Lesson Structure: Animal Husbandry II BAG201 (Animal Health)

There are 10 lessons:

1 Introduction to Animal Health

• Learn to describe common diseases affecting farm animals and the circumstances under which animals contract these diseases
• The healthy animal
• Causes of ill health
• Preventing ill health

2 Signs & Symptoms of Diseases

• The physical symptoms of diseases in farm animals
• Common methods of handling animals during health assessments
• Recognising ill health
• Restraining a horse
• Sheep handling facilities

3 Disease Classification

• Methods used in classifying animal diseases
• Viral diseases
• Bacterial diseases
• Parasitic diseases
• Protozoal diseases
• Disease types in beef cattle
• Diseases in sheep

4 Causes and Diagnosis of Disease

• The causes of disease and the relevant methods of diagnosis
• Examining cattle
• Examining a horse
• Ticks
• Ttick-borne diseases
• Diagnosis of diseases

5 Treatment of Disease

• Methods used in the treatment of diseases in farm animals
• Vaccination
• The animal first aid kit
• Tetanus antiserum
• Animal nursing
• Quarantine
• Slaughter
• Post mortem
• Disease prevention in cattle
• Disease prevention in sheep
• Treatment of parasites in sheep

6 Inflamation

• Outline the nature and causes of inflammation in farm animals
• The inflammatory response
• Causes of inflammation
• Types of inflammation
• Symptoms of inflammation
• Inflammatory exudate
• Treatment of inflammation

7 Fever and Immunity

• The biological mechanisms underlying fever and the immune system in farm animals
• The fever mechanism
• Other temperature related disorders
• Effect of temperature on enzymes
• Iimmunity

8 Tissue Repair

• The biological mechanisms underlying tissue repair in farm animals
• Healing of a clean incised wound
• Healing of an open wound
• Common horse ailments to recognise

9 Wounds

• The biological mechanisms of wounds in farm animals and address different treatment methods for repair of common ailments
• Types of wounds
• First aid treatments
• Bandaging horses
• Emergencies

10 Cell changes

• The causes and biological mechanisms of cell change in farm animals
• Neoplasms
• Tumours and cancers
• The cause of an infectious disease, death, cancers etc.

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Learning Goals: Animal Husbandry II BAG201 (Animal Health)

• Explain common health problems affecting animals, including the circumstances under which animals contract health problems, and methods used to prevent the development of ill health
• Analyse physical indicator symptoms of ill health in animals.
• Determine the taxonomic class of animal pests and diseases.
• Explain the diagnostic characteristics of the main types of animal pathogenic micro-organisms
• Explain the methods used in the treatment of pests and diseases in farm animals
• Explain the role of inflammation, including its symptoms and causes, in animals
• Explain the biological processes which affect and control the immune system in animals
• Explain the biological processes which affect and control tissue repair in animals
• Determine procedures for the management of wounds to animals, on a farm
• Explain the processes involved in cellular change in animals
• Diagnose simple health problems in farm animals
• List criteria used to assess the health status, including ill-health, of animals.
• Describe the different causes of ill-health in animals.
• Explain the methods used to prevent ill-health in animals.
• Write a standard procedure for a routine health examination of a chosen farm animal.
• Describe the symptoms of ill-health in animals.
• Compare the causes of two symptomatically similar health problems for a specified farm animal.
• Diagnose a health problem from a given set of symptoms.
• Distinguish, using labelled illustrations, between different taxonomic classes of animal pest and disease organisms.
• Describe identifying characteristics of four different disease carrying agents of specified farm animals.
• Classify commonly occurring pests and diseases of three different animals, into their taxonomic classes.
• Describe the characteristics of viruses, using illustrations and a report.
• Describe the characteristics of bacteria, using illustrations and a report.
• Describe the characteristics of protozoa, using illustrations and a report.
• Describe the characteristics of parasites, using illustrations and a report.
• Describe the characteristics of nutritional disorders, using illustrations and a report.
• Analyse the relevance of ten specified factors, to determining the health of a chosen species of farm animal.
• Describe the veterinary treatments available over the counter for on-farm use.
• Explain the vaccination programs used to treat two different specifies of farm animal.
• Describe the applications and techniques used for dips, to control external parasites in a specified farm animal.
• List the essential items for a First Aid Kit for a specified farm animal.
• Write guidelines for general procedures to follow when nursing sick farm animals.
• List the procedures employed in quarantine, using a chosen animal as an example.
• Describe the procedures for slaughtering a diseased ruminant in order to conduct a post-mortem examination.
• Prepare an illustrated, one page report on the post-mortem procedures of a ruminant.
• Compare different methods used to control a specified disease in animals.
• Identify a suitable method of control for ten different, specified pests and diseases.
• Differentiate between factors which cause inflammation in animals.
• Develop a checklist for analysing inflammation.
• Explain the inflammatory response.
• Compare the different methods used to control inflammation in animals.Â
• Describe the function of the immune system in animals.
• List the agents which can cause fevers in animals.
• Explain the biology of fevers in a specified case study of an animal species.
• Explain the methods used in treating fevers in animals.
• Explain at least five factors which influence immune response in animals.
• Explain the characteristics of the immune system in a chosen animal species.
• Describe the composition of tissues at different body sites, in terms of susceptibility to different types of internal and external damage.
• Compare the characteristics of different types of tissue damage.
• List factors, in terms of both rate of, and quality of repair; which influence tissue repair.
• Explain the biological processes, which occur as damaged tissue heals in animals.
• Compare the different effects of wounding, including psychological, physiological and anatomical, to different parts of a specified animals body.
• Explain the different biological processes which occur following wounding, including: tissue repair and infection.
• Develop a checklist for the treatment of wounds in animals.
• List an appropriate treatment for different types of wounds to different species of animals.
• Describe post care treatment of the wounds as discussed above.
• Determine the potential causes of wounding of animals.
• Develop guidelines for prevention of wounds to animals, based on the potential causes identified above.
• Describe the different causes of cellular change in animals.
• Explain the general processes associated with cancer at a cellular level, in animals.
• Explain the cellular processes associated with death of animal tissue.
• List factors which influence the rate and extent of cellular change in diseased animals.
• Monitor the health condition of an animal over a four month period.
• Observe, and prepare a report, on the veterinarians diagnostic process/ health assessment methodology, when inspecting different animals.
• Diagnose the cause of different health problems, detected in three different genera of animals.
• Develop a checklist of the diagnostic indicators of common health problems, which occur in different animal species.

Your learning experience with ADLwill not only depend on the quality of the course, but also the quality of the person teaching it. This course is taught by Vicky Protopapadaki and your course fee includes unlimited tutorial support throughout. Here are Vicky's credentials:

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.

Excerpt from the Course

VIRUSES

Viruses are extremely difficult to identify. Being so small, they are difficult to isolate or detect, even when their symptoms are prolific.

Identification is usually carried out by passing liquid containing a virus through a porcelain filter. This filter holds back most other micro organisms but allows viruses to pass through. The liquid which is collected can then be grown on living tissue. It is often injected into eggs. The culture can later be analysed.

Viruses contain a coat or outer layer of protein enclosing a nucleic acid (RNA or DNA). Most viruses that attack animals contain DNA, while those attacking plants usually contain RNA. Viruses occur in three main shapes: spheres, rods and tadpole like shapes.

Lifecycle

Viruses can only grow inside living cells of other organisms, and they normally need to be inside a specific host (eg. A particular type of virus only affects a particular type of animal). Though they might not grow, they can however survive for long periods outside of a host. Viruses multiply by piercing the cell wall of a host then using the material inside the cell to make more viruses.

Transmission

Viruses can be transmitted in many different ways including:

• By insects such as mosquitos or fleas which take infected blood from one animal to another.
• By wild animals, birds and rodents as carriers.
• Through body fluids such as saliva, semen or blood, from one animal to another.
• Through skin contact
• By breathing in droplets in the air (eg. common cold)

Prevention

It is important to prevent potential carriers of viruses coming in contact with livestock.

Where the carrier is restricted to one vector (eg. fleas) control is fairly simple. A preparatory powder, for example, can be dusted onto the host animal to protect it from fleas. When the virus has many carriers, however, it is difficult to prevent all the potential carriers from coming into contact with the host.

Protection against the more serious viral diseases is usually through vaccination.

Either an attenuated (mild) strain of the actual virus is injected into the animal, or a similar, but harmless strain is used. For example, the vaccination against foot and mouth makes use of an attenuated strain of the virus. The animal develops antibodies to the virus, and is protected from the disease.

Viruses are responsible for some serious livestock diseases including rabies and foot and mouth.

EBOOK TO COMPLIMENT THIS COURSE

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.

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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.