Veterinary Support Assistant

Course details

Engaging in a Veterinary Practice presents a fulfilling and dynamic career for individuals passionate about animals. The Veterinary Support Assistant course is designed to impart crucial knowledge to enhance the qualifications of those aspiring to excel in the veterinary industry. The curriculum delves into various key aspects associated with working in a veterinary practice, elucidating the roles and duties of a support assistant. Emphasizing practical skills, the course covers essential areas like animal handling and restraint, comprehension of pet psychology, pain recognition, and collaboration within a veterinary team. Additionally, participants gain a solid foundation in real-world scenarios, including understanding technical terminology, grasping anatomy and physiology, and acquiring first aid skills.

Veterinary Support Assistant Course Learning Outcomes:

• Demonstrate effective dog handling and restraint techniques.
• Identify and address cat behavioural issues with confidence.
• Understand the psychology behind rabbit behaviour.
• Ensure proper animal care, from welfare to transport.
• Master pet dog care, from nutrition to grooming.
• Implement essential pet first aid measures confidently.
• Comprehend diverse pet food types and nutritional labels.
• Recognise the significance of balanced pet nutrition.
• Effectively manage pet weight problems and dietary solutions.
• Safely feed and care for a variety of pets.

Veterinary Support Assistant Course Outline:

Psychology of Dog Behaviour

• Dealing with Dogs
• Behaviour in Dogs
• Psychology of Dogs
• Aggression in Dogs

Psychology of Cat Behaviour

• Dealing with Cats
• Behaviour in Cats
• Aggression and Cats
• Psychology of Cats

Psychology of Rabbit Behaviour

• About Rabbits
• Behaviour of Rabbits

Animal Care

• Animal Welfare
• Animal Health
• Different Kinds of Animals
• Animal Handling and Restraint
• Animal Transporting
• Animal Feeding
• Assessment of the Risk
• Animal Caging

Pet Dog Care

• Understanding the appropriate food ingredients
• Dogs need different diets at different ages
• Vitamin and mineral supplements
• Boredom and variety
• Cost of feeds
• Dry vs. Canned food
• Homemade diets
• Food allergies
• How much should I feed my dog?
• How often should I feed my dog?
• Signs of ill health
• Heartworm, fleas, and other parasites
• Heartworm prevention
• Common questions about heartworm
• Fleas and other parasites
• Do parasites cause "Scooting"?
• Preventing dental disease
• Home dental care
• Veterinary dental treatments
• The importance of the physical examination
• Why are regular check-ups important?
• What happens during an examination?
• How often should my pet be examined?
• How to administer medicine
• Nursing a sick dog
• Vaccinations
• Common questions about vaccinations
• Spaying and neutering
• Spaying of the Female dog
• Surgical neutering of the male dog
• Pet health insurance
• Clipping a dog
• First steps in grooming
• Bathing a dog
• Pet Identification

Pet First Aid

• Introduction to Pet First Aid
• What is First Aid?
• Abscess & Bandaging
• Bee Stings / Insect Bites & Bleeding
• Bloat and Burns
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• Chemical Injuries, Dehydration
• Diarrhea, Vomiting & Difficult birth
• Electrocution & Eye Injuries
• Fainting/Dizziness (Syncope)
• First Aid for Choking & Poisoning
• Fractures / Injuries
• Hyperthermia (Heat Stroke, Heat Prostration)
• Impalement Injuries, Near Drowning
• Physical Exam Checklist for Pets
• Preventing a Health and Safety Crisis
• Choking & Poisoning
• Travelling
• Shock
• Snakebite
• Straining & Sunburn
• When Your Pet Cannot Breathe

Introduction to Food Types, Types of Diet and Pet Food Labels

• Pet Food Types
• Types of Diet
• Understanding Pet food labels
• The importance of complete and balanced nutrition
• Who Determines Nutrient Requirements of Cats and Dogs?
• Energy requirements of the adult cat and dog

Importance of Pet Nutrition

• Benefits of Proper Nutrition
• What’s the importance of good nutrition?
• What You Need to Know About Your Pet’s Food
• Pet Nutrition: Life Stages
• The Process of Food Digestion
• Pet Weight
• Weight Problems and Solutions

Pet Feeding Guide

• Snacks and Treats
• Adding Herbs to Pet’s Food
• Fruits and Veggies for Pets
• Pets not Eating & Overeating
• Pet Foods to Avoid
• Feeding Rabbits
• Feeding Hamsters
• Feeding Fishes
• Feeding Birds
• Feeding Reptiles

Updated on 07 December, 2023