Birds, Wildlife, Fish and Exotic Pets

Subject VETS30023 (2013)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2013.

Credit Points: 6.25
Level: 3 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject is not offered in 2013.

Time Commitment: Contact Hours: Lectures: 47 hours. Practicals: 15 hours.
Total Time Commitment:

100 hours

Prerequisites:

Successful completion of all subjects in Year 2 of Bachelor of Veterinary Science course.

Corequisites:

None

Recommended Background Knowledge:

Years 1 and 2 (Semesters 1-4) of the BVSc course

Non Allowed Subjects:

None.

Core Participation Requirements:

Students should be familiar with the Faculty's Academic Requirements Statement http://www.vet.unimelb.edu.au/docs/CoreParticipationReqs.pdf

Contact

Email: amirh@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

Birds component includes:

  • Clinical signs, diagnosis, pathogenesis and epizootiology of disease in individual animals as well as affected flocks;
  • Poultry management and nutrition as they relate to birds’ health, preventive medicine; and
  • Cage and aviary bird medicine

Wildlife component includes:

  • the role of veterinary surgeon in the area of wildlife work;
  • veterinary role in regulatory activities and wildlife disasters; and
  • Characteristic anatomical features of various groups of native mammals
  • Husbandry and diseases of - marsupials including orphans; other native mammals; exotic (zoo) mammals; reptiles.

Fish and exotic pets components include:

  • husbandry and disease
Objectives:

At the end of this subject students should:
With respect to birds:

  • be aware of the variety of diseases affecting poultry and other birds;
  • understand the factors influencing outbreaks of disease in flocks and/or individual animals;
  • be able to suggest a probable diagnosis/ differential diagnosis 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 animals;
  • be able to recommend appropriate measures for disease control and/or prevention;
  • know the statutory regulations applicable to disease control and use of therapeutic substances/vaccines in these animals;

With respect to wildlife:

  • be familiar with the various groups of Australian mammals;
  • possess the essential information to be able to clinically examine and make a diagnosis of disease in non-domestic mammals;
  • understand specific features of the husbandry of these animals as they relate to disease prevention and the management of clinically ill animals;
  • be familiar with the legislation governing protected animals, particularly legislation with specific veterinary involvement;
  • be familiar with the husbandry, clinical examination and the principal diseases of reptiles;
  • understand the role of disease in wild animal populations, and be familiar with the challenges and techniques used to investigate and manage disease in these populations;

With respect to fish:

  • be familiar with the principal features of the management of farmed and aquarium fish, be able to carry out a clinical examination, diagnose and treat specific diseases of fish;


With respect to exotic pets:

  • be familiar with the principal features of the management and husbandry of such species, and be able to carry out a clinical examination, diagnose and treat specific diseases.
Assessment:
  • One 1-hour written paper at the end of Semester 1 (40%)
  • One 15-minute oral examination at the end of Semester 1 (20%)
  • One 1-hour written paper after the Semester 2 intra-semester break (40%)

Students must pass the oral examination.

Students are required to pass the subject on aggregate mark.

Prescribed Texts:

None

Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Related Course(s): Bachelor of Veterinary Science
Bachelor of Veterinary Science(PV)

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