Birds, Wildlife, Fish and Exotic Pets

This subject is not offered in 2013.

100 hours

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

None

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

None.

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

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

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.

• 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.

None

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.