Agricultural Sciences
Animal Health Technology Courses
Location
Vermilion or Blended
Credential
Diploma
Program Length
2 years
The Animal Health Technology (AHT) program is nationally accredited by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA).
Your courses are taught by veterinarians and registered veterinary technologists. They also supervise your hands-on clinical experience .
Year 1 required courses
| VS 101 Anatomy & Physiology - 3 credits |
| This course covers the gross, microscopic and functional anatomy and physiology of domestic animals. Pre/co-requisites: none |
| VS 102 Animal Behaviour & Handling - 3 credits |
| This lecture/lab course covers small and large animal restraint and physical examinations, animal Behavior, and introductory nursing care. Pre/co-requisites: none |
| VS 103 Animal Care and Nursing I - 3 credits |
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This course introduces students to the role of the registered veterinary technologist in a veterinary facility. Methods of disease transmission and proper clinic sanitation, and biosecurity are covered. The human animal bond, fear free practice, animal welfare and an overview of livestock production industries within Canada are discussed. Students also perform clinic duty rotations in the College Animal Hospital. Pre/co-requisites: None |
| VS 104 Communications I - 3 credits |
| This course introduces core communication skills that are essential to working in the veterinary field. Both verbal and written communication skills are addressed. Veterinary terminology is also covered and is reinforced in all other courses in the Animal Health Technology program. The lab section of this course consists of a very brief review of basic computer skills. The main focus is on using a veterinary software program. Prerequisites: None. Co-requisites: VS 101, VS 102, VS 103 & VS 105 |
| VS 105 Surgery I - 3 credits |
| Surgical preparation is a vital part of every veterinary hospital. In this course, emphasis is placed on equipment operation and maintenance, instrument identification and care as well as the maintenance of the surgical suite to ensure a sterile environment is maintained. Patient care in conjunction with the protocols required to clip and scrub the animal for surgery is also covered. Pre/co-requisites: None |
| VS 106 Laboratory Procedures I - 3 credits |
| In this course a variety of laboratory subjects are covered including hematology, urinalysis, clinical chemistry and microbiology. Students are introduced to the different laboratory techniques used and the theory necessary to understand and interpret them. Prerequisites: VS 101, VS 102, VS 103, VS 104 & VS 105. Co-requisites: None |
| VS 107 Animal Care and Nursing II - 3 credits |
| This course offers the Animal Health Technologist an opportunity to practice restraint, physical examinations, injections and venipuncture techniques on both large and small animals as well as rabbits and birds. Students are also responsible for the care and medical records on kenneled patients. Students learn about administering medications, general nursing care as well as disinfectants in veterinary clinics and on farm. An introduction to the husbandry, handling, and clinical diseases of ferrets, rabbits, pocket pets, exotics and birds is covered. Pre/so-requisites: None |
| VS 108 Anesthesia & Analgesia - 3 credits |
| Principles and concepts of anesthesiology are discussed. Topics covered include pre-surgical patient preparation, anesthetic agents and adjuncts, pharmacological calculations, anesthetic monitoring equipment as well as the proper administration and monitoring of anesthesia. Prerequisites: VS 101 VS 102 VA 103 VS 104 & VS 105. Co-requisites: None |
| VS 109 Nutrition - 3 credits |
| This course provides a general overview of the basics of nutrition, digestion, feed components, and nutritional deficiencies of both monogastric and ruminants. Students are exposed to small animal prescription diets and the role they play in the prevention and management of disease. The steps involved in performing a nutritional assessment plan as well as how to implement a nutritional action plan is also discussed. Prerequisites: VS 101, VS 102, VS 103, VS 104, VS 105. Co-requisites: None |
| VS 110 Animal Disease I - 3 credits |
| This course gives students an awareness of the most commonly recognized diseases in small animal veterinary practice. The emphasis is on the technologist's role and students discuss case management, disease prevention, treatments, nutrigenomics and diagnostic testing. The lab component of VS110 covers the anatomy and physiology of all body systems. Prerequisites: VS 101, VS 102, VS 103, VS 104 & VS 105. Co-requisites: None |
Year 2 required courses
| VS 202 Surgery, Dentistry & Pain Management - 3 credits |
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This course utilizes fundamental knowledge from VS 105 and VS 108 and incorporates it into surgical and dentistry labs. It also expands upon previous training in the areas of veterinary anesthesia and surgical preparation. Students continue to administer, monitor and record anesthetic depths during surgical procedures. Anesthetic drugs, monitoring, surgical instruments and pre-surgical preparation are reinforces. Students learn dental abnormalities and the treatments available for dogs and cats as well as an introduction to equine, ruminant and small mammal dentistry. Students engage in pre and post anesthetic discussions with owners and learn how to perform a Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment (COHAT) procedure. Prerequisites: VS 101, VS 102, VS 103, VS 104, VS 105, VS 106, VS 107, VS 108 and VS 109. Co-requisites: None |
| VS 203 Laboratory Procedures II - 3 credits |
| This course focuses to a greater degree on skills and knowledge learned in VS106 and is intended to increase accuracy in the performance of clinical laboratory techniques. More sophisticated tests and skills are required for hematology, cytology and serology; with emphasis on consistency through test repetition. Parasitology skills, both theory and practical, are introduced in this course. Prerequisites: Successful completion of all first year AHT courses. Co-requisites: VS 201, VS 202, VS 204, & VS 205 |
| VS 204 Pharmacology - 3 credits |
| This course covers various classes of drugs, their pharmacological action and use, routes of administration, absorption, metabolism, and excretion and pharmacokinetics. It also includes veterinary calculations, basic inventory control, handling and dispensing of drugs, as well as regulations governing veterinary use of drugs. Rational and safe use of drugs in veterinary clinics and in food producing animals is stressed. Prerequisites: VS 101, VS 102, VS 103, VS 104, VS 105, VS 106, VS 107, VS 108, VS 109 & VS 110. Co-requisites: None |
| VS 205 Diagnostic Imaging - 3 credits |
| This course studies all methods of diagnostic imaging, including radiographs, ultrasound, endoscopy, MRI and CAT scan. Care and use of equipment, safety, quality control, and positioning for small animals, horses and exotics are discussed. Prerequisites: VS 101, VS 102, VS 103, VS 104, VS 105, VS 106, VS 107, VS 108, VS 109, VS 110. Co-requisites: None |
| VS 206 Animal Care and Nursing IV - 3 credits |
| This is a multidisciplinary course consisting of various topics such as obstetrical procedures and care of the newborn for each of the major large and small animal species and bull breeding soundness evaluation. Gross pathology, miscellaneous large animal diagnostic techniques and common zoonotic diseases in all species are also discussed. The labs use multiple clinical applications of knowledge and skills from this course as well as from previous courses. Prerequisites: VS 202, VS 203, VS 205, VS 207 & VS 220. Co-requisites: None |
| VS 207 Animal Diseases II - 3 credits |
| This course provides a working knowledge of the common diseases in beef, dairy, sheep, swine, and horses. Emphasis is placed on understanding infectious diseases and their cause, treatment, and prevention. Reportable diseases, parasitic diseases and diseases related to management procedures are also discussed. Prerequisites: VS 101, VS 102, VS 103, VS 104, VS 105, VS 106, VS 107, VS 108, VS 109, VS 110. Co-requisites: None |
| VS 208 Clinical Practices |
| This course is required for second year Animal Health Technology students. It is designed to utilize surgery and anesthesia skills already learned, and to develop new technical skills and knowledge that are required in emergency, critical care, and large animal clinical situations. The lecture portion covers advanced nursing care, triage, blood transfusion medicine, toxicities, anesthetic emergencies, CPCR and other emergency and critical care procedures practiced in Veterinary Medicine. The lab portion may consist of small animal surgery, small animal dental, large animal anesthesia, nerve blocks, CPCR, and emergency medicine techniques, and continues to utilize skills learned in VS201, VS202 and VS203. Pre/co-requisites: None |
| VS 210 AHT Practicum - 3 credits |
| Second year Animal Health Technology students are placed in veterinary clinics for a six-week period. They gain practical experience in a working clinic situation as a "novice" animal health technologist. A shift as clinic supervisor in the Small Animal Clinic on the college campus is also a component of VS210. P/F. Prerequisites: VS 206, VS 207, VS 208 & VS 209. Co-requisites: None |
| VS 220 Student Led Clinic 1 - 3 credits |
| This course is designed to allow students to develop leadership and communication skills and integrate routine responsibilities of day to day veterinary clinic operation. Students apply technical and communication skills by participating in the Student Led Clinic which includes aspects of Animal Health, Public Relations, Retail Management and Clinic Organization. Prerequisites: Successful completion of all first year AHT courses. Co-requisites: None |
| VS 221 Student Led Clinic II - 3 credits |
| This course is designed to allow students to develop leadership and communication skills and integrates routine responsibilities of day to day veterinary clinic operation. Students apply technical and communication skills by participating in the Student Led Clinic which includes aspects of Animal Health, Public Relations, Retail Management and Clinic Organization. Prerequisite: VS 202, VS 203, VS 205, VS 207, VS 220. Co-requisites: None |