Veterinary Technology (DVT)
This course introduces the students to food animals and horses, with an emphasis on terminology, nutrition, behaviour and housing. The food animal portion also includes common breeds, marketing, and breeding practices of various species, including sheep, goats, poultry, dairy cattle, beef cattle and swine. The equine portion of the course emphasizes the techniques, terminology and common diseases that the veterinary technician working in an equine practice would be exposed to, through the use of lectures, slides, videos and handouts.
This course encompasses the gross anatomy and physiology of domestic animals with special emphasis on the cat as a pet animal species. The course covers select major body systems, with emphasis on those of veterinary clinical significance.
This is a practical introductory course with an emphasis on working with dogs, cats, birds, horses, and other livestock. Students will apply animal husbandry principles such as proper animal housing, sanitation, and quarantine protocols during their rotational kennel duty assignment. Basic restraint techniques, physical examination, and medicating skills are taught and practiced.
This course introduces the students to sheep, goats, poultry and horses, with an emphasis on terminology, nutrition, behaviour and housing. This course also includes common breeds, marketing, and breeding practices of various species. The equine portion of the course emphasizes the techniques, terminology and common diseases that the veterinary technician working in an equine practice would be exposed to.
This online course will introduce the student to fundamental concepts and skills used within veterinary medicine that will be integrated into current and future courses. Students will study medical terminology, and concepts in genetics as they relate to veterinary medicine, as well as sanitation within an animal housing environment.
This course consists of theoretical and practical modules in hematology, microbiology, and cytology. The hematology module will introduce students to the basic aspects of animal blood evaluation. Practical sampling techniques, handling and processing of samples, and cell identification will be introduced. Hematology mathematical calculations will also be covered. The microbiology module includes the study of microorganisms with emphasis on their morphology, physiology, biochemistry, culture, and identification. Operations of the light microscopes and laboratory safety will be discussed. The cytology module will introduce students to aspects of cellular and tissue sample collection, preparation, and microscopic evaluation of normal and abnormal samples from the body.
This course introduces the students to fundamental concepts and skills used within veterinary medicine that will be integrated into current and future courses. Students will study medical terminology along with related medical abbreviations and applied scientific mathematics.
This course encompasses the gross anatomy and physiology of domestic animals with special emphasis on the cat as a pet animal species. The course covers select major body systems, with emphasis on those of veterinary clinical significance. There will be an independent study Immunobiology unit with focus on the lymphatic system and its importance in preventing and/or overcoming disease. Disease transmission, development, and serological diagnosis will be discussed.
This course introduces the students to food animals such as beef, dairy and swine, with an emphasis on terminology, nutrition, behaviour and housing. The food animal portion also includes common breeds, marketing, and breeding practices of various species.
This course introduces pharmacological theory and the mathematics applied to utilize pharmaceutical agents in a veterinary clinical setting. The mode of action, mechanisms of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drug classes commonly used in veterinary medicine will be discussed. Students will learn applied clinical calculations, accurately perform drug dose and fluid therapy calculations, and analyze statistical data.
This course offers the veterinary technician student the information required to understand small animal husbandry. Students gain practical information about the nutritional needs, behaviour patterns, preventative, and basic health care needs of companion animals. Students learn what is normal and abnormal behaviour and how to advise clients on applying proper training techniques. The emphasis in this course is the prevention of health problems in companion animals. Students are assigned animal bathing duties on a rotational basis.
This course provides practical knowledge on bandaging, splints, venipuncture, IV catheterization, and various types of injections used for different animals. The students will participate in large animal procedures; perform fluid therapy with drug dose calculations; and be introduced to anesthesia. Animal husbandry and bathing duties are assigned to students on a rotating basis.
This is a theoretical and practical course which emphasizes the macroscopic, chemical and microscopic characteristics of urine, along with the concepts of urinary diagnostic testing. The prevention and dietary treatment of urolithiasis is explored.
Issues dealing with communication between the veterinary technician and clients, co-workers and the employer/ veterinarian are explored using communication theory and skills. Application of theories are demonstrated through discussions and class exercises. Hands-on labs introduce the use of computers in the veterinary clinic using current veterinary clinic software programs.
This course introduces pharmacological theory and the mathematics applied to utilize pharmaceutical agents in a veterinary clinical setting. The mode of action, mechanisms of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drug classes commonly used in veterinary medicine will be discussed. Students will learn to accurately perform drug dose and fluid therapy calculations, and analyze statistical data.
This course is concerned with animal nursing relative to the basic needs of the animal. Students learn about various diseases and general patient management, including the importance of history taking, medical records, the physical exam, patient handling and fluid therapy.
Students will strengthen their understanding of theoretical and practical aspects of canine and feline blood evaluation. Students will be introduced to the hematology of other species, including equine, bovine, avian and exotics. Blood cell precursors and common disease processes affecting the blood will be studied. The performance, assessment and evaluation of common veterinary clinical procedures will be emphasized. Hematological mathematical calculations will also be practiced.
This course covers the structure and function of the lymphatic system and its importance in preventing and/or overcoming disease. Disease transmission, development, and serological diagnosis will be discussed.
This course introduces the practical and theoretical aspects of anesthetic techniques in animals. Emphasis is on the principles of general anesthesia using gas anesthetic machines. Also discussed are sedation, general anesthesia using injectable agents, and local analgesia. Students will utilize this knowledge during the laboratory sessions of Surgical Exercises.
This course introduces practical and theoretical aspects of radiography in veterinary medicine. Topics include radiation safety, radiographic equipment (analog versus digital), production of radiation, intensifying screens, films, grids, and manual and automatic processing. The course introduces a variety of special imaging techniques utilized in veterinary medicine.
A continuation of anatomy and physiology studies, the course encompasses the structure and functions of selected major body systems of domestic animals, with emphasis on the cat. This course covers the major body systems of significance in veterinary clinical medicine not addressed in previous courses.
In this experiential learning course, students will learn important skill sets for a veterinary technician to provide nursing care to a patient. Students will be required to care for equine, food and companion animals, maintain a hospital area and nurse sick and injured animals during labs, kennel and barn duties. Experiential practice orientation sessions that specialize in companion animals, food animals, and equine may be scheduled at various locations throughout the semester for students to observe and participate in the practical aspects of veterinary technology.
This course deals with the practical and theoretical aspects of anaesthetic and surgical techniques in animals. Each laboratory session is also preceded by a lecture in which the students learn about the rationale behind and possible complications with each surgery, thus enabling them to be involved in client education. During the laboratory sessions, students work in small groups becoming proficient in anaesthesia, surgical assistance, instrument handling, surgical nursing, and post-operative care.
This course familiarizes students with practical laboratory techniques utilized routinely in veterinary practice. In addition, the course will cover proper sample collection, common laboratory safety and equipment, quality controls, mathematical calculations and proper analytical techniques in the discussion and during laboratory sessions.
This course introduces practical application of veterinary radiography. Students will practice radiation safety, learn proper positioning techniques to produce diagnostic images, and use analog and digital radiographic equipment on small and large animals utilizing mechanical restraint.
This course provides instruction in animal nursing relative to the basic needs of the animal. Students learn about various diseases and general patient management, including the importance of patient history, medical records, the physical exam, patient handling and fluid therapy. In addition, students are required to care for healthy equine, food and companion animals, maintain a hospital area and nurse sick and injured animals during labs, kennel and barn duties. Referrals that specialize in companion animals, food animals and equine experiences may be scheduled at various locations throughout the semester for students to observe and participate in the practical aspects of veterinary technology.
This course emphasizes practical laboratory techniques utilized routinely in veterinary practice. The clinical chemistry module is an introduction to basic clinical chemistry principles. Topics of discussion will include: common laboratory safety and equipment; quality controls; mathematical calculations and proper analytical techniques. The parasitology module familiarizes the student with the host-parasite relationship for the common parasites of veterinary significance in Canada. Topics of discussion for the various parasites will include: parasite location in the host, methods of infection, development and behaviour, clinical signs of disease, diagnoses and potential human health hazards. Various laboratory tests used in the diagnosis of animal parasites are studied/performed in the laboratory periods.
This course deals with practical and theoretical aspects of radiography in veterinary medicine. Lectures cover radiation safety, positioning, analog and digital radiographic equipment, production of radiation, intensifying screens, films, grids, and manual and automatic processing. During the laboratory sessions, students work in small groups to learn and practice proper positioning techniques, and troubleshooting to produce diagnostic images of small and large animals.
This course deals with the practical and theoretical aspects of anaesthetic and surgical techniques in animals. The lecture portion of the course introduces the students to various anaesthetic agents and techniques, as well as the principles of asepsis, the importance of monitoring and the correct response to anaesthetic emergencies. Each laboratory session is also preceded by a lecture in which the students learn about the rationale behind and possible complications with each surgery, thus enabling them to be involved in client education. During the laboratory sessions, students work in small groups, becoming proficient in anaesthesia, surgical assistance, instrumental handling, surgical nursing and post-operative care.
This course introduces the fundamentals of small animal oral health, including the anatomy and physiology of the tooth and surrounding structures, and the disease processes which can occur. The emphasis is on the prevention of oral disease. Students are introduced to the proper techniques involved in performing a complete dental prophylaxis, and given the information needed to enable them to counsel clients on appropriate preventative home care.
This course is designed to introduce the veterinary technology student to the interrelation of animal and human health. Meat inspection programs are discussed with emphasis on humane slaughter, environmental sanitation,ante mortem and post mortem examination, condemned meats, animal by-products and meat labeling. As well, epidemiology, zoonoses, water sanitation, microbiology of food and meat hygiene are addressed. Simple statistics that measure health and disease are also considered.
Students continue to learn about general patient management with regards to various diseases. Patient monitoring, emergency situations and conditions are also discussed.
Students will continue to learn many important skill sets to enable a veterinary technician to provide nursing care to patients. In addition, students are required to care for healthy equine, food and companion animals, maintain a hospital area and nurse sick and injured animals during labs, kennel and barn duties. Companion animal, food animal, equine and referral experiences may be scheduled at various locations throughout the semester for students to observe and participate in the practical aspects of veterinary technology.
This course emphasizes practical laboratory techniques utilized routinely in veterinary practice. The course familiarizes students with common internal and external parasites of veterinary significance in Canada. Topics of discussion will include: location, methods of infection, development and behaviour, clinical signs of disease, prevention, diagnosis and potential human health hazards.
This course is designed to familiarize students with the basic skills and procedures used in the management of veterinary hospitals, with emphasis on small animal facilities. The lecture portion of the course delves into the role of the practice manager regarding: hospital safety, personnel & client management, basic bookkeeping, and marketing strategies. The laboratory portion provides the student with practical experience in inventory control, purchasing and receiving of drugs, supplies and equipment pertinent to the sound financial operation of a modern veterinary practice.
Students continue to learn about general patient management with regards to various diseases. Patient monitoring, emergency situations and conditions are also discussed. Practically, students continue to learn many important skillsets to enable a veterinary technician to provide nursing care to patients. In addition, students are required to care for healthy equine, food and companion animals, maintain a hospital area and nurse sick and injured animals during labs, kennel and barn duties. Clinical experiences may be scheduled at various locations throughout the semester for students to observe and participate in the practical aspects of veterinary technology.
This course covers practical applications of all aspects of radiography in veterinary medicine. Emphasis of this course is on proper positioning, using mechanical restraints, trouble-shooting, use of contrast media, and creating a technique chart.
This course is designed to familiarize students with the basic skills and procedures used in the management of animal hospitals, with emphasis on small animal facilities. Topics included within this course are personnel management, client relations, marketing strategies, inventory control, public health issues, and financial management.
Lectures provide background information on the anatomy, patient complications for each surgery, as well as the requirements for client education. Supplementary surgical lectures provide information about other small and large animal surgeries commonly performed in clinical practice.
The Externship is a six week, 240 hour training and evaluation period in which senior students in their last semester enter veterinary practices away from the Ridgetown Campus. The location should be one in which they have not worked or volunteered previously. Students are required to perform many of the duties that are commonly performed by graduate veterinary technicians, and are assessed by veterinarians or graduate veterinary technicians in the work setting. Students will be assessed by the practice supervisor with input from various members of the veterinary practice team. Students will also have the opportunity to assess their externship practice. If the externship is not completed satisfactorily, it will have to be successfully repeated before the student can graduate. A pass/fail grade will be assigned upon completion of the course.
This course builds on the fundamentals of small animal oral health with emphasis on the prevention of oral disease. Using models and live patients, students continue to utilize and develop the proper techniques involved in performing a complete dental prophylaxis, and ability to counsel clients on appropriate preventative home care.
This course is a comprehensive overview of applied, practical skills to enhance the ability of students to work in the veterinary industry. Students will be provided with the opportunity to integrate and apply knowledge and technical skills through case studies, independent study units and laboratory exercises.
This course familiarizes students with the husbandry, handling and veterinary care of common exotic species in the research laboratory, veterinary clinic and natural environments as well as concepts in genetics as they relate to veterinary medicine. Regulations, ethics and protocols surrounding the use of animals within scientific research will be discussed.