Course Description
This course introduces safe animal handling and components of the physical exam. Students will learn how to obtain the basic medical history and vital signs of a patient and how to record these data in veterinary medical records. Aspects of breed recognition, animal behaviour, safe restraint, nursing care and husbandry of healthy, sick and hospitalized patients are covered. Basic technical skills including grooming, medication administration, injections and blood collection are included.
Course Content
Handling, restraint and behaviour:
- defining behaviour (normal, abnormal, species differences)
- relationship between patient behaviour and safe handling of each species
- use of restraint devices in hospital and farm settings
- canine and feline basic training (counter-conditioning, positive and negative reinforcement/ punishment)
History, physical exam and record keeping:
- accurate history taking
- medical records with a 'subjective, objective, assessment and plan' format (problem-orientated medical records)
- normal and abnormal vital signs
- Fluorescein dye test, Schirmer tear test and tonometry
- dog and cat breeds
- age equivalencies in dogs and cats
- wellness examination including vaccine protocols
General nursing:
- grooming (bathing, nail trims, ear care, anal gland expression)
- physical and psychological needs including assessing pain and attitude
- monitoring vital signs
- administration of medications: topical, oral, per rectum (enemas), parenteral injections
- care of pediatric and senior patients
- blood collection and sample handling
Kennel management:
- employing appropriate fear-free techniques
- sanitation (cleaning and disinfection)
- isolation procedures
Learning Activities
The laboratory activities in this course take place both on-campus and off-campus and may include work experience, live animals, models and cadavers, pre-lab videos and video assessments, essential skills practice labs and hands-on instructor evaluations. Classroom instructional activities may include on-line open book quizzes, assignments, group work, online webinars and a discussion board.
Means of Assessment
Evaluations will be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. A final minimum cumulative grade of 60% is required in both lecture and lab components, in order to obtain a C grade in this course. Evaluation will be based on the following:
Assignments 15-40%
Term Tests 10-20%
Practical Evaluations 15-40%
Final Lecture Exam 10-25%
Final Laboratory Exam 10-25%
Total 100%
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- describe the physical appearance of healthy dogs and healthy cats;
- recognize signs of illness in dogs and cats;
- safely handle and restrain dogs, cats and other species for physical exams and clinical procedures;
- obtain vital signs, including temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure, for animal under examination;
- observe and describe a range of behaviour cues in dogs and cats, including warning signs of aggression;
- obtain and record medical history and physical exam data;
- provide basic grooming care for dogs and cats;
- discuss the special nursing needs of pediatric and senior patients;
- examine, clean and medicate eyes and ears for animals under examination;
- administer various forms of medication to dogs and cats, including oral medication and parenteral injections;
- perform venipuncture, blood collection and sample handling;
- institute kennel management procedures, including cleaning, disinfection and isolation;
- perform wellness examinations including applying proper vaccination protocols;
- employ fear-free strategies to all aspects of animal handling;
- recognize and identify common dog and cat breeds.
Textbook Materials
Consult the Douglas College Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials. Example textbooks and materials may include:
- McCurnin. (Current Edition). Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians.JM Bassert, AD Beal and OM Samples: Pub Elsevier.