COURSE OUTLINE
VET*100
Dept. No.
Dept. Abbr.
Introduction to Animal Care
2
Course Title
Credit(s)
Course No.
Prepared by
Science
Department
TBD
C. Gargamelli
Faculty
Program Coordinator
9/2/15
Cluster Chairperson
Date
Reviewed by
Science
Department
S. Minkler
3/5/13
Dean
Date
Cluster Chairperson
Course Description
VET *100, 2 credits, Introduction to Animal Care
This course is an introduction to practical experience with various species. Basic biological concepts and
normative data of the various species including common husbandry practices and diseases are discussed. Restraint
and handling methodologies are discussed and practiced. This course will also require small group hands-on
animal care rotations at Pieper-Olson Veterinary hospital throughout the semester. Prerequisite: Admission to
Veterinary Technology Program.
General Objectives of the Course
Students completing the course will be able to:
 Recognize normal physiologic values for companion animals.
 Explain appropriate housing conditions for various species.
 Identify commonly diagnosed disease conditions of various species.
 Recognize the indications of restraint of animals including aggressive animals.
 Describe methods of restraint in large and small animals.
 Describe methods for approaching, haltering, tying, and leading equine patients.
 Detail normal physiologic values for companion animals.
 Identify proper procedures for carrying and lifting large and small dogs and cats.
 List the types of muzzles used on dogs and cats and demonstrate the proper procedures for their use.
 Summarize restraint and handling techniques used for:
o Birds
o Amphibians
o Reptiles
o Ferrets
o Rabbits
o Rodents
 Describe the general procedure for physical examinations in dogs, cats, and horses.
 Identify the basics of animal husbandry practices in companion and large animals.
 Identify the basics of disease prevention in companion and large animals.
1
Specific Objectives of Instructional Unit
Unit No
Instructional Unit
I
Facility management and safety
II
General restraint and handling
(The specific objectives reflect the behavioral outcomes,
which include what the student will be able to do at the
completion of the unit. Evaluation is then to be based on
the student's accomplishment of these objectives. Assume
that each statement is prefixed with "The student will be
able to".)
1. Identify different types of veterinary facilities
2. State facility nomenclature
3. Explain the ‘flow’ of a veterinary hospital and
management of hospital areas
4. Differentiate important aspects of large animal
veterinary facilities and mobile units
5. Describe general maintenance of an animal hospital
6. List all the different personnel who make up the
veterinary health care team and describe their job
descriptions
7. Explain office procedures including how to schedule
appointments and how to communicate with clients
8. Identify various marketing practices of a veterinary
facility
9. List methods to minimize the hazards associated with
animal handling
1. Discuss the indications for restraint of animals and
behaviors exhibited by aggressive animals
2. Explain the physiologic principles that affect animal
perceptions and methods of restraint in small and large
animals
3. Describe methods for approaching, haltering, tying, and
leading equine patients
4. Define twitch and describe various types of twitches
and their use in equine restraint
5. Explain the methods used for lifting a horse’s foot,
applying a tail tie, and applying hobbles
6. Describe the indications and procedures for the use of
stocks in equine patients
7. Describe the indications for moving cattle, and sheep
into pens and chutes
2
8. Identify the procedures for tail jacking and casting in
cattle
9. Explain methods for capturing individual sheep, goats,
pigs
10. Describe the proper procedures for carrying and lifting
large dogs, small dogs and cats
11. List and describe the types of muzzles and mouth gags
used on dogs and cats and explain the proper
procedures for their use
12. Identify restraint and handling techniques used with
birds, reptiles and amphibians
13. Describe restraint and handling techniques used with
ferrets, rabbits and rodents
14. Recognize the indications for use of chemical restraint
in animal patients
15. Describe methods for dealing with threatening and
aggressive animals
16. List and describe common products used for behavior
modification in dogs and cats and handling aggressive
animals
III
Lab animals and exotic animal
patients
1. List and describe the components of the clinical history
for avian and reptile patients
2. Discuss physical examination considerations, and
sample collection procedures for avian and reptile
patients
3. Recognize the indications for and procedures used to
perform a cloacal swab, oral examination, and crop
wash in avian patients
4. Describe methods for the administration of
medications, trimming of nails, and clipping of wing
feathers in avian patients
5. List and describe basic feeding guidelines for common
pet bird and reptile species
6. List the unique equipment required for care and
treatment of reptiles
7. Recognize the indications for and describe procedures
used to perform colonic wash, bone marrow and urine
sample collection, stomach lavage in reptile patients
8. Identify common diseases of ferrets and diagnostic
procedures used for the diagnosis and treatment of
ferrets, rabbits, and rodents
9. Indicate unique considerations related to the
administration of anesthesia in small animals
10. List and describe common zoonotic diseases of birds,
reptiles, and small mammals
3
IV
The production animal patient
1. Identify proper restraint techniques to handle a
production animal patient safely for a physical
examination
2. Recognize an intact female, intact male, altered male,
altered female
3. Recognize breeds of cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, alpacas
and other animals
4. Describe proper physical examination procedures
5. Identify normal TPR findings for the each production
animal patient discussed
6. Describe the proper preventative health care program
for each production animal patient discussed
7. Discuss various diseases and their diagnostic/treatment
options
V.
The equine patient
1. Discuss proper restraint techniques to handle an equine
patient safely for a physical examination
2. Recognize an intact female, intact male, altered male,
altered female
3. Recognize breeds
4. Describe proper physical examination procedures
5. Determine normal TPR findings for the equine patient
6. Describe the proper preventative health care program
for the equine patient
7. Define Coggin’s testing
8. Discuss various diseases and their diagnostic/treatment
options
VI
The canine patient
1. Understand proper restraint techniques to handle a
canine patient safely for a physical examination
2. Recognize an intact female, intact male, altered male,
altered female
3. Recognize breeds
4. Describe proper physical examination procedures and
understand normal TPR findings for the canine patient
5. Describe the proper preventative health care program
for the canine patient
6. Discuss various diseases and their diagnostic/treatment
options
7. Identify various zoonotic diseases
VII
The feline patient
1. Understand proper restraint techniques to handle a
feline patient safely for a physical examination
2. Recognize an intact female, intact male, altered male,
altered female
3. Recognize breeds
4. Describe proper physical examination procedures and
understand normal TPR findings for the feline patient
5. Describe the proper preventative health care program
for the feline patient
6. Discuss various diseases obtained and their
diagnostic/treatment options
7. Identify various zoonotic diseases
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