Veterinary Medicine and Surgery

This subject is not offered in 2016.

Estimated total time commitment: 950 hours

Students must also take the following two subjects concurrently with this subject:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject is strongly focused on clinical veterinary medicine and surgery, both the general principles of veterinary clinical practice, and the specifics of approaches to diagnosis, management and prevention of disease in the major domestic animal species. In the first unit of study, students will be introduced to principles of the diagnostic process, consultation technique, history taking, clinical examination and emergency examination, surgery, anaesthesia and analgesia, principles of imaging, preventative medicine and nutrition, Later in the year topics will include economics, business skills, ethics and the law (incl. medical records), emergency and notifiable diseases and comparative and wildlife medicine. Throughout the year students will be given opportunities to apply these principles in the context of particular species and disease states, and to acquire proficiency in a defined list of clinical skills.

Subsequent units will introduce students to the diagnosis, management and prevention of the range of specific disease conditions of domestic animals (including horses, cattle, small ruminants, pigs, poultry and caged birds, dogs, cats and other small companion animals). Units will be delivered based on clinical presentation, an approach that is designed to support students in development of their diagnostic reasoning skills, and encourage a comparative view of veterinary medicine and surgery.

Units:

First Half Year

• Unit 1 Principles of Professional Practice Part 1
• Unit 2 Reproduction & obstetrics
• Unit 3 Itchy Lumpy, hairy & bald; Sore eyes and blind
• Unit 4 Lame
• Unit 5 Nasal discharge, sneezing, snuffling; Stridor/cough / dyspnoea
• Unit 6 Pigs and aquaculture

Second Half Year

• Unit 7 Ruminant abdomen; Vomiting and regurgitation, dyschezia & constipation; diarrhoea; abdominal pain & distension
• Unit 8 Jaundice and pallor; the neonate
• Unit 9 Seizures / tremors / ataxia / recumbency; Episodic collapse / weakness /paralysis; Sudden death
• Unit 10 Polyuria/Polydipsia ; Incontinence/stranguria
• Unit 11 Weight loss and poor performance
• Unit 12 Principles of Professional Practice Part 2

This subject aims to equip students with a thorough understanding of the principles of veterinary clinical and professional practice, and the range of diseases that affect domestic animal species, such that they are prepared for their transition to the final year of clinic based teaching (DVM4).

In addition, students successfully completing this subject will have demonstrated competency in a designated list of clinical skills, and have developed communication skills appropriate for clinic based interactions with clients and colleagues.

Unit 1 - 10% of overall assessment

• Intra-semester written exam 2 hours due early in semester 1(90%)
• 4 X online assessments (10%), due early in semester 1, 10%

Unit 2 - 10% of overall assessment

• Written examination 3 hours , due mid-semester 1, 10%

Unit 3 - 10% of overall assessment

• Written examination 3 hours, End of semester 1

Unit 4 - 10% of overall assessment

• Written examination 3 hours, End of semester

Unit 5 - 10% of overall assessment

• Written examination 3 hours, End of semester 1

Unit 6 Production Animals (incl Pigs and Aquaculture) - 7.5 % of overall assessment

• Written examination 2 hours, End of semester 1
• Written assignment- small ruminants, End of semester 1

Unit 7 - 10% of overall assessment

• Written examination 3 hours, Mid semester 2

Unit 8 - 7.5% of overall assessment

• Written examination 2 hours, End of semester 2

Unit 9 - 10% of overall assessment

• Written examination 3 hours, End of semester 2

Unit 10 - 5 % of overall assessment

• Written examination 2 hours, End of semester 2

Unit 11 & 12 - 10% of overall assessment

• Written examination 3 hours, End of semester 2

Clinical Proficiency assessment: HURDLE REQUIREMENTS

• Clinical skills proficiency testing, due earlySemester 2
• Cattle prac examination, due mid-semester 2
• Horse practical examination, due mid-smester 2
• Caged birds practical examination, due mid-semester 2

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students completing this subject will 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 and 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

To enrol in this subject students must have satisfactorily completed all subjects in the second year of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.