Veterinary Technology

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• SLO 1: Relate and physically demonstrate an understanding of animal behavior, handling, training, and restraint principles with respect to domestic, farm, laboratory and non-domestic species (such as birds and reptiles).
• Describe physical restraint techniques for various species and the consequences of inappropriate restraint to both handler and animal patient.
• Explain the indications for using chemical restraint and the common drugs used for such a purpose.
• Explain the indications for euthanasia and the acceptable methods of euthanasia for a variety of species and circumstances.
• Differentiate the common behavioral disorders of dogs and cats and define appropriate treatment and/or management for these disorders.
• SLO 2: Discuss the level of training, responsibilities, legal implications and job diversity of Registered Veterinary Technicians.
• List the job tasks legally restricted to Registered Veterinary Technicians.
• Describe a spectrum of available career opportunities for a Registered Veterinary Technician.
• Explain the licensure requirements for Registered Veterinary Technicians.
• SLO 3: Demonstrate knowledge of medical terminology commonly used in the animal health care field.
• Define commonly used medical terms in veterinary medicine.
• Interpret commonly used statements from a medicolegal document such as a patient record.
• Communicate, using appropriate medical terminology, different patient medical conditions as in a hospital "rounds" environment.
• Effectively translate medical information and directions to lay people regarding animal patient disease and care.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• SLO 1: Perform duties expected of a receptionist in a veterinary office.
• Assess and interpret client needs during telephone conversations.
• Admit and discharge patients, take a medical history, maintain records and prepare appropriate documents and certificates for signature.
• Perform basic filing of medical records, radiographs, lab reports, and other documents used in veterinary practice.
• Schedule appointments for clients.
• Perform appropriate foundational computer skills including data input, information retrieval, and printing.
• Differentiate between emergency and non-emergency needs of veterinary patients based on client information.
• SLO 2: Maintain radiograph, surgery, anesthesia, laboratory, and controlled substance logs and accurately enter data.
• Assess which logs are appropriate to procedures being performed on a patient.
• SLO 3: Understand and organize work duties of personnel in a veterinary hospital.
• Formulate a plan of basic cleanliness and orderliness of a veterinary facility (including a hospital, clinic, practice, or laboratory).
• SLO 4: Use weights and measures commonly used in a veterinary facility.
• Demonstrate the operation of scales, pharmacy and laboratory balances, calibrated syringes, and other calibrated measuring devices used in a veterinary facility.
• Accurately convert between metric and U.S. standard measurements of mass, volume and length.
• SLO 5: Demonstrate knowledge of Veterinary Laws and Ethics.
• Understand relevant Veterinary Medical Board terminology and the legal limitations of a Registered Veterinary Technician in the veterinary field.
• Demonstrate understanding of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians of America (NAVTA) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) code of ethics for Veterinary Technicians and Veterinarians.
• SLO 6: Use proper veterinary medical terminology.
• Demonstrate comprehension of veterinary medical terminology.
• SLO 7: Client and co-worker relations
• Practice and demonstrate, through role play, communication techniques for effective interpersonal relationships in the workplace.
• SLO 8: Interview skills
• Discuss and practice recommended interview skills for successful outcomes.
• Discuss unsuccessful interview performances and how to improve for future interview opportunities.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• SLO 1: Describe the structural and functional organization of the animal body.
• Describe the hierarchical structure of living things.
• Explain the microscopic structure of animal cells.
• Construct a concept map that explains locations and functions of tissues within the body of animals.
• Identify organs and organ systems of an animal body by visual inspection using models, diagrams, and cadavers.
• Identify the body cavities of animals.
• SLO 2: Demonstrate the ability to use medical terminology correctly.
• Define directions on the body using anatomical terminology.
• Describe the regional anatomy of the animal body using anatomical terms.
• SLO 3: Explain the basic physiology of each body systems and relate that knowledge to the overall function of the animal body.
• Describe the functions of each organ system.
• Explain the mechanisms of metabolic reactions within the body.
• Explain the mechanism of internal communication using the nervous and endocrine systems within the body.
• SLO 4: Compare the differences in anatomy and physiology of specific organ systems among domestic animals such as ruminants, equines, and carnivores.
• Describe the structure of specific organ systems unique to domestic animals such as ruminants, equines, and carnivores.
• Explain the mechanism of digestion in ruminants, equines, and carnivores.
• SLO 5: Explain the basic principles of homeostasis related to animal body maintenance.
• Identify components of a homeostatic system.
• Analyze the differences between negative and positive feedback systems and give examples of each.
• SLO 6: Integrate the anatomical structure of different organs and organ systems by describing the topographical anatomy of specific areas of the body.
• Describe the surgical anatomy of different areas of the body.
• Explain the structures that will be affected by a specific surgical approach to an area of the body.
• Analyze what function will be disrupted by damage to a specific area of the body.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• SLO 1: Properly use and care for common veterinary laboratory equipment.
• Demonstrate proper use of a microscope, hematology analyzer, blood chemistry analyzer, centrifuge, microbiological incubator, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test kits.
• Select and maintain laboratory equipment.
• SLO 2: Evaluate and use safety procedures within a clinical veterinary laboratory setting.
• Explain the procedures utilized to handle biological specimens including body fluids, fecal material, and tissue samples.
• Describe the types and uses of protective clothing such as gloves, goggles, masks, caps, aprons and gowns required in a veterinary clinical laboratory.
• Compare and contrast the use of biohazard containers vs. sharps containers.
• SLO 3: Demonstrate knowledge of the basic biology of common veterinary parasites.
• Draw life cycles for common parasites that infect domestic animals.
• Differentiate between zoonotic and non-zoonotic parasites.
• Explain basic methods of parasite control.
• SLO 4: Accurately perform diagnostic testing for internal and external parasites.
• Properly collect diagnostic specimens for analysis (ex: urine, blood, feces, specimens for cytology).
• Perform diagnostic procedures for parasites: fecal flotation, fecal sedimentation, direct smear, and centrifugation with flotation.
• Analyze a fecal sample and identify parasite ova.
• Collect and evaluate skin scrapings.
• Perform cytologic evaluation: collect, prepare, and evaluate ear cytology
• Perform heartworm test using an antigen kit.
• Perform diagnostic procedures for parasites using the Knotts test.
• SLO 5: Culture and identify common veterinary microorganisms.
• Perform microbiologic procedures/evaluations: collect representative sample.
• Perform and interpret the results of a bacterial culture and sensitivity test.
• Culture and identify common dermatophytes.
• Identify common animal pathogens using commercially available media and reagents.
• SLO 6: Demonstrate basic knowledge of veterinary hematology.
• Identify blood cells of domestic animals.
• Prepare a blood film and stain using a variety of techniques.
• Perform a CBC including red cell count, total white cell count and absolute values, platelet estimate, packed cell volume, total protein, and hemoglobin.
• Describe the appropriate collection tubes and anticoagulants used for hematology.
• Explain how the CBC relates to disease processes in an animal.
• SLO 7: Perform blood chemistry tests (BUN, glucose, common enzymes).
• Correlate blood chemistry test results with specific organs.
• Identify the correct blood collection tubes used for chemistry analysis.
• Correlate the results of serum chemistry analysis with disease processes in an animal.
• SLO 8: Perform urinalysis.
• Describe different methods of urine collection.
• Determine physical properties of urine (e.g., color, clarity, specific gravity).
• Use urine reagent test strips to measure the chemical properties of urine samples.
• Examine and identify components of urine sediment.
• SLO 9: Demonstrate knowledge of veterinary cytology.
• Perform a direct smear and stain of cytological specimens.
• Evaluate vaginal cytology.
• Differentiate between the basic characteristics of normal cells and neoplastic cells.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• SLO 1: Apply principles of pharmacology to the utilization of drugs in the practice of veterinary medicine.
• Safely administer drugs and anesthetics while providing surgical care.
• Evaluate the status of anesthetized patients by monitoring them from the preanesthetic period through the recovery period.
• Describe the effects and contraindications of commonly used preanesthetic and anesthetic agents.
• SLO 2: Operate and perform maintenance on a gas anesthetic machine.
• Identify the components of a gas anesthetic machine and describe their function.
• Perform maintenance on a gas anesthetic machine, including breakdown and reassembly.
• SLO 3: Assist the veterinarian in surgery.
• List the names and describe the uses of surgical instruments and equipment.
• Demonstrate the protocol for using aseptic technique in the surgical environment.
• Devise a program for the disinfection and sterilization of instruments, operating room materials, and the operating room
• SLO 4: Perform nursing and technician duties involving medicating, examining, and preparing patients for surgery.
• Demonstrate collection of blood from peripheral veins.
• Demonstrate the placement of intravenous catheters in dogs and cats.
• Perform endotracheal intubation of dogs and cats.
• Perform preanesthetic evaluation of patients, including complete blood counts, serum chemistries and urinalysis.
• Suture existing skin wounds.
• Calculate drug doses and dilutions accurately.
• Perform subcutaneous, intramuscular and intravenous injections.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• SLO 1: Apply principles of animal disease and pathology in the veterinary setting.
• Describe clinical signs common to specific organ systems when diseased.
• Evaluate environmental factors that predispose patients to diseases.
• Discuss how a patient’s immune system functions in relation to disease.
• Describe features and pathogenesis of common disease agents.
• SLO 2: Assist the veterinarian in small animal disease investigation.
• Describe how to evaluate a patient by observing clinical signs.
• Take a complete medical history of small animal patient.
• Describe how to perform a complete physical examination with attention to abnormal clinical signs.
• Describe and properly record findings from physical examination in a medical record.
• Describe the effects and contraindications of commonly used disease treatments.
• Properly utilize medical terminology while describing the condition of the small animal patient.
• SLO 3: Explain how to perform basic diagnostic tests for the diagnosis of small animal disease.
• Describe common laboratory findings associated with specific disease conditions.
• List the names and describe the uses of diagnostic tests utilized for the diagnosis of infectious diseases.
• SLO 4: Develop a small animal preventive health plan.
• Devise a program for the prevention of small animal diseases for the specific patient’s environment.
• Explain how to communicate to a pet owner the disease agents which may affect the pet and for which clinical signs to observe.
• Describe common zoonotic diseases and their prevention and control within the household.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• SLO 1: List and describe common diseases and conditions of cattle, horses, sheep, goats and pigs including causes and pathogenesis of each.
• Use veterinary medical terminology to communicate concepts related to large animal diseases and herd health.
• Discuss the care of large animal patients, including husbandry, facility management, biosecurity, and disease prevention strategies.
• Explain how the interactions of the disease agent, host and environment affect health in large animal species.
• SLO 2: Explain how to assist veterinarians in large animal disease investigation and treatment.
• Explain the process of collecting a medical history of large animal patients at both the individual and herd level.
• Explain how to perform a complete physical examination of large animal patients, including observation of clinical signs and the environment.
• Describe the effects and contraindications of commonly used disease treatments.
• SLO 3: List and describe common procedures and tests used for the diagnosis of large animal disease.
• Describe common laboratory findings associated with specific large animal disease conditions.
• SLO 4: Develop a biosecurity plan for a typical large animal facility.
• Devise a program for the prevention of large animal diseases for the specific herd environment.
• SLO 5: Explain the impact of large animal diseases on public health and food safety.
• Describe common zoonotic diseases and their prevention and control within the herd.
• Explain how biosecurity and disease prevention practices in large animal facilities impact public health.
• Explain the importance of large animal disease prevention and control as it pertains to food safety.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• SLO 1: Perform routine dental prophylaxis (manual and machine).
• Demonstrate correct usage of hand scaling instruments and mechanical dental machines.
• Demonstrate correct sharpening and maintenance of hand dental instruments.
• Explain what type of damage to the patient may occur with improper usage of scaling instrumentation.
• Correctly apply polishing paste to dental surfaces.
• Examine the oral cavity of an anesthetized patient.
• SLO 2: Prepare dental radiographs of anesthetized animals.
• Utilize dental radiographic equipment to produce diagnostic intra-oral full-mouth dental radiographic images in a dog or cat
• Evaluate the technique used to obtain dental radiographs.
• SLO 3: Maintain dental records
• Perform dental charting
• SLO 4: Perform routine non-surgical extractions of teeth.
• Differentiate between surgical and non-surgical extractions.
• Demonstrate correct techniques for non-surgical extraction of teeth.
• SLO 5: Discuss home dental care for animals with clients.
• Prepare a written home care plan for a client.
• Discuss home care in a "mock" client situation.
• SLO 6: Demonstrate knowledge of the anatomy and nomenclature of canine, feline and equine dentition.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• SLO 1: Discuss techniques for collection, handling, and evaluation of bone marrow samples in veterinary patients.
• Describe the process of hematopoiesis including the cellular characteristics and maturation sequence of blood cell precursors.
• Describe techniques used to collect and store bone marrow samples.
• Identify instruments used for bone marrow collection.
• SLO 2: Compare hematological differences between healthy and diseased animals.
• Perform microscopic exam of blood film: perform leukocyte differential and correct white blood cell counts for nucleated cells.
• Perform microscopic exam of blood film: estimate platelet numbers and describe platelet morphology.
• Perform microscopic exam of blood film: evaluate erythrocyte morphology – normal vs abnormal. Calculate erythrocyte indices.
• Perform coagulation tests.
• SLO 3: Perform blood chemistry tests (BUN, glucose, common enzymes) and identify abnormalities.
• SLO 4: Operate an electrocardiograph to produce an ECG tracing.
• Recognize common arrhythmias on an ECG.
• Identify abnormalities on an ECG tracing, and correlate abnormalities with physical symptoms of cardiac conditions in a veterinary patient.
• SLO 5: Apply and care for bandages, casts, and splints in veterinary patients.
• List and describe the use of various casting, bandaging and splinting materials and techniques.
• Apply and remove bandages and splints..
• Discuss wound healing and demonstrate wound management and abscess care techniques.
• SLO 6: Recognize and respond to veterinary medical emergencies.
• Recognize and respond appropriately to patients in compromised states.
• Describe the causes, diagnosis and treatment of shock and explain the care of a recumbent patient.
• Describe the principles of basic life support (BLS), first aid and emergency care.
• Describe the administration and monitoring of IV fluid therapy including infusion rates, fluid delivery systems and monitoring patient hydration status.
• Describe indications for, methods of, and risks associated with oxygen therapy.
• Apply established emergency protocols: perform first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation including use of a resuscitation bag.
• Apply established emergency protocols: maintain emergency medical supplies/crash cart.
• Prioritize treatment of specific emergency conditions given a list of problems commonly seen in a veterinary setting.
• SLO 7: Demonstrate ability to perform advanced veterinary nursing techniques.
• Administer enteral medications: gastric intubation (dog or cat).
• Collect urine sample: catheterize male dog.
• Collect urine sample: collect voided urine sample (dog or cat).
• Collect urine sample: perform cystocentesis (dog or cat).
• Maintain and operate a ventilator.
• Perform critical care: collect and crossmatch blood for transfusion.
• Perform critical care: perform blood transfusions (autotransfusion).
• Collect/evaluate skin scrapings.
• Perform ocular diagnostic tests including tonometry, fluorescein staining and Schirmer tear test.
• Demonstrate understanding of nursing care of newborn and orphan animals.
• Understand and identify substances that when ingested result in toxicity: be familiar with substances and common poisonous plants that cause toxicity
• SLO 8: Identify and respond to anesthetic emergencies including hypovolemia, hypotension, hypertension, cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest, hypothermia, and hyperthermia.
• SLO 9: Understand energy and nutrient requirements of dogs and cats.
• Understand life stage energy and nutrient requirements of well dogs and cats.
• Understand key nutritional factors in disease conditions
• Be familiar with therapeutic foods.
• Understand current developments in nutritional supplements and additives including benefits and potential toxicities.
• SLO 10: Demonstrate common skills required in the veterinary hospital.
• Demonstrate understanding of therapeutic bathing, basic grooming, and dipping of dogs or cats
• Perform nail trim, anal sac expression, and ear cleaning and medication.
• Place, maintain and care for intravenous catheters (saphenous).
• Administer subcutaneous fluids.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• SLO 1: Produce diagnostic radiographs of dogs, cats, birds, small mammals and reptiles.
• Measure and position animals for radiographs using anatomical landmarks.
• Choose an appropriate radiographic technique to produce a diagnostic image.
• Utilize radiographic equipment to produce a latent image.
• Perform radiographic contrast studies.
• Perform radiographic techniques to screen for canine hip dysplasia.
• SLO 2: Analyze radiographic images for diagnostic quality.
• Critique image quality based on proper positioning and radiographic technique.
• Demonstrate ability to offer solutions to correct deficiencies in non-diagnostic radiographic images.
• Recognize radiographic artifacts and cause of artifacts.
• SLO 3: Implement radiation safety measures to minimize radiation exposure to personnel and to the patient.
• Properly use portable and stationary radiography equipment.
• Recognize faulty equipment.
• Properly use radiographic personal protective equipment.
• Demonstrate an understanding of radiation laws and regulations.
• SLO 4: Implement radiation quality control measures.
• Demonstrate proper maintenance protocols for imaging equipment.
• Properly complete radiation logs, files and records.
• Properly label, file and store films.
• SLO 5: Demonstrate understanding of other diagnostic imaging techniques.
• Understand the use of ultrasound and demonstrate how to prepare an animal for an ultrasound procedure.
• Understand basic knowledge of the function and appropriate use of other modalities including fluoroscopy, MRI, CT and PET.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• SLO1: Provide safe, humane, and effective nursing care for horses, small ruminants, cattle, and swine.
• Perform techniques for medication administration in horses, small ruminants, cattle, and swine including oral, intramuscular, and intravenous administration.
• Explain techniques for and complications of intravenous catheterization, nasogastric intubation, dystocia management, and anesthesia administration in horses, small ruminants, cattle, and swine.
• Describe procedures to maintain fluid therapy in horses, small ruminants, cattle, and swine.
• Apply basic tail and leg wraps in equine species.
• Compare and contrast methods of restraint for horses, small ruminants, cattle, and swine.
• Demonstrate restraint techniques and the equipment for the restraint of horses, small ruminants, cattle, and swine.
• Describe ruminant dehorning methods and equipment.
• Describe the use of common obstetrical equipment in livestock species.
• Compare and contrast various tranquilizing and anesthetic techniques and protocols for horses, small ruminants, cattle, and swine.
• Describe common disease states requiring specialized nursing care for horses, small ruminants, cattle, and swine.
• Describe common husbandry practices for horses, small ruminants, cattle, and swine.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• SLO1: Students will explain the laws that affect working with and maintaining laboratory animals.
• Differentiate and identify local, state and federal laws and statutes regulating animal use.
• Describe the use of animals in laboratory research, including legal requirements and accreditation organizations.
• SLO2: Students will be able to explain and identify acceptable and appropriate laboratory animal housing.
• Distinguish common research facility cages and devices including environmental enrichment designs.
• Describe how a consistent environment is maintained in facility rooms and animal cages within a research or educational facility.
• Evaluate and identify proper cleaning and disinfection of rooms, cages and equipment.
• Describe and employ the principles of sanitization, disinfection and sterilization for a variety of items, cages and other equipment.
• SLO3: Students identify appropriate AVMA approved euthanasia protocol for laboratory animal species.
• Describe the principles and methods of AVMA and IACUC approved humane euthanasia for a variety of lab animal, reptile and bird species.
• SLO4: Students will identify and discuss organ systems and anatomy of rodent, lagomorph, avian and reptile species.
• Identify and describe the basic organ systems and comparative anatomy of mice, rats, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, snakes, turtles, lizards and birds.
• Demonstrate proper handling, restraint, medicating and sexing and management of common laboratory animals, reptiles and caged birds.
• SLO5: Students calculate and administer accurately calculated drugs to laboratory animal species
• Assemble appropriate equipment and administer intravenous, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous and intramuscular injections to laboratory animals, reptiles and birds.
• Assess appropriate vessel access for successful venipuncture and perform blood sample collection.
• Describe common nursing care and sample collection procedures.
• Collect blood samples from laboratory animals, reptiles and birds from a variety of vessels.
• SLO6: Students safely and humanely anesthetize rodents and lagomorphs for basic procedures.
• Weigh animals and convert measurements and dosages to metric values.
• Calculate drug dosages.
• Assess, monitor and successfully recover a variety of animal species from anesthesia and medical procedures.
• Accurately perform pre and post-anesthetic exams and record exam findings.
• Detect normal and abnormal responses to anesthesia and respond appropriately.
• SLO7: Students develop disease recognition, prevention and treatment including zoonotic and infectious diseases.
• Recognize and distinguish contagious, nutritional, environmental, congenital and zoonotic diseases for lab animals, reptiles and birds.
• Describe appropriate husbandry for laboratory mammals and discuss preventative health strategies.
• Maintain disease prevention with proper husbandry and cleaning practices.
• Discuss appropriate medical or surgical management of these diseases, including pharmacological agents employed and specific laboratory tests used for diagnosis.
• SLO8: Students identify and describe unique nutritional requirements for laboratory animal, avian and reptile species.
• Define the basic concepts of nutrition and food types as pertinent to laboratory species, reptiles and birds.
• SLO9: Students identify the role of the veterinary technician in successful operation of a laboratory animal facility or research center.
• Describe the role of the Registered Veterinary Technician in laboratory animal medicine.
• Discuss the veterinary technician's role in facilities management.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• SLO #1: Actively engage in intellectual inquiry beyond that required in order to pass a course of study (College Wide Learning Outcome – Area 4).
• Discuss and outline a proposal of study (that can be accomplished within one semester term) with a supervising instructor qualified within the discipline.
• Design an independent study (to be completed individually or by collaboration of a small group) to foster special knowledge, skills, and experience that are not available in any one regularly scheduled course.
• Use information resources to gather discipline-specific information.
• SLO #2: Utilize modes of analysis and critical thinking to apply theoretical perspectives and/or concepts in the major discipline of study to significant problems and/or educational activities (College Wide Learning Outcome – Area 3).
• Analyze and apply the knowledge, skills and experience that are involved in the independent study to theoretical perspectives and/or concepts in the major discipline of study.
• Explain the importance of the major discipline of study in the broader picture of society.
• SLO #3: Communicate a complex understanding of content matter of the major discipline of study (College Wide Outcome – Area 3).
• Demonstrate competence in the skills essential to mastery of the major discipline of study that are necessary to accomplish the independent study.
• SLO #4: Identify personal goals and pursue these goals effectively (College Wide Outcome – Area 4).
• Utilize skills from the “academic tool kit” including time management, study skills, etc., to accomplish the independent study within one semester term.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• SLO #1 DEMONSTRATE AN UNDERSTANDING AND APPLICATION OF PROFESSIONAL WORKPLACE BEHAVIOR IN A FIELD OF STUDY RELATED ONE’S CAREER.
• Understand the effects time, stress, and organizational management have on performance.
• Demonstrate an understanding of consistently practicing ethics and confidentiality in a workplace.
• Examine the career/life planning process and relate its relevance to the student.
• Demonstrate an understanding of basic communication tools and their appropriate use.
• Demonstrate an understanding of workplace etiquette.
• SLO #2 DESCRIBE THE CAREER/LIFE PLANNING PROCESS AND RELATE ITS RELEVANCY TO ONE'S CAREER.
• Link personal goals to long term achievement.
• Display an understanding of creating a professional first impression.
• Understand how networking is a powerful job search tool.
• Understand necessary elements of a résumé.
• Understand the importance of interview preparation.
• Identify how continual learning increases career success.
• SLO #3 DEMONSTRATE APPLICATION OF INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE AND THEORETICAL CONCEPTS AS WRITTEN IN LEARNING OBJECTIVES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EMPLOYER WORK SITE SUPERVISOR.