SMALL ANIMAL CORE CURRICULUM

Prerequisites:

-          Biology (13-20 credits)

o   General biology or plant biology

o   Zoology or animal biology

o   Genetics

o   Microbiology

-          Chemistry (17-27 credits)

o   General with lab

o   Organic with lab

o   Biochemistry with or without lab

-          Liberal arts and humanities (12-18 credits)

o   History and social sciences

o   Arts and humanities

-          Mathematics (3 credits)

-          Physics (8-12 credits)

-          Writing skills (8 credits)

DVM – 1^st year, fall:

-          Orientation to veterinary medicine

-          Professional Development I: Transitioning into the veterinary profession

o   Teamwork, leadership, personal management

-          Overview of animal populations

o   Exposure to all domestic species. Introduction to U.S. production animal agriculture at individual producer level and to roles veterinarians play.

-          Veterinary anatomy

o   Gross anatomy of domesticated mammals, including development anatomy. Carnivore portion features dog as a model animal and comparatively the cat. Ungulate portion focuses on basic equine anatomy and includes clinically important ruminant/swine anatomy.

-          Normal radiographic anatomy

o   Introduction to radiological principles. Radiation safety, radiographic technique, patient position. Emphasizes mastery of normal radiographic anatomy. Identifying anatomic structures on normal plain films and on special-contrast procedure radiographs.

-          Veterinary physiological chemistry

o   Structure/function of cells/tissues. Mechanisms by which animals digest, absorb, and metabolize carbohydrate, protein, lipid, and nucleic acids. Use of absorbed molecules to derive energy and maintain physiological processes. How end products are created/eliminated. Role of hormones and metabolically active tissues. Metabolic abnormalities. Recombinant DNA applications. Molecular aspects of growth/regulation of gene expression.

-          Histology – no information in curriculum map

-          Principles of veterinary nutrition

o   Introduction to principles of nutrition. Basic applications and food sources form major domestic species.

-          Clinical Skills I

o   Domestic animal behavior. Basic large animal handling/management skills. Clerk duty in large animal hospital is required. First of five-part series.

DVM – 1^st year, spring:

-          Professional Development II: Communications

o   Client communications

-          Organology

o   Microscopic/ultrastructural morphology of organ systems (cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, respiratory, urinary, endocrine) in mammalian domestic species.

-          Veterinary neurobiology

o   Anatomy and physiology of central nervous system (Brain, spinal cord) and special senses (eye, ear, olfaction, taste)

-          Veterinary physiology

o   Fundamental principles of systemic physiology. Relationships between forces and flows in biological systems. Overview of control system theory as it relates to neurohormonal regulation. Survey of major organ systems.

-          Veterinary pharmacology

o   Principles of drug action, disposition, and clinical applications in animal patients. Therapeutic uses of drugs affecting autonomic nervous system, cardiovascular system, respiratory/digestive tracts, and kidneys. Therapeutic uses of anti-allergic/anti-inflammatory drugs.

-          Host defenses

o   Introduction to classification, morphology, reproductive cycle, and epidemiology of infectious microbial agents of veterinary importance; properties of disinfectants; therapeutic uses of chemicals and drugs for sterilization, control, and treatment. Systematic and biologic study of protozoan, arthropod, and helminth parasites of animals. Emphasizes relationships to diseases and principles of parasite control.

-          Infectious agents: Virology

o   How virus and host factors interact. How these interactions lead to disease or recovery. Applications to prevention/management of disease.

-          Applied Veterinary Genetics

o   Overview of general, molecular, and cryogenetics, molecular genetics, and molecular diagnostics relevant to animal health, diseases, breeding, and production.

-          Clinical Skills II

o   Domestic animal behavior. Basic animal handling/management skills. Introduction to hospital. Small animal clerk duty is required.

-          Behavior core

o   Ethology, small/large animal behavior, human-animal bond, behavior medicine, psychopharmacology, behavior genetics, learning theory, behavior modification.

-          Ethics – This course is under development through the Center for Bioethics as an offering in the Interprofessional Education initiative in the AHC

DVM – 2^nd year, fall:

-          Professional Development III: Building community

o   Developing a role as a veterinary professional in the broader community through outreach, enhanced communications training

-          Infectious agents: Parasitology

o   Systematic and biologic study of protozoan, arthropod, and helminth parasites of animals. Emphasis will be on their relationships to diseases and principles of parasite control.

-          Infectious agents: Bacteriology

o   Veterinary medical microbiology/mycology. Mechanisms of pathogenesis, clinical presentations, diagnostic approaches, host responses to infectious challenge. Prevention, treatments.

-          Infectious agents: Pharmacology

o   Principles of drug action, disposition, and clinical applications in animal patients. Therapeutic uses of drugs affecting autonomic nervous system, cardiovascular system, respiratory/digestive tracts, and kidneys. Therapeutic uses of anti-allergic/anti-inflammatory drugs.

-          Epidemiology

o   Statistical and epidemiological concepts applied to veterinary medicine

-          Veterinary pathology

o   Reactions of cells and tissues to injury and disease, including reversible and irreversible cell injury, disturbances of circulation, blood coagulation, and alterations of cell growth and multiplication. Pathology of body systems, emphasizing reactions of specific organs.

-          Clinical Skills III

o   Domestic animal behavior. Basic animal handling and management skills.

-          Swine core

o   Swine medicine, production, and health management

DVM – 2^nd year, spring:

-          Professional Development IV: Thinking like a doctor

o   Critical decision making, using and maintaining a legal medical record, communications

-          Veterinary imaging I

o   Introduction to radiographic imaging, urogenital imaging and cardiopulmonary imaging. Emphasizes interpretation of radiographs (film or digital) germane to common animal diseases. Clinical applications.

-          Reproductive biology

o   Physiology of reproduction in all species, including lactation.

-          Veterinary neuropharmacology

o   Pharmacology of drugs that have a major effect on the central nervous system: absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion; major mechanisms of action; clinical usefulness; side effects; drug interactions.

-          Clinical Skills IV

o   Domestic animal behavior. Basic animal handling and management skills.

-          Surgery, anesthesia, critical care

o   Introduction to principles/techniques for conducting surgical procedures, managing uncomplicated anesthesia, and providing critical care for common situations in large/small animal species.

-          Disease of skin and adnexa

o   Normal form and function, histopathologic reaction patterns, would healing, and clinical disease states of the skin and adnexa (horns, mammary glands) of common domestic species.

-          Cardiopulmonary system diseases

o   Pathophysiology, presentation, diagnostic presentation, therapeutic approaches, and management protocols for common disorders of the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems of both small and large animals.

-          Nervous system disorders

o   Pathophysiology, presentation, diagnostic approach, therapeutic approach, and management protocol for common neurologic/ophthalmologic disorders in domestic species.

-          Ophthalmology

o   Common procedures for evaluation, diagnosis, treatment of eye disorders in domestic species.

-          Urinary system disorders

o   Pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic approach, therapeutic options, and management protocol for common disorders of the urinary system in domestic species.

-          Obstetrics and reproductive diagnostics

o   Diagnosis/management of normal and abnormal parturition.

-          Veterinary clinical pathology

o   Clinical pathology data generation, statistical concepts. Hematopoietic system, its evaluation using laboratory tests. Emphasizes interpretation of individual tests on biochemistry profile and how results guide diagnostic plan. Integration of clinical pathology data for a patient.

-          Avian core

o   Avian nutrition, physiology, anatomy, and disease

DVM – 3^rd year, fall:

-          Veterinary imaging II

o   Musculoskeletal, general abdomen, and alimentary tract systems.

-          Veterinary toxicology

o   Toxicology of minerals, pesticides, venoms, and various toxins. Identification of poisonous plants. Recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of animal poisons.

-          Clinical Skills V

o   Domestic animal behavior. Basic animal handling/management skills. Small-animal clerk duty is required. Using an IV/syringe pump, setting up ICU order sheets, using glucometer/centrifuge to perform "big 4" daily ICUC tests.

-          Large animal digestion disorders

o   Pathophysiology, diagnostic methods, therapeutic procedures, and preventative/management protocols for common disorders of the oral cavity and digestive tract in major domestic species.

-          Small animal gastroenterology

o   Important gastrointestinal (GI) diseases of dogs/cats. Oral cavity (dentistry), esophagus, intestines, liver, biliary tract, pancreas. Obtaining an appropriate history for dogs/cats with GI disorders. Common GI disorders. Therapy/prognosis.

-          Musculoskeletal system disorders

o   Presentation, pathophysiology, diagnostic, and therapeutic/management approaches for common disorders of locomotion. The purpose of this course is to provide you with the basic knowledge and skills needed to evaluate and treat common small and large animal musculoskeletal diseases, particularly those that might be encountered by small animal or mixed animal practitioners with a small animal emphasis.

-          Metabolic disorders

o   This course includes various important metabolic diseases of both companion and large animal species. The topics include disorders of endocrinology, unique metabolic disorders of large animals. Introductions to pediatrics and geriatric medicine and the core oncology lectures are also included in this course.

-          Multisystemic disorders

o   Pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic approach, therapeutic options, and management protocol of disorders of the immunologic and hematologic systems and of multisystemic infectious diseases.

-          Reproductive diagnostic techniques

o   Reproductive diagnostic techniques in all domestic species.

-          Reproductive diseases of small animals

o   Physiology/pathology of reproduction, breeding management and artificial insemination, contraception in small animals

-          Small animal reproductive techniques laboratory

o   Vaginal cytology, semen evaluation, brucellosis serology

DVM – 3^rd year, spring:

-          Public health

o   Epidemiological approach to veterinary public health. Major zoonoses, animal sentinels, meat/milk inspection, preharvest food safety, environment, occupational health/safety, euthanasia, carcass disposal methods, cruelty investigations, welfare issues.

-          International diseases

o   Epidemiology, clinical signs, differential diagnoses, pathology, economic effect of diseases not currently or intermittently present in the United States. International role of veterinarians in controlling disease, increasing food production, facilitating trade.

-          Practice management / Law and ethics

o   Economic, marketing, personnel management, accounting issues in veterinary practice management. Legal/ethical parameters for veterinary practice.

-          SA Anesthesia core

o   Sedative techniques, combination injectable anesthesia, pediatric/geriatric small animal anesthesia, pain control, regional techniques, anesthesia in trauma cases, complications in anesthesia, ventilator use.

-          Non-traditional pets

o   General/reproductive biology, behavior, husbandry, nutrition, handling, restraint, anesthesia. Common diseases, their treatments. Research animal issues. Special considerations of species commonly encountered in small/mixed animal practices (mice, rats, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, chinchillas, rabbits, ferrets, basic aquarium species).

-          SA Hospital practicum

o   Management of dogs/cats required urgent medical care, intensive medical management. Provide primary case care and service support through patient evaluation, problem solving, health care delivery, equipment operation. Practicum is served in Small Animal ICU and on the emergency service.

-          Small animal nutrition advanced block (prereq for nutrition rotation)

o   Feeding of healthy pets throughout their life stages, and discuss nutritional management of common diseases.

9-10 of the following “required electives”

-          SA Procedures in radiology

o   Pre-clinical introduction and overview of small animal special radiographic and interpretation.

-          SA Ultrasound (prereq for ultrasound rotation

o   Pre-clinical introduction and overview of small animal ultrasonographic techniques and interpretation. Emphasizes interpretation of ultrasonograms germane to common animal abdominal diseases.

-          SA Dermatology advanced block

o   Diagnostic/therapeutic considerations in small animal dermatology beyond core in preparation for clinical rotations.

-          Clinical skills

o   Advanced clinical skills used by small animal practitioners in private practice.

-          SA Liver and pancreas disorders

o   Complicated diabetes mellitus, feline pancreatitis, and hepatic encephalopathy in dogs/cats.

-          SA Orthopedic advanced block

o   Dog/cat pediatric, adult orthopedic problems frequently seen in clinical practice

-          SA Critical care advanced block

o   Case-based discussions of common emergencies: trauma, toxins, acute abdomen, hematologic, respiratory. Emergency procedures, intensive care monitoring, blood gas interpretation. Sepsis, related imflammatory response. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

-          SA Cardiology advanced block (prereq for cardiology rotation)

o   Diagnostic/therapeutic considerations related to small animal cardiovascular disorders beyond core

-          SA Behavior advanced block (prereq for behavior rotation)

o   Introduction to abnormal/undesired animal behavior, diagnostic procedures, and behavioral/pharmacological modifications.

-          SA Urinary systems disorders

o   Expands on disorders of small animal urinary system. Introduction to core/additional disorders. Illustrations of various techniques commonly utilized to diagnose and treat urinary tract disorders, including: 1) Technique to eliminate urethral outflow obstruction. 2) Voiding urohydropropulsion. 3). Nonsurgical retrieval of uroliths and urethral plugs.

-          A Clinician’s analysis of urinalysis

o   Evaluation of urinalyses of clinical cases, improving observational/interpretation skills

DVM – 4^th year:

            Students must complete 28 rotations. RAOI = rotation at other institution

Required rotations:

Orientation to clinics

4 Small animal medicine (SAM)

2 Small animal surgery (SAS)

1 Elective small animal surgery (ESAS – OHE and castration of humane society animals)

1 Public health

1 Necropsy

1 Anesthesiology

1 Radiology

4 SA rotations (see list below)

1 General Practice

1 Dermatology or Dermatology RAOI

3-5 externship / RAOI

5-7 elective rotations (see list below)

Rotations available:

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