Course description
In this course, students take part in a two-week practicum placement in a small animal hospital. Students practice and are evaluated on veterinary technology skills, such as dog and cat restraint, medication administration, venipuncture, intravenous catheter placement, urine collection and bandaging.
Course content
Workplace and client communications
- verbal communications
- written communications
Pharmacy procedures
- over the counter, prescription and controlled drugs
- dispensing practice
Restraint & physical examination
Laboratory procedures
- sample handling and laboratory submissions
- blood glucose, packed cell volume and total protein
- urinalysis
- ear and skin cytology
Small animal nursing
- record keeping
- medication administration
- ear cleaning
- anal gland expression
- nail trimming
- bathing
Small animal procedures
- blood and urine collection
- sample collection for ear and skin cytology
- intravenous catheter placement
- administration of fluids
Learning activities
Methods of evaluation may include written assignments, clinic evaluations, practical (essential skills) evaluations, case studies and online blog or discussion board posts.
Means of assessment
Assessment will be in accordance with the ÌÇÐÄvlog´«Ã½Evaluation Policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester.
Students will receive a complete (Mastery) grade upon successful completion of at least 80% of the 80 hours of practicum, submission of all required practicum evaluations and assignments and a satisfactory evaluation of skills competencies.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- safely and competently perform dog and cat essential skills as designated by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association;
- communicate with clients by phone or email and in person;
- accurately dispense medications according to Veterinarian instructions;
- accurately complete medical records;
- safely perform patient restraint and physical examinations;
- administer medications by mouth, topically and/or parenterally according to veterinarian instructions;
- provide routine husbandry care to dogs and cats such as kennel cleaning, laundry and feeding;
- perform routine nursing procedures such as nail trims, ear cleaning and anal gland expression;
- safely collect an appropriate volume of blood and/or urine from dogs and/or cats;
- correctly handle and prepare feces, urine and/or blood samples for submission to the laboratory;
- accurately complete laboratory requisition forms;
- safely place an intravenous catheter;
- perform routine in-house laboratory procedures such as measurement of blood glucose, packed cell volume and total protein, urinalysis and cytology.
Note: some skills listed above may be evaluated in subsequent courses such as VTEC 2304.
Textbook materials
Consult the ÌÇÐÄvlog´«Ã½Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials