Veterinary Technology

This online course provides students with required clinical tasks to be completed in an approved clinical site in the areas of: surgery, restraint, instrumentation, equipment, surgical and medical care, and basic clinical procedures on various animal species. Upon course completion, the student should be able to understand the responsibilities of a veterinary technician and begin the development of fundamental skills.

A series of online lectures and required clinical tasks are designed to introduce the student to hospital fundamentals. Topics include history and physical examination, breeds of animals, small animal parasitology, diagnostic and surgical procedures, equine and food animal nursing, exotic and avian nursing, sanitation, medical vocabulary, The Alabama Veterinary Practice Act, ethics, jurisprudence, and hospital management. Upon course completion, students should be able to perform history and physical examinations, collect samples, administer medications, perform fecal analysis, know different breeds of animals, and understand parasite life cycles, OSHA regulations and safety procedures, and the technician’s role in veterinary medicine.

This online course is designed specifically for students in the two-year veterinary technology program and covers the fundamentals of anatomy and physiology of mammals, avians, and reptiles. Topics include the skeletal system, muscular system, respiratory system, digestive system, circulatory system, urinary system, the eye, the ear, female reproductive system, pregnancy, parturition, lactation, male reproductive system, neurology, and the endocrine system; and online laboratory dissection. Upon course completion, the student should be able to identify major tissues and organs, understand the physiology of organs and organ systems, and understand the physiological basis for the development of clinical laboratory testing.

This online course provides students with required clinical tasks to be completed in an approved clinical site in the areas of surgery, and clinical medicine of various animal species. Required tasks will include surgical and nursing care, and clinical medicine of various animal species. Upon course completion, those skills learned from the previous semester should be reinforced and the student should have learned some new technical procedures.

This online course is designed to teach the basic principles in emergency treatment of various animal species and incorporates actual management in a clinical environment. Topics include emergency information, equipment and drugs, initial examination, evaluation and treatment, shock, cardiac arrest, respiratory emergencies, fluid therapy, blood collection and transfusion, emergency treatment of specific conditions, poisonings. Upon course completion, the student should be able to administer first aid to animals needing immediate attention.

This online course introduces students to common laboratory techniques and diagnostic methods. Students will begin developing laboratory skills with an emphasis in the areas of urology and hematology. Topics of study include the basic laboratory, hematology, bone marrow and blood cytology, urinalysis, clinical chemistry, function tests of the liver, kidney, pancreas, and thyroid, diagnostic cytology, and post mortem examinations; required clinical tasks will be completed in an approved clinical site. The study of medical vocabulary is continued. Upon course completion, the student should be able to understand the physiological basis used for diagnostic testing and to perform the laboratory procedures outlined in the course material.

This online course is designed to acquaint the student with the importance and transmissibility of common animal diseases and with immunological principles involved in prophylaxis, treatment and recovery. Emphasis is placed on those aspects of the immune response that affect immunization and diagnosis and to familiarize the student with the common infectious diseases and immunization schedules of domestic animals. Upon course completion, the student should be able to communicate with clients regarding preventable diseases and zoonotic implications and should also be able to assist with formulation of immunization schedules for various species of animals.

This online course provides students with required clinical tasks to be completed in an approved clinical site in the areas of surgery, dentistry, and clinical medicine in various animal species. Topics include surgical and nursing care, dentistry, and clinical medicine in various animal species. Upon course completion, those skills learned from the previous semester should be reinforced and the student should have learned new technical procedures.

This online course introduces the student to principles of anesthesia, diagnostic imaging, and safety in various animal species. Topics include an introduction to anesthesia, patient evaluation and preparation, pre-anesthetic considerations, local anesthesia, assessing the depth of general anesthesia, injectable anesthetic drugs, inhalation anesthesia, introduction to radiography, the radiograph machine, darkroom, radiographic films, general principles of positioning, radiographic protocol, safety measures, technique charts, quality control, introduction to ultrasonography, patient preparation, and equipment controls; required clinical tasks will be completed in an approved clinical site. Upon course completion, the student should be able to properly anesthetize and monitor animals under anesthesia, develop a technique chart, and apply the care and knowledge necessary to produce good quality radiographs and safety measures.

This online course is designed to give the student exposure to veterinary drugs and teach the importance of exact calculations, proper administration, and the danger and recognition of reactions and over dosage in various animal species. Topics include introduction and principles of pharmacology; antimicrobials; disinfectants; drugs affecting the nervous, respiratory, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal systems; anti-inflammatories; antiparasitics; euthanasia solutions; and pharmacy and inventory control. Upon course completion, the student should be able to properly calculate drug dosages; fill, label, and dispense medications; recognize the various classifications of drugs; and have knowledge regarding the dangers and toxicosis of various medications.

This online course is designed to provide students with practical knowledge of common pathogens in variouss animal species. Students will learn how to select and collect samples and data for laboratory processing or submission to another laboratory. Topics include identification of causative agents of diseases; classification and nomenclature of bacteria; morphology and physiology of bacteria; bacteria and disease; laboratory procedures in bacteriology; gram positive and gram negative bacteria; spiral and curved bacteria; actinomycetes organisms; fungi; virology; review of common small animal, exocticanimal and avian parasites, equine and food animal parasitology. Upon course completion, the student should be able to properly collect and handle bacteriological specimens, identify organisms by gram staining, and have a basic knowledge of large animal parasite life cycles, as well as methods of identification of the commonly encountered parasites.

This online course provides students with required clinical tasks to be completed in an approved clinical site in the areas of surgical and nursing care, anesthesia, and clinical pathology. Topics include surgical and medical care, laboratory procedures in various animal species. Upon course completion, the student should be proficient in those skills reinforced from previous semesters.

This online course is designed to acquaint the student with the basic concepts of animal nutrition of various animal species and laboratory animal maintenance, husbandry, and handling. Topics include canine dietetics, feline dietetics, nutritional management of small animal disease, feeding the neonate, nutritional management of the convalescent animal, fundamentals of nutrition, principles of disease prevention, housing and equipment, job opportunities, biology of common lab animals, basic principles of research and necessity for use of lab animals, techniques, and zoonosis; required clinical tasks will be completed in an approved clinical site. Upon course completion, the student should be able to formulate a nutritional plan for the healthy and sick animal. The student should be able to handle, care for, and collect diagnostic samples and have basic knowledge of the diseases of the commonly used laboratory animals.

This elective course is designed to review critical topics covered during the two years of the veterinary technology curriculum along with review questions and tests associated with these topics. Topics include anatomy and physiology, anesthesiology, animal care, dentistry, emergency & first aid, hospital management, laboratory animals, laboratory procedures, medical calculations, medical nursing, medical terminology, pharmacology, radiology, and surgical nursing. Upon course completion, the student should be prepared for the Veterinary Technician National Exam.

The veterinary technology preceptorship consists of one academic semester of work experience in an approved clinical site. A student evaluation report from the clinical supervisor will be necessary for the course completion and also for meeting requirements for graduation. The clinical practice will include clinical instruction in all areas of a veterinary practice as deemed necessary by the clinical supervisor. Upon course completion, the student should be able to apply all procedures learned in the veterinarian technology program to the practice environment.