Document Actions
Small Animal and Vet Assisting
This one-unit course focuses on animals kept as service, companion, and laboratory animals, including dogs and cats. Content includes species and importance of small animals, anatomy and physiology, nutrition and feeding, disease and health management, reproduction, facilities, and well-being. Content areas related to veterinary assisting include asepsis, animal restraint and safety, animal positions and terminology, vital signs, equipment, laboratory testing, and administration of medications. FFA and supervised experience will be included as appropriate.
"Regular"
120
Kurt Murray
kmurr@okcareertech.org
(405) 743-5489
Introduction to Agriscience
Unit VET1: Nature and importance of small animal care and veterinary assisting (10 hours)
Benchmark VET1-1: Students will discuss the meaning of small animals, list important species, describe uses of the species, and match common and scientific names.
Benchmark VET1-2: Students will explain the meaning and importance of veterinary assisting.
Benchmark VET1-3: Students will describe the scope and importance of small animals and veterinary assisting in the local community, Oklahoma, and the United States.
Benchmark VET1-4: Students will explain the importance and practice of animal well-being and ethics with small animals .
Unit VET2: Career entry and advancement in the small animal industry and veterinary assisting (8 hours)
Benchmark VET2-1: Students will identify occupations in the small animal industry and list the competencies needed for occupational entry.
Benchmark VET2-2: Students will identify and assess entrepreneurship opportunities in the small animal industry.
Benchmark VET2-3: Students will explain the nature of work in veterinary assisting and where job opportunities are found.
Benchmark VET2-4: Students will name and describe important personal skills for success in small animal care and veterinary assisting careers.
Unit VET3: Personal and occupational safety with small animals and veterinary assisting (10 hours)
Benchmark VET3-1: Students will assess personal and occupational safety requirements in small animal and veterinary assisting work and choose appropriate safety practices .
Benchmark VET3-2: Students will properly select, use, and maintain personal protective equipment when working with small animals and in veterinary assisting.
Benchmark VET3-3: Students will relate behavioral characteristics of small animal species in using safe handling practices.
Benchmark VET3-4: Students will define zoonosis, relate examples, and identify appropriate safety practices with small animals and veterinary assisting.
Unit VET4: Dogs (34 hours)
Benchmark VET4-1: Students will identify external anatomical features of dogs.
Benchmark VET4-2: Students will describe the major classes of dogs and identify breeds within each class.
Benchmark VET4-3: Students will name and describe functions of the major body systems of dogs, including integumentary, skeletal, muscular, digestive, excretory, urinary, respiratory, circulatory, nervous, and endocrine systems.
Benchmark VET4-4: Students will discuss the importance of genetics and heredity with dogs, including the role of pedigrees in animal selection.
Benchmark VET4-5: Students will identify major parts of male and female reproductive systems, describe mating behavior, and the role of the estrous cycle in female dogs.
Benchmark VET4-6: Students will explain phases of reproductive development in dogs, including puberty, fertilization, gestation, parturition, and lactation.
Benchmark VET4-7: Students will describe the appropriate care of pregnant female dog, including feeding, exercise, housing, and whelping.
Benchmark VET4-8: Students will describe proper care of new-born puppies and developing young dog.
Benchmark VET4-9: Students will explain the nutrient needs of dogs, choose appropriate rations, and demonstrate methods of feeding.
Benchmark VET4-10: Students will list common diseases and parasites of dogs and identify health management practices related to nutrition, sanitation, vaccination, and the environment .
Benchmark VET4-11: Students will demonstrate the administration of medications used with dogs.
Benchmark VET4-12: Students will describe facilities and equipment needed with dogs.
Benchmark VET4-13: Students will demonstrate training and grooming with dogs.
Benchmark VET 4-14: Students will demonstrate knowledge of identification methods and regulations in dog industry .
Unit 5: Cats (24 hours)
Benchmark VET5-1: Students will identify external anatomical features of cats.
Benchmark VET5-2: Students will describe the classes of cats and identify breeds.
Benchmark VET5-3: Students will name and describe functions of the major body systems of cats, including integumentary, skeletal, muscular, digestive, excretory, urinary, respiratory, circulatory, nervous, and endocrine systems.
Benchmark VET5-4: Students will discuss the importance of genetics and heredity with cats, including the role of pedigrees in animal selection.
Benchmark VET5-5: Students will identify major parts and functions of male and female cat reproductive systems .
Benchmark VET5-6: Students will describe mating behavior and the role of the estrous cycle in female cats.
Benchmark VET5-7: Students will describe the appropriate care of a pregnant female cat, including feeding, exercise, housing, and kittening.
Benchmark VET5-8: Students will describe proper care of new-born kittens and developing young cat.
Benchmark VET5-9: Students will explain the nutrient needs of cats based on species, age, life stage, and activity and select an appropriate ration and feeding method.
Benchmark VET5-10: Students will list common diseases and parasites of cats, identify health management practices, and demonstrate the administration of medications .
Benchmark VET5-11: Students will describe facilities and equipment needed with cats.
Benchmark VET5-12: Students will demonstrate training and grooming with cats.
Unit VET6: Birds, rabbits, and other small animals (20 hours)
Benchmark VET6-1: Students will identify companion bird species and describe reproduction, nutrition and feeding, health, and facility management of companion birds .
Benchmark VET6-2: Students will identify weight categories and breeds of domestic rabbits and describe reproduction, nutrition, feeding, health, and facility management of domestic rabbits.
Benchmark VET6-3: Students will name and identify the kinds of rodents and demonstrate proper feeding, health and reproductive care, and facilities needed with rodents.
Benchmark VET6-4: Students will demonstrate proper care and management of ferrets, hedgehogs, and chinchillas.
Benchmark VET6-5: Students will demonstrate proper care and management of amphibians and reptiles used as companion animals.
Benchmark VET6-6: Students will identify species of ornamental fish and demonstrate proper feeding and management of aquatic environments for freshwater and saltwater species.
Unit VET7: Veterinary assisting in medical practice (26 hours)
Benchmark VET7-1: Students will describe the nature and operation of a veterinary medical facility.
Benchmark VET7-2: Students will identify and demonstrate proper use of instruments and equipment used by veterinary assistants.
Benchmark VET7-3: Students describe general procedures in the examination and care of animals.
Benchmark VET7-4: Students will use appropriate veterinary medical terms in oral and written communication.
Benchmark VET7-5: Students will explain animal positions and direction, including ventral, dorsal, caudal, cranial, superficial, deep, distal, and peripheral.
Unit VET8: Routine veterinary medical practices (38 hours)
Benchmark VET8-1: Students will check and record the vital signs of an animal, including temperature, respiration rate, and heart rate.
Benchmark VET8-2: Students will use a stethoscope to listen to internal sounds and assess the health of an animal.
Benchmark VET8-3: Students will assist in collecting fluid or tissue samples for testing and perform simple tests.
Benchmark VET8-4: Students will assist in administering medications, including oral, topical, and injected medications.
Benchmark VET8-5: Students will properly restrain and lift an animal based on its species and size.
Benchmark VET8-6: Students will practice aseptic techniques, including cleaning, washing, and using sterilization equipment and practices.
Unit VET9: Agricultural education (10 hours)
Benchmark VET9-1: Students will manage an appropriate supervised experience in small animal care and veterinary assisting .
Benchmark VET9-2: Students will identify opportunities for participation and advancement in the FFA related to small animal care and veterinary assisting.
Veterinary Assistant – CTTC
http://www.okcareertech.org/testing/Skills%20Standards/Health_Career_Cluster.htm
Veterinary Technician – AAVSB
http://www.aavsb.orgCareer Cluster Resources for Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
http://www.careerclusters.org/resources/ClusterDocuments/agdocuments/AGFinal.pdf
Veterinary Assistant – CTTC
http://www.okcareertech.org/testing/Skills%20Standards/Health_Career_Cluster.htm
Veterinary Technician - AAVSB
http://www.proexam.org/html/pes_examination_profession.html#VeterinaryOklahoma State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners
American Association of Veterinary State BoardsDog Learning Laboratory Kit - Ohio State University, Curriculum Materials Service.
www.AgEdCenter.com
Veterinary Science Curriculum Package - Collection, Cornell Educational Resource Program through Ohio State University, Curriculum Materials Service.
www.AgEdCenter.com
Veterinary Science Instructional Manual and Teacher Edition CD-ROM. 2007-2008 The Core, National FFA Organization.
Small Animal Care and Management, Warren. 2002. Delmar-Thomson Learning.
www.delmarlearning.com
Introduction to Veterinary Science, Baker and Lawhead. 2005. Delmar-Thomson Learning.
www.delmarlearning.com