Small Animal Health and Disease

Catalog description

Introduction to the principles of small animal health, including the recogniti recognition, prevention and control of common small animal diseases. ANSC 315 Small Animal Health and Disease (3) Small animals play increasingly important roles in human lives. In addition to their function as pets, they serve the disabled; protect human well-being through the police, military and border inspection services; and act as research subjects for the development of medical and technological advances. Control of disease and promotion of animal health is important in all small animal industries and uses.This course is designed to provide a basic background in the principles of health in small animal species (primarily dogs and cats). Emphasis will be on the maintenance of a healthy animal system, including the recognition, prevention and control of the most common small animal diseases.Because of the increasing among of information available to all people through the internet and media, students will be given tools to understand basic medical terminology and will practice reading and interpreting scientific research. In addition, the importance of animal disease on public health will be addressed.Diagnosis and treatment of disease will only be covered in a general, illustrative fashion. This course is not intended to train students in the diagnosis and treatment of specific diseases, but rather to recognize the conditions and factors which encourage disease, but rather to recognize the conditions and factors which encourage disease spread and to understand how to control and rectify those situations.Because of the varied situations in which small animals function, a primary objective will be to be able to apply the principles of animal health and disease prevention to varied facets of the small animal industry (e.g. private ownership, veterinary medicine, shelter work and management, service animal breeding/training, biomedical and nutritional research).This course is designed for students planning to work in or having a special interest in the small animal industry, including veterinary medicine, the pet food and pet products industry, the working dog industry, live animal sales, pharmaceutical sales, and research.