MCCCD Program Description

Veterinary Assisting I

Course: VET103

First Term: 2022 Fall

Lecture 3.0 Credit(s) 2.0 Period(s) 2.0 Load
Subject Type: Occupational
Load Formula: T - Lab Load

Description: Provides students with the hands-on skills needed to perform the duties of a veterinary assistant. Introduction of the basic veterinary assistant skills needed to assist veterinary professionals in the quality care of animals. Includes basic introduction to anatomy and physiology of domestic animals, front office skills, communication and client relations, animal restraint, nursing, vaccinations and other basic assisting skills.

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Compare and contrast the anatomy of common domesticated species as they apply to veterinary assisting. (I) 2. Employ front office skills used in a veterinary clinic including client communications, legal documents, business/request letters, and manual/electronic health record management. (II, III) 3. Demonstrate understanding and application of ethics and legal regulations in veterinary medicine. (IV) 4. Perform basic animal care procedures involving companion animals. (V) 5. Explain and demonstrate safety protocols in the veterinary facility. (V, VI) 6. Assist with basic animal nursing procedures involving companion animals. (VI)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Basic animal anatomy-systems introduction A. Directional terms B. Skeletal C. Muscular D. Nervous E. Cardiovascular/Respiratory F. Digestive and oral G. Ocular H. Ear/Auditory I. Urinary J. Reproductive II. Office and hospital procedure A. Front desk 1. Greet clients 2. Demonstrate proper appointment scheduling and make appointments 3. Prepare and file medical records 4. Computer use in the veterinary field B. Telephone 1. Answering the phone 2. Veterinary medical emergencies triage 3. Requesting records/information from other facilities C. Veterinary facilities 1. Inventory 2. Restocking 3. Maintaining radiology, surgery and laboratory logs 4. Basic cleaning techniques III. Communication and client relations A. Client communication skills B. Writing business letters C. Ethics of the operations of a veterinary hospital D. Professional conduct IV. Ethics in veterinary medicine A. State regulations B. Federal regulations C. NAVTA Code of Ethics D. Controversial issues in Veterinary Medicine V. Examination room procedures A. Restrain patients 1. Small animals a. Place and remove small animals from cages b. Place and restrain small animals on tables c. Apply dog and cat safety muzzles d. Apply Elizabethan collar e. Apply restraint pole 2. Restrain birds and exotics (optional) 3. Large animals (optional) a. Halter, tie and lead horses and ruminants b. Restrain horses and ruminants c. Apply twitch d. Operate cattle chute (group) B. Basic procedures 1. History and chief complaint 2. Determine and record a. Temperature b. Pulse c. Respiration d. Capillary refill time e. Mucous membrane evaluation f. Weight of pets 3. Exam room grooming a. Express anal sacs using the external method b. External ear canal cleaning c. Trim nails Required: Dog, Cats; Optional: birds and exotics 4. Identify external parasites: mites, lice, fleas and ticks 5. Identify gender in small animal species 6. Small animal nutritional requirements VI. Small animal nursing A. Safety concerns 1. Normal vs abnormal behavior 2. Utilize patient and personnel safety measures 3. Identify potential zoonotic diseases 4. Isolation procedures 5. Hazardous waste disposal procedures 6. Basic sanitation techniques 7. Maintenance of hospital equipment B. Animal care 1. Record-keeping and observation hospitalized animals 2. Common diseases and medical conditions 3. Fluid therapy a. Monitoring b. Restraint c. Record keeping 4. Bandaging basics 5. Bathing/grooming therapeutic 6. Food preparations 7. Medicating patients a. Hand pilling (dog, cat) b. Eye medication c. Ear medication d. Oral medication

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: December 14, 2021

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.