Animal Behaviour and Welfare
Overview
Enrolment is limited to students in the Veterinary Technology Program.
The major topics in this course include the following:
- Normal behaviour for companion animals.
- Minimizing stress for patients during hospital visits and stays (calming signals, non-confrontational behaviours).
- Body language in communication in both small and large animal species.
- Review puppy and kitten basic training methods.
- Causes, signs and treatment of common behaviour problems in companion animals.
- An overview of behaviour modifying medications and aids.
- Animal welfare including animal neglect and abuse, issues in domestic animal husbandry and cosmetic surgery of companion animals.
- Workplace ethics, scope of practice, euthanasia and methods of resolving ethical problems.
This course includes three hours of classroom instruction and laboratory activity per week.
The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. A final minimum cumulative grade of “C” or 60% is required (in both lecture and lab components) in order to pass this course. Evaluation will be based on quizzes and assignments, practical evaluations including a final practical examination, at least one midterm and a final written examination.
Upon successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
- Read the body language of companion animals as it pertains to safe handling, case management and client education.
- Discuss influences on the development of behavioural traits in companion animals.
- Describe and implement training techniques to prevent common problem behaviours in companion animals.
- Apply scientifically based principles to the prevention and treatment of behaviour problems in companion animals.
- Implement techniques to treat or manage common behaviour problems in companion animals.
- Discuss animal ethics and welfare.
A list of required and optional textbooks and materials is provided for students at the beginning of each semester.
Requisites
Prerequisites
Successful completion of Year 1 of the Veterinary/Animal Health Technology Program
Corequisites
None
Equivalencies
None
Course Guidelines
Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.
Course Transfers
These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca
Institution | Transfer Details for VTEC 2110 | |
---|---|---|
There are no applicable transfer credits for this course. |