Introduction to Veterinary Technology

Survey of the profession of veterinary technology with emphasis on basic techniques, handling and care of animals, and ethical and professional requirements. Three hours lecture and three hours lab per week.

Dress Code:

Area of Interest	Expectation
Hair	Hair should be groomed, well cared for and pulled back when handling animals.
Nails	Nails should not be past the fingertips. Avoid sharp points and bright colors. Fake nails are not allowed due to bacterial contamination.
Jewelry	No dangling jewelry when working with animals.
Hygiene	Please be respectful of the people surrounding you and your daily hygiene routine. Please keep the bathrooms clean and ensure that the toilet is flushed. Please discard all feminine hygiene product in the proper receptacle.
Smoking	Smoking or vaping is not allowed on campus or Veterinary clinics.
Lab/ Shelter	Lab and shelter please wear a scrub set or scrub shirt/jeans. No food or drink allowed in the lab. Follow all safety regulations.
Classroom	Wear comfortable clothes for long sitting. Please wear modest clothes to cover inappropriate areas. Please show respect for cleaning staff and clean area prior to leaving.
Respect	Dear Students: In the future, when I am asked by a perspective employer about you… I will not tell them about your grades or the clothes you wore in class. Instead, I will share about your honesty, work ethic, leadership qualities and most importantly the way you worked with and treated others. Please remember this. Sincerely, Mrs. Culp LVT

Course Learning Objectives

• Each student will spend at least 7 hours per week studying course materials.

• Students will arrive on time to all lecture and lab periods and will remain until the lecture and lab sections are over.

• Students are expected to attend all lectures and labs. Exceptions will be made for illness and family emergencies at the instructor’s discretion, providing the student has called to advise Angela Culp LVT of the expected absence. Any absence not approved by Angela Culp LVT will be considered unexcused. More than 5 absences, regardless of reason, will result in the student receiving a failing grade in the class. Please note: no student will enter the classroom once the door has been closed. Therefore, a late arrival will constitute an absence. Similarly, a departure from lab, prior to class being excused, will be considered an absence.

• Make-up exams will be given, upon request by the student, on the first day of return to class. Note: It is the student’s responsibility to request the make-up. Only one make-up will be allowed per semester.

• Assignments will not be accepted after the due date.

• Any missed laboratory must be made up by student arrangement

• Students must turn off all telecommunication devices upon arrival to class a place them in a purse or backpack; setting a phone on vibrate does not constitute turning it off.

• Any student discovered with a cell phone in use during any examination will automatically receive a zero on that exam and may be dropped from the class. No exceptions.

• Reading assignments are to be completed before the subsequent lecture or laboratory period.

• No food or drink is allowed in any lab.

Required Textbooks

McCurnin, Dennis M., Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians, W.B. Saunders Co. ISBN: 0323394612 (Required)

Recommended Textbooks

Sirois, Margi, Veterinary PDQ, Mosby ISBN: 0323055753 (Recommended)

Evaluation Standards

Extra Credit: See I knew y’all would read this! Y’all can earn this by either going to CE or doing one online. I will let y’all earn 5 pts of extra credit to go towards any grade except the final.

Example:

https://www.vetmedteam.com/classes-free.aspx

This is not the only site that you are required to go to. You can do any CE (Online, In-person, Free or Paid). When you complete the course, you will be rewarded with a certificate of completion. On the bottom of that certificate you will be given a number of hours that it is good for. For the extra credit you can earn up to 5 hours for 5 points. CE comes in different amounts and prices. Just find anything that interest you.

Shelter Journal Log: On a word document provide the date and a paragraph about your work and experience at the shelter. Keep it as one document. I do not need individual pages. This will be turned in on Dashboard for participation credit. Pictures are welcome.

Example:

Save as: (Name) Shelter Journal Log.

1/1/01 A. Culp

Today was my first day at the shelter. It was awesome! I met Jackie and she had me help with my first ever spay. I learned that the proper term for this is an Ovariohysterectomy and its abbreviation is OVH. The patient was Sally, 7 yr. DSH 3.7 kg. I also got to help wake up several surgery patients and cleaned their cages.

Continue on for the next time.

Class Participation and Announcements:

Class participation is a must for me to fully evaluate your comprehension of this course. I expect communication in class and online with the announcements. Please check in with Dashboard to see if there has been a change to the schedule or any announcement and REPLY. I expect the same quality and respect you would give in the classroom to be done online and with fellow students.

Helpful Hints:

Keep up! Review previously-assigned material frequently (especially lab assignments!). Don't wait until final exam time. Form study groups. Make flash cards. Ask for help as soon as you realize you need it.

Grades will be based on the following:

Coursework	Points allowed	Earned points
Handouts	8 assignments at 10 pts each = 80 pts
Group Project	10 pts
Weekly Homework	14 assignments at 10 pts each= 140 pts
Class Participation	32 classes at 2.5 pts each = 80 pts
Final Review Participation	25 pts
Lab Participation	15 classes at 5 pts each= 75 pts
Shelter Journal	10 journal logs at 10 pts each= 100 pts
Midterm	100 pts
Final Exam	100 pts
Highest points earned	710 pts

*If earned, the 5-pts extra credit can be used toward any assignment except the final grade.

Exams and quizzes will include multiple choice, True/False, short answer and short essay questions.

How to calculate grade based on points: Take points earned/ 690 x 100 = Total Percent

Example: 600/690 x 100 = 86.9 % = B

The grading scale is as follows:

Letter grade	Points	Percentage
A	710-639	90-100 %
B	638-567	80-89 %
C	566-495	70-79 %
F	495-0	69-0%
If and F is earned	You must retake the course if you have failed. All courses must be passed with a C or better

Course Progression

Demonstrate general knowledge of the practice of veterinary medicine. (C11, C12, C13, C15, F10)

1. Identify common categories of veterinary practice.

2. Describe common job responsibilities of veterinary assistants and veterinary technicians.

3. Determine behaviors and attitudes desirable in an employee in a veterinary setting.

4. Identify tasks performed only by a licensed veterinarian.

B. Describe important components of successful public and client relations. (C11, C12, C13, F5, F8, F10, F1)

1. List reasons a client may choose a veterinary practice.

2. Describe methods used to enhance public image.

C. Demonstrate knowledge of concepts of professional ethics.

(C11, C12, C13, C15, F7, F10, F11, F13)

1. Demonstrate knowledge of moral and ethical principles.

2. Distinguish between legal and ethical requirements.

3. Describe the benefits of professional ethical standards.

D. Describe and provide examples of categories of restraint used in veterinary medicine. (C5, C11, C12, C13, C18, C19, F4, F10, F11, F12)

1. Describe and demonstrate methods of physical restraint.

2. Describe methods of chemical restraint.

3. Describe and demonstrate methods of psychological restraint.

E. Demonstrate knowledge of the risks associated with animal restraint.

(C5, C11, C12, C13, F4, F6, F7, F8, F10, F11)

1. Identify causes of aggression in domestic animals

2. Discuss methods of reducing stimuli of aggression

3. Identify postures with may signal aggression.

4. Identify risks to animals associated with restraint.

5. Identify risks to personnel associated with restraint.

6. Identify risks to owners associated with restraint.

7. Demonstrate knowledge of legal consequences of owner injury.

8. Describe means of reducing undesirable consequences of restraint.

F. Demonstrate knowledge of the care and management of dogs, cats, horses, goats, sheep and cattle. (C10, C11, C12, C13, C18, C19, F2, F10)

1. Use proper terminology.

2. Demonstrate knowledge of estrous and gestation periods

3. Identify common breeds and/or colors.

4. Describe means of identification.

5. Describe proper housing and sanitation

6. Demonstrate or describe proper restraint techniques.

7. Demonstrate knowledge of normal physical examination parameters.

8. Describe basic nutritional requirements.

9. Demonstrate or describe means of administration of medication.

10. Describe common treatment techniques.

Disabilities

ADA Statement:

Any student with a documented disability (e.g. learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) may contact the Office on the Weatherford College Weatherford Campus to request reasonable accommodations. Phone: 817-598-6350 Office Location: Office Number 118 in the Student Services Building, upper floor. Physical Address: Weatherford College 225 College Park Drive Weatherford, TX.

Academic Integrity

Academic Integrity is fundamental to the educational mission of Weatherford College, and the College expects its students to maintain high standards of personal and scholarly conduct. Academic dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an examination or other academic work, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource materials including unauthorized use of Generative AI. Departments may adopt discipline specific guidelines on Generative AI usage approved by the instructional dean. Any student who is demonstrated to have engaged in any of these activities will be subject to immediate disciplinary action in accordance with institutional procedures.

Hope Statement

Any student who faces challenges securing basic resources such as food, clothing, or housing and believes this may affect their performance in their course of study is urged to contact the Director of Student Resources, Dr. Deborah Cregger, for support at (817) 598-6444. Her office is on the first floor of Student Services. If the student prefers, they may contact their instructor, who can reach out on their behalf. Weatherford College also provides the Coyote Pantry. The Pantry maintains boxed and canned foods for students in need. The location of the Coyote Pantry is two blocks west of the Weatherford campus at the Baptist Student Ministry (118 E. Park Ave., Weatherford). Pantry hours are Mon-Thurs. 8:30 am-4:30 pm and Fri. 8.30 am-12:00 pm (817-599-6586).

SCANS

The Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS} identified competencies in the areas of Resources, Interpersonal, Information, Systems and Technology, and foundation skills in the areas of Basic Skills, Thinking Skills, and Personal Qualities. This Course is part of a program in which each of these competencies and skills are integrated. The specific SCANS competencies that are recognized throughout this course are noted at the end of the appropriate competencies or task listed.

Competencies:

A. Demonstrate general knowledge of the practice of veterinary medicine.

B. Describe important components of successful public and client relations.

C. Demonstrate knowledge of concepts of professional ethics.

D. Describe and provide examples of categories of restraint used in veterinary medicine.

E. Demonstrate knowledge of the risks associated with animal restraint.

F. Demonstrate knowledge of the care and management of dogs, cats, horses, goats, sheep, and cattle.