(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