Lecture: 2 hours/week
and
Lab or Field Experience: 2 hours/week
Learning activities may include online video lectures, written assignments, discussion board, classroom activities such as case studies, student presentations, poster sessions and interactive flipped-classroom group work.
Practical skills will be taught using pre-lab videos, video and instructor evaluations, on-site dry labs and live animal instruction at farms and large animal veterinary facilities. The mandatory field experience for the live animal labs takes place off-site and students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the lab location.
Breed recognition
- equine, bovine and small ruminant breeds
General nursing skills
- stress-free handling and restraint
- twitches, halters, chutes
- complete physical examination, including assessment of vital signs, body condition score, hydration and thoracic and abdominal auscultation
Large animal procedures
- hoof care and grooming
- permanent identification
- oral medication administration
- injection sites, administration of injectable drugs and venipuncture
- equine leg wraps, wound care and bandaging
- disbudding and dehorning
- regional nerve blocks for lameness assessment
Large animal husbandry and healthcare
- biosecurity and housing
- preventative healthcare programs and herd health targets
- vaccination protocols and administration of vaccines, dewormers and other medications
- respiratory syndromes, lameness, colic, peri-parturient diseases and other common conditions
- equine nutritional needs and disease prevention
- nutritional requirements for dairy and beef cattle, with emphasis on feeding for different types of production
- feeding recommendations for pigs, poultry, sheep and goats
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- demonstrate equine and ruminant essential skills designated by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, using live animals;
- recognize common breeds of equines and ruminants;
- safely handle and restrain equines and ruminants;
- perform husbandry care for equines and ruminants;
- observe biosecurity protocols;
- perform physical examinations of equines and ruminants including vital signs, auscultation and body condition score;
- complete medical records for equines and ruminants;
- safely perform procedures in equines and ruminants, such as medication administration, bandaging and venipuncture;
- discuss wound care as it applies to large animal species;
- discuss appropriate analgesia and common anesthetic techniques used in equines and ruminants;
- develop preventative healthcare programs, including vaccination schedules, for both equines and production animals;
- discuss the nutritional needs of equines, and the food types and feeding methods used in equine nutrition;
- discuss and compare the nutritional needs of, and feeding methods for, ruminants (for milk, wool and meat production), pigs and poultry.
Assessment will be in accordance with the °µÍø51 Evaluation Policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester.
In order to achieve a grade of C (or higher) in the course, students must:
- achieve a final minimum grade of 60% in each of the lecture and lab components of the course
- demonstrate competency (a performance of 60% or higher) in an evaluation of each of the assigned essential skills
- attend a minimum of 80% of the scheduled labs
Evaluation will be based on:
Lab evaluations: 10-40% (no single evaluation worth more than 10%)
Assignments: 10-40% (no assignment worth more than 20%)
Quizzes: 0-20% (no quiz worth more than 10%)
Term test(s): 10-20%
Final examination(s): 30-40%
Total: 100%
Consult the °µÍø51 Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials. Required textbooks and materials may include:
- J.M. Bassert, A.D. Beal. (Current Edition) McCurnin's Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians. Pub Elsevier.
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