This site is dedicated to providing online continuing education to veterinary professionals and the SVMA licensing course.
Currently, there is over forty five (45) hours of continuing education in the SVMA Classroom.
As is the case with all continuing education events and materials, all online courses must be completed to be eligible for CE credit.
All registrations for courses in the online classroom will be valid for one year, meaning all courses registered for must be taken and completed within a year. Automatic un-enrollments occur after 365 days. The exception is the SVMA Licensing Course which must be completed in 30 days.
Veterinary professionals from other jurisdictions may request access to the classroom by emailing svma@svma.sk.ca.
Please use the subject line: Classroom Access Request
The problem of antimicrobial resistance will be summarized, and an overview of how these drugs interact with their microbial targets will be presented. We will critically explore how to interpret antimicrobial susceptibility profiles, incorporate evidence into prescribing decisions and biases that influence therapeutic choice/dosing regimen.
Speaker – Dr Joe Rubin
Two hours of continuing education for veterinarians and veterinary technologists.
This lecture will focus on patient assessment / stabilization, principles of equine wound management, considerations for surgical reconstruction, involvement of sensitive structures, and guidelines for referral.Speaker – Dr Ryan Wolker
One hour of continuing education for veterinarians and veterinary technologists.
Topical therapy is often under utilized in veterinary medicine. Topical therapy can be used to remove debris and exudate, reduce the microbial load as well as allowing a more focal treatment. The development of multi-drug resistant bacterial strains has also lead to a need for veterinarians to consider alternative therapies.
Speaker Biography - Dr Charlie Pye
Charlie graduated from the Atlantic Veterinary College and then travelled to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine for a small animal rotating internship. She then pursued a dermatology residency at the Ontario Veterinary College along with a DVSc specializing in bacterial biofilms.
After spending five years in private referral practice, she became the first veterinary dermatologist in Atlantic Canada; an assistant professor at the Atlantic Veterinary College.
Her special interests include immune mediated skin disease and atopic dermatitis.
One hour of continuing education for veterinarians and veterinary technologists.
Pig Health: An Introduction to basic swine diseases and challenges with a practical approach to treatment.
Speaker – Dr Kelsey Gray
Two hours of continuing education for veterinarians and veterinary technologists.
This lecture will cover the diagnosis and characterization of corneal ulcers in animals. We will discuss appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic techniques for corneal ulceration based on ulcer type. This will include updated information based on recent literature as well as new therapeutic options.Speaker – Dr Lynne Sandmeyer
One and a half hours of continuing education for veterinarians and veterinary technologists.
During the remote session, Dr Dickinson will discuss collection techniques to optimize lymph node sample quality and discuss diagnostic options beyond microscopic findings for lymph node tissue. Live microscope session and select images will be used to help guide practitioners to see what a pathologist is looking for to help rule in nefarious disease processes such as metastatic disease for various tumour types. Findings from primary lesions and their correlation to lymph node findings will be included. The focus will be practical cytopathology, though histopathology/biopsy section slides will be included to help illustrate key architectural features.
Speaker – Dr Ryan Dickinson
Two hours of continuing education for veterinarians and veterinary technologists.
This lecture will discuss suspicious indicators of animal cruelty and key steps for the veterinary team. Determination of non-accidental injury (cruelty) vs. accidental injury will be presented. Discussion will include considerations and actions regarding reporting suspected abuse including key aspects of history taking. Development of a practice standard operating procedure to handle potential cases including managing risk within the hospital setting will be presented. The lecture will include video examples of veterinarian-client communication and interaction in commonly encountered scenarios. The zone of owner discretion and how it can serve as a guide for reporting will be discussed. Documentation is the cornerstone of legal cases, there are additional rules and considerations for admissibility in court. Evidence collection and forensic testing will be presented.Speaker – Dr Melinda Merck
One and a half hours of continuing education for veterinarians and veterinary technologists.
An attempt to bring knowledge and facilitate discussion in an interesting and visual manner. No country has all the answers. We can learn something from every country we travel to and every individual we meet. We can learn from the different systems around the world, their triumphs and shortcomings, including those in our own country. Dr. Will hopes that there will be lots of questions.Speaker – Dr Dennis Will
One hour of continuing education for veterinarians and veterinary technologists.
Despite shrill cries for increasing animal rights and for eliminating animal protein from human diets, there remains not only a residing and deep affection for animal companions but also an economic and even environmental basis for animals as part of our biosphere, especially as we seek to feel our way out of the COVID pandemic. A "care economy" (and all that comes with it) is emerging for human health.Speaker – Dr Don Buckingham
One and a half hours of continuing education for veterinarians and veterinary technologists.
Prevention of dystocia is the goal for nearly every beef and dairy herd owner, but a zero-dystocia
incidence every year is highly unrealistic. Veterinarians must be skilled in not only assisting clients
in preventing dystocia’s, but also in treating them. There are various techniques suggested for
assisting a cow with a dystocia. The Utrecht method is a time-tested technique that reduces the
stress on the cow, calf and technician before, during and after the delivery process.Speaker – Dr Mark Hilton
One and a half hours of continuing education for veterinarians and veterinary technologists.
Zebras of pathology. What seems like a straight forward and routine diagnostic case can sometimes take an unexpected twist. Every so often those hoof beats you hear in the night are zebras. This will be a brief trip through interesting and unusual diagnostic cases that have come through the pathology service.
What’s new in the world of pathology? Diagnostic tests, procedures and tools change all the time. This talk will be a brief tour through what’s new, why we use it and how it can help you. Other topics touched upon will be changing features of animal disease as we see it through the diagnostic lab.
Dr Bruce Wobeser was born and raised in Saskatoon. He graduated from WCVM in 1995 and worked as a small animal clinician in Saskatchewan and Alberta for 9 years. In 2004, he returned to the WCVM to get diagnostic training in pathology, completed a MVetSc in 2006, became board certified as a pathologist in 2007, and completed his PhD and started on faculty at the WCVM in 2010.
A recent survey by the SVMA Animal Welfare Committee revealed that veterinary professionals still have many questions about animal welfare. The purpose of this webinar is to provide information that will help to demystify animal welfare enforcement as well as to provide an opportunity to have your animal welfare-related questions answered. The webinar will include an overview of past and current states of animal welfare enforcement and legislation, a discussion on the basics of an animal welfare investigation, a veterinary panel discussion and a question and answer period.
Speakers: Don Ferguson, Dr Jordan Woodsworth, Dr Ramdath Changar, Dr Dennis Will
Two and a half hours of continuing education for veterinarians and veterinary technologists.
Veterinary professionals are often the first called to assist with large animal rescue. However, many of us have no formal training in large animal rescue, making these tense situations even more stressful. This webinar will review a case of equine rescue (during the COVID pandemic) and use it as an example to highlight things that worked, things that didn't, and what the author might do differently next time. Of note, this was the first rescue that Dr. Robinson was involved in. Discussion and questions from the audience is encouraged.
Speaker Biography – Dr Kate Robinson
Dr Robinson is a clinician at McKee-Pownall Equine Services and a board-certified equine practice specialist. Previously, Dr Robinson as a assistant professor and field service clinician at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine.
Poultry Vaccination - Corona Virus (IBV): Not in this flock!
This webinar aims to provide veterinary professionals with information regarding the vaccination of small flock/backyard poultry including reasons to vaccinate, vaccine administration, which vaccines to administer, ordering poultry vaccines, and serology.
Dr Tyra Dickson grew up on a grain farm in southern Manitoba. She completed a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and a Master’s of Science in Agriculture (Poultry Nutrition) at the University of Manitoba. She graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2010. After 9 years in mixed animal practice, in April 2019, she began work as the Poultry Extension Veterinarian for Saskatchewan.
Dr. Stephanie Smith developed her passion for poultry early in life and that has continued through her veterinary career in both mixed animal and poultry veterinary practices. She currently works with the Ministry of Agriculture. She and her husband manage a grain and cattle farm near Arelee, Saskatchewan. When not busy with work and farming, she enjoys spending time with her many chickens, horses and dogs.
One and a half (1.5) hours of continuing education for veterinarians and veterinary technologists.
These sessions will consist of a variety of practical soft tissue surgery techniques that most veterinarians can perform in their practice. Video segments of clinical case material, carefully edited to form a real-life experience, will be used as a means of delivering the surgical lectures. An advantage of this lecture style is that participants are able to see the case actually operated on during the lecture.
These sessions will consist of a variety of practical soft tissue surgery techniques that most veterinarians can perform in their practice. Video segments of clinical case material, carefully edited to form a real-life experience, will be used as a means of delivering the surgical lectures. An advantage of this lecture style is that participants are able to see the case actually operated on during the lecture.
Surgical management of canine cystic and urethral calculi
A ‘never fail’ technique for retropulsion of calculi lodged in the urethra of male dogs will be presented. Surgical management of cystic calculi will be discussed and a new protocol will be demonstrated that will eliminate the possibility of leaving a stone behind after performing a cystotomy. Video of a clinical case will be used to illustrate all techniques.
Feline perineal urethrostomy – a novel approach
Feline perineal urethrostomy has classically been approached with the patient placed in a perineal position. Although this positioning is awkward for the surgeon it has become the standard approach. This lecture will suggest taking another look at patient positioning. Placing the cat in dorsal recumbancy allows for a much more ‘ergonomic’ approach for the surgeon and enhances visualization of the regional anatomy. In addition, this positioning allows access to the patients’ urinary bladder. Video of this novel approach will be used to illustrate the advantages of dorsal recumbancy positioning.
Wound management secrets
Think of the most difficult location to bandage a wound……this seminar will suggest a method of how you can ‘bandage that wound’! Also……can you force a wound to continue to contract….…oh yes you can! Videotape of these selected ‘secrets’ to facilitate wound management will be discussed.
Speaker Biography – Dr Howard Seim
"Staying alive" vs. "Another one bites the dust"
This lecture will focus on some of the biggest problems and diseases in small ruminant practice. Covering everything from husbandry practices and how they influence disease processes to the clinical presentation of some of the most common diseases you will encounter, this discussion aims to provide you with the tools necessary to tackle many small ruminant challenges. This a lecture that EWE DOEn’t want to miss!
Dr. Michael Pesato is originally from Vermilion, Ohio and attended veterinary school at Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation in 2015, Dr. Pesato completed an internship and residency focusing on food animal practice with the Section of Field Service at New Bolton Center, the large animal campus of the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Pesato became a diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Food Animal Practice) in 2019. He spent two years practicing with the Section of Field Service after his residency, working to develop a Small Ruminant Wellness Program that focused on both individual animal care and herd health management. Dr. Pesato is now an Assistant Clinical Professor of Food Animal Medicine at Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. His specific interests include preventative medicine and management techniques for sheep, goat, and cattle clientele and he has a passion for educating students, clients, and colleagues alike.
This three-hour webinar will include the following topics.
This is a hematology centered presentation. including the steps for reviewing a blood smear to complement automated results. Case study includes examining the analyzer print out and deciphering what it means and compare it to what it looks like on a smear.
Speaker Biography – Brianne Bellwood, RVT, VTS (Clinical Pathology) CCRVN
Brianne Bellwood, RVT, VTS (Clinical Pathology), CCRVN is a 2002 graduate of the AHT program at Olds College. After graduating, Brianne worked in mixed animal practice. In 2008, Brianne began teaching at Lakeland College in the Animal Health Technology and Veterinary Medical Assistance programs and has served as Program Coordinator in the past for both programs. In 2016, Brianne achieved her NAVTA Veterinary Technician Specialty designation in the field of Clinical Pathology from the Academy of Veterinary Clinical Pathology Technicians. Her passion for clinical pathology and teaching has led to opportunities to present CE topics both in Canada and Internationally, as well as having the privilege of authoring a number of textbooks and articles for various veterinary publications. Currently Brianne is completing her Master’s Degree in Advanced Practice in Veterinary Nursing through the University of Glasgow.
Two hours of SVMA approved continuing education for veterinarians and veterinary technologists
Since 2018, the SVMA has made available education on provincial and federal regulations and procedures pertaining to animal welfare. At a recent Council meeting a motion was passed requiring all registered SVMA members to complete the 'Animal Welfare: What Every Veterinary Professional Should Know' course available in the SVMA Online Classroom. This will ensure all members have an opportunity to review the legislation and gain a renewed appreciation of our role in ensuring animal welfare within the province of Saskatchewan.
Animal abuse and neglect affects all of us. As veterinary professionals, we see animals in distress every day and we do our best to relieve them of their suffering. But how do we determine when that distress should prompt us to report a case of suspect animal abuse or neglect? What if you are called to attend an animal welfare investigation with an animal protection agency - do you feel prepared to attend? Finally, how can the records you prepare help to strengthen an investigation that goes to court, or even avoid the need for you to testify in court? These questions and more will be addressed through the Veterinary Forensics course.
This course will include the following topics:
The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), in partnership with Merck Animal Health, held its inaugural Mental Health Awareness Week from September 9 to 15, 2019. The week included a live Suicide Awareness and Prevention Webinar created and presented by Dr Kathy Keil. The webinar was recorded and SVMA has been given permission to include it in the SVMA Online Classroom.
Course
contents:
SVMA is offering one CE hour for this presentation at no charge. The course must be completed (ie, questions at the end answered) to receive CE credits
This course will help veterinary professionals in the following areas:
Because of the addition of all medically important antimicrobials to the prescription drug list small poultry producers and backyard breeders will be turning to veterinary practices for assistance. These are not under this jurisdiction of the Poultry Extension Veterinarian and will require veterinary practices to diagnose and prescribe treatment.
Your practice may even be receiving prescriptions from the Poultry Extension veterinarian for the poultry barns under their oversight. This will give you insight on how to dispense those medications.
This course offers 5 hours of continuing education.
On December 1, 2018, Health Canada's recent changes to the Food and Drug Act go into effect. Several medically important antimicrobials have been moved to the veterinary version of the Prescription Drug List (PDL). This means many antibiotics previously sold as over-the-counter (OTC) products will now require a prescription.
This course addresses the legal and ethical obligations that veterinary practitioners are bound to follow when using, prescribing, dispensing and selling drugs and biologics. The video portion will be followed by questions to be answered for one hour of AMS CE credit.
This is the CE session that was delivered at the WDDC 35th Anniversary Open House in September 2018. This online version has been approved by the SVMA for 3 CE hours.
Topics include:
Special thanks goes to WDDC for hosting the event and recording the video. This CE course is free to all veterinarians and veterinary technologists across Canada.
This course is now archived.
The effects of animal abuse and neglect touch all of us. The reality is, abuses of pets and livestock persist.
This 4 hour course of SVMA approved scientific CE will address the following in a conversation with veterinary professionals about dealing with abuse and neglect:
Dennis Will, DVM, retired CFIA
Yolande Seddon, PhD, WCVM Large Animal Clinical Sciences
Kaley Pugh, MSc, Director, Animal Protections Services of Saskatchewan
John Campbell, DVM, WCVM herd health and sustainable beef systems research
Watch the video, then answer the questions at the end to receive one hour of SVMA approved CE credit.
This course will be archived December 31, 2022.
Watch the video, then answer the questions at the end to receive one hour of SVMA approved CE credit.
This course is now archived.