Course Closed December 5, 2023

This course closed to enrollment on December 5, 2023.

 

Course Overview

This course was built through a collaborative effort between Nutramax Laboratories Veterinary Sciences, Inc. and VetMedTeam


Another Monday and the schedule is pretty full. One of your favorite patients, Moxie, is waiting in exam room 2; she is such a sweet dog and her owner is a great client. Wonder why they are here? It is not time for a wellness visit. As you walk into the room one thing is very obvious - Moxie's owner is very upset.

The client believes that Moxie has developed some bad habits and he has become angry with his beloved pet. He wants to know why she has lost her house training. There have been no changes to their schedule. She has started leaving bad smelling urine spots on the carpet and she urinated on the mat at the front door. He is getting tired of cleaning up and last night he made her stay in the garage (and he had a miserable night trying to sleep without Moxie at the foot of the bed). What is wrong with his dog? Could Moxie's accidents be a result of a urinary tract infection (UTI)?

Urinary tract infections are common in dogs (and cats as they get older and/or have health issues) and can be challenging when they are not properly diagnosed and managed. Owner frustration may grow if a UTI never completely resolves or seems to keep coming back, creating a poor perception of case management in the hospital.

Urinary Tract Infections: Clearing up a Cloudy Topic, is a free course designed to help veterinary team members become acquainted with the causes of urinary tract infections, implement efficient diagnostic protocols and review treatment options to aid in the management of the disease. Every practice strives to provide the best care for their patients and, through proper diagnostics, patients with urinary tract infections can receive timely medical management with successful resolution of the infection and cessation of symptoms.

 

Continuing Education Credits

Course meets the requirements for 3 RACE hours of continuing education credit for veterinary technicians and veterinarians in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB's RACE approval. However, participants should be aware that some boards have limitations on the number of hours accepted in certain categories and/or restrictions on certain methods of delivery.

RACE Subject Category: Medical; Delivery Method: Non-interactive Distance; Program Number 747555.

 

Course Author

Sheri Ross, DVM, PhD, DACVIM

 

Course Access Requirements

VetMedTeam courses are asynchronous - they do not contain real time components. Participants log in at times convenient to personal schedules.

Participants do not need to complete the course in one sitting. However, participants who do not access the course for 30 consecutive days will be processed as incomplete. Any activity within the course will reset to the full 30 days time allotment.

Participants who are unable to complete a course may re-enroll at their convenience.

 

Course Content

Urinary Tract Infections: Clearing up a Cloudy Topic is a course designed to familiarize  the veterinary team in regards to urinary tract infections. Often, clients are unaware their pet has a UTI, and simply present the patient for polydipsia. Team members must be able to ask the right questions to help the doctor determine a correct diagnosis.

Urinary Tract Infections: Clearing up a Cloudy Topic summarizes the anatomy and physiology of urinary tract system, and describes common predisposing factors and causative agents that may contribute to UTIs. Correct identification of the underlying condition with proper diagnostics is critical to the success of treating this sometimes frustrating condition, and all treatment options must be considered when implementing a treatment plan.

 

Course Focus and Learning Objectives

This course is designed for all members of the veterinary team who wish to improve their understanding of urinary tract infections, diagnostics and treatment options.

After completion of this course, the student should be able to:

 

  • Identify and describe the function of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra
  • Define and differentiate pyelonephritis, cystitis and urethritis
  • Recognize factors that may predispose dogs and cats to urinary tract infections
  • Evaluate clinical symptoms associated with a UTI
  • Describe host defenses that defend the body against UTIs
  • Recognize causative agents of bacterial UTIs in dogs and cats
  • Describe potential contamination factors associated with urine sample collection
  • Describe the physical characteristics of a urine sample and determine the urine specific gravity
  • Describe limitations associated with reagent strips
  • Describe the steps used to complete a urine sediment analysis and assess for the presence of bacteria, epithelial cells, WBCs, RBCs and fat droplets
  • Compare and contrast numbers and types of bacteria associated with an active UTI versus contamination correlated with various urine collection methods
  • Describe the importance of a urine culture, and interpret results
  • Select traditional therapies used to treat UTIs
  • Evaluate, compare and contrast appropriate diagnostic evaluation tools and treatment protocols for recurrent UTIs
  • Describe adjunctive management aimed at preventing adhesion of bacteria to the urinary tract, and explain how this facilitates their removal

 

Course Completion Requirements

The completion requirements for this course are:

  • complete the examination(s) with a score of 80% or better.
  • submit the course survey

Upon submission of the final completion requirement, the participant will automatically be marked as completed and the course completion email will be sent out. The participant will have immediate access to the certificate. Students who do not access the course for 30 consecutive days will be processed as incomplete.

 

Participant Feedback

...I really liked everything about the course. The videos, pictures, the resources, the pdf version and how you explain everything with the cases. For me it's easier learn by watching videos and with someone knowledgeable, thus this course was perfect. I enjoyed, I learned and I didn't even knew the time that I took to finish.

...I liked the power point slide aspect. It was helpful that after each slide was narrated it stopped and let me review what information had been taught before automatically moving on. I liked that I had to manually go to the next slide.

...describing the steps used to complete a urine sediment analysis was interesting. we don't practice in our hospital (everything sent to lab) so it was interesting to me also the limitations of the reagent strips since that's the one in house test we do on urine

...steps used to complete a urine sediment analysis...we dont practice in our hospital (everything sent to lab) so it was interesting to me also the limitations of the reagent strips since that's the one in house test we do on urine...

...Different therapies available to help treat UTIs.

...Describing the steps used to complete a urine sediment analysis. we dont practice in our hospital (everything sent to lab) so it was interesting to me also the limitations of the reagent strips since thats the one in house test we do on urine.

...Learning the different types of bacteria, fungi, and parasites that can infect the pet bladder and how to find them was most beneficial to me.

...As a technician who runs a majority of the UA routine testing, it was a good reinforcement of techniques already implemented. Also good for providing some standards of sample quality when receiving free catches from clients. IE when to refrigerate and for how long is acceptable etc... this is something on which we have been getting contradictory advice from different Drs opinions. I also found it educational with the information regarding the different types of bacterial infections and percentages of commonality there of.

...updating my knowledge regarding follow up cultures and antibiotic therapies. Learning about the "real" uses of cranberry extract therapy.

...The pdf file was really nice to have for future reference.

...Very well put together. Organized, thorough, flowed well, the case studies were straight forward so the focus was on treatment rather than anything else. This course contained all the information needed but was put together in a manner that it was easy to assimilate. I have been doing this a while and the structure of this presentation will help me be more organized in my approach.

 

Open Enrollment

This course is "on demand." Participants may enroll at any time. Upon submission of the enrollment the participant is immediately added to the course. The course welcome email provides login and other important information.

Upon submission of the final completion requirement the participant will automatically be marked as completed and the course completion email will be sent out. The participant will have immediate access to the certificate.

 

Pricing

Price: FREE