Irish Wildlife Rehabilitation Conference

Speakers include: James Barnett, Maggie Brown, John & Margaret Cooper, Andrew Kelly, Lynn Miller, Ciaran O’Keefe, Alan Stewart and Les Stocker.
Topics (basic & advanced): First Aid & triage; rescue & handling; common conditions; treatment
& surgery; anaesthesia & sedation; post release monitoring; basic husbandry; wildlife crime.
Information and registration forms can be found at www.irishwildlifematters.ie/conference
This course is worth 5.5 CVE Credits

When: September 25th

Where: Boyne Valley Hotel, Co. Louth

BEVA Annual Congress 2011

The 2011 BEVA Congress will take place from September 7 to September 10, in Liverpool, UK. 2011 is the British Equine Veterinary Association’s 50th anniversary year and the Scientific Programme includes major themes such as:

• Treating the Competition Horse,
• Emerging Diseases,
• The Foot,
• and The Back.

Full Conference details and booking forms are available at www.beva.org.uk and early bird registrations are available until August 5.
NB: As in previous years, Veterinary Ireland members are entitled to apply to attend at BEVA membership rates.
CVE Credits have been applied for

When: September 7-11

Where: Liverpool Arena Convention Centre, UK

Irish Equine Veterinary Conference

The Conference Format Has Changed: The 2011 conference will take on a different format according to the important feedback that we receive from delegates. This year, the Wet Lab session will take place on Thursday afternoon, November 3. On Friday, November 4, delegates can enjoy the main conference programme with the return of the Equine Nurses stream for a parallel session on Friday afternoon.
The conference dinner will be hosted on Friday evening and the programme will continue on Saturday with two parallel streams. Full programme details available soon on the Veterinary Ireland website.
Please submit case presentations for consideration by the Committee to karenannedunne@gmail.com and remember the selected case presenters will receive free registration to the conference. Contact Event Plus Tel:01 2302591 or email: info@eventplus.ie.
CVE Credits TBC

When: November 3-5

Where: Lyrath estate Hotel, Kilkenny

CAVI Annual Conference

Topics for the 2011 Programme include:

• Optimising Fertility;
• Dealing with Abdominal Upsets;
• Herd Nutrition;
• Calf Health;
• and a practical session with surgical topics and case presentations.

Full programme details and CPD details of the CAVI Conference will be available soon on the Veterinary Ireland website.
For further information please contact Event Plus Tel 01 2302591 or by email to irene@eventplus.ie

CVE Credits TBC

When: Rochestown Park Hotel, Douglas, Co. Cork

Where: october 14-16

VICAS Ultrasound 2 Wet Lab – Intermediate/Development level

This course is aimed at those who have been to a previous introductory course for ultrasound, or who are more experienced in the use of this modality, and who are already confident in their ability to find and see normal structures. A quick refresher session will be followed by more advanced techniques on how to identify and measure specific organs and functions, and how to differentiate
normal from abnormal. The tutor will give short lecture and video presentations during the day teaching the theory, each followed by wet labs sessions putting the newly learned skills into practice.
This wet lab is worth 12 CVE credits
Bookings can be made through the Veterinary Ireland website www.veterinaryireland.ie
When and Where
Dec 6, 10.00-17.30 Dogs Trust Dublin

VICAS Anesthesia and Analgesia 1

(Note: advanced anaesthesia & analgesia will form part of a future module):

• Your anaesthetic suite - what you need to invest in for your practice;
• Refresher on commonly used anasethetic drugs for routine and emergency situations;
• Pre-anaesthetic screening;
• Anaesthetic monitoring;
• Analgesia in practice; and,
• Sedation/anaesthesia decision making for various situations – interactive session involving case studies with break out into small groups.

Bookings can be made through the Veterinary Ireland website www.veterinaryireland.ie

VICAS Surgery Module 1

Speakers: Shane Geurin & Rachel Bennett

• Surgical asepsis and basic operative techniques:
• Antiseptics, sterilisation techniques and the use of antibiotics;
• Gowning, gloving and draping;
• Instrumentation and sutures;
• Principles of wound healing;
• Principles of reconstructive surgery - skin grafts and flaps; and,
• Use of surgical drains

This module is worth 6 CVE Credits and bookings can be made through the Veterinary Ireland website www.veterinaryireland.ie
When and Where
Sep 13, 13.00-20.30 Limerick
Oct 19, 10.00-17.30 Citywest
Nov 23, 13.00-20.30 Sligo

Surgery Modular Course 2011-2013

Course coordinators: Shane Geurin & James Dunne, assisted by Alan Rossiter
Over three years, VICAS will deliver an integrated modular course on small animal surgery. Delivered in seven modules (with each module being delivered three locations, or more if demand exists), all areas of soft tissue and orthopaedic surgery will be covered. Module 1 takes place in 2011, with modules 2-4 in 2012 and modules 3-7 in 2013. These taught courses will be complimented by practical courses in 2012 and 2013.
Delegates may take all the modules, or may pick and chose depending on their interest. However, Module 1 is the foundation for the all of following years’ modules, and as an essential part of the overall course should be attended by all who intend to avail of all or any part of the future modules.
The ‘surgery’ component in the introductory module and will be delivered by course coordinator Shane Geurin who will take some time to describe in more details what will be covered in the following years.

VICAS Emergency Medicine

Speakers: Nicola Neumann & Martin Downes
Nicola Neumann and Martin Downes present a series of interactive lectures and group discussion on Emergency Medicine topics of interest to vets in practice. Topics that will be covered inlcude;

• Is your practice prepared for an emergency?;
• Colloids - what they are and how can they make a difference?;
• GDV - the emergency that you dread;
• Common problems that turn in to unexpected emergencies;
• Poisons around the house and garden; and,
• Chest and airway trauma.

This course is worth 6 CVE Credits
Bookings can be made through the Veterinary Ireland website www.veterinaryireland.ie

Sep 7, 10.00-17.30 Citywest
Oct 26, 13.00-20.30 Sligo
Nov 9, 13.00-20.30 Limerick

VICAS Internal Medicine

Speakers: Jill Maddison & David Church
Medical Mystery Tour – exploring the options, exploding the myths:
Join us on this Medical Mystery tour where we hope to help make medical cases fun instead of frustrating. Entirely through the medium of interactive case studies, we will explore the diagnostic approach to many of the important clinical problems that present in small animal practice, different options in case diagnosis and management as well as explode a few myths about supposed medical
“truths”.

This course is worth 6 CVE Credits
Bookings can be made through the Veterinary Ireland website www.veterinaryireland.ie

When & where
Oct 3, 13.00-20.30 Cork
Oct 5, 13.00-20.30 Galway
Oct 7, 10.00-17.30 Citywest

The 2011 isfm european congress is taking place in the stunning city of Vienna, Austria on 23-26 June.
The main topics to be covered are feline ophthalmology and feline respiratory disease to be led by key speakers David Maggs and Lynelle Johnson of UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, US.
Over the course of the weekend, delegates will have the opportunity to soak up first class cpd, indulge in Viennese culture, experience a unique performance by the Lipizzaner stallions at the Spanish Riding School, and glam it up at the 'Elegance to Decadence Party', all in the company of other feline-focused delegates from across the world.

Full details of the congress can be found here

University College Dublin launches new Continuing Veterinary Education portal site

Continuing professional development is a must for any professional worthy of the name. In the veterinary professions, formal acknowledgment of its importance comes through the new VCI regulations.
Thankfully there are many ways to engage in continuing education, and it is likely that most of us will use multiple means to obtain our CVE credits. One useful means is e‐learning. As the interactivity of the internet has developed the potential of e‐learning has increased. Having been made aware by colleagues around the country of the need for a variety of learning resources, UCD Veterinary Medicine is proud to present its new Continuing Veterinary Education online portal.
How Does it Work?
The portal invites you to explore, sign‐up and login. Each “micro‐offering” visible is worth a total of 3 CVE credits (validated by VCI), and consists of a presentation with voice‐over, an additional reading list, and a Self‐Assessment Quiz. In order to access modules and receive credits you will have to sign‐up as a member of the UCD CVE community. Membership runs for 12 months from 20th September 2010. The sign‐up fee is €50 and each 3CVE offering is priced at €60. On signing up, members of the community will also be entitled to access all of UCD Library’s electronic resources, which includes a very wide range of veterinary and related journals, databases and other resources. These may be accessed at will through the UCD virtual learning environment, and to complete the required additional reading for each module. Questions on use of these resources, or for any of the module presenters, can be made through cve.helpdesk@ucd.ie.
Future Developments
We plan to add to the offerings available throughout the year and either continue, further develop or replace them for the next year. As the continuing education service at UCD Veterinary Medicine develops, links between individual offerings and periodic wet labs and workshops will be developed and highlighted on the site. We also plan to develop accredited programmes such as professional certificates that can be built up in a modular fashion by taking a number of linked modules, followed by a more formal assessment.
Please Talk to Us
We would be delighted to receive feedback and suggestions on the site and range of offerings and, in particular, suggestions for topics to be covered. Ideas for collaborative offerings with clinical societies and others are also welcomed. We hope colleagues find the service useful, and an enjoyable and informative means of continuing education.
Diane Cashman and Grace Mulcahy – UCD Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary Nurse - Rehabilitation Therapist

The course is designed for you if you are a qualified veterinary nurse and you want to develop your skills in small animal physiotherapy and rehabilitation. The six modules of Level 2 each cover a key area of rehabilitation. The emphasis in each module is on the practical application of rehabilitation techniques that you can use to improve outcomes for the animals in your care.

The course is open to all qualified veterinary nurses working in small animal practice. A pre-requisite for beginning the course is prior attendance on a 2-day (Level 1) introductory course presented by the tutor – these are available through CPD Solutions.

LEVEL 1: Introduction to Canine Physiotherapy

Level 2: Module 1 - Anatomy
Level 2: Module 2 - Neurology
Level 2: Module 3 - Physiotherapy
Level 2: Module 4 - Orthopaedics
Level 2: Module 5 - Exercise and Rehabilitation
Level 2: Module 6 - Critical Care and Pain Management

Level 3: Electrotherapy and End-of-course Assessment

Qualification:
To qualify as a Veterinary Nurse Rehabilitation Therapist you must attend all Level 2 modules and then successfully complete the final Level 3 module, which includes the final assessment. It is anticipated that in most cases, you will complete the course within two years.
To start the course you need to attend the Anatomy module; the other Level 2 modules can be studied in any order and timeframe that suits your study plans. You must complete the course within five years. Assessment will comprise of course work, case studies, and a written and practical examination. Accreditation is currently being sought, and will be in place for the first set of graduates in 2011.

When: commences July 2010

Where: CPD Solutions Training Centre, Studley, Warwickshire

For information: www.vnrt.net

Chronic Diseases of the lowwr

A meeting will take place in Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork on the topic of chronic disease of the lower airways. Renowned speaker Thurid Freitag will present at the event. Further details are available by contacting Sandra Spratt on 025 24399.

Physiotherapy for vets – a taster

This one day course will provide an introduction to physiotherapy, and its effective application in the small animal practice. It will offer you the opportunity to find out more about the basic physiotherapy techniques that can easily be carried out in-house, and the benefits they provide. The role of the veterinary physiotherapist, and the specialist treatments they can offer are also described.
Course numbers will be limited to allow opportunity to practise some of these techniques and design appropriate postoperative treatment plans for several common surgeries.
Booking form

When: 23 Jul 2008

Where: Royal Veterinary College, London