(January 2010) MEMBERSHIP GUIDELINES MEDICINE OF CATS INTRODUCTION These Membership Guidelines should be read in conjunction with the Red Book: Advice to Membership Candidates. ELIGIBILITY Refer to the Red Book: Advice to Membership Candidates OBJECTIVES To demonstrate that the candidate has sufficient knowledge of and experience in Medicine of Cats to be able to give sound advice to colleagues on problems and procedures commonly encountered in this field of general veterinary practice. LEARNING OUTCOMES 1. The candidate will have a sound1 knowledge of: 1.1. the aetiology, pathophysiology, investigation and treatment/management of feline diseases of all body systems (other than those in Points 2.3 and 2.4) including toxicities, infectious diseases and genetic, metabolic and nutritional disorders 1.2. clinical problem solving 1.3. disorders of fluid and electrolytes (including acid-base disturbances) and the fluid/electrolyte therapy required to address them 1.4. preventative medicine in cats 1.5. measures to reduce public health risks of zoonotic diseases transmitted by cats. 2. The candidate will have a basic knowledge of: 1 Knowledge levels: Detailed knowledge - candidates must have an in-depth understanding of the topic, including differing points of view and the published literature. The highest level of knowledge. Sound knowledge – candidate must know the principles and some of the finer detail of the topic, including differing points of view and the core literature. A middle level of knowledge. Basic knowledge – candidate must know the principles of the topic and the core literature. Medicine of Cats 1 2.1. feline anatomy, physiology, nutrition and reproduction 2.2. pharmacology and chemotherapy in cats 2.3. disorders of behaviour, skin, eyes and reproduction in cats 2.4. diseases exotic to Australia and New Zealand which could be of potential significance to feline health in Australia and New Zealand. 3. The candidate will be able to do the following with sound2 expertise: 3.1. collect a clinical history 3.2. perform a physical examination 3.3. collect, record, and analyse clinical data from feline medicine cases and make appropriate clinical judgments based on that data 3.4. provide high quality medical care for cats with the most efficient use of resources in a manner that is responsive to the owner’s needs and wishes 3.5. communicate with clients and peers. 4. The candidate will be able to interpret clinical pathology data and the results of radiography, ultrasonography and routine ECG with basic expertise. 5. The candidate will be able to perform the following technical procedures: 5.1. with a sound level of expertise: 5.1.1. neurologic examination 5.1.2. in-house laboratory procedures including packed cell volume, refractometer use, urinalysis, faecal floatation, blood and cytology smear preparation 5.1.3. routine biopsy procedures (fine needle aspiration and cutting needle core samples) 5.1.4. blood pressure measurement 5.1.5. routine centesis: thoracic, abdominal, cysto5.1.6. routine electrocardiography 5.1.7. routine radiography 2 Skill levels: Detailed expertise – the candidate must be able to perform the technique with a high degree of skill, and have extensive experience in its application. The highest level of proficiency. Sound expertise – the candidate must be able to perform the technique with a moderate degree of skill, and have moderate experience in its application. A middle level of proficiency. Basic expertise – the candidate must be able to perform the technique competently in uncomplicated circumstances. Medicine of Cats 2 5.1.8. joint fluid aspiration 5.1.9. bronchoalveolar lavage 5.1.10. fluid therapy 5.1.11. blood transfusion. 5.2. with a basic level of expertise: 5.2.1. ophthalmic examination 5.2.2. enteral nutrition tube placement 5.2.3. thoracostomy tube placement 5.2.4. bone marrow biopsy & aspiration. EXAMINATIONS For information on the both the standard and the format of the Written and Oral examinations, candidates are referred to the Red Book: Advice to Membership Candidates. Written Paper I: This paper is designed to test the Candidate’s knowledge of the principles of medicine of cats as described in the Learning Outcomes. Written Paper II: This paper is designed to (a) test the Candidate’s ability to apply the principles of feline medicine to particular cases/problems or tasks and (b) test the Candidate’s familiarity with the current practices and issues that arise from activities within the discipline of feline medicine in Australia and New Zealand. Practical/Oral Examination: This examination requires the candidate to demonstrate achievement of the above-mentioned Learning Outcomes. The time allowed for this examination is one hour. Clinical and clinicopathologic images, laboratory test results, radiographs and basic ultrasound images are likely to be used during this examination. RECOMMENDED READING MATERIAL Core Texts The Cat – Diseases and Clinical Management. Vols 1-2. Sherding RG (ed) 2nd Edition. Churchill Livingstone, New York 1994. This is a core text despite its age, because no other comprehensive feline medicine text has been published since. Candidates must be aware that some of this material is now outdated Medicine of Cats 3 and use up to date texts such as Consultations in Feline Medicine and other small animal texts in order to differentiate outdated material (eg drugs, treatments, microbe nomenclature etc) from unchanged data (eg haematology assessment, feline nutrition). Consultations in Feline Internal Medicine. August JR (ed.) 5th and 6th Editions. Elsevier Saunders, St Louis 2006 and 2010 respectively. Feline Medicine and Therapeutics. Chandler EA, Gaskell CJ and Gaskell RM (eds) 3rd Edition. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford 2004 Core Journals Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Other Journals Australian Veterinary Journal Australian Veterinary Practitioner Additional Sources of Information TEXTBOOKS General Medicine Small Animal Internal Medicine. Nelson RW and Couto CG (eds) 4th Edition (when available; 2009) and 3rdEdition. Mosby, St Louis 2003. Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Vols 1-2. Ettinger SJ and Feldman EC (eds) 6th Edition. Saunders, Philadelphia 2004 and later editions when available Kirk’s Current Veterinary Therapy. Bonagura JD (ed). Saunders, Philadelphia. Recent issues eg XIII (2000) and XIV (2008)) Cardiology Small Animal Cardiovascular Medicine. Kittleson MD and Kienle RD. Mosby, St Louis. 1998. Textbook of Canine and Feline Cardiology: Principles and Clinical Practice. Fox PR and Sisson D. 2nd Edition. Saunders, Philadelphia. 1999. Dermatology Muller & Kirk’s Small Animal Dermatology. Scott DW, Miller WH, Griffin CE (eds) 6th Edition. Saunders, Philadelphia 2001. A Practical Guide to Feline Dermatology. Guaguère E and Prelaud P (eds). Merial 2000. Endocrinology Medicine of Cats 4 Canine and Feline Endocrinology and Reproduction. Feldman EC and Nelson RW (eds) 3rd Edition, Saunders, St Louis, 2004. Gastroenterology BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline of Gastroenterology. Hall EJ, Simpson JW and Williams DA (eds) 2nd Edition. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford. 2005. Immunology Clinical Immunology of the Dog and Cat. Day MJ. 2nd edition. Manson Publishing, London 2008 Infectious Diseases Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat. Greene CE (ed) 3nd Edition. Saunders, Philadelphia. 2006. Neurology Veterinary Neuroanatomy and Clinical Neurology. DeLahunta A. Glass E. 3nd Edition. Saunders Elsevier, St Louis 2009 Handbook of Veterinary Neurology. Oliver JE Lorenz MD and Kornegay JN (eds) 4th Edition, Saunders, Philadelphia. 2004. Nutrition Canine and Feline Nutrition. Case LP, Carey DP, Hirakawa DA, Daristotle L. 2nd Edition. Mosby, St Louis. 2000. Oncology Small Animal Clinical Oncology. Withrow SJ, Vail DM. 4th Edition. Saunders, Philadelphia. 2006 Feline Oncology: A Comprehensive Guide to Compassionate Care. Ogilvie GK and Moore AS (eds), Veterinary Learning Systems, Trenton 2001 Pathology (Clinical) Duncan & Prasse’s Veterinary Laboratory Medicine. Latimer KS, Mahaffey EA, Prasse KW. 4th Edition. Iowa State Press. 2003 Pharmacology Small Animal Clinical Pharmachology. Maddison JE, Page SW, Church D. 2nd Edition Saunders Edinburgh 2008 Veterinary Drug Handbook. Plumb DC. 6th Edition. Iowa State Press 2008 Physiology Medicine of Cats 5 Textbook of Veterinary Physiology. Cunningham JG, Klein BG (eds) 4th Edition. Saunders Elsevier, St Louis. 2007 Textbook of Medical Physiology. Guyton AC and Hall JE (eds), 11th Edition. Elsevier Saunders. 2005 JOURNALS Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association Journal of Small Animal Practice Veterinary Clinics North America-Small Animal Practice Compendium of Continuing Education for the Practising Veterinarian Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association Veterinary Record WEBSITES Veterinary Information Network www.vin.com Case studies in cardiology www.vmth.ucdavis.edu/Cardio/cases/ Medline www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed FURTHER INFORMATION For further information contact The College Office. Medicine of Cats 6