BASIC PRINCIPLES OF POCKET PETS

Course Description
They can be some of the cutest pets to visit your practice. Little faces, tiny whiskers, wee twitching noses. These "pocket pets" each have special considerations and needs. Are you and your team prepared to treat them and to recommend care, nutrition, husbandry and handling to owners? Pocket pets include the following species: mouse, rat, gerbil, hamster, chinchilla, guinea pig, hedgehog, skunk, sugar glider, and prairie dog. It is becoming more common for families to own these challenging little critters; a pocket pet may be one of the first pets a child may own. It can be difficult for an owner to find a veterinary team knowledgeable in the care and treatment of these animals. Basic Principles of Pocket Pets is a 6 week course that offers introductory information on husbandry, restraint, nutrition, physical characteristics, and behavior of pocket pets. Through narrated content presentations, practical assignments, examinations, and case study activites, participants will gain confidence in their ability to participate directly in the care of these animals. PLEASE NOTE: This course contains flash based Articulate presentations. iPhones and iPads are not flash compatible, but the presentations may be viewed on a Mac, PC or other flash compatible device.

Course Description

They can be some of the cutest pets to visit your practice. Little faces, tiny whiskers, wee twitching noses. These "pocket pets" each have special considerations and needs. Are you and your team prepared to treat them and to recommend care, nutrition, husbandry and handling to owners?

Pocket pets include the following species: mouse, rat, gerbil, hamster, chinchilla, guinea pig, hedgehog, skunk, sugar glider, and prairie dog. It is becoming more common for families to own these challenging little critters; a pocket pet may be one of the first pets a child may own. It can be difficult for an owner to find a veterinary team knowledgeable in the care and treatment of these animals.

Basic Principles of Pocket Pets is a 6 week course that offers introductory information on husbandry, restraint, nutrition, physical characteristics, and behavior of pocket pets. Through narrated content presentations, practical assignments, examinations, and case study activites, participants will gain confidence in their ability to participate directly in the care of these animals.

PLEASE NOTE: This course contains flash based Articulate presentations. iPhones and iPads are not flash compatible, but the presentations may be viewed on a Mac, PC or other flash compatible device.

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to: demonstrate restraining techniques for handling of various pocket pets discuss proper husbandry and nutrition Explain proper husbandry and nutrition to clients recognize the common diseases seen in these species employ the appropriate nursing techniques used for blood collection, treatments, surgery, and administration of medications •anticipate potential emergency situations specific to each of the pocket pet species

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

demonstrate restraining techniques for handling of various pocket pets
discuss proper husbandry and nutrition
Explain proper husbandry and nutrition to clients
recognize the common diseases seen in these species
employ the appropriate nursing techniques used for blood collection, treatments, surgery, and administration of medications
•anticipate potential emergency situations specific to each of the pocket pet species

Course Content
This 6 week course is designed to help students develop skills in the handling and treatment of pocket pets. The pocket pets covered in this course are mice, rats, gerbils, hamsters, chinchillas, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, sugar gliders, skunks, and prairie dogs. The course material will begin with anatomy and physiology, husbandry and nutrition, restraint and handling, and continue on to diseases, treatment, anesthesia, and emergencies of each species. The course will take the student through various medical situations specific to these particular animals. Assignments will help the student apply the information learned to their practice environment. The examinations are designed to assess the retention of the student’s newly achieved knowledge in the care and handling of the various pocket pet species discussed in this course.

Course Content

This 6 week course is designed to help students develop skills in the handling and treatment of pocket pets. The pocket pets covered in this course are mice, rats, gerbils, hamsters, chinchillas, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, sugar gliders, skunks, and prairie dogs.

The course material will begin with anatomy and physiology, husbandry and nutrition, restraint and handling, and continue on to diseases, treatment, anesthesia, and emergencies of each species. The course will take the student through various medical situations specific to these particular animals. Assignments will help the student apply the information learned to their practice environment. The examinations are designed to assess the retention of the student’s newly achieved knowledge in the care and handling of the various pocket pet species discussed in this course.

Testimonials
...the most benefical to me would be the assignments, modules, and responses back from my instructor. I learned things I did not know and I was able to refresh the information that I had learned in school. ...liked I could re listen to the modules as needed to find information and work at my own pace ...I enjoyed the sections on appropriate housing and diet. All the information provided was beneficial as I have very limited knowledge or experience with pets like skunks and prairie dogs. ...I liked that we got the basics especially with the species that I don't see in practice. Important aspects like husbandry, nutrition and most common medical problems were addressed. ...I enjoyed the basic, get-to-the-point nature of the modules. working ER means i need a good understanding of whats going on without a lot of filler. i liked the easy to use format of the module. it allowed me to look up whatever subject i needed with the tabs/outline or the search button. ...Good review over basic information of Lab Animals and Pocket Pets.

Testimonials

...the most benefical to me would be the assignments, modules, and responses back from my instructor. I learned things I did not know and I was able to refresh the information that I had learned in school.

...liked I could re listen to the modules as needed to find information and work at my own pace

...I enjoyed the sections on appropriate housing and diet. All the information provided was beneficial as I have very limited knowledge or experience with pets like skunks and prairie dogs.

...I liked that we got the basics especially with the species that I don't see in practice. Important aspects like husbandry, nutrition and most common medical problems were addressed.

...I enjoyed the basic, get-to-the-point nature of the modules. working ER means i need a good understanding of whats going on without a lot of filler. i liked the easy to use format of the module. it allowed me to look up whatever subject i needed with the tabs/outline or the search button.

...Good review over basic information of Lab Animals and Pocket Pets.

Student Login Requirements
VetMedTeam courses are asynchronous - they do not contain real time components. Students log in while a course is in session at times convenient to personal schedules. PLEASE NOTE: This course contains flash based Articulate presentations. iPhones and iPads are not flash compatible, but the presentations may be viewed on a Mac, PC or other flash compatible device.

Course Completion Requirements
Completed students are awarded a certificate of completion. Completion requirements include: Interactive Assignments: Practical in nature - designed to help the student apply the newly learned material Examinations: All examinations must be submitted with a score of 80% or better. Course survey

Recommended Student Criteria
This course was developed for students currently working in a veterinary hospital. The assignments are practical and the student will need to use practical resources to complete. The average student will spend 3 to 5 hours per week in order to complete all the mandatory requirements. This course is appropriate for all team members desiring to increase their skill working with pocket pets.

Continuing Education Credits
Course meets the requirements for 15 RACE hours of continuing education credit for veterinary technicians in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB's RACE approval. However, participants should be aware that some boards have limitations on the number of hours accepted in certain categories and/or restrictions on certain methods of delivery.

Course Writer
This course has been developed in cooperation with Blackwell-Wiley, utilizing content from Exotic Animal Medicine for the Veterinary Technician, 2nd Edition Bonnie Ballard and Ryan Cheek (editors). If you are interested in purchasing this text for your library visit Exotics Text or do a web search to locate a distributor in your area.

Course Instructor
Nichole Zellner, DVM Dr. Zellner is a proud alumni of Virginia Tech where she received her undergraduate degree. She went on to the VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine where she received her DVM in 2006. Immediately following graduation, Dr. Zellner moved down to Florida where she began practicing at the Avian and Animal Hospital in Largo, FL. Dr. Zellner has a special interest in avian and exotic medicine and is pursuing board certification. She married a fellow veterinarian and they share their home with 2 dogs and 4 birds.

Course Instructor

Nichole Zellner, DVM

Dr. Zellner is a proud alumni of Virginia Tech where she received her undergraduate degree. She went on to the VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine where she received her DVM in 2006. Immediately following graduation, Dr. Zellner moved down to Florida where she began practicing at the Avian and Animal Hospital in Largo, FL.

Dr. Zellner has a special interest in avian and exotic medicine and is pursuing board certification.

She married a fellow veterinarian and they share their home with 2 dogs and 4 birds.

Upcoming Sessions

Pricing
Price: $182.00 USD Students may enroll in this course after it has begun, up to the enrollment deadline date. Participants who enroll after the start date do not miss out on any components of the course. There are no real time sessions. The design of this course allows each student to proceed based on individual schedule, as long as all assignments are submitted by the assignment submission deadline.

Pricing

Price: $182.00 USD

Students may enroll in this course after it has begun, up to the enrollment deadline date. Participants who enroll after the start date do not miss out on any components of the course. There are no real time sessions. The design of this course allows each student to proceed based on individual schedule, as long as all assignments are submitted by the assignment submission deadline.

In addition, you many use your MERIAL® Rewards Visa® Prepaid Card to pay for courses. If you are not enrolled in the MERIAL Rewards program, ask your Merial Sales Representative or call 1-800-307-7000. If you do not have enough points and wish to supplement your payment with another card, please write to CE@VetMedTeam.com.

BASIC PRINCIPLES OF POCKET PETS

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