Exotic Species. Total Number of Lectures/Practicals 2005/2006 = 12 hours 2 Block 1 or 2 Ref Heading Details of pics which are covered in lectures and practical classes or revised by Recognition and identification of commonly kept small mammal species, breed and colour type Lagomorphs (rabbits). Mustelids (ferrets). Rodentia (rat, mouse, chinchilla, guinea pig, hamster, gerbil, chipmunk). Basic anamy and physiology Skeletal, digestive, respirary, sensory and urogenital systems. Integument. Thermoregulation. Blood sampling. Precocious and altricious young. Life span. Gestation length, age of weaning, litter size, age of puberty, body weight, normal physiological parameters. Sexing of small mammals Sexual dimorphism. Methods of sexing. External genitalia. Compilation of comprehensive case hisry Signalement. Presenting problem. Significance of husbandry and nutrition in aetiology of diseases of small mammals. Stressors and in-contacts. Record of past hisry / illness. Natural hisry of small mammals and normal habitat Terrestrial / sub-terrain / arboreal. Tropical / desert.. General husbandry in captivity Housing, cage furniture, bedding. Temperature, lighting, phoperiod, humidity, ventilation. Cleaning and disinfection. Grooming and dust baths. Knowledge of optimal environment for each species Environmental enrichment. Exercise. Visual security. 1
Ref Heading Details of pics which are covered in lectures and practical classes or revised by Nutrition Omnivore, herbivore, carnivore. Feeding habits. Significance of fibre. Coprophagia. Recommended diet in captivity. Provision of water. Specific species behaviour Solitary / gregarious. Neophobia / inquisitive. Terririal. Prey / predar. Nocturnal / diurnal. Hibernation. Burrowing. Advising on choosing of pet and suitability with regard lifestyle of owner Longevity of pet. Diurnal / nocturnal. Cost implications. owner expertise. Human / pet bond. Children / other pets. Advising owners Methods of transport: handling of pet, transport containers. Insulation / ventilation. Stressors. Basic telephone advice: first aid emergency advice, recognition of normality. Client education on discharging pet. Post operative care. Feeding regimes. Administration of medication. Handling - avoiding stress. Catching, handling and restraint. Restraint for veterinary examination. The hazards of handling, the pet and the handler. Handling - clinical examination. Sexing. TPR. Key body systems. Fluid / nutrition status, weight, daily progress in hospital, analysis of faeces, detailed record keeping. Administration of medicines. Injection sites, methods and risks. Parenteral: sc, im, iv, ip. Per os, pical, nebulisation. 2
Ref Heading Details of pics which are covered in lectures and practical classes or revised by Special medical requirements of small mammals Husbandry requirements in hospital. Nutritional supplements. Assisted feeding. Routes of fluid therapy, suitable fluids and volumes. Palatable dietary requirements. Use of unlicensed drugs. Risks associated with antibiotic use in small mammals. Importance of client education: vaccination, neutering, husbandry, diet, strict hygiene. Zoonoses: signs and management: dermaphysis etc. Barrier nursing in hospital. Isolation. common conditions in the rabbit Dental disease, myxomasis, viral haemorrhagic disease, pasturellosis, snuffles, pneumonia, skin diseases and ecparasites, phanm pregnancy, uterine neoplasia. common conditions in the ferret. Distemper, influenza, ear mites, alopecia, hyperoestrogenism, fleas, bacterial skin infection. common conditions in the rat and mouse Wet tail, scurvy, mange mites, murine pneumonia, dental disease, mammary neoplasia, pododermatitis, behavioural dermases, fur mites. common conditions in the chinchilla Malocclusion, dermaphysis, fur slip and other fur conditions, slobbers, pneumonia, conjunctivits, gastric tympany, heat stroke. 3
Ref Heading Details of pics which are covered in lectures and practical classes or revised by common conditions in the guinea pig Hypovitaminosis C, dental disease, pneumonia, ovarian cysts, dyscia, Trixacarus caviae, dermaphysis, pododermatitis, stud bum. common conditions in the hamster Pouch impaction, tumours, hyperadrenocorticism, proliferative ileitis, demodectic mange, Mycosis Fungoides, diet related alopecia, propsis of eye, fractures. common conditions in the gerbil Matted fur, tail degloving, ventral scent gland inflammation, facial dermatitis, epilepsy, Tyzzer s disease common conditions in the chipmunk Tail degloving, wounds, influenza. Overview Common procedures carried out on small mammals Radiology: restraint for radiography, positioning. Dental procedures: examination of the oral cavity, incisor trimming, post-operative care. Neutering procedures and their benefits Clinical pathology and collection of samples Blood sampling sites. Urine / faecal collection. Filling out laborary requests. Anaesthesia of small mammals Special considerations (including anamy and physiology) in anaesthesia of small mammals. Pre-anaesthetic evaluation. Fasting. Common anaesthetic drugs used. Anaesthetic equipment. Anaesthetic techniques. Intubation techniques. Moniring of anaesthesia. Analgesia and perioperative care. Importance of good nursing. 4
Ref Heading Details of pics which are covered in lectures and practical classes or revised by Recognition and identification of commonly kept reptile species and breed Sauria (lizards). Chelonia (rises, terrapins and turtles). Serpentia (snakes). Basic anamy and physiology Skeletal, digestive, respirary and urogenital systems. Integument. Thermoregulation. Blood sampling. Life span, body weight, normal physiological parameters. Sexing of reptiles Methods of sexing. External genitalia. Compilation of comprehensive case hisry Signalement. Presenting problem. Significance of husbandry and nutrition in aetiology of diseases of reptiles. Stressors and in-contacts. Record of past hisry / illness. Natural hisry of reptiles and normal habitat Terrestrial / aquatic / semi-aquatic / arboreal. Tropical / desert.. General husbandry in captivity Housing, cage furniture, bedding. Preferred optimum temperature zone, preferred body temperature. Lighting (UV), phoperiod, humidity, ventilation. Cleaning and disinfection. Knowledge of optimal environment for each species Environmental enrichment. Exercise. Visual security. Nutrition Omnivore, herbivore, carnivore, insectivore. Feeding habits. Recommended diet in captivity. Provision of water. 5
Ref Heading Details of pics which are covered in lectures and practical classes or revised by Specific species behaviour Solitary / gregarious. Neophobia / inquisitive. Terririal. Prey / predar. Nocturnal / diurnal. Hibernation. Advising on choosing of pet and suitability with regard lifestyle of owner Longevity of pet. Diurnal / nocturnal. Cost implications. owner expertise. Human / pet bond. Children / other pets. Advising owners Methods of transport: handling of pet, transport containers. Insulation / ventilation. Stressors. Basic telephone advice: first aid emergency advice, recognition of normality. Client education on discharging pet. Post operative care. Feeding regimes. Administration of medication. Handling - avoiding stress. Catching, handling and restraint. Restraint for veterinary examination. The hazards of handling, the pet and the handler. Handling - clinical examination. Sexing. TPR. Key body systems. Fluid / nutrition status, weight, daily progress in hospital, analysis of faeces, detailed record keeping. Administration of medicines. Injection sites, methods and risks. Parenteral: sc, im, iv, ip. Per os, pical, nebulisation. Special medical requirements of reptiles Husbandry requirements in hospital. Nutritional supplements. Assisted feeding. Routes of fluid therapy, suitable fluids and volumes. Warm water baths. Palatable dietary requirements. Use of unlicensed drugs. Importance of client education: neutering, husbandry, diet, strict hygiene. 6
Ref Heading Details of pics which are covered in lectures and practical classes or revised by Zoonoses: signs and management: salmonella etc. Barrier nursing in hospital. Isolation. common conditions in reptiles Respirary disease, including rhinitis and pneumonia, smatitis, anorexia, hypovitaminosis A, dysecdysis, nutritional osteodystrophy, post hibernation anorexia, abscesses, thermal burns Common procedures carried out on reptiles Radiology: restraint for radiography, positioning. Neutering procedures and their benefits. Clinical pathology and collection of samples Blood sampling sites. Use of anti-coagulants. Urine / faecal collection. Filling out laborary requests. Anaesthesia of reptiles Special considerations (including anamy and physiology) in anaesthesia of reptiles. Pre-anaesthetic evaluation. Fasting. Common anaesthetic drugs used. Anaesthetic equipment. Anaesthetic techniques. Intubation techniques. Moniring of anaesthesia. Analgesia and perioperative care. Importance of good nursing. 1 Recognition and identification of commonly kept avian species Psittaciformes (budgies, cockatiels, lovebirds, macaws and parrots). Passeriformes (canaries, zebra finches). Columiformes (pigeons, doves). Anseriformes (swans, ducks, geese). Falconiformes (hawks and kestrels). Galliformes (chickens, pheasant, quail). 7
Ref Heading Details of pics which are covered in lectures and practical classes or revised by 1 Basic anamy and physiology Skeletal, digestive, respirary, sensory and urogenital systems. Integument. Thermoregulation. Blood sampling. Life span. Reproduction. Body weight, normal physiological parameters. 1 Sexing of birds Sexual dimorphism. Methods of sexing, including endoscopy. 1 Compilation of comprehensive case hisry Signalement. Presenting problem. Significance of husbandry and nutrition in aetiology of diseases of birds. Evidence of feeding. Stressors and in-contacts. Record of past hisry / illness. 1 Natural hisry of birds and normal habitat Terrestrial / arboreal. Tropical / desert.. 1 General husbandry in captivity Housing, cage furniture, perches, bedding. Temperature, lighting, phoperiod, humidity (misting), ventilation. Cleaning and disinfection. 1 Knowledge of optimal environment for each species Environmental enrichment. Exercise. Visual security. 1 Nutrition Omnivore, herbivore, carnivore. Feeding habits. Recommended diet in captivity. Provision of water. Risks from a tal seed diet. 1 Specific species behaviour Solitary / flock. Neophobia / inquisitive. Terririal. Prey / predar. Nocturnal / diurnal. Preservation reflex. Preening. 8
Ref Heading Details of pics which are covered in lectures and practical classes or revised by 1 Advising on choosing of pet and suitability with regard lifestyle of owner Longevity of pet. Diurnal / nocturnal. Cost implications. owner expertise. Human / pet bond. Children / other pets. 1 Advising owners Methods of transport: handling of pet, transport containers. Insulation / ventilation. Stressors. Basic telephone advice: first aid emergency advice, recognition of normality. Client education on discharging pet. Post operative care. Feeding regimes. Administration of medication. 1 Handling - avoiding stress. Catching, handling and restraint. Restraint for veterinary examination. Hazards of handling, the pet and the handler. First aid for birds. 1 Handling - clinical examination. Sexing. TPR. Key body systems. Fluid / nutrition status, weight, daily progress in hospital, analysis of faeces and urine, detailed record keeping. 1 Administration of medicines. Injection sites, methods and risks. Parenteral: sc, im, iv, ip. Per os, pical, nebulisation. 1 Special medical requirements of birds Husbandry requirements in hospital. Nutritional supplements. Assisted feeding. Routes of fluid therapy, suitable fluids and volumes. Palatable dietary requirements. Use of unlicensed drugs. 1 Importance of client education: vaccination, neutering, husbandry, diet, strict hygiene. 1 Zoonoses: signs and management: psittacosis, aspergillosis etc. Barrier nursing in hospital. Isolation. 9
Ref Heading Details of pics which are covered in lectures and practical classes or revised by 1 common conditions in birds Acute dyspnoea, sinusitis, psittacosis, aspergillosis, pododermatitis, feather plucking, lipomas, thyroid hyperplasia, abnormal moulting, Dermanyssus gallinae, psittacine beak and feather disease, behavioural regurgitation, gout, chronic egg laying, egg retention, egg perinitis. 1 Common procedures carried out on birds Radiology: restraint for radiography, positioning. Endoscopy. Nail and beak trimming. Band removal. 1 Clinical pathology and collection of samples Blood sampling sites. Urine / faecal collection. Filling out laborary requests. Avian DNA testing. 1 Anaesthesia of birds Special considerations (including anamy and physiology) in anaesthesia of birds. Pre-anaesthetic evaluation. Fasting. Common anaesthetic drugs used. Anaesthetic equipment. Anaesthetic techniques. Intubation techniques. Moniring of anaesthesia. Analgesia and perioperative care. Importance of good nursing. 2 Wildlife Wild life casualties - stress and hospitalisation Triage of wildlife. First aid for wildlife. Options: euthanasia, treat and release, treat and captivity. Risks animal and handler when treating wildlife. Prey / predar. Nocturnal / diurnal. Minimal handling. Orphans, avoiding imprinting. Clinical examination of wildlife. Assessment of dietary needs. Diets for wildlife in hospital. Assisted feeding. Fluid therapy. Housing and equipment for treating wildlife. Developing a practice policy on wildlife. 2 Wildlife Special considerations Hedgehogs, foxes, badgers, squirrels 10
Ref Heading Details of pics which are covered in lectures and practical classes or revised by 2 Wildlife Wild animals - pre-release assessment Clinical examination including body condition / weight. Fit for the wild (flying etc). Timing of release: day / night. Location for release. Rehabilitation. 2 Wildlife Legislation affecting exotics & wildlife in Ireland Wildlife Act 11