3rd fall Caribbean seminar

Please call for resort availability before you book your air

St. John   USVI 

November 13 - 16, 2003

Update on infectious & auto-immune diseases

Michael Lappin D.V.M., DACVIM

Professor of Medicine

Colorado State University

Sandy beaches. Gentle breezes. Inviting pools. And plenty of soothing sunshine. Best of all, you’ll find it all just a short flight away. The only thing you might lose track of is the hectic pace back home. You're invited to take a trip to paradise.

Two-thirds national park, the tiny island of St. John is home to virgin forests, hiking trails, an underwater snorkeling trail and the magnificent Westin St. John Resort and Villas.

Overlooking Great Cruz Bay, the resort features 96 vacation villas, 13 townhouses and 7 suites. Turquoise bays and white sand beaches are a delightful backdrop for snorkeling, kayaking, tennis and swimming in a freshwater pool with its own waterfall. Enjoy aqua aerobics or rent a jeep at the resort to explore the island. Don't forget to take along a picnic from the Mango Deli - the perfect complement to any adventure. As the sun sets, enjoy Caribbean specialties in open-air splendor, or relax with reggae and calypso music in the lounges.

Call 1-800-487-5650 for rooms at the group rate

Room to spare

The resort’s oversize guest rooms feature a host of convenient amenities, including: The Heavenly Bed, individual climate control, color cable televisions, spacious marble bathrooms, in-room refreshment centers, in-room safes, iron and ironing boards, direct dial telephones with voice mail and data ports. Rooms all face the Great Cruz Bay some with spectacular views and most feature patios or balconies. Non-smoking and handicapped equipped rooms are available.

The Suite Life

The resort’s luxurious suites feature all the same resort amenities, plus oversize whirlpool tubs and lots of extra room to spare. From sit-down dining areas to two-story town houses, each suite offers plenty of room for families or couples that desire the best Caribbean accommodations.

The High Life

For extra space and total privacy the resort offers 67 Hillside and Garden Villas. Generous in size and fully equipped the vacation villas are ideal for larger families and couples looking for the ultimate in privacy and intimacy. Hillside Villas include studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom villas with semi-private swimming pools. The three-bedroom Garden Villas all feature private pools. The Westin St John Resort Villas are you home away from —home and Feature turnkey amenities including full kitchens, washer and dryer and separate living areas.

Oceans of Fun

The crystalline waters of St. John are ideal for sport fishing, diving, parasailing, boating and snorkeling. On shore, play tennis, take aerobics, try out the fitness center, and hike the famed plantation ruins, shop, or golf at nearby Mahogany Run. To entertain your children, the Westin Kids Club® offers a wide variety of indoor and outdoor supervised activities.

Dive in

For oceans of fun scuba, snorkel, or take a guided sport fishing trip. You can even rent a powerboat and explore the many coastlines and islands of the beautiful Virgin Islands on your own.

Life’s beach

On St. John, you’ll find over 31 of the World’s most pristine beaches with plenty of room for you to mix with friends or find a quite hide-away. From Trunk Bay to Cinnamon Bay you’ll find plenty of seclusion and beach combing to keep you occupied all day long. Our Vacation Services desk can help you with directions and recommendations.

Let's get physical

Work out in paradise. Our state-of-the-art spa & fitness center, complete with sauna, massage therapy and full spa services, means you don’t have to miss a workout while you’re on vacation.

A taste of local flavor

Our experienced culinary staff brings the color and robust flavors of Caribbean cuisine alive. Combine that with opulent settings and the quality service synonymous with the Westin name, it becomes clear that The Westin Resort, St. John is the natural choice in the Caribbean for all of your dining options from a quick sandwich and espresso in Mango Deli to the Islands finest cuisine at Chloe & Bernard’s.

      Book early as this hotel will sell out!

The seminars

 

A practical discussion of canine & feline

infectious & auto-immune diseases

with

 

Michael Lappin D.V.M., Ph.D.

Diplomate, ACVIM

Professor & Chief of Medicine

Colorado State University

Due to clinical similarities, it can sometimes be difficult to differentiate primary immune-mediated and infectious causes of disease.  The purpose of this series of lectures is to provide the practitioners with the current information concerning the diagnosis and management of these diseases.  Information gathered in the last 3 years will be emphasized; much of the material to be discussed is not even in textbooks to date! 

Dr. Lappin has served on the American Association of Feline Practitioners Vaccine Guidelines Committee, serves on the American Animal Hospital Association sponsored Canine Vaccine Guidelines Committee, served on the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Ehrlichia Consensus Statement Committee, and has a full time research laboratory currently studying feline vaccine issues, Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia, Haemobartonella felis, Ehrlichia, and Bartonella.  Thus, he can present “inside information” on most of the topics making your CE the most current it can be.  The proceedings provided for this course is new, has many figures and tables with appropriate drug protocols, and will be updated in June, just prior to being printed for this course. 

Dr. Lappin uses cases to introduce new topics leading into the presentation of the most clinically pertinent information for the busy small animal practitioner.  Since primarily the new information is presented, more topics can be covered than you can even imagine.  Dr. Lappin also emphasizes diagnostic procedures in his lectures which are presented with video images and so it is as close to a “wet lab” as possible.

The following are just a sampling of topics to be covered and questions to be addressed in this seminar.

 

Hemolytic anemia

1.         What are the eight most likely causes and how can I differentiate them in general practice?

2.         Does vaccination really induce secondary immune mediated anemia in dogs?

3.         What is the best protocol for acute management of primary immune mediated anemia?

4.         How can I use cyclosporine effectively and without costing a fortune?

5.         Which is better for chronic management of primary immune mediated anemia, azathioprine or cyclophosphamide?

6.         Should I heparize my acute cases of primary immune mediated anemia?

7.         Does administration of Oxyglobin really kill dogs with hemolytic anemia?

8.         What prognosis should I give my clients with dogs with hemolytic anemia?

Thrombocytopenia

1.         What are the most likely causes and how can I differentiate them in general practice?

2.         When should I do a bone marrow aspirate and can I really do it in my general practice?

3.         How can I effectively use the IDEXX Dirofilaria, Ehrlichia, and Borrelia screening test in my practice?

4.         What is the best treatment for ehrlichiosis in dogs and how long should I treat?

5.         Should I treat healthy Ehrlichia or Borrelia seropositive dogs?

6.         How can I use the polymerase chain reaction to diagnose or monitor ehrlichiosis in dogs?

7.         Which commercial laboratories have the best Ehrlichia testing?

Polyarthritis

1.         How can I differentiate borreliosis, ehrlichiosis and idiopathic polyarthritis?

2.         What are the 10 most likely causes of polyarthritis in cats?

3.         Which feline vaccine causes polyarthritis in cats?

4.         What is the best technique for arthrocentesis in dogs and cats?

5.         What is the optimal treatment plan for dogs or cats with polyarthritis?

6.         Does it make sense to use omega 3/omega 6 fatty acids or free radical scavengers for the treatment of polyarthritis?

Fever of unknown origin in cats

1.         What is the new name for Haemobartonella felis?

2.         Did you know that there are now 2 Haemobartonella spp in cats!

3.         How can I avoid doxycycline esophageal strictures in cats?

4.         Is enrofloxacin effective for haemobartonellosis in cats?  How many cats will go blind?

5.         Two different ehrlichias were just found in cats in the United States, both occur in California!  Learn the optimal diagnostic and therapeutic plan!

6.         Learn Dr. Lappin’s favorite 10 antibiotics and learn how he uses them empirically while finishing the diagnostic workup.

7.         Is there anything new in the diagnosis of FeLV or FIV infected cats?

8.         Should I use antiviral drugs in FeLV or FIV infected cats?

Feline heartworm disease

1.         Is it an epidemic?

2.         What is the best diagnostic and treatment plan?

3.         You can justify preventative in all cats!  Dr. Lappin will show you why.

 

Canine and feline vaccination guidelines

1.         What are the new guidelines?

2.         Should I use Giardia vaccine in dogs and cats?

3.         Should I use Bordetella vaccine in cats?

4.         How should I manage vaccine associated sarcomas?

 

 

 

Seminar schedule:

                    Thursday, November 13:

Registration 1.30pm -2.00pm

Lectures: 2.00pm - 6.00pm

                    Friday   November 14:

Continental breakfast: 7.15am - 8.00am

Lectures: 8.00am - 1.00pm

                        Saturday November 15

Lectures: 2.00pm - 6.00pm

                        Sunday November 16:

Continental breakfast: 7.15am - 8.00am

Lectures: 8.00am - 11.00am

Registration fee: (American Association of Veterinary State Boards RACE approved for 16 CE hrs.)

• Earlybird  by Sept. 12                  US$525.00

• Advanced by October 10            US$545.00

• Regular after October 10           US$565.00

•             Complete seminar notes
•             Continental breakfast Thursday & Sunday
•             Certificate of completion

Cancellation: 90% refund to 30 days. Seminar transfer only, inside 30 days

CE credits

IVS is an AAVSB RACE approved provider of Continuing Education.

This program meets the requirements for 16 hours of continuing education credit 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 of continuing education. Call IVS at 800-487-5650 for further information.