Course Description

Although rabbit and ferret patients are not presented for services in the same numbers as cats and dogs, these critters also deserve the best medical care possible. Are you comfortable with the husbandry, behavior, physical exams, treatment, and the restraint of these animals? Are you capable of providing superior client education to their owners? If the answer is no it may be that your practice does not have effective protocols in place to treat these small animals and/or you have not been trained specifically in the treatment of rabbits and ferrets. Continuing education courses cover a very wide range of topics but does the information apply to rabbits and ferrets? This course is designed to increase your familiarity with these pets by providing species specific information across a broad spectrum of areas. Some team members find they enjoy working with these animals and they become the “go to” person when one of these pets visits the practice. The attending veterinarian needs a team member who is aware of the special needs and concerns of rabbits or ferrets. Basic Principles of Rabbits and Ferrets runs for 6 weeks per session. Through narrated content presentations, practical assignments, and examinations, participants will leave the course feeling confident in their new found knowledge and better able 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: State the normal values for rabbits and ferrets Demonstrate restraining techniques for handling Explain proper husbandry and nutrition Assess the common diseases seen in these species List drugs that may be used for treatment or anesthesia Demonstrate the set up of basic equipment and supplies for a rabbit or ferret emergency Discuss rabbit or ferret care with clients

Course Content

This 6 week course provides basic species specific information and will help to develop the skills needed to handle and treat rabbits and ferrets. The course material begins with restraint and examination and continues on to diseases, treatment, anesthesia, and emergencies. It will take the participant through various situations seen with these particular animals. Assignments will help the student apply the information to their practice. The exams are designed to help the student retain the new information they have learned.

Required Materials

No additional materials provided - all course content is online.

Testimonials

...I thought the whole course was very informative, and I feel more comfortable now with dealing with these animals. ...The whole ferret course was useful as I did not have much experience with the species. ...This was by far the most informative and interresting course I have taken. The specifics for normal values, and nutrition were wonderful. This was a great couse for me personaly because I do not encounter theses species every day in our hospital. I now feel confident that I can knowlegably speak with clients about nutrition and husbandry of these animals. ...The downloadable charts were great. ...I like the presentation and explanation of the course. It is very easy to understand. I like the fast comunication with the staff. This course will help me in my future plans, because when I retire my gol is to have a rabbit farm. ...The information on how to maintain the rabbit malocclusion was the most interesting because i have already used the information learned in the course 2 times so far!

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 rabbits and ferrets.

Continuing Education Credits

Course meets the requirements for 15.00 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. She has a special interest in avian and exotic medicine and is pursuing board certification. This past March, she married a fellow veterinarian. Dr. Zellner and her husband share their homen with 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 snakes, and 4 birds.

Upcoming Sessions

Pricing

Price: $182.00 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.