VTEC 2143: Large Animal Care
In this course, students will further explore large animal medicine theory after they have attended and successfully completed VTEC 2345: Large Animal Care Lab. Students will develop a practical knowledge of large animal nutrition, breeding, herd management, and animal health. Emphasis is placed on global perceptions of animal consumption, prey animal care, ethics, and welfare.
Learning outcomes
- Utilize safe handling of domestic large animals for veterinary procedures.
- Demonstrate common large animal nursing procedures and recognize species differences.
- Demonstrate husbandry techniques including the preparation of large animal feed items.
- Monitor and measure large animal nutrition for effectiveness by utilizing tools such as body condition scoring.
- Discuss issues pertaining to the welfare of all domestic large animals.
- Demonstrate husbandry techniques including the preparation of large animal feed items.
Course topics
- Module 1: Large Animal Restraint
- Module 2: Nutrition and Feeding of Large Animals
- Module 3: Genetics
- Module 4: Bovine
- Module 5: Equine
- Module 6: Ovine
- Module 7: Caprine and Camelids
- Module 8: Porcine
- Module 9: Poultry
Required text and materials
Students require the following e-textbook, which can be purchased directly from the link at: https://tru-store.vitalsource.com/products/large-animal-medicine-and-nursing-for-veterinary-jennifer-serling-v9781774942109
- Serling, J. (2022). Large Animal Medicine and Nursing for Veterinary Technicians. (2nd ed.). Bluedoor.
Type: Textbook. ISBN: 9781774942109 / 9781643863634
Additional requirements
- Computer with Internet access
- Video recording device
Optional materials
- Merck. (2009). The Merck veterinary manual (9th ed.). Merck Publishing.
Type. Textbook. ISBN: 978-0911910506
This text is also available online (a free version) at Merck Veterinary Manual. This text has many good sections on large animal management.
- Hanie, E. A. (2006). Large animal clinical procedures for veterinary technicians. Elsevier Mosby.
Type: Textbook. ISBN: 0-323-02855-1
Assessments
Please be aware that should your course have a final exam, you are responsible for the fee to the online proctoring service, ProctorU, or to the in-person approved Testing Centre. Please contact exams@tru.ca with any questions about this.
To successfully complete this course, students must achieve a passing grade of 60% or higher on the overall course, and 50% or higher on the final mandatory exam.
| Quiz 1: Restraint | 5% |
| Quiz 2: Nutrition | 5% |
| Assignment 1: Bovine | 12.5% |
| Assignment 2: Equine | 12.5% |
| Quiz 3: Ovine, Caprine, and Camelids | 5% |
| Quiz 4: Porcine | 5% |
| Quiz 5: Poultry | 5% |
| Assignment 3: Equine Fear Free Certification Program | 10% |
| Final Exam (mandatory) | 40% |
| Total | 100% |
Open Learning Faculty Member Information
An Open Learning Faculty Member is available to assist students. Students will receive the necessary contact information at the start of the course.
