BIOMED 4320/VMS 7320/ VET_TCH 432                                                                                  Fundamentals of Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care 

COURSE PROFILE 

Course Description

This course will provide students with the knowledge and skills to assist in small animal medical emergency and critical care facilities. Characteristics of skilled patient nursing care include managing patients with rapidly deteriorating medical and surgical illnesses, major trauma, and life-threatening disease. Personnel must be trained, knowledgeable, and proficient at addressing minute-to minute changes in status and condition. Veterinarians and veterinary technicians are valued members of the care team. With teamwork, training, and development of skills discussed in this course, emergent and critically ill animals can survive.  

Instructor

Marie E. Kerl DVM, MPH, MBA

Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Small Animal Internal Medicine)

Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care 

Adjunct Teaching Professor

University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine

Chief Medical Officer, VP of Medical Operations 

VCA Animal Hospitals 

12401 West Olympic Drive 

Los Angeles, CA 90064 

Cellular: (573) 590-1915 

Fax: (310) 442-7205 

Email: KerlM@missouri.edu  

Session/Semester, Year

Spring, 2024 

Major Objectives

At the end of this course, the student will be able to: 

• Successfully triage multiple emergencies at once to rank severity of illness for delivery of care 
• Understand how to assess and manage dogs and cats with acute or life-threatening illness such as respiratory distress, shock, acute abdomen, multiple trauma, and cardiovascular disease 
• Prepare and administer fluids and medication by constant rate administration 
• Perform and interpret critical care diagnostic and monitoring tests such as pulse oximetry, end-title carbon dioxide, and blood gas parameters 
• Communicate effectively with clients presenting animals with acute, life-threatening illness 

Prerequisites

An AAS or BS in Veterinary Technology or a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD)

Delivery

100% online, asynchronous

Continuing Education Fulfillment

30 continuing education hours 

Required Materials

Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care for Veterinary Technicians, 4th Ed. 

Andrea M. Battaglia and Andrea M. Steele, 2021, Saunders Elsevier, St. Louis, MO