Course

Large Animal Clinics

Faculty
Science & Technology
Department
Animal Health Technology
Course Code
AHTT 2107
Credits
3.00
Semester Length
15 weeks
Max Class Size
30
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Lab
Seminar
Field Experience
Typically Offered
To be determined

Overview

Course Description
This course will cover many aspects of large animal veterinary technology. Topics will include handling and restraint, husbandry, anatomy, procedures and preventative medicine of both equines and ruminants. Further practical veterinary experience involving a variety of species will be included.

Enrollment is limited to students in the Animal Health Technology Program.
Course Content

1. Large animal handling and restraint

- observation of normal and abnormal behaviour

- safe and thorough physical examination and monitoring of vital signs

- evaluation of overall body condition with regard to disease states

 

2. Large animal husbandry

- care of the neonate and neonatal diseases

- recognition of good husbandry practices including housing, nutrition and preventative health programs

- practical aspects of hoof care and trimming and grooming techniques

 

3. Large animal anatomy and physiology

- use of directional, positional and common anatomical terms as they relate to various species

- review of dental anatomy and physiology to enable and practice adequate dental care

- review of major body systems, their major organs, and the general function of each organ in order to recognize significant clinical signs

 

4. Large animal anaesthesia and surgical assistance

- provision of adequate analgesia/anaesthesia and humane treatment to ensure patient comfort

- recognition of injection sites, administration of injectables, and venipuncture

 

5. Large animal preventative medicine

- aspects of individual and herd health

- AHT’s role in preventative medicine including blood testing and common laboratory techniques

- creation of vaccination protocols, and administration of vaccines, deworming and other medications

- prevention of respiratory syndromes, lameness, colic, peri-parturient diseases, and other common conditions

 

6. Practicum’s and field trips

- race track

- equine breeding farms

- artificial insemination facilities

- dairy farms

- goat, pig and poultry farms

- mobile practices and veterinary clinics of equine, dairy and food animals

Learning Activities

This course includes four hours of classroom instruction per week for 8 weeks; followed by 4 hours of workplace- based lab instruction per week for 4 weeks; then 8 hrs per week of internship experience for the remainder of the course.

Means of Assessment

Assignments presentations                                                     15-30%.

Midterms/quizzes                                                                  20-30%.

Professionalism                                                                      10%.

Internship evaluation & competency checklist                              10%.

Final exam  (written & practical)                                              15 -25%

                                                                                            100%

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1.  safely handle and restrain both equines, ruminants and other domestic animals.

2.  understand husbandry principles to maintain the health and welfare of equines and ruminants and other domestic animals.

3.  review the basic anatomy and physiology of the above species, with emphasis on the relevant practical aspects. Be familiar with the theory and practice of large animal and other species’ wound care.

4.  administer analgesia and perform anaesthesia effectively on the above species.

5.  develop programs to promote preventative medicine in both equines and domestic animals.

Textbook Materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students

  1. McCurnin, Dennis & Bassert, J.M. Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians.  Elsevier. Current edition. (required)
  2. Hanie, A.H., Large Animal Clinical Procedures for Veterinary Technicians.  Elsevier. 1st ed. (required)
  3.  Rockett, J. & Bosted, S.  2007  Veterinary Clinical Procedures.  Thomson Delmar. (recommended)
  4. Equine Research Inc.  2007  Illustrated Horsemen’s Veterinary Encyclopedia. ERI Texas.  (recommended)

Requisites

Prerequisites

Successful completion of year 1 of AHT

Corequisites

No corequisite courses.

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer Details for AHTT 2107
There are no applicable transfer credits for this course.

Course Offerings

Winter 2025