being released on 1st December 2021.  Buy online at any time and get immediate access to the course.  No expiry date or deadlines – eCPD case studies give you lifetime access to the course!

Click here for further details

eCPD Case Study

New for January 2022

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Course Summary:  Pet obesity is a complex disease to manage and although many strategies are common to all cases, each individual case will have a unique set of considerations. This case study will describe a real case of obesity in a dog named Poppy. This is the first in a three-part series looking at the initial workup appointment. Throughout the case many important elements will be explored in detail, with hints and tips to maximise the available time during these types of consultations. Multichoice questions will guide the discussion with answers and explanations given after each.

Speaker:  Georgia Woods-Lee RVN, Cert CFVHNut, VTS (Nutrition)

CPD Hours:  This case study is worth 60 minutes towards your RCVS requirements.

Cost:  £20

Booking:  Being released on 1st January 2022.  Buy online at any time and get immediate access to the course.  No expiry date or deadlines – eCPD case studies give you lifetime access to the course!

 

Click here for further details

Nurses at both general practice and referral level will commonly nurse patients with endocrine disease throughout their career. Understanding the basic concepts of endocrinology means nurses can apply knowledge to their care in order to better support their patients.

Having an understanding of the pathophysiology of common endocrine diseases, as well as the tests performed means that we can become a useful support in clinical decision making, which subsequently improves job satisfaction and allows us to nurse to our full potential.

Each week we will look at a different endocrine disease in the cat or the dog. Following the course you will have refreshed your underpinning knowledge of the endocrine system in the canine and feline patient to include the chemical messenger and feedback systems, the types of endocrine diseases commonly affecting our patients, the tests we use and how these diseases impact our nursing care.

 

Week 1
Canine Hypothyroidism

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Name the 3 types of cell that contribute to the endocrine function of the pancreas

Name the two main types of insulin used in cats and dogs

Describe the reason the dogs become diabetic

Describe the reason cats become diabetic

Explain some differences in the nursing considerations you would give cats compared to dogs and why

 

Week 2
Canine and Feline Diabetes

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Name the 3 types of cell that contribute to the endocrine function of the pancreas

Name the two main types of insulin used in cats and dogs

Describe the reason the dogs become diabetic

Describe the reason cats become diabetic

Explain some differences in the nursing considerations you would give cats compared to dogs and why

 

Week 3
Feline Acromegaly

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Identify 3 major hormones that are lost when you remove the anterior pituitary gland

Explain how Feline Hypersomatotropism occurs

Discuss how excess growth hormone results in Acromegaly

Explain the nursing considerations for a hypophysectomy patient

Explain the support that a client might need for a cat with FeHS

 

Week 4
Feline Hyperthyroidism

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Discuss the clinical signs that a hyperthyroid cat might present with

Explain the effects of too much thyroid hormone on the body

Demonstrate an understanding of the treatment options available for the disease in order to support the client with the hyperthyroid cat

Describe the most commonly used test to diagnose feline hyperthyroidism and what that test is measuring

Explain the difference between free T4 and Total T4

 

Week 5
Canine Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s Disease)

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Explain the reasons why canine hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) occur

Identify the clinical signs associated with a canine HAC patient

Discuss some of the common tests available for HAC and the reasons for their use

Identify 3 main forms of treatment for the canine HAC patient

Demonstrate an understanding of the nursing considerations for the patient with HAC

 

Week 6
Canine Hypoadrenocorticism (Addison’s Disease)

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Explain the causes of Canine Hypoadrenocorticism

Identify some of the clinical signs that a patient may present with and why

Discuss the treatment options available to the client with the Hypoadrenocorticism pet

Demonstrate an understanding of the nursing considerations for a canine with hypoadrenocorticism

Name some of the tests that a vet may ask you to carry out on the suspected Hypoadrenocorticism patient and discuss why they may be required

 

The course will be fully tutored by Gina Parkes and will consist of 15 hours of CPD given in various formats, including tutorials, tasks, case scenarios, forum discussions and quizzes.

 

Click here for further details

Week 1

Overview of the bleeding patient

What is coagulation

What is anaemia

What impacts coagulation ability in our patients

Learning outcomes:

After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Describe the physiology of coagulation

Understand regenerative and non-regenerative anaemia

Explain what might impact a patient to be able to coagulate normally (these will then
be expanded upon in weeks 3 and 4)

 

Week 2

Blood transfusions

When to transfuse a patient

Different blood products available

Blood typing

Blood donations

Administration of blood products

Learning outcomes:
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Describe how we identify patients in need of a blood transfusion

List the different blood products available on the veterinary market and which is the most suitable for the patient

Explain the process of blood typing and why this is necessary in cats and dogs

Describe how a blood donation is collected in a canine and feline donor – including donor selection, the donation procedure and processing of blood products

Discuss how to administer a blood transfusion and the common signs associated with a transfusion reaction

 

Week 3

Primary Coagulation Disorders

Platelet disorders (IMTP/DIC)

Diagnosis of primary coagulation disorders

Thrombosis

Management of these patients

Learning outcomes:
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Describe the physiology behind the most common primary platelet disorders seen in veterinary patients

Describe how diagnosis of coagulation disorders can be made in practice

Explain thrombosis and why this might occur in veterinary patients

Understand the different treatments available to patients with each of these disorders

Describe how to best nurse these patients whilst they are being cared for in the
hospital

 

Week 4

Secondary Coagulation Disorders

Congenital coagulation disorders

Acquired coagulation disorders

Treatment of coagulation disorders

Nursing considerations

Plasma transfusions

Learning outcomes:
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

List some of the congenital coagulation disorders and understand the physiology of each

List some of the common acquired coagulation disorders and understand the
physiology of each

Describe the treatment options for these conditions

Discuss the common nursing considerations and interventions which can be implemented in the nursing care of these hospitalised patients

Describe when and how to administer a fresh frozen plasma to support a patient with a coagulopathy

 

The course will be fully tutored by Elle Haskey and Katie Gray, and will consist of 10 hours of CPD given in various formats, including tutorials, tasks, case studies, forum discussions and quizzes.

 

Click here for further details

It is estimated that one in three companion animals will die of cancer, which makes understanding the disease and caring for these animals and their families common within our role. Despite this demand, there is limited space in the veterinary nurse curriculum dedicated to cancer and so here we explore the subject in more practical detail.

This course discusses how cancer manifests in the companion animal, how a cancer diagnosis is made and how chemotherapy treatments are administered. Throughout the weekly sessions there are activities and opportunities to test your learning and evaluate how you could introduce some of the practical elements into your practice.

After completing this 4 week online course, the participants will have a greater knowledge and understanding of the basic principles of veterinary oncology and be able to apply this to their own working practices.

Week 1

What is cancer

Pathophysiology of neoplasia

Common causes of cancer in animals

Classifications of cancer types

The difference between benign and malignant disease

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Understand the alterations in the cell cycle that results in neoplastic disease

List the different types of cancer based on tissue origin

Describe the different causes of cancer in small animals

Explain how benign disease is different to malignant disease and the risks associated with both conditions.

Identify higher risk categories of patients and analyse the research available in line with evidence-based-medicine

 

Week 2 

Diagnosis and prognosis

Fine needle aspirates

Cancer cytology

Cancer staging

Specialist tests for cancer

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

List fine needle aspirate methods to optimise cytological yield

Evaluate a cytology sample in-house to ensure sample is of diagnostic quality

Understand the commonly preferred methods for staging patients with neoplasia

Describe the types of specialist tests required to further categorise cancer

Analyse personal skill set and determine if any modifications to current practice would be beneficial

 

Week 3 

Common chemotherapy agents

Overview of common chemotherapy drugs

Administering chemotherapy

Chemotherapy safety

Adverse effects with administering chemotherapy

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Understand how chemotherapy agents work

Explain how to correctly administer chemotherapy agents

List what safety factors should be observed when administering chemotherapy in practice

Describe how to manage an extravasation injury and reduce risk of chemotherapy associated nausea and vomiting

Evaluate practice protocols to standardise and promote best practice in line with most current information

 

Week 4

Client and patient support

Introduction to oncology clinics

Nadir checks

Managing adverse-effects following chemotherapy administration

The Cancer Journey

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Describe how and why a nadir check is performed

Identify common adverse effects associated with chemotherapy

Understand preventive and interventional treatment protocols for chemotherapy associated adverse effects

Explain the causes for likely outcome of treatment failure and the physiology behind this

Reflect over professional skill-set and evaluate how you can further enhance your personal development to support clients of patients with cancer

The course will be fully tutored by Nicola Read, and will consist of 10 hours of CPD given in various formats, including tutorials, tasks, case studies, forum discussions and quizzes.

Click here for further details

This online course aims to improve your confidence in managing neurological patients. We will aim to equip you with the knowledge and skills required to apply clinical reasoning skills to important neurological problems that present in small animal practice. Not only will you develop and strengthen your problem-solving skills in nursing neurological patients, you will also become more confident in identifying abnormalities seen during hospitalisation that might benefit from a prompt action.

 

Week 1
The Neurological Exam  – What do I need to know?

Neurology pathways and anatomy

The neurological examination

Interpretation and differential diagnoses

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants:

Understand the anatomy of the neurology system that can be applied to nursing the neurological patient.

Understand the normal function of the different pathways that are tested during the neurological examination

Know the names of the different tests that are performed during the neurological examination, even under stressful situations and what they mean

Prioritise the different parts of the neurological examination according to the type of emergency

Recognise normal and abnormal findings during the neurological examination

Know how to neurolocalise, demonstrated with clinical cases

Understand how to list the most likely differential diagnoses based on clinical reasoning

 

Week 2
Seizures – Hospitalised Patients and Phone Consultations

Seizure recognition and common causes

Treatment and nursing care

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants:

Recognise an epileptic event

Review the classification of epileptic seizures

Review the common causes of epileptic seizures

Understand the emergency treatment during hospitalisation

How to best nursing the epileptic patient

 

Week 3
Vestibular syndrome

Clinical signs and common causes

Monitoring, treatment and nursing care

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants:

Understand which structures are involved in the function of the vestibular system

Learn to recognise clinical signs suggestive of vestibular syndrome and what to monitor during hospitalisation

Understand which clinical signs can be used to differentiate between central and
peripheral vestibular disease and clinical signs that indicate clinical deterioration

Learn about the most common causes of vestibular dysfunction in dogs and cats

 

Week 4
The Neuromuscular System – from Function to Dysfunction

Function and anatomy of the neuromuscular system

Neuromuscular diseases

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants:

Understand the anatomy and function of the neuromuscular system

Learn to recognise clinical signs suggestive of dysfunction of the neuromuscular system

Understand which clinical signs indicate clinical deterioration

Learn about the most common causes of neuromuscular diseases in dogs and cats

 

Week 5
Intervertebral Disc Herniations

Classification of disc herniation types

Clinical signs, treatment and nursing care

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants:

Understand the different types of intervertebral disc herniation and the different treatment and nursing approaches

Learn to recognise clinical signs suggestive for each type of intervertebral disc herniation

Understand which clinical signs indicate clinical deterioration in dogs with intervertebral disc herniation

 

Week 6
Clinical Cases – from Peripheral Nerves to the Brain!

Case studies

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants:

Apply all the knowledge acquired on the previous weeks to clinical cases

Be able to discuss the most indicated nursing approach to provide the best care for individual patients.

 

This course will be fully tutored by Elsa Beltran, and will consist of 15 hours of CPD given in various formats, including tutorials, tasks, case studies, forum discussions and quizzes.

 

Click here for further details

Nurses at both general practice and referral level will commonly nurse patients with endocrine disease throughout their career. Understanding the basic concepts of endocrinology means nurses can apply knowledge to their care in order to better support their patients.

Having an understanding of the pathophysiology of common endocrine diseases, as well as the tests performed means that we can become a useful support in clinical decision making, which subsequently improves job satisfaction and allows us to nurse to our full potential.

Each week we will look at a different endocrine disease in the cat or the dog. Following the course you will have refreshed your underpinning knowledge of the endocrine system in the canine and feline patient to include the chemical messenger and feedback systems, the types of endocrine diseases commonly affecting our patients, the tests we use and how these diseases impact our nursing care.

 

Week 1
Canine Hypothyroidism

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Name the 3 types of cell that contribute to the endocrine function of the pancreas

Name the two main types of insulin used in cats and dogs

Describe the reason the dogs become diabetic

Describe the reason cats become diabetic

Explain some differences in the nursing considerations you would give cats compared to dogs and why

 

Week 2
Canine and Feline Diabetes

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Name the 3 types of cell that contribute to the endocrine function of the pancreas

Name the two main types of insulin used in cats and dogs

Describe the reason the dogs become diabetic

Describe the reason cats become diabetic

Explain some differences in the nursing considerations you would give cats compared to dogs and why

 

Week 3
Feline Acromegaly

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Identify 3 major hormones that are lost when you remove the anterior pituitary gland

Explain how Feline Hypersomatotropism occurs

Discuss how excess growth hormone results in Acromegaly

Explain the nursing considerations for a hypophysectomy patient

Explain the support that a client might need for a cat with FeHS

 

Week 4
Feline Hyperthyroidism

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Discuss the clinical signs that a hyperthyroid cat might present with

Explain the effects of too much thyroid hormone on the body

Demonstrate an understanding of the treatment options available for the disease in order to support the client with the hyperthyroid cat

Describe the most commonly used test to diagnose feline hyperthyroidism and what that test is measuring

Explain the difference between free T4 and Total T4

 

Week 5
Canine Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s Disease)

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Explain the reasons why canine hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) occur

Identify the clinical signs associated with a canine HAC patient

Discuss some of the common tests available for HAC and the reasons for their use

Identify 3 main forms of treatment for the canine HAC patient

Demonstrate an understanding of the nursing considerations for the patient with HAC

 

Week 6
Canine Hypoadrenocorticism (Addison’s Disease)

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Explain the causes of Canine Hypoadrenocorticism

Identify some of the clinical signs that a patient may present with and why

Discuss the treatment options available to the client with the Hypoadrenocorticism pet

Demonstrate an understanding of the nursing considerations for a canine with hypoadrenocorticism

Name some of the tests that a vet may ask you to carry out on the suspected Hypoadrenocorticism patient and discuss why they may be required

 

The course will be fully tutored by Gina Parkes and will consist of 15 hours of CPD given in various formats, including tutorials, tasks, case scenarios, forum discussions and quizzes.

 

Click here for further details

Week 1

Overview of the bleeding patient

What is coagulation

What is anaemia

What impacts coagulation ability in our patients

Learning outcomes:

After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Describe the physiology of coagulation

Understand regenerative and non-regenerative anaemia

Explain what might impact a patient to be able to coagulate normally (these will then
be expanded upon in weeks 3 and 4)

 

Week 2

Blood transfusions

When to transfuse a patient

Different blood products available

Blood typing

Blood donations

Administration of blood products

Learning outcomes:
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Describe how we identify patients in need of a blood transfusion

List the different blood products available on the veterinary market and which is the most suitable for the patient

Explain the process of blood typing and why this is necessary in cats and dogs

Describe how a blood donation is collected in a canine and feline donor – including donor selection, the donation procedure and processing of blood products

Discuss how to administer a blood transfusion and the common signs associated with a transfusion reaction

 

Week 3

Primary Coagulation Disorders

Platelet disorders (IMTP/DIC)

Diagnosis of primary coagulation disorders

Thrombosis

Management of these patients

Learning outcomes:
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Describe the physiology behind the most common primary platelet disorders seen in veterinary patients

Describe how diagnosis of coagulation disorders can be made in practice

Explain thrombosis and why this might occur in veterinary patients

Understand the different treatments available to patients with each of these disorders

Describe how to best nurse these patients whilst they are being cared for in the
hospital

 

Week 4

Secondary Coagulation Disorders

Congenital coagulation disorders

Acquired coagulation disorders

Treatment of coagulation disorders

Nursing considerations

Plasma transfusions

Learning outcomes:
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

List some of the congenital coagulation disorders and understand the physiology of each

List some of the common acquired coagulation disorders and understand the
physiology of each

Describe the treatment options for these conditions

Discuss the common nursing considerations and interventions which can be implemented in the nursing care of these hospitalised patients

Describe when and how to administer a fresh frozen plasma to support a patient with a coagulopathy

 

The course will be fully tutored by Elle Haskey and Katie Gray, and will consist of 10 hours of CPD given in various formats, including tutorials, tasks, case studies, forum discussions and quizzes.

 

Click here for further details

It is estimated that one in three companion animals will die of cancer, which makes understanding the disease and caring for these animals and their families common within our role. Despite this demand, there is limited space in the veterinary nurse curriculum dedicated to cancer and so here we explore the subject in more practical detail.

This course discusses how cancer manifests in the companion animal, how a cancer diagnosis is made and how chemotherapy treatments are administered. Throughout the weekly sessions there are activities and opportunities to test your learning and evaluate how you could introduce some of the practical elements into your practice.

After completing this 4 week online course, the participants will have a greater knowledge and understanding of the basic principles of veterinary oncology and be able to apply this to their own working practices.

Week 1

What is cancer

Pathophysiology of neoplasia

Common causes of cancer in animals

Classifications of cancer types

The difference between benign and malignant disease

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Understand the alterations in the cell cycle that results in neoplastic disease

List the different types of cancer based on tissue origin

Describe the different causes of cancer in small animals

Explain how benign disease is different to malignant disease and the risks associated with both conditions.

Identify higher risk categories of patients and analyse the research available in line with evidence-based-medicine

 

Week 2 

Diagnosis and prognosis

Fine needle aspirates

Cancer cytology

Cancer staging

Specialist tests for cancer

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

List fine needle aspirate methods to optimise cytological yield

Evaluate a cytology sample in-house to ensure sample is of diagnostic quality

Understand the commonly preferred methods for staging patients with neoplasia

Describe the types of specialist tests required to further categorise cancer

Analyse personal skill set and determine if any modifications to current practice would be beneficial

 

Week 3 

Common chemotherapy agents

Overview of common chemotherapy drugs

Administering chemotherapy

Chemotherapy safety

Adverse effects with administering chemotherapy

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Understand how chemotherapy agents work

Explain how to correctly administer chemotherapy agents

List what safety factors should be observed when administering chemotherapy in practice

Describe how to manage an extravasation injury and reduce risk of chemotherapy associated nausea and vomiting

Evaluate practice protocols to standardise and promote best practice in line with most current information

 

Week 4

Client and patient support

Introduction to oncology clinics

Nadir checks

Managing adverse-effects following chemotherapy administration

The Cancer Journey

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Describe how and why a nadir check is performed

Identify common adverse effects associated with chemotherapy

Understand preventive and interventional treatment protocols for chemotherapy associated adverse effects

Explain the causes for likely outcome of treatment failure and the physiology behind this

Reflect over professional skill-set and evaluate how you can further enhance your personal development to support clients of patients with cancer

The course will be fully tutored by Nicola Read, and will consist of 10 hours of CPD given in various formats, including tutorials, tasks, case studies, forum discussions and quizzes.

Click here for further details

This online course aims to improve your confidence in managing neurological patients. We will aim to equip you with the knowledge and skills required to apply clinical reasoning skills to important neurological problems that present in small animal practice. Not only will you develop and strengthen your problem-solving skills in nursing neurological patients, you will also become more confident in identifying abnormalities seen during hospitalisation that might benefit from a prompt action.

 

Week 1
The Neurological Exam  – What do I need to know?

Neurology pathways and anatomy

The neurological examination

Interpretation and differential diagnoses

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants:

Understand the anatomy of the neurology system that can be applied to nursing the neurological patient.

Understand the normal function of the different pathways that are tested during the neurological examination

Know the names of the different tests that are performed during the neurological examination, even under stressful situations and what they mean

Prioritise the different parts of the neurological examination according to the type of emergency

Recognise normal and abnormal findings during the neurological examination

Know how to neurolocalise, demonstrated with clinical cases

Understand how to list the most likely differential diagnoses based on clinical reasoning

 

Week 2
Seizures – Hospitalised Patients and Phone Consultations

Seizure recognition and common causes

Treatment and nursing care

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants:

Recognise an epileptic event

Review the classification of epileptic seizures

Review the common causes of epileptic seizures

Understand the emergency treatment during hospitalisation

How to best nursing the epileptic patient

 

Week 3
Vestibular syndrome

Clinical signs and common causes

Monitoring, treatment and nursing care

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants:

Understand which structures are involved in the function of the vestibular system

Learn to recognise clinical signs suggestive of vestibular syndrome and what to monitor during hospitalisation

Understand which clinical signs can be used to differentiate between central and
peripheral vestibular disease and clinical signs that indicate clinical deterioration

Learn about the most common causes of vestibular dysfunction in dogs and cats

 

Week 4
The Neuromuscular System – from Function to Dysfunction

Function and anatomy of the neuromuscular system

Neuromuscular diseases

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants:

Understand the anatomy and function of the neuromuscular system

Learn to recognise clinical signs suggestive of dysfunction of the neuromuscular system

Understand which clinical signs indicate clinical deterioration

Learn about the most common causes of neuromuscular diseases in dogs and cats

 

Week 5
Intervertebral Disc Herniations

Classification of disc herniation types

Clinical signs, treatment and nursing care

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants:

Understand the different types of intervertebral disc herniation and the different treatment and nursing approaches

Learn to recognise clinical signs suggestive for each type of intervertebral disc herniation

Understand which clinical signs indicate clinical deterioration in dogs with intervertebral disc herniation

 

Week 6
Clinical Cases – from Peripheral Nerves to the Brain!

Case studies

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants:

Apply all the knowledge acquired on the previous weeks to clinical cases

Be able to discuss the most indicated nursing approach to provide the best care for individual patients.

 

This course will be fully tutored by Elsa Beltran, and will consist of 15 hours of CPD given in various formats, including tutorials, tasks, case studies, forum discussions and quizzes.

 

Click here for further details

This online course aims to improve your confidence in managing neurological patients. We will aim to equip you with the knowledge and skills required to apply clinical reasoning skills to important neurological problems that present in small animal practice. Not only will you develop and strengthen your problem-solving skills in nursing neurological patients, you will also become more confident in identifying abnormalities seen during hospitalisation that might benefit from a prompt action.

 

Week 1
The Neurological Exam  – What do I need to know?

Neurology pathways and anatomy

The neurological examination

Interpretation and differential diagnoses

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants:

Understand the anatomy of the neurology system that can be applied to nursing the neurological patient.

Understand the normal function of the different pathways that are tested during the neurological examination

Know the names of the different tests that are performed during the neurological examination, even under stressful situations and what they mean

Prioritise the different parts of the neurological examination according to the type of emergency

Recognise normal and abnormal findings during the neurological examination

Know how to neurolocalise, demonstrated with clinical cases

Understand how to list the most likely differential diagnoses based on clinical reasoning

 

Week 2
Seizures – Hospitalised Patients and Phone Consultations

Seizure recognition and common causes

Treatment and nursing care

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants:

Recognise an epileptic event

Review the classification of epileptic seizures

Review the common causes of epileptic seizures

Understand the emergency treatment during hospitalisation

How to best nursing the epileptic patient

 

Week 3
Vestibular syndrome

Clinical signs and common causes

Monitoring, treatment and nursing care

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants:

Understand which structures are involved in the function of the vestibular system

Learn to recognise clinical signs suggestive of vestibular syndrome and what to monitor during hospitalisation

Understand which clinical signs can be used to differentiate between central and
peripheral vestibular disease and clinical signs that indicate clinical deterioration

Learn about the most common causes of vestibular dysfunction in dogs and cats

 

Week 4
The Neuromuscular System – from Function to Dysfunction

Function and anatomy of the neuromuscular system

Neuromuscular diseases

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants:

Understand the anatomy and function of the neuromuscular system

Learn to recognise clinical signs suggestive of dysfunction of the neuromuscular system

Understand which clinical signs indicate clinical deterioration

Learn about the most common causes of neuromuscular diseases in dogs and cats

 

Week 5
Intervertebral Disc Herniations

Classification of disc herniation types

Clinical signs, treatment and nursing care

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants:

Understand the different types of intervertebral disc herniation and the different treatment and nursing approaches

Learn to recognise clinical signs suggestive for each type of intervertebral disc herniation

Understand which clinical signs indicate clinical deterioration in dogs with intervertebral disc herniation

 

Week 6
Clinical Cases – from Peripheral Nerves to the Brain!

Case studies

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants:

Apply all the knowledge acquired on the previous weeks to clinical cases

Be able to discuss the most indicated nursing approach to provide the best care for individual patients.

 

This course will be fully tutored by Elsa Beltran, and will consist of 15 hours of CPD given in various formats, including tutorials, tasks, case studies, forum discussions and quizzes.

 

Click here for further details

Week 1

Aetiology and Pathogenesis

Anatomy of the head

Tooth and periodontal anatomy, and oral soft tissues

Oral nomenclature

Tooth types, nomenclature and formulae

Eruption times

Occlusion

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Identify tooth and periodontal structures

Explain the Modified Triadan System of numbering teeth in the dog and cat

Recognise normal occlusion

 

Week 2

Periodontology

Aetiology and pathogenesis of dental disease

Gingivitis

Periodontitis

Gingivostomatitis

Periodontal therapy

Scaling and polishing

Pocket control and therapy

Medications, homecare (brief), dental clinics (brief)

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Describe how gingivitis develops and its progression to periodontal disease

Explain what gingivostomatitis is

Outline the process of safe ultrasonic tooth scaling and its purpose

 

Week 3

Oral Pathology and Treatment

Trauma and treatment options

Tooth fracture / discolouration / (sub) luxation

Dental diseases and treatment options

Tooth resorption / caries / periodontal disease

Malocclusion and treatment options

Traumatic / dental / skeletal malocclusions

Other conditions and treatment options

Enamel defects / dentigerous cysts / persistent deciduous / root dilacerations and abnormal morphology / tumours

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Identify common pathologies associated with the teeth and oral cavity

Describe some potential treatment options for common pathologies

 

Week 4

Oral Examination and Charting

History taking and clinical examination – conscious oral examination

Pre-operative tests

Assessment under general anaesthesia – including anaesthesia induction, intubation, oral preparation, probing

Charting – what to fill in, disease scoring and making your chart work

Imaging and other investigations

Radiography – parallel and bisecting angle techniques

Biopsy

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Confidently undertake a thorough conscious examination of a patient’s teeth
and oral cavity

Set up for and assist with assessment of the teeth and oral cavity in an
anaesthetised patient

Accurately complete a dental chart which documents all pathology discovered
upon examination

 

Week 5

Instrumentation and dental surgery

Instruments – use, care and maintenance

Dental machine and other powered equipment – use, care and maintenance

Ancillary equipment – use, care and maintenance

Preparation for and veterinary nursing assistance with surgery

Pre-, intra- and post-operatively, including analgesia

The role of intraoperative radiography

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Differentiate between different instruments used for dental and oral procedures, and state what they are used for

Describe the proper use, care and maintenance of a range of dental instruments and equipment

Explain the benefits of oral radiography in veterinary patients and outline the basic, fundamental principles of the parallel and bisecting angle techniques

 

Week 6

Dental clinics, products and homecare

What is an effective dental clinic

Types of patients attending dental clinics

Resources for dental clinic consultations

Products and interventions available to help with maintaining oral health

Oral homecare regimes

Effective dissemination of theoretical and practical oral hygiene advice

Client concordance and follow-up

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Debate what makes a dental clinic effective

Explain the range of resources required to run an effective dental clinic, and the purpose of these resources

Describe how a range of products and interventions used to maintain optimal oral health work

Outline how to achieve and maintain client compliance with recommended
oral homecare regimes

 

The course will be fully tutored by Claire Bloor and will consist of 15 hours of CPD given in various formats, including tutorials, tasks, case scenarios, forum discussions and quizzes.

 

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Week 1

Nutritional Assessment and Calculations

How to perform a nutritional assessment

Calculate energy requirements and how much to feed

Treatment regimens for inappetence

Instigating nutritional support

 

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the week delegates will be able to:

Perform a nutritional history and assessment of the animal

Calculate BER and RERs and apply this to how much to feed

Identify when nutritional support is required and how to do this

 

Week 2

Clinical Nutrition – Renal, Urinary, Liver and Cardiac

Clinical nutrition for renal, urinary, liver and cardiac disease

Look at each of the nutrient requirements for each of these management regimes

 

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the second week, delegates will be able to:

Make recommendations for clinical diets for renal, urinary, liver and cardiac disease

Understand the nutrient specifications for these diets

Be able to discuss the benefits of these diets

 

Week 3

Clinical Nutrition – Gastrointestinal and Pancreatitis

Clinical nutrition for gastrointestinal and pancreatitis

Look at each of the nutrient requirements for each of these management regimes

 

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the third week, delegates will be able to:

Make recommendations for clinical diets for range of gastrointestinal and pancreatitis

Understand the nutrient specifications for these diets

Be able to discuss the benefits of these diets

 

Week 4

Nutritional Supplements and Trends

Supplements

Nutritional trends (including raw and homecooked diets)

 

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the fourth week, delegates will be able to:

Make recommendations for supplements for the diseases discussed in weeks 3 and 4.

Look at the nutritional evidence behind nutritional fashions.

Discuss raw and home cooked feeding with clients.

 

The course will be fully tutored by Nicola Ackerman, and will consist of 10 hours of CPD given in various formats, including tutorials, tasks, case studies, forum discussions and quizzes.

 

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