Ratified July 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 Section 2 of 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 listed in section 2 at
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.
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Knowledge levels:
Detailed knowledge — candidates must be able to demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the topic
including differing points of view and published literature. The highest level of knowledge.
Sound knowledge — candidate must know all of the principles of the topic including some of the finer
detail, and be able to identify areas where opinions may diverge. A middle level of knowledge.
Basic knowledge — candidate must know the main points of the topic and the core literature
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2. The candidate will have a basic knowledge of:
2.1. feline anatomy, physiology, nutrition and reproduction
2.2. pharmacology and chemotherapy
2.3. disorders of behaviour, skin, eyes and reproduction
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 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
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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.
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5.1.7. routine radiography
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 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 and aspiration.
EXAMINATIONS
For information on the required standard and format for both the Written and Oral
examinations, candidates are referred to Sections 3, 10 and 11 of 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 Learning
Outcomes listed earlier. The time allowed for this examination is one (1) 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
August JR, editor. Consultations in feline internal medicine. 5th and 6th edns. Elsevier
Saunders, St Louis 2006 and 2010 respectively.
Chandler EA, Gaskell CJ & Gaskell RM, editors. Feline medicine and therapeutics.
3rd edn. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, 2004.
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Sherding RG, editor. The cat — diseases and clinical management. Vols 1–2. 2nd edn.
Churchill Livingstone, New York, 1994.
The cat — diseases and clinical management. Vols 1–2, 2nd edn, 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 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).
Core Journals
Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
Other Journals
Australian Veterinary Journal
Australian Veterinary Practitioner
ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION
TEXTBOOKS
General Medicine
Bonagura JD, editor. Kirk’s current veterinary therapy. Saunders, Philadelphia. Recent
issues: XIII (2000) and XIV (2008).
Ettinger SJ & Feldman EC, editors. Textbook of veterinary internal medicine. Vols 1–2.
6th edn. Saunders, Philadelphia, 2004 and later editions when available.
Nelson RW & Couto CG, editors. Small animal internal medicine. 4th edn. (when
available; 2009) and 3rd edn. Mosby, St Louis, 2003.
Cardiology
Fox PR & Sisson D. Textbook of canine and feline cardiology: principles and clinical
practice. 2nd edn. Saunders, Philadelphia, 1999.
Kittleson MD & Kienle RD. Small animal cardiovascular medicine. Mosby, St Louis,
1998.
Dermatology
Guaguère E & Prelaud P, editors. A practical guide to feline dermatology. Merial, 2000.
Scott DW, Miller WH & Griffin CE, editors. Muller & Kirk’s small animal
dermatology. 6th edn. Saunders, Philadelphia, 2001.
Endocrinology
Feldman EC & Nelson RW, editors. Canine and feline endocrinology and reproduction.
3rd edn. Saunders, St Louis, 2004.
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Gastroenterology
Hall EJ, Simpson JW & Williams DA, editors. BSAVA manual of canine and feline of
gastroenterology. 2nd edn. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, 2005.
Immunology
Day MJ. Clinical immunology of the dog and cat. 2nd edn. Manson Publishing, London,
2008.
Infectious Diseases
Greene CE, editor. Infectious diseases of the dog and cat. 3rd edn. Saunders,
Philadelphia, 2006.
Neurology
DeLahunta A & Glass E.Veterinary neuroanatomy and clinical neurology. 3rd edn.
Saunders Elsevier, St Louis, 2009.
Oliver JE, Lorenz MD & Kornegay JN, editors. Handbook of veterinary neurology.
4th edn. Saunders, Philadelphia, 2004.
Nutrition
Case LP, Carey DP, Hirakawa DA & Daristotle L. Canine and feline nutrition.
2nd edn. Mosby, St Louis, 2000.
Oncology
Ogilvie GK & Moore AS, editors. Feline oncology: a comprehensive guide to
compassionate care. Veterinary Learning Systems, Trenton, 2001.
Withrow SJ & Vail DM. Small animal clinical oncology. 4th edn. Saunders,
Philadelphia, 2006.
Pathology (Clinical)
Latimer KS, Mahaffey EA & Prasse KW.Duncan & Prasse’s veterinary laboratory
medicine. 4th edn. Iowa State Press, 2003.
Pharmacology
Maddison JE, Page SW & Church D. Small animal clinical pharmacology. 2nd edn.
Saunders, Edinburgh, 2008.
Plumb DC. Veterinary drug handbook. 6th edn. Iowa State Press, 2008.
Physiology
Cunningham JG & Klein BG, editors. Textbook of veterinary physiology. 4th edn.
Saunders Elsevier, St Louis, 2007.
Guyton AC & Hall JE, editors. Textbook of medical physiology. 11th edn. Elsevier
Saunders, 2005.
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JOURNALS
Compendium of Continuing Education for the Practising Veterinarian
Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Journal of Small Animal Practice
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Veterinary Clinics North America — Small Animal Practice
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
Telephone:
International +61 (07) 3423 2016
Fax:
International +61 (07) 3423 2977
Email:
acvs@gil.com.au
Web:
www.acvs.org.au
Postal Address :
Building 3, Garden City Office Park, 2404 Logan Road
EIGHT MILE PLAINS QLD 4113 Australia
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