Companion Animal Medicine and Surgery

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

This core subject in DVM3 is delivered across 2 x 14 week semesters. This subject commences in February and concludes in mid-November.

432 hours

Passes in all subjects in Year 2 of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (i.e. DVM2)

A sound understanding of Veterinary Bioscience, infectious agents as causes of disease in domestic animals, and the major animal production systems.

Refer to the Core Participation Requirements statement within the course entry for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine:

https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/view/current/MC-DVETMED

This subject will be comprised of the following two modules.

In both units within this subject a “clinical presentation” approach will be taken to the discussion of diseases of animals, their diagnosis, prevention and treatment.

Dogs, cats and miscellaneous companion animals

• clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and public health aspects of infectious diseases of dogs and cats
• clinical signs, diagnosis and medical and surgical management of diseases of the neuroendocrine, musculoskeletal, haematopoietic, lymphoreticular, alimentary, cardiovascular, respiratory and urogenital systems, eyes and ears of dogs and cats
• clinical signs, diagnosis and treatment of poisonings of dogs and cats
• nutrition of dogs and cats
• dermatology of dogs and cats
• oncology of dogs and cats
• behavioural abnormalities of dogs and cats
• perinatal medicine in dogs and cats
• greyhound medicine.
• diseases of miscellaneous companion animals

Horses

• physical examination, clinical signs, diagnosis and medical and surgical treatment of metabolic and multi-systemic diseases and diseases of the musculoskeletal, haematopoietic, lymphoreticular, alimentary, cardiovascular, respiratory, urinary and reproductive systems, eyes and skin of horses
• injury management in horses
• special considerations in foals
• exotic and emerging equine diseases and their associated risk factors
• routine procedures used to optimise Thoroughbred stud reproductive performance
• equine castration

Students completing the Dogs, cats and miscellaneous companion animals module should:

• be familiar with breed and behavioural characteristics of dogs and cats
• possess essential information of the diseases of dogs and cats to approach a diagnosis on the basis of epidemiological data, clinical history, physical examination and clinical signs in an individual animal or group of animals
• be able to select appropriately and interpret and utilise the results of laboratory tests in making a diagnosis in a dog or cat
• be able to devise appropriate forms of therapy or management of disease in dogs and cats and be able to devise strategies for prevention and control of the same
• be aware of the public health implications of zoonoses of dogs and cats.
• be familiar with the principal features of the management and husbandry of miscellaneous companion animals such as rabbits and rodents, and have a thorough understanding of the welfare issues associated with keeping such animals
• have a thorough understanding of the diseases that affect these species and the factors that influence the occurrence of disease in individual animals and in groups of animals
• be able to carry out a thorough and safe physical examination of these species
• be able to reach a probable diagnosis or formulate a list of differential diagnoses in these species based on the history, epidemiological date, physical examination, clinical signs and gross necropsy lesions
• be able to recommend appropriate ancillary tests to reach a definitive diagnosis and accurately prognosticate
• be able to specify appropriate therapy
• be able to recommend appropriate measures for disease control and/or prevention

Students completing the Horses module should have a thorough understanding of:

• the common equine diseases and diagnostic procedures
• how to conduct a thorough and logical clinical investigation, based on the presenting signs, interpret the findings and arrive at an accurate diagnosis
• how to provide adequate treatment for all problems commonly encountered in horses and related species
• how to castrate a horse competently
• how to implement appropriate prevention strategies for the common diseases of horses
• the exotic and recently introduced equine infectious diseases and how to deal with a suspected case of the same

The assessment will be based on the following two modules, of which satisfactory completion of each is a hurdle requirement for the successful completion of this subject.

• Dogs, cats and miscellaneous companion animals module (60% of total subject assessment)
• Horses module (40% of total subject assessment)

Dogs, cats and miscellaneous companion animals module

• One 2-hour written assessment relating to semester 1 topics covered in the first half of semester 1 will be held in the second half of semester 1 (15% of this module)
• One 3-hour written examination relating to all topics covered in semester will be held at the end of semester 1 (30% of this module)
• One 2-hour written assessment relating to semester 2 topics covered in the first half of semester 2 will be held in the second half of semester 2 (15% of this module)
• One 3-hour written examination relating to all of the material covered during the year will be held at the end of semester 2 (40% of this module)

Students are required to achieve an aggregate mark of at least 50% across the assessment components of this module.

Horses module

• One 2-hour written examination held at the end of semester 1 (45% of this module)
• One practical examination held during semester 2 (10% of this module)
• One 2-hour written examination held at the end of semester 2 (45% of this module)

Students are required to achieve an aggregate mark of at least 50% for the two written examinations, and must satisfactorily complete the practical examination.

A recommended reading list will be provided by the subject coordinator.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students completing this subject should have developed:

• an in-depth understanding of specific veterinary clinical disciplines
• manual dexterity and technical skills in the practical application of these disciplines
• the ability to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical setting, to trouble-shoot technical difficulties
• the ability to seek accurate solutions to complex biological problems
• the capacity to apply a rigorous, critical and logical approach to problem-solving
• advanced experience in observation, interpretation of complex data, problem-solving, time management, record-keeping and communication in both written and verbal formats