Veterinary Administrative Assistant

Course Notes

Students are supplied with textbooks for ongoing reference. In addition to quizzes, tests, and assignments, there is a final exam upon completion of the course. Students must achieve a mark of 75% overall and on the final exam to successfully complete the course.

Course Breakdown

Level 1

Medical Terminology Students are introduced to topics related to Veterinary terminology. They will be able to apply the terminology that they learned in a veterinary setting. An important aspect of learning terminology is to learn the correct pronunciation and proper spelling of veterinary terms. Students will learn to memorize word parts and their meanings and then recognize and use medical words correctly.

Body Systems Part 1 Understanding body structure and the systems that support, move, and protect it. Students will also talk about the branches of science that deal with the study of the animal body and body structure development. Student will have an opportunity to develop knowledge in the skeletal system and its function as a supporting framework for the body, the muscular system which produces body movement, and the integumentary system which includes skin and hair.

Body Systems Part 2 Students will understand the inner workings of the body, specifically the cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems Students will learn the functions pertaining to the circulation of the blood in animals. They will also discuss the respiratory system and its importance in providing the body with oxygen and the elimination of waste gases from cell metabolism. The gastrointestinal system and digestive organs will also be explained.

Body Systems Part 3 This module will give the student an opportunity to understand more systems that describe the internal workings of the body. The genitourinary, endocrine, special senses, and immune systems will be discussed.

Level 2

Dogs and Cats Students will be introduced to topics related to dogs and cats. The natural history of the link between dogs, cats, and humans, and the social and psychological reasons for having them as pets and companions. This includes overviews of both canines and felines and cover topics such as breeding and breeds, reproduction, behaviour, nutrition, and diseases.

Equine and Cattle Students will be given an opportunity to understand the horse and equine industry. Topics of breeding, types of breeds, titles, feeding, restraint, healthcare, diseases, and more will be covered. They will also have an understanding of the importance of the cattle industry, such as the by-products they produce and the necessities they provide. The topics of breeds, housing, feeding, reproduction, milk production, and more will be covered.

Swine and Small Ruminants Students in this module will learn about the swine industry. Focus will be on breeds, behaviour, housing, feeding, restraint, herd health, and pigs as pets.They will also learn about small ruminants such as sheep, goats, and llamas. Students will review topics such as small ruminant management and healthcare practices, which vary based on the function of the animal.

Exotics and Birds Small mammals, exotic species, and avian animals are topics that will be discussed in this module as well as rodents, rabbits, and birds. Students will also cover housing, nutrition, restraint, handling, avian anatomy, avian behaviour, avian grooming, avian physical examination, and more.

Level 3

Office Procedures Understanding and defining database relationships, viewing existing database relationships, viewing data in related tables and enforcing referential integrity, and modifying table design.

Behavior, Restraint, Husbandry, and Nutrition Students are given an opportunity to understand the behaviour, restraint, husbandry, and nutrition of animals. They will also gain knowledge of the behaviour traits of dogs and cats, focusing on their destructive and aggressive behaviours. Methods of restraint will also be covered. Students will learn about housing, identification, nutrition, and feeding considerations for dogs and cats. Their common diseases will also be major topics of discussion.

Animal Care, Pharmacology, and Surgery Student will learn about nursing, animal care, physical examinations, grooming, and first aid care and reasons why people bring their pets to the veterinary clinic. They will also learn basic information regarding pharmacology in the veterinary clinic. Students will learn the types of medication to treat illnesses or to sustain the quality of life in animals. Common surgical procedures, as well as asepsis, and preoperative and postoperative care will also be discussed.

The Laboratory and Diagnostic Imaging Students will be covering Laboratory procedures and diagnostic imaging in this module. They will learn how to assist in the proper diagnosis of diseases and conditions affecting animals, as well as taking part in sending samples to a laboratory for testing. They will also look at different diagnostic imaging techniques including x-rays, ultrasound, endoscopy, and magnetic resonance imaging.