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Animal Health Care
Animal Health Care 100 Hours Certificate Course
Course Code:
VAG100 CLD
Level:
3
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Finish:
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Learn About Animal Health Care
Animal Health Care Online CourseÂ
This Animal Health Care Online Course is an excellent vocational pathway towards employment in the Veterinary industry.
Learn to care for the health of any type of animal and understand the scope of services offered by animal care services, including veterinary practices.This course is appropriate for anyone interested in working with animals on:Â
a farmÂ
a wildlife park
or veterinary practice.
It is a sound foundation course and designed to cover most of what is found in a typical veterinary assistants course in many countries around the world. This course has been written by industry experts and is designed to bridge the gap between current regulated qualifications and the needs of employers.
See what our students think!  Check out our customer reviews. You can read what previous students have achieved with our qualifications in the work place and at universities. And then, simply select your learning materials plus payment option and then click the “Enrol Now” button. Alternatively, you can enrol over the phone by calling 01227 789 649 (0044 1227 789 649 from outside of the UK).
Click the + and – below to expand/collapse the sections.
Lessons
Lesson Structure: Animal Health Care VAG100
There are 12 lessons:
Introduction to Animal Health Care
animal welfare and control
veterinary services
code of practice
transporting animals
Common Health Problems
causes of ill health
injury
conditions
nutritional problems
living organisms
parasites
family pets common conditions
dogs
cats
caged birds
aquarium fish
mice
wild animals common conditions
reptiles
Animal Behaviour
communication in dogs
scent
barking
body language
handling cats
bird language
types of behavior
time orientation
space orientation
territorial behavior
aggression
horse psychology
Signs of Ill Health
vital signs
the healthy animal
signs & symptoms of diseases
recognising ill health
diagnosis of diseases
taking smears
taking tissue samples
diagnosis and control of different types of diseases including
viruses
bacteria
protozoa
parasites
mites
fleas
Veterinary Facilities
first aid kit
record management
enclosure for animals
environmental requirements
Safety Procedures
duty of care
lifting heavy weights
reducing back injury
protective equipment
dealing with chemicals
skin penetrating injuries
risk categories
separating animals
disposal of dead/infected tissues
dangerous non-animal wastes
storage and handling of medicines
handling larger animals
Administration of Animal Health
animal insurance
quarantine
importing animals
managing a veterinary office
telephone usage
record keeping
filing information
Animal First Aid
types of wounds
cuts
punctures
tears
treating and cleaning wounds
granulating wounds
stitching a wound
bone and joint problems
broken bones
tendon injury
poisoning
restraining animals during first aid
restraining cats
restraining dogs
restraining horses
restraining cattle
restraining sheep
Preventative Health Care
diet
insect control
dip
vaccinate
avoid stressing livestock
vaccination
Routine Health Treatments
de-sexing
castration
vasectomy
spaying
tubal ligation
castration of cats
dogs
pregnancy
gestation periods
euthanasia
anaesthesia and analgesia
preparing an animal for surgery
sterilising equipment
castrating a colt
Health Problems in Domestic Pets
burns
urinary tract infections;
shock
electrolytes
ticks
reptiles
fish problems
Rehabilitation Care
animal nursing
planning a recovery
Learning Goals
 Learning Goals: Animal Health Care VAG100
To be able to describe the scope of services offered by animal care services, including veterinary practices.
Describe common health problems in various animals, including injuries & diseases, causes of ill health problems in family pets
Explain the natural behaviour of different types of domestic animals in different situations – natural behaviour of animals, problems in wild animals, and behaviour in domestic animals
Identify common signs of ill health in different animals – vital signs, the healthy animal , signs & symptoms of disease , and diagnose and control of diseases
Describe the purposes of different facilities used in veterinary practice, the contents of a first aid kit, suitable enclosures for animals
Determine safety procedures for a veterinary practice, workplace safety issues, aspects of health and safety for veterinary practices
Describe different administration procedures in a veterinary practice, including animal insurance, legal considerations, day to day management of a veterinary office
Describe/select first aid procedures/treatments for different animals in response to common health problems in animals, identify types of wounds and suitable treatments
Describe requirements for maintaining good health in domestic animals, including nutrition & preventative medicine, preventing ill health through correct management, vaccinations
To develop an understanding of routine treatments for healthy animals such as de-sexing, managing a pregnancy and euthanasia
To develop a broader awareness of health problems and their treatment in domestic pets, discuss ticks and tick borne diseases, Australian animals, birds, reptiles, and fish
To develop skills in caring for animals prior to, during or after treatment, planning a recovery and animal nursing
Practical (Set Tasks)
Practicals:
Contact several bodies/organisations that are concerned with animal welfare, and obtain any literature or other information which you can, regarding issues such as:
Restrictions placed by local councils upon the keeping of pets.
Legal requirements on animal owners, with respect to animal welfare
Find two different types of domestic animals which you can observe (ie. different species).
Observe each on two different occasions, for at least 15 minutes each time.
Make notes of their behaviour.
Note any similarities between behaviour on the different occasions, and between the different types of animals.
Describe methods used for controlling/restraining animals during an examination
List as many things as you can that might cause a dogs temperature to go to 40oC.
Contact a state government veterinary/agriculture department, and find out anything you can about health risks to humans from domestic & farm animal diseases in your country.
Try to determine what animals are the biggest threat; what diseases are a more serious threat, and what controls are in place to minimise such problems.
List any animal diseases which may be also contracted by man, which you are aware of?
Research exotic diseases in your country or region and take notes.
Design a standard “Patient record” card/form for use by a general practice veterinarian.
At the end of each lesson their is an assignment which is submitted to the Academy to be marked by the Academy’s tutors and returned with relevant feedback, suggestions, and where suggested, extra reading.
More Information
Vicky Protopapadaki MSc (Distinction) Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare (University of Edinburgh), BSc Business Administration (University of the Aegean), Cert. Companion Animal Behaviour (University of Edinburgh ), Cert. Animal Use and Care (University of Prince Edward Island).
Vickys passion for animals led her to obtain her MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare, despite her having a background in business and management. Apart from her personal experience with animals, she volunteers at various animal shelters around Greece and has done research on feline behaviour at the University of Prince Edward Island in Canada and on primate behaviour at Edinburgh Zoo. She is currently researching PhD opportunities in the field of animal ethics and studying entrepreneurship for the purpose of creating her own charity for animal protection in Greece.
Gain all important hands-on experience with wildlife animals, to add to your CV whilst you are studying this Higher Advanced Diploma with ADL, or after completing it. We are very happy to be associated with GVE, which offers an unforgettable volunteer experience in South Africa with their Game Capture and Vet Experience programs.
The program fee charged for the experience also acts as the main support for GVE’s non-profit clinic.
Interested in reading more information about both the Game Capture and Vet Experience programs? Then just click on the GVE logo below
Assessment
Assessment is based on a combination of completing all assignments and sitting for a final short one and a half hour exam, in your own location.
If you don’t cope well with exams then you may elect to undertake a project instead. This is a popular option.
In addition, most modules have a Set Task at the end of each lesson placed before the assignment. This is an opportunity to undertake practical work to help you acquire knowledge and skills and practical experience. This ADL feature is an added bonus not found at most online schools. Set Tasks are not required for assessment.Â
Some courses also have optional Self-Tests which are available on our online learning platform. These are not available by correspondence or by USB, and do not form part of your overall grade.
How our courses work
Choose Your Learning Method You choose how you would like to receive your course material, i.e., Online, USB or Correspondence. The choice is yours. You may also work on online or offline.
Tutor Allocation Every student is assigned their own dedicated tutor who is an expert in their subject area. They provide as much or as little individual contact as you require. You can contact your tutor whenever you need – your hours are not limited.
Feedback and Assignments Tutor Feedback is an essential component in helping you understand the subject matter. Tutor feedback is given in the form of notes written on the assignment. We encourage you to contact your Tutor where help with clarification and understanding of course material may be required.
Your assignments are located at the end of each lesson. You submit them for marking whenever you are ready. There is no time limit. Â
Set Tasks and Self-Tests Most modules have a Set Task at the end of each lesson before for the assignment. This is where you get the opportunity to undertake practical work to help you acquire knowledge, skills and practical experience. Many modules also have short Self-Tests.
Exams Once all assignments have been completed you may then elect to sit for a one and half hour exam in your own location. If you prefer not to take the exam you do have the option to undertake a project instead. Once the exam or project part of the course is completed, your Certificate is then processed. Please allow approximately 4 weeks for this.
Design Your Own Qualification ADL offers students the flexibility to self-design their own qualification – bundling together a combination of 100-hour modules into a qualification higher than a certificate.
FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Here is a list of the most often asked FAQ’s.
General
Q. Why should I enrol with the Academy for Distance Learning? A. Here at ADL, our students are our priority – we treat everyone as a unique individual.
Q. Do I need to buy text books? A. No, as each module has been written by highly qualified industry professionals. The content of the material is presented in such a way that text books are not required. However, if you require additional reading your tutor will be able to supply a list.
Q. What happens if I have to stop studying for a while? (eg. become sick, go on holidays, have a baby, move house, etc) A. It’s OK to take a break and start up your study at a later point in time. Just let us know.
Q. Is there an age limit? A. There is no maximum age limit. We do however, have a minimum age limit of 18 years. Below that age parental consent would be required.
Q. Are your courses up-to date? A. Our courses are revised and updated on a rotation system.
Q. Do you have a Cancellation policy? A. Yes. We have a cancellation policy that is fair and equitable. For further details please click here.
Q. Will I have any opportunity to engage with other students? A. We have a Student Community group based on facebook! If you don’t have a facebook account already, you could make one just for talking with fellow students on the group.
Enrolment
Q. When can I enrol/start? A. You may enrol and start at any time of the year – it’s all self- paced.
Q. Can I study from anywhere in the world? A. Our courses are available to anyone, anywhere in the world from the comfort of your own home. The course content is relevant to any country, culture or economy.
Q. How long do I have to complete the course? A. You complete the course at any time that is convenient for you.
Q. Completing a 100 hour module – how long will it take? A. For some students a 100 hour module will take approximately to 3- 6 months to complete. Others take less time and some even longer.
Assessment
Q. Assessment – how does it work? A. For each 100 hour module you are assessed by assignments (at the end of each lesson) and a final one and a half hour exam (or you may elect to complete a Project, instead of sitting the exam) – the choice is yours – you sit for the exam in your own location.
Q. I don’t cope well with exams – what can I do? A. You may elect to undertake a Project (set by your tutor) instead of sitting the exam. Projects are completed from your home and can usually take a couple of weeks to complete.
Q. If my assignment is not up to standard is there an opportunity to resubmit my work? A. Yes –
Q. How many assignments do I need to complete for each module? A. At the end of each lesson, there is an assignment – so if a course has say, 10 lessons, there would be 10 assignments.
Q. I am having difficulty attending workshops/industry meetings, what can be done? A. If your course requires attendance at workshops, conferences, or industry meetings; alternative arrangements can be made in your country.
Qualifications
Q. Can I customize my diploma/higher qualification?
A. Not all educational institution’s certificates /diplomas meet everyone’s needs. The opportunity to Design Your Own Diploma at the Academy (subject to our approval) is an added bonus, not found at other colleges. You choose modules that you think will help you in achieving your goal.
Q. What do I get when I complete the course? Will I receive a transcript? A. At the completion of all courses and providing all assignments and exam requirements have been met, you will receive your Award and a Transcript.
Tutors
Q. Our tutors – who are they? A. We appoint Tutors and require that they must be currently active in their industry, with at least 5 years’ experience in their chosen profession.
Q. Can I contact my tutor at any time? A. Yes – you have unlimited access to your tutor via email through our Online Classroom. You can always leave a message with ADL requesting your tutor to contact you. You decide on how much or how little contact you wish to have.
Q. Practical work – How is this done? A. To find out more about this part of the course please visit the section on How Our Courses Work here.
What's Included
Excerpt from the Course
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF DISEASES
Recognising Ill Health
There are degrees of ill health ranging from the animal that is merely “off-colour” to one that is desperately ill.
The animal that looks “not quite right” should be observed closely until it appears fully recovered. If it is incubating a serious disease, an early diagnosis could save the animal. By checking the vital signs of the animal, the farmer can receive early warning that something is amiss. Seriously ill animals must receive immediate and urgent veterinary attention.
The first sign that an animal is becoming sick is that it picks at or refuses food. It may drink more or less water than normal, depending on the illness. The eyes will be dull, and on closer inspection, the mucous membranes may have changed colour. Deep red membranes indicate fever; pale membranes show anaemia; yellow membranes indicate a liver disorder, while blue-red membranes show heart and circulatory problems, or pneumonia.
The coat will look dull and dry, and the hairs may stand up (on cattle and goats). The animal might be sweating. A cold sweat indicates pain while a hot sweat indicates fever. If the animal is in pain it will probably be restless (getting up and down and pacing about) and it might even be groaning.
The animal will either scour (eg. pass very loose droppings), or will become constipated and pass no droppings at all. The passing of urine might also cease. A very sick animal will lie down for long periods and will not get up when approached.
The vital signs of a sick animal will change. The temperature may go up or down. A rise in temperature of one or two degrees usually indicates pain, while a rise of more usually indicates infection.
The rate of respiration, and the way the animal breathes could also slow changes. With pain or infection, breathing becomes more rapid. In a very sick animal, breathing can be laboured and shallow.
A slightly increased pulse rate suggests pain, while a rapid pulse suggests fever. An irregular pulse can indicate heart trouble. In a very sick animal, the pulse is weak and feeble.
DIAGNOSIS OF DISEASES
In the case of infectious diseases, early and accurate diagnosis is most important.
The early stages of a disease are more easily treated as the germ causing the disease has not gained a strong foothold in the body of the animal, and it is less likely to have produced tissue damage which may be difficult to repair. Moreover, as a disease develops in an infected animal, the longer it is left untreated the greater the risk of the disease spreading to other animals on the farm.
Diagnosis of disease depends to a large extent on the skill and experience of the farmer or the veterinary surgeon. Quite often an accurate diagnosis can only be made by taking samples of blood, mucous, sputum, milk or dung from the animal, and sending these to a veterinary laboratory for examination. For example, dung samples will often show the presence of worms and other internal parasites inside the animal. Blood from an aborted calf might show the presence of bacteria causing spontaneous abortion.
Animal Health eBook course online.Animal welfare and wellbeing has become increasingly important in recent times and is a major social issue in developed countries.
“For the past 10,000 years, people all over the world have domesticated animals for various purposes. Some animals such as dogs and cats were domesticated as pets to provide company to humans. Livestock animals such as cattle and sheep were kept to provide products such as meat, wool or milk, or kept as working animals. No matter what the reason, animals and humans have been connected over an extended period of time.
Optimum health is essential to the wellbeing and longevity of all animals. It is the responsibility animal owners to ensure the welfare of the animals within their care. As part of the general care of animals, we need to be able to identify diseases. The first step in recognising diseases in animals is to understand when an animal is unwell. This generally requires three things: information on the history of the animal, a physical examination and specialized testing to identify the cause of the illness.”
CONTENTS
Preface
Introduction
Understanding Animal Health Issues
Preventing Disease and Injury
Inspecting for Health
Differential Diagnosis
Some Common Illnesses in Animals
An excerpt from the book:
“Animals can encounter various health problems including the following.
Viral Diseases- A virus is a parasite that must infect a living cell to reproduce. A virus is defined as any of various simple sub-microscopic parasites of plants,
animals, and bacteria that often cause disease and that consist essentially of a core of RNA or DNA surrounded by a protein coat. They are unable to replicate
without a host cell and are typically not considered living organisms.
Bacterial Diseases- Bacteria commonly enter a hosts body by invading a break (i.e. wound) in the skin, a membrane or wall. Often this “break” must occur in a specific part of an organ, for a particular type of bacteria e.g. Diphtheria can only enter through the tonsils, while pneumonia can only invade through the walls of the respiratory tract. Once inside a host, bacteria have to resist the defense mechanisms of the host. If the bacteria manage to overcome this system, they will then set about spreading infection by growing rapidly in the immediate tissues, blood or lymphatic fluid.
Bacteria cause injury in tissue by producing toxins or poisons. Some toxins are secreted into tissue while the bacteria lives (eg. tetanus), while others are only released when the bacteria dies or breaks up. Many bacterial diseases show an incubation period. This means that some time may elapse before the symptoms of the disease develops. Not all hosts show the same susceptibility to diseases.
Fungal Diseases- Fungal diseases are called mycoses. Veterinary medical mycology deals with fungal disease in both invertebrate and vertebrate animals. Fungal disease agents are widespread and can be isolated from a wide range of animals, from the soil and the environment. When fungi are suspected to cause animal disease, it is important to have criteria to distinguish infection, colonisation and contamination in order to reach a diagnosis. Some fungi are restricted to specific animals and others are found on a range of different animals. When making a diagnosis it is important to distinguish whether a fungus is actually the causal organism, or whether in is only a secondary factor.
Genetic Disorders- A genetic disorder is an illness caused by abnormalities in animals genome. Genetic disorders caused either by a different form of a gene called a variation, or an alteration of a gene called a mutation. Mutations may occur randomly or as a result of environmental exposure. Other genetic disorders are inherited.
Metabolic and Nutritional Disease These are conditions that are caused by a disturbance of normal metabolic functions. These disturbances can be caused by genetic drift, inadequate or incorrect nutrition and impaired nutrition utilisation. Metabolic diseases are any that disrupt normal metabolism (the process of converting food to energy within the cells). Nutritional diseases are nutritionally-based. Good nutrition supports a healthy immune system to ward off infectiousdiseases. Proper nutritional balances help keep the animal healthy. Nutritional imbalances may make the animal more prone to disease.”
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Animal Health eBook course online.Animal welfare and wellbeing has become increasingly important in recent times and is a major social issue in developed countries.