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.
Syllabus
BIOMED 4320/VMS 7320/ VET_TCH 432
Fundamentals of Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care
COURSE PROFILE
Course Overview
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, 2025
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
4.5 Veterinary Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
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
