Veterinary Technology

In this course, students learn the fundamentals of basic animal behaviour. Learners explore typical and atypical canine and feline behaviours as well as supportive behavioural modification techniques, including pharmacological intervention. Large animal behavioural issues and environmental enrichment are also discussed.

This combined lecture/laboratory course studies anatomical features and physiological functions for the following systems in mammals, avians, reptiles, and amphibians: endocrine, muscular, skeletal, nervous, cardiovascular, digestive, urogenital, respiratory, lymphatic, and integumentary.

This course is an introduction to the responsibilities of the veterinary technologist in a small animal practice. Areas of study include: record-keeping, vaccination, parasite control, pet identification, physical examination, whelping and neonatal care.

In this course, students learn the definitions and uses of professional language used in the field. Learners will explore word parts and develop the ability to determine the meaning of frequently used veterinary terms. Students practice the use of professional language in workplace conversations/contexts.

This course is designed to provide the necessary scientific mathematical skills for students in the first semester of Veterinary Technology and Medical Laboratory Science programs. Biological and laboratory applications are emphasized with topics including: use of a scientific calculator, conversion of units, calculation of drug dosages, solutions, dilutions and nutritional requirements, dimensional analysis, absorption calculations, graphing of data, linear regression techniques and the use of algebra and logarithms in laboratory calculations and formulas.

This is a combined lecture/laboratory course dealing with the biology and identification of animal parasites (including arthropods, protozoa and helminths) and fungal parasites of veterinary importance. Emphasis is placed on the life cycles, laboratory diagnosis and control of these common parasites.

In this theory and laboratory course, learners use a systems approach to explore animal anatomy and physiology. In this course, students learn how body systems are controlled, their relationship to each other, and the principles behind homeostasis so that they can relate these normal processes to disease states and maintaining animal health.

This course is an introduction to the responsibilities of the veterinary technologist in a small animal practice. Areas of study include: record keeping, vaccination, parasite control, pet identification, physical examination, whelping and neonatal care. At the Kingston Humane Society, students develop hands-on techniques related to these areas of study. They observe animals, practice restraint, perform health checks, clean ears, give injections, and take blood samples. They treat sick animals, maintain kennels and carry out basic animal husbandry.

Prerequisite(s): ANIM 101, ANIM 102, ANIM 104, MATH 150

This course covers the use of Microsoft Office as commonly found in a technology environment to prepare basic written documents and to solve numeric problems as well as using applications to build models for assisting in solving technical problems.

Prerequisites: None 

In this laboratory-based?course, students?learn the use and maintenance of common laboratory tools, equipment, and techniques. Learners focus on laboratory safety including the?Workplace?Hazardous Material Information System (WHMIS),?preparation of solutions, etc. Students acquire the knowledge and the skills to operate basic laboratory equipment and handle a variety of reagents.

This is a course designed to help students adapt to the rapidly changing workplace. It provides an historical overview of our working society and how it has evolved. Issues such as employment equity, harassment, regulation of health and safety, unionization, professional organizations and codes of ethics are discussed. Students also identify strategies to meet the needs of current employers and to make interview processes work to their advantage.

In this course, students continue to develop, refine, and advance practical skills such as injections, administration of medications, blood sampling, bathing, IV catheter placement, and anal gland expression.

Prerequisite(s): ANIM204 + ANIM1005 + ANIM1004

In this course, students learn the nutritional needs of dogs, cats, laboratory animals, and livestock. Learners primarily explore the nutritional needs of the healthy dog and cat, but also examine the dietary needs of dogs, cats, and livestock with specific organ diseases. Students learn about common toxicities and deficiencies encountered in veterinary medicine.

Prerequisite(s): ANIM1001 + ANIM1005 + ANIM1004 + MATH150

This is a lecture/laboratory course. The lecture component will introduce the student to the laws and regulations governing animal care, animal use, basic principles of animal health monitoring and disinfection of animal housing. Self-study materials will supplement this component of the course. The laboratory component will emphasize the handling, restraining and injection techniques of the laboratory rat and mouse. Basic rabbit handling will be covered. Included in this course is an introduction to the use of anesthetics and euthanasia. This material will be reinforced by a requirement to rotate through the college animal colony in a work-study capacity.

Prerequisite(s): ANIM 204

This course will encompass theory and laboratory practice of hematology and clinical chemistry including urinalysis with an emphasis on normal cases. The students will become proficient in performing urinalysis, both macroscopic and microscopic analysis. The student will also develop skills in performing a complete blood count and differential in both small and large animals. Theory covered will include hematological cell development, as well as the processes to evaluate pancreatic, liver, kidney, and endocrine function.

Students will learn the theory and practical application of veterinary anesthesia in a variety of species. Students will learn uses, effects, adverse effects, indications, and contra-indications of commonly used sedatives, injectable anesthetics and inhalant anesthetics. Students will learn parameters to monitor during the pre-, intra, and post-operative period. Students will learn to recognize different risk factors in patients, recognize anesthetic emergencies, and to take corrective pre-emptive action. Assessing pain and pain management options will be covered.

The course considers general aspects of pharmacology, including mechanism of absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and actions of drugs. It also covers in more detail specific groups of drugs that are important in veterinary medicine, such as antimicrobials and anti-parasitics. Applying basic mathematics, students will be able to perform various calculations commonly needed for dosage and dispensing medications. Veterinary pharmacy management is also addressed, including legislation affecting the storage and dispensing of pharmaceuticals in order to help ensure that a veterinary practice meets its legal responsibilities.

This lecture/laboratory course trains the student to apply microbiological knowledge and manipulative skills to the isolation, sensitivity testing and identification of significant veterinary pathogens, and their differentiation from the normal microbiota found in a variety of samples. 

This is a lecture/laboratory course in which students gain proficiency in lab animal handling, anaesthesia and surgical techniques. The anaesthesia component of the course is supported by a weekly lecture that covers: specific agents, monitoring, analgesia, stages of anaesthesia, common emergencies, principles of wound healing and suturing. The labs in this course allow students to develop competence in handling and restraint of mice, accepted injection techniques and sites, blood sampling techniques, as well as euthanasia methods. Lab animal surgical skills are developed in labs using the rat as the model. These skills include: anaesthesia, surgical incision, suturing, arterial and venous cannulations, castrations and ovariectomy, nephrectomy, and tracheotomy following accepted procedures. The aim of this course is to develop practical principles at the same time as technical competence.

Prerequisite(s): ANIM 1000, ANIM 2601

This is the first of a two part lecture-laboratory course designed to introduce surgical nursing concepts for the veterinary technician and practice anesthesia of the small animal patient in a hospital setting. In Surgical Nursing 1 students will be learn the different roles they may play in the hospital setting. The focus will then switch to the surgical patient and students will learn and practice all steps associated with the surgical patient from pre-operative care, preparation and admitting, to intra-operative care and monitoring to post-operative and pain management of the patient. The students will learn to use and maintain equipment used for monitoring, as well as the name and use of surgical instruments in addition to the cleaning, packing and sterilization of these instruments. In applying this broad knowledge base, students will be able to apply and expand upon theory and techniques learned in previous courses.

Prerequisite(s): ANIM 206 + ANIM 2500 + ANIM 2601 + ANIM 2700

In this laboratory and lecture course, students work in a simulated companion animal veterinary clinic. Students learn practical skills used in the nursing care of small animals. The laboratory is designed to give the student a hands-on approach to these techniques. A large portion of this lab and lecture course will concentrate on the practical application of radiographic principles in taking diagnostic-quality images and the processing of radiographic film.

The course familiarizes students with important aspects of equine and food animal care. Areas of study include: basic husbandry, breed identification, terminology, physical examination, vaccination, parasite recognition and control, reproduction, neonatal care, and common diseases. While the primary focus is on equine and traditional food animals, such as bovine, swine, poultry and small ruminants, brief consideration is given to the husbandry and care of non-traditional livestock, such as camelids (llamas), cervids (deer), and ratites (emu).

Pre-requisite: ANIM 206

This course will be a continuation of ANIM 2500, with an emphasis on abnormal hematology and clinical chemistries. Students will cover theory of blood transfusions, blood cell lines, and pathogenesis of abnormal blood cells as well as investigation of abnormal urinalysis. Cytology of tissues and fluid samples will be introduced.

Prerequisite(s): ANIM 2500

In this course, students review anesthetic techniques and protocols with an emphasis on small animals and learn advanced anesthetic techniques. Learners explore advanced monitoring of the anesthetized patient. Students learn nursing techniques as they relate to emergency and critical care patients, including triage, nursing the intensive care patient and will delve into a variety of more common veterinary emergencies which require special nursing techniques including techniques on wildlife/exotics. Learners become familiar in recognizing critical patients, the monitoring and nursing care needed to stabilize those patients and any special equipment needed to care for these patients.

This course introduces the application of statistical methods in collecting, tabulating, analyzing, presenting and interpreting date to students in Veterinary Technology programs. The course includes the use of descriptive statistical methods to summarize the present data, the application of inferential statistical processes to make decisions about populations from sample date, and the use of correlational techniques to determine if multiple variables are related. 

Prerequisite(s): MATH 150 + COMP 75

This is the follow up course to Surgical Nursing 1 (ANIM 202). Students continue to practice all aspects of hospital care of the surgical patients. Students will rotate though different duties to practice all aspects of caring from pre-operative care, to patient selection, anesthesia of the surgical patient, surgical assisting and post-operative care.

Prerequisite(s): ANIM202, ANIM205, ANIM2501

A laboratory and lecture course designed to simulate a work situation in a small animal clinic, with an emphasis on small animal dentistry and dental radiology. The laboratory is designed to give the student a “hands-on” approach to the techniques used in veterinary dental prophylaxis, working on models and recovery patients.

Prerequisite(s): ANIM 205,  ANIM 202

This lecture/laboratory course provides an introduction to advanced handling and manipulation techniques of laboratory animals. Content includes specialized housing of immunodeficient rodents, transgenic animal production, biohazard containment and hands-on experience with modern bleeding techniques in rodents and rabbits, in addition to embryo transfer and advanced surgical procedures in rodents.

Prerequisite(s): ANIM 200, ANIM 202

This is a laboratory-lecture integrated course where participants will learn and apply the theory and techniques associated with the isolation, purification, quantification, manipulation and characterization of nucleic acids. Topics include extraction of genomic DNA, restriction endonuclease digestions, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), genotyping, molecular diagnostics, nucleic acid blotting assays, protein isolation and characterization, immunoblotting, ELISA and bioinformatics.  GLP (Good Laboratory Practices) will be an underlying theme throughout the course and will be evaluated via laboratory notebooks, scientific reports and practical examinations designed to assess effective laboratory skills.

Prerequisite(s): ANIM 1000

This course will introduce the student to the fundamental abilities of the immune system by expanding on previous biological concepts. The theory will be used to support the understanding of immunological assays used in clinical and research settings. Clinically-significant disorders of the immune system of animals and their diagnosis will be discussed.

Prerequisite(s): MICR 212

This course covers broad topics related to animal disease, such as epidemiology, silent infection, hereditary diseases, zoonoses, and reportable diseases. Students also learn how information obtained from history examination and clinical testing is integrated int he diagnostic process. In distinguishing between the various origins of disease, students gain an understanding of disease and control and the importance of measures such as husbandry, genetic counselling, testing and vaccination to contain disease. There is a brief overview of the diseases seen most commonly in lab zoo populations and wildlife. A portion of this course is dedicated to wildlife rehabilitation. 

This laboratory course will provide the student with the theory behind and will allow the student to perform routine fixation, decalcification, processing, embedding, cutting and staining of paraffin wax processed tissue.

Prerequisite(s): ANIM 2501,  ANIM 200

This course is designed to prepare you for your work placement next semester. You will be guided through the process of preparing the paperwork necessary for submission to your chosen placement site. Placement options and opportunities will be discussed. The components of a good resume and cover letter as well as interviewing skills and professional deportment will all be reviewed.

Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of all prior courses and labs.

This course introduces students to necropsy techniques suitable for dogs, cats and the smaller laboratory animal species. The emphasis is on accurate observations and recording, as well as on the ability to distinguish between normal and abnormal. Interpretation of observations is not required as this necessitates experience and a knowledge acquired in the field. A common sense approach to prosection, sampling and labelling samples is the ultimate goal. Students are also required to demonstrate good sanitation and disinfection procedures, as well as appropriate disposal of biohazardous material. 

Prerequisite(s): ANIM 2501

This course provides each student with experience in a veterinary practice and a research facility. All students will complete work experience during semester 6. Students will be evaluated by on-site supervisors and must receive satisfactory evaluations to meet the requirements of this course. In addition, students must complete daily logs of their activities while on placement and submit these to the Work Experience Coordinator at the college.

Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of all prior courses and labs.

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