Small Animal Veterinary Medicine Course

Lesson 1 • Veterinary Medical Terminology

Introduces root words, prefixes, and suffixes used in clinical documentation. Enables accurate communication with colleagues and in medical records.

Lesson 2 • Small Animal Physiology Essentials

Examines cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and endocrine function in dogs and cats. Provides baseline norms for interpreting clinical findings.

Lesson 3 • Veterinary Ethics and Professional Standards

Defines ethical obligations, animal welfare principles, and professional conduct expectations. Frames the moral context for all clinical decision-making.

Lesson 1 • Patient Handling and Restraint

Covers safe, low-stress restraint techniques for dogs and cats of varying temperaments. Reduces patient injury risk and improves examination accuracy.

Lesson 2 • Recognizing Normal vs. Abnormal Findings

Contrasts species- and breed-specific norms with pathological deviations. Trains pattern recognition essential for generating differential diagnoses.

Lesson 3 • Patient History and Signalment

Teaches structured client interviews and signalment recording for dogs and cats. Accurate history-taking directs the physical exam and narrows differentials.

Lesson 4 • Systematic Physical Examination Technique

Guides head-to-tail examination using inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation. Builds the core skill set for detecting abnormal findings.

Lesson 1 • Microbiology and Parasitology Testing

Introduces culture and sensitivity testing, fecal flotation, and parasite identification. Results guide antimicrobial selection and parasite control programs.

Lesson 2 • Point-of-Care Diagnostic Tools

Reviews in-clinic analyzers, rapid antigen tests, and glucometers used at the patient's side. Emphasizes quality control and result validation.

Lesson 3 • Urinalysis and Cytology

Teaches urine collection methods, dipstick analysis, and sediment microscopy. Cytological evaluation of fluids and masses is introduced as a rapid diagnostic tool.

Lesson 4 • Diagnostic Imaging Fundamentals

Covers radiographic positioning, exposure settings, and basic image interpretation. Introduces ultrasound principles as a complementary imaging modality.

Lesson 1 • Principles of Veterinary Pharmacology

Covers absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion in dogs and cats. Species differences in drug metabolism are highlighted to prevent toxicity.

Lesson 2 • Adverse Drug Reactions and Toxicology

Identifies common drug interactions, idiosyncratic reactions, and household toxins. Teaches decontamination and supportive care for poisoned patients.

Lesson 3 • Pain Management and Analgesics

Covers opioid, NSAID, and adjunctive analgesic options for acute and chronic pain. Multimodal analgesia protocols are applied to common clinical scenarios.

Lesson 4 • Drug Dosage Calculation and Administration

Teaches weight-based dosing, unit conversions, and route-specific administration techniques. Accurate calculation prevents under- and overdosing in clinical practice.

Lesson 1 • Anesthetic Induction and Maintenance

Teaches induction agent selection, endotracheal intubation, and inhalant anesthesia maintenance. Builds the technical skills needed for safe anesthetic delivery.

Lesson 2 • Surgical Site Preparation and Asepsis

Establishes sterile field creation, patient clipping, and skin antisepsis protocols. Proper aseptic technique directly reduces postoperative infection rates.

Lesson 3 • Intraoperative Patient Monitoring

Covers multiparameter monitoring of cardiovascular, respiratory, and anesthetic depth parameters. Teaches recognition and correction of intraoperative complications.

Lesson 4 • Anesthetic Recovery and Postoperative Care

Guides extubation timing, recovery monitoring, and pain reassessment in the postoperative period. Ensures smooth transition from anesthesia to stable patient status.

Lesson 1 • Wound Assessment and Classification

Classifies wounds by contamination level, depth, and healing potential. Accurate classification determines debridement needs and closure strategy.

Lesson 2 • Suture Materials and Knot Tying

Covers absorbable and non-absorbable suture types, needle selection, and knot security. Proper suture choice and technique directly affect wound closure outcomes.

Lesson 3 • Routine Soft Tissue Procedures

Teaches ovariohysterectomy, castration, and laceration repair as foundational surgeries. Step-by-step technique instruction builds procedural confidence and safety.

Lesson 4 • Bandaging and Wound Dressing Techniques

Covers primary, secondary, and tertiary bandage layers for various wound types. Appropriate dressing selection promotes moist healing and prevents infection.

Lesson 1 • Infectious and Parasitic Diseases

Covers viral, bacterial, and parasitic diseases common in small animal practice. Vaccination protocols and zoonotic risk management are integrated throughout.

Lesson 2 • Dermatological Conditions

Addresses allergic, infectious, and parasitic skin diseases in dogs and cats. Diagnostic workup and stepwise treatment selection are emphasized.

Lesson 3 • Endocrine and Urinary Disorders

Covers diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and chronic kidney disease. Long-term monitoring plans and client education are integral to management.

Lesson 4 • Cardiorespiratory Disease Management

Diagnoses and manages heart failure, arrhythmias, and respiratory tract disease. Emphasizes clinical staging to guide drug selection and monitoring frequency.

Lesson 1 • Nutrition and Weight Management

Covers life-stage nutritional requirements, body condition scoring, and therapeutic diets. Obesity prevention and weight loss plans are applied to clinical cases.

Lesson 2 • Dental Health and Oral Care

Covers periodontal disease staging, professional dental cleaning, and home oral hygiene. Dental health is linked to systemic disease prevention and quality of life.

Lesson 3 • Parasite Prevention Programs

Designs year-round heartworm, flea, tick, and intestinal parasite prevention protocols. Risk-based recommendations are tailored to patient lifestyle and geography.

Lesson 4 • Vaccination Protocols and Preventive Care

Establishes core and non-core vaccine schedules for dogs and cats across life stages. Preventive care plans reduce disease burden and strengthen client retention.