Course Description
This course covers many aspects of large animal veterinary technology. Topics include handling and restraint, husbandry, comparative anatomy, medical procedures, surgical procedures and preventative medicine of equines, ruminants, porcines and camelids.
Course Content
1. Large animal handling and restraint
- normal and abnormal behaviour
- physical examination and vital sign monitoring
- overall body condition evaluation with regard to disease states
2. Large animal husbandry
- neonatal care and neonatal diseases
- good husbandry practice including housing, nutrition and preventative health programs
- practical aspects of hoof care and trimming and grooming techniques
3. Large animal anatomy and physiology
- directional, positional and common anatomical terms
- major body systems and organs
- general organ function and associated significant clinical signs
4. Large animal anesthesia and surgical assistance
- adequate analgesia-anesthesia and humane treatment with regard to patient comfort
- large animal preparation prior to surgery
- special considerations unique to large animal surgery
- injection sites, administration of injectables, and venipuncture
5. Large animal preventative medicine
- aspects of individual and herd health
- blood testing and common laboratory techniques
- vaccination protocols and administration of vaccines, dewormers and other medications
- respiratory syndromes, lameness, colic, peri-parturient diseases and other common conditions
6. Large animal nutrition
- equine life stage 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
Learning Activities
The lecture component 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. The lab-based instruction may include pre-lab videos, video and instructor evaluations, on-site dry labs and off-site live animal instruction at farms and large animal veterinary facilities. Students are required to rotate through weekend duties at local farms.
Means of Assessment
Evaluations will be carried out in accordance with Douglas College Evaluation Policy. 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 progress in the Veterinary Technology program.
Evaluation will be based on the following:
Lab Assessments 20-50% (no assessment worth >25%)
Assignments 20-50% (no assignment worth >25%)
Midterm 10-20%
Final Examination 20-40%
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, successful students will be able to:
- Safely handle and restrain equines and ruminants.
- Discuss husbandry principles, health maintenance and welfare of equines, ruminants, porcines and camelids.
- Describe the basic anatomy and physiology of the above species, emphasizing relevant practical aspects.
- Discuss wound care as it applies to large animal species, and perform appropriate bandaging techniques.
- Discuss appropriate analgesia and common anesthetic techniques used in the large animal species.
- Develop programs to promote preventative medicine in both equines and food animals.
- Review the nutritional needs of equines and discuss variations in feeding methods used in equine nutrition.
- Assess forages and grains for type and quality.
- Discuss and compare the basic nutritional needs and feeding methods of dairy and beef cattle.
- Discuss the nutritional needs and feeding methods of pigs, poultry, sheep and goats.
Textbook Materials
Consult the Douglas College Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials.