Program Content

For each category, 2 CE credits are available. One credit will be awarded for attending the discussion/presentation. One additional credit will be awarded for participating in the hands-on activity specific to each category.

Program Content: Attendee may choose up to 8 CE credits to participate in an 8 hr day.

Surgery Techniques

1. Ovarian Pedicle Ties in Cats: 2 CE credits available
One on one demonstration and discussion worth 1 CE
Supervised hands on participation worth 1 additional CE
-Studies have demonstrated that the (Pedicle Tie) PT technique is associated with a very low risk of hemorrhage-related complications and is significantly faster than double ligating the ovarian pedicle in kittens and adult cats. Use of the PT technique has the potential to be of significant economic benefit and decreases anesthetic time required for feline ovariohysterectomies. This technique is commonly used in shelters and not even known to exist by most practitioners.
-Pedicle ties provide a rapid and safe method for feline ovariohysterectomy
Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery February 2016 18: 160-164

2. Flank Spays of Post-Partum Cats: 2 CE credits available
One on one demonstration and discussion worth 1 CE
Supervised hands on participation worth 1 additional CE
-This lateral flank ovariohysterectomy approach is used when a cat is post-partum, so that the mammary tissue is not disturbed. This technique is commonly used in shelters and not even known to exist by most practitioners.
-McGrath H, Hardie RJ, Davis E. Lateral flank approach for ovariohysterectomy
in small animals. Compend Contin Educ Pract Vet 2004;26:922–930.

3. Scrotal Neuters of Male Dogs: 2 CE credits available
One on one demonstration and discussion worth 1 CE
Supervised hands on participation worth 1 additional CE
-This castration technique is different from the traditional prescrotal approach that most practitioners currently perform. Most veterinarians may not be aware of the direct scrotal approach or the benefits in reduced anesthesia time and the lower number of post-surgical complications when compared to the prescrotal approach.
– http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/scrotal-castration-versus-prescrotal-castration-dogs

4. Pediatric Spay and Neuter Pre/Intra/Post Operative Differences: 2 CE credits available
One on one demonstration and discussion worth 1 CE
Supervised hands on participation worth 1 additional CE
-This credit would address the differences in procedures when there is a pediatric patient spay or neuter. For example, a small meal is given preop to all puppies and kittens despite the normal routine of fasting animals before surgery. The friability and tissue handling of performing a spay or neuter on a 8 week old kitten or puppy is a completely different experience than a routine spay or neuter on a 6 month or older animal. Post-operative measures are taken, such as karo syrup placed on gums, to help pediatric patients maintain proper blood glucose.
-Clin Tech Small Anim Pract. 2002 Aug;17(3):124-8. Early spay-neuter: clinical considerations.

Shelter Practices

5. Guideline for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters: 2 CE credit available
One on one explanation and discussion of these guidelines worth 1CE
Participation in filling out an evaluation of these standards use within our shelter worth 1 CE
-The Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV) compiled the Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters to provide research-based guidelines that will help any sheltering operation meet the physical, medical, and behavioral needs of the animals in their care. Focus is on a review of the Five Freedoms, ways the guidelines can be a tool for shelters’ self-improvement, and look at what the Guidelines are and what they are not. www.sheltervet.org/assets/docs/shelter-standards-oct2011-wforward.pdf
-Javma. Standards of care guidelines bring unity to diverse community. Nolen, S. Jan. 1, 2011

6. SAFER (Safety Assessment For Evaluation Rehoming) 2 CE credits available
One on one demonstration and discussion worth 1 CE
Supervised hands on participation worth 1 additional CE
-ASPCA SAFER® Aggression Assessment is a predictive, consistent method for evaluating the probability of canine aggression in individual dogs. The seven-item, 140 point, assessment is performed by trained behavior team members. This program is centered on understanding and reading behaviors displayed by the individual dogs in response to controlled situations.
-An evaluation of a behavior assessment to determine the suitability of shelter dogs for rehoming. AH Poulsen, AT Lisle, CJC Phillips – Veterinary medicine international, 2010

7. Understanding What “NO KILL” Really Means: 2 CE credits available
One on one explanation and discussion worth 1 CE
Participation in calculating sample Save Rates and categorizing physical exam findings into appropriate categories within our diagnosis matrix worth 1 additional CE
-At its simplest definition, No Kill shelters and No Kill communities save all healthy and treatable pets. But it can be challenging to understand how individual shelters put this concept into practice. A typical rule of thumb is to determine whether a shelter saves more than 90% of its animals. That is its Save Rate. This CE will focus on teaching the formula used to calculate the Save Rate in a shelter, the difference between a closed admission and open admission shelter, and the criteria used to determine the categories of healthy, treatable, manageable, and untreatable/unmanageable as defined through Maddie’s researched matrix.
-www.maddiesfund.org/what-is-no-kill.htm
-www.pawschicago.org/no-kill-mission/about-no-kill/defining-no-kill/

8. Shelter/Hospital Design: 2 CE credit available
One on one explanation and discussion on the reasoning behind our layout worth 1 CE
Participation in a “walk through” and the process of daily animal flow worth 1 CE
-A discussion and tour through the facility to understand the intense process of designing a facility that can accommodate hundreds of animals at one time while decreasing contamination, stress, and controlling noise. A “walk through” is a daily 1-2 hour long procedure performed by both a shelter veterinarian and a management staff member. It is a protocol to allow visual observation that every animal’s basic needs are being met, the animal’s health status has not changed, and confirm the animal is on track to proceed through its designated track.
-http://www.sheltermedicine.com/library/facility-design-and-animal-housing

Attendee may choose up to 8 CE credits within an 8 hour day

To sign-up contact: lfuller@charlestonanimalsociety.org