This course involves two hours per week of classroom instruction and two hours per week of laboratory activity on-campus and off-campus. Off-campus duties for large animal practical skills are also required.
Enrolment is limited to students in the Veterinary Technology Program.
The major topics in this course include the following:
- 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 - History, physical exam and record keeping:
- accurate history taking
- medical records including problem oriented medical record (POMR) and subjective, objective, assessment and plan (SOAP) formats
- physical exam, including TPRs and normal values
- dog and cat breeds
- age equivalencies in dogs and cats
- wellness examination including vaccine protocols - General nursing:
- grooming (nails, ear care, anal glands)
- physical and psychological needs including assessing pain and attitude
- monitoring vital signs and elimination
- administration of medications: topical, PO, per rectum (enemas), SQ, IM and IV injections
- care of pediatric and geriatric patients
- blood collection and sample handling
- radiography introduction and safety - Kennel management:
- strategies to decrease stress and increase safety and well-being of patients
- sanitation – cleaning and disinfection
- isolation procedures
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Describe the physical appearance of the healthy dog and cat and recognize signs of illness in each.
- Safely handle and restrain dogs, cats and other species for physical exams and clinical procedures.
- Obtain vital signs, including temperature, pulse, respiration (TPR) and blood pressure, for each species.
- Observe and describe normal behaviour signs including warning signs of aggression in dogs and cats.
- Obtain and record 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.
- Administer many forms of medication to dogs and cats, including per os/oral (PO), subcutaneous (SQ), intramuscular (IM) and intravenous (IV) injections.
- Perform venipuncture, blood collection and sample handling.
- Institute kennel management procedures, including cleaning and disinfection and isolation.
- Perform wellness examinations including vaccines.
- Recognize common dog and cat breeds.
- Discuss end of life supportive care and euthanasia.
The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. A final minimum cumulative grade of “C” or 60% is required (in both lecture and lab components) in order to pass this course. Evaluation will be based on quizzes and assignments, practical evaluations including a final practical examination, at least one midterm and a final written examination.
A list of required and optional textbooks and materials is provided for students at the beginning of each semester.
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