This course includes 2 hours of lecture and 2 hours of lab based instruction per week. The 2 hours of lab based instruction include off-site instruction at farms and large animal veterinary facilities.
Students are required to rotate through weekend duties at local farms.
Enrolment is limited to students in the Veterinary Technology Program.
The major topics in this course include the following:
1. Large animal handling and restraint
- normal and abnormal behaviour
- physical examination and monitoring of vital signs
- evaluation of overall body condition with regard to disease states
2. Large animal husbandry
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care of the neonate and neonatal diseases
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good husbandry practice including housing, nutrition and preventative health programs
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practical aspects of hoof care and trimming and grooming techniques
3. Large animal anatomy and physiology
- review the use of directional, positional and common anatomical terms
- review of major body systems, major organs, and the general function of each organ inorder to recognize significant clinical signs
4. Large animal anesthesia and surgical assistance
- provision of adequate analgesia-aneshtesia and humane treatment to ensure patient comfort
- preparation of the large animals prior to surgery
- special considerations unique to performing large animal surgery
- recognition of injection sites, administration of injectables, and venipuncture
5. Large animal preventative medicine
- aspects of individual and herd health
- the veterinary technician's role in preventative medicine including blood testing and common laboratory techniques
- creation of vaccination protocols and administration of vaccines, dewormers and other medications
- prevention of respiratory syndromes, lameness, colic, peri-parturient diseases and other common conditions
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Safely handle and restrain equines and ruminants.
- Discuss husbandry principles, health maintenance and welfare of equines, ruminants, porcines and SA camelids.
- Describe the basic anatomy and physiology of the above species, emphasizing relevant practical aspects.
- Discuss wound care as it applies to large animal species. Perform appropriate bandaging techniques.
- Discuss appropriate analgesia and common anesthetic techniques used in the large animal species.
- Develop programs to promote preventative medicine in both equines and food animals.
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.
Successful completion of Year 1 of the Veterinary/Animal Health Technology Program
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