Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Part A (VETS90076)

Part A and Part B of this subject aim to equip students with a thorough understanding of the principles of veterinary clinical and professional practice, and the range of diseases that affect domestic and wild animal species, such that they are prepared for their transition to the final year of clinic-based teaching (DVM4).

In addition, students successfully completing this subject will have demonstrated competency in a designated list of clinical skills.

Students complete Part A and Part B of this subject should achieve the following specific learning outcomes:

• Understand the diagnostic process Be able to perform a major body systems assessment of an animal Know how to maintain adequate patient records Demonstrate how to use personal protective equipment Be able to assess pain in animals and provide appropriate analgesia Be able to evaluate, prepare and premedicate a patient for general anaesthesia Know how to use anaesthetic machines and circuits Be able to induce general anaesthesia safely and monitor an anasethestised small and large animal patient Know how to respond to anaesthetic emergencies Understand the principles of fluid therapy and be capable of selecting and administering such therapy appropriately Know the principles of acute resuscitative fluid therapy Know how to diagnose and treat shock Understand the rpinciples of treatment of sepsis Understand the principles of surgery, asepsis and surgical instrument sterilisation Know how to use surgical instruments, sutures and biomaterials and acheive haemostasis during surgery Understand the principles of an exploratyr laparotomy Know the principles of radiation safety Know how to use an X-ray machine, assess image quality and rectify technical faultys Know how to interpret radiographs and contrast studies Understand the principles of ultrasonography and advanced imaging techniques Be able to interpret haematology and biochemistry panels and ancillary clinical pathology tests accurately Be able to perform fine needle aspiration and understand the basics of cytological interpretation Be able to recognise common parastici agents and provide accurate advice on anthelmintic therapy in domestic animals Know how to perform a comprehensive post mortom examination of the domestic animal species, recognise and interpret gross lesions, and collect speciments for ancillary diagnostic tests Know how to appropriately prescribe antibiotics in veterinary practice Understand the principles of treatment of intosications Understand the principles of identifying toxic plants Know vaccination protocols for small and large domestic animal species Understand the principles of diagnosis and staging of neoplasms and of medical and surgical therapy for tumours Know how to approach common behaviourial problems in domestic animals Understand the link between domestic violence and animal abuse Be able to recommend appropriate nutrition for small animals and provide appropriate advice to owners of obese animals Be aware of the potential for zoonotic disease and take apprpirate precautions Understand the principles of euthansia and know how to respond to animal injuries en masse in a disaster
• Understand the common equine diseases and diagnostic procedures Be able to carry out a thorough and safe physical examination of horses Be able to conduct a thorough and logical clinical investigation, based on the presenting signs, interpret the findings and arrive at an accurate diagnosis Be able to provide adequate treatment for all problems commonly encountered in horses and related species Know how to castrate a horse competently Know how to implement appropriate prevention strategies for the common diseases of horses Know how to deal with a suspected case of an equine infections disease such as salmonellosis or strangles, an exotic infections disease such as equine influenze, and a zoonotic disease such as Hendra virus
• Be familar with breed and behavioural characteristics of dogs and cats Be able to carry out a thorough and safe physical examination of dogs and cats Possess essential information of the diseases of dogs and cats to approach a diagnosis on the basis of epidemiological data, clinical history, physical examination findings and clinical signs in an individual animal or group of animals Be able to recommend appropriate ancillary tests to reach a definitive diagnosis and accurately prognosticate in dogs and cats Be able to interpret the results of laboratory tests in making a diagnosis in a dog or a cat Be able to devise appropriate forms of therapy or management of diesase in dogs and cats and be able to devise strategies for prevention and control of the same Be aware of the public health implications of zoonoses of dogs and cats
• Ascertain if the welfare of sheep, goats, deer or camelids is compromised Perform a thorough physical examination of a sheep, goat, deer and camelid Suggest a list of differential diagnoses, in descending order of probability, from the history, epidemology, clinical signs and/or lesions observed in individual sheep, goats, deer or camelids, or in flocks of these animals Submit appropriate samples for laboratory testing and interpret the test results for diseases and production limiting conditions that affect sheep, goats, deer and camelids Demonstrate competence in the analysis of farm financial performance and of animal health and production records Design a prevention program for diseases and production limiting conditions that commonly affect sheep, goats, deer and camelids Develop a disease control program that includes a realistic prognosis, treatment advice, consideration of chemical residues, and (for the commercial flocks) an econoomic apprasial of the proposed program
• Collect a history and epidemological information of relevance to an individual diseased cow or herd Perform a thorough clinical examination of all body systems of a cow Suggest a reasonable diagnosis and differential diagnoses from the history, epidemiology, clinical signs and lesions observed in an individal cow or herd of cattle Recommend appropirate ancillary laboratory tests, submit a detailed request for a laboratory examination, and interpret the results of the laboratory reports Specify appropriate therapy or other course of action Provide the owner with a prognosis Advise the owner of the appropriate withholding periods for milk or of the animal from slaughter when antibiotics, drugs or chemicals are administered or applied Explain to the owner the economic costs of the disease Recommend measures to control a disease in a cow herd or other population Recommend measures to prevent a disease from occurring Prepare a written report for the owner or attendant, or a referring veterinarian Demonstrate competence in the anaysis of records of production, health and reproductive performance of cattle herds Present clinical case material in a professional manner
• Be aware of the management and welfare issues associated with the keeping of poultry and aviary birds Be able to perform a thorough physical examination of a chicken or other bird species Be aware of the variety of diseases affecting poultry and aviary birds Understand the factors influencing outbreaks of disease in flocks and/or individual birds Be able to suggest a probable diagnosis and formulate a list of differential diagnoses from the history, epidemiology, clinical signs and gross post mortem lesions Be able to recommend appropriate ancillary tests to facilitate a definitive diagnosis and prognosis Be able to specify appropriate therapy or other course of action for affected flocks and/or individual birds Be able to recommend appropriate measures for disease control and/or prevention in flocks of birds Know the statutory regulations applicable to the husbandry, welfare, disease control and use of therapeutic substances/vaccines in poultry
• Be aware of the managment and welfare issues associated with the keeping of pigs Be able to perform a thorough phyhsical examination of a pig Be aware of the variety of diseases affecting pigs Understnad the factors influencing outbreaks of diseases in pig herds and/or individual animals Be able to suggest a probable diagnosis/differential diagnosis from the history, epidemology, clinical signs and gross post-mortem leasions Be able to recommend appropriate ancillary tests to facilitate a definative diagnosis and prognosis Be able to specify appropriate therapy or other course of action for treating affected pig herds and/or individual pigs Be able to recommend appropriate measures for disease control and/or prevention in pigs Know the statutory regulations applicable to the husbandry, welfare, disease control and use of therapeutic substances/vaccines in pigs Be aware of the major factors affecting the productivity and profitability of pig farms Be aware of new issues facing the pig industry locally, nationally and internationall that are likely to affect the way pigs are produced in Australia
• Understand the factors that influence the occurance of disease in the wild animal population Understand the principles of investigation and management of disease outbreaks in wild animal populations Understand the principles of treating wildlife in veterinary practice Be aware of the legal aspects of treating wildlife in veterinary practice Be aware of the anatomic and psychological characteristics and common diseases of Australian native mammals Know how to rear orphaned marsupials Be aware of the management and welare issues associated with the keeping of fish Be aware of the variety of diseases affecting fish Understand the factors influencing outbreaks of disease in fish Be able to suggest a probable diagnosis/differential diagnosis from the history, epidemology, clinical signs and gross post-mortom lesions Be able to recommend appropriate ancillary tests to facilitate a definitive diagnosis and prognosis Be able to specify appropriate therapy or other course of action for treating affected fish Be able to recommend appropriate measures for disease control and/or prevention in fish Know the statutory regulations applicable to the husbandry, welfare, diseas control and use of therapeutic substances/vaccines in fish Be awre of the major factors affecting the productivity and profitability of acquaculture enterprises Be familiar with the principal features of the mamgement and husbandry of small companion animals such as rabbits, rodents and reptiles, and have a thorough understanding of the welfare issues associated with keeping such animals Be able to carry out a thorough and safe physical examination of these species Be able reach a probable diagnosis or formulate a list of differential diagnoses in these species based on the history, epidemiological date, phisical examination, clinical signs and gross necropsy lesions Be able to recommend appropriate ancillary tests to reach a definitive diagnosis and accurately prognosticate in these species Be able to specify appropriate therapy in these species Be able to recommend appropriate measures for disease control and/or prevention in these species