Eastern Region PA FFA will be hosting their Small Animal/Vet Skills CDE on
Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at 9:30 am at the Manheim Fairgrounds. Details and
registration for the event will be available in mid-March. As I receive information, I’ll
pass it along. The first place team in this event will represent New Jersey at the Big E in
September. Below are the guidelines for the event. A steering committee will be meeting
next week to refine parts of the CDE.
Pennsylvania FFA Small Animal / Vet Skills CDE
(Revised as per 11-29-06 meeting at Newport H.S.)
This CDE is designed for those students who have an occupational interest in veterinary
medicine and small animals. The knowledge and skills for this competition are those that
these students would be expected to be familiar with. This knowledge and skill would
also be useful for students who may be working in laboratory animal research, the pet
trade or just interested in their own pet.
Competition Format:
1. Each student will individually complete a written test - 50 questions - multiple
choice, (NO True or false questions or matching questions will be used) (worth 2 points
each) on care, nutrition, welfare, new technologies, careers and terminology relating to
small animals and veterinary medicine. The majority of these questions will deal with
the most common species used in biomedical research as well as those small species most
commonly seen by veterinarians. Topics that may be covered include breeding, litter
size, caging and housing, normal behavior, cleaning and sanitation, nutrition, diseases
and parasites, gestation periods, breeds (etc), immunization, medical procedures, etc.
Species most commonly used / seen – dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, rats,
hamsters, gerbils.
Exotic species (<20% of the questions) – birds, reptiles and amphibians, ferrets,
chinchillas, general aquarium fish.
2. Each student will complete a breed identification practicum. Students will view 75
slides, pictures, etc ID will be worth 2 points per answer.
Major species - dogs, cats, rabbits, rats, mice, guinea pigs
Minor species – ferrets, birds, chinchillas, hedgehogs, snakes, turtles, iguana, lizards,
other amphibians, gerbils, hamsters, fish.
All species to be ID’ed will be listed in an addendum
3. Team Problem Solving Activity (250 points)
The team of four (4) members will work together to solve a problem as if they were
employed in the small animal / veterinary medicine field. The team will be given a predetermined amount of time to solve the problem. They will present their answer to a
judge (panel of judges). The team will be graded on group dynamics, presentation and
knowledge. A theme for each year will be announced by February 1 of each year. Most
themes will deal with the economics and customer service aspects of veterinary medicine
and small animal laboratory research.
4. Annual practicums. Equipment and Materials Identification and Parasitology
Identification practicums will be included in the competition every year. Students will
complete these practicums as individuals. Each of these practicums will be worth 50
points.
5. A minimum of 2 additional practicums will be used each year. Students will complete
practicums on
an individual basis. Each practicum will be worth 50 points.
Practicums will be selected from the
following list on a rotating basis. Two
practicums from the list for the year will be selected. Based upon time constraints, 2
students from the team may do one practicum while the other 2 members of the team may
do the second practicum.
2007 Practicum List – Surgical Procedures:
A. Surgical gowning and gloving
B. Folding a gown
C. Wrapping a gown
D. Folding a drape
E. Putting together a tray for a specific purpose
F. Surgical Patient Preparation
Team Activity Topic- Purchasing the right pet
2008 Practicum List – Office Management Procedures:
A. Fill out a medical record chart
B. Take pertinent information on a pet from a client using the phone and make
an appointment
C. Dosage calculations
D. Customer relations – verbal
2009 Practicum List – Clinical Procedures:
A. Sexing animals
B. Properly fill a syringe and fill it with a medication (a simulated medicine
will be used)
And inject a piece of fruit.
C. Apply & remove a muzzle restraint
D. Animal restraint – ex. For a blood draw
E. Set up a microscope for a fecal flotation.
5. LIVE ANIMALS may be used in this competition for some of the practicums.
6. Individual scores will be composed of the total of a student’s test score, breed
ID score and practicum
scores. Team placings will be the total of the four
individual scores plus the team activity score.
Individual placings: Test score ……………………….100 points
Breed ID ………………………..150 points
Annual practicums – 2@50 pts… 100 pints
Practicums – 2 @ 50 points …...100 points
TOTAL
450 points
Team Placings: 4 team members @ 450 points ……….1800 points
Team problem @ 250 points …………..250 points
TOTAL
2050 points