course descriptions

Veterinary Anatomy I
PREC 506
The course consists of a series of lectures on the systematic gross anatomy of carnivores, accompanied by laboratory classes covering the dissection of the dog, which also includes normal, radiographic and live anatomy.

Veterinary Anatomy II
PREC 507
The basis of this course is the comparative regional anatomy of the main domestic species – horse, ruminants, pigs, domestic poultry and fish. Emphasis is placed on those topics of particular clinical importance. Formal lectures accompany dissection classes with appropriate references to the living animal.

Veterinary Histology
PREC 509
The course begins with the study of cell structures and progresses through the basic tissues to the study of the organ systems. The histology not only provides the microscopic study of the minute details of the body but also the correlation between structure and function. Knowledge of the normal structure is necessary to understand the study of abnormal pathology, which deals with the alteration in the structure and function of the body tissues/organs caused by the disease process.

Veterinary Embryology
PREC 508
This lecture course begins with gametogenesis and fertilization and progresses through the early stages of embryonic development. The main portion of the course includes development of the various organ systems and highlights some of the common abnormal deviations in the process occurring in the domestic species.

Veterinary Neuroscience
PREC 511
This course takes an interdisciplinary approach. It is designed to give students a thorough understanding of the function of the nervous system, which entails learning almost simultaneously its anatomy, histology, physiology, biochemistry and some pharmacology and pathophysiology. Emphasis is placed on the student’s ability to identify and localize neurological lesions and to understand the underlying disorders. The main complement of lectures is accompanied by laboratory exercises and is followed by a series of presentations of veterinary clinical neurological cases.

Veterinary Physiology I
PREC 512
This course is designed to provide you with a strong background in the basic physiological mechanisms and concepts of cellular, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, renal, and respiratory physiology. It allows the student to gain a fundamental understanding of the mechanisms controlling these systems and to determine the effects of pathological conditions on organ function as they relate to veterinary medicine.

Veterinary Physiology II
PREC 513
The purpose of this course is to provide students with background information so that they can understand and integrate basic physiological mechanisms and concepts associated with gastrointestinal physiology, metabolism, endocrine physiology and reproductive physiology relevant to the various domestic species.  Students will also begin to apply these principles to clinical veterinary medicine. 

Veterinary Immunology
PREC 510
This course teaches an understanding of the basic principles and mechanisms underlying the immune system. Emphasis is on the interaction between the innate and acquired immunity in the response to infection and mechanisms by which immunological compartments interact. Clinically related topics are also emphasized. Group sessions discuss related clinical problems.

Animal Welfare, Behavior and Ethics
PREC 514
The normal and abnormal behavior and bionomics of various domestic livestock, companion, and laboratory species are examined in this course. Issues of importance to general welfare of animals are reviewed.

Animal Production
PREC 500
This course provides a basic understanding of animal industries with emphasis on nutrition, breeding, reproduction, housing, feeding, general management, and marketing traits of each industry. Major compounds of nutritional importance in nutrient metabolism and the role of nutrients in the integration of biological and physiological processes in animals are discussed. The course includes farm visits to evaluate current production with presentations of the findings to the class.

Professionalism
PREC 516
Through experiential learning methods, students will be exposed to the concepts of those life skills which are essential to their success as veterinary medical professionals. Emphasis will be placed on skills relating to teamwork, communication and professionalism. This course will be marked Pass/Fail based on attendance and active participation.

Veterinary Pathology I
PARA 506
The general principles and mechanisms of disease are discussed. The course deals with basic principles of cell and tissue reactions to injury including degeneration, necrosis, pathological pigmentation, disturbances of circulation, and disturbances of growth, neoplasia, inflammation and immunopathology. Study of systemic pathology is commenced.

Veterinary Pathology II
PARA 507
This course continues and completes the systemic pathology of domestic animals with emphasis on the etiology, pathogenesis, gross and microscopic lesions, and diagnosis of diseases of the organ systems in the body. Formal classroom lectures are complimented with laboratory classes and necropsy demonstrations aimed at interpretation of gross and microscopic lesions.

Veterinary Bacteriology/Mycology
PARA 504
The first section of the course covers basic principles of microbiology, including classification and taxonomy, microbial physiology and genetics, genetic engineering, control of microorganisms, antibiotics, host/parasite relationships, and epidemiological concepts. This is followed by major bacterial and fungal pathogens of veterinary importance, including their epidemiology, virulence, pathogenesis, laboratory diagnosis, and therapy. The course consists of lectures and laboratory sessions, which give "hands-on" experience with pathogenic microorganisms.

Veterinary Virology
PARA 511
This course includes a general consideration of the unique biological features of viruses in terms of their reproduction and special points of relevance concerning their diagnosis and therapy. Study follows viruses of importance in veterinary medicine, including their therapy, epidemiology, pathogenesis, and lab diagnosis.

Veterinary Parasitology
PARA 505
The course consists of lectures and laboratory classes covering the helminths, anthropods, and protozoa as important parasites of domestic and wildlife species. A taxonomic approach is taken but emphasis is placed on practical aspects, such as the parasites' developmental cycles, clinical features, pathogenesis of disease, immunology, epidemiology, public health aspects, laboratory and clinical diagnosis, treatment, and control. Attention is paid to provide a host approach so that parasites and their hosts are placed in context.

Veterinary Public Health
PARA 510
The role of the veterinarian in public health is considered with emphasis on the safety of foods of animal origin. The course includes the responsibilities of the veterinarian in the control of zoonotic diseases through meat inspection and through the implementation of government control policies. The course also surveys zoonotic diseases of bacterial, viral and parasitic origins. Some lectures in this course are taken along with medical students and are supplemented by assignments dealing with topics of particular relevance to veterinary medicine.

Avian, Fish and Pocket Pet Diseases
PARA 500
The first component of the course deals with the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of the important diseases of domestic poultry. Strategies for disease prevention are emphasized. The course deals with various aspects of aquaculture, including food fish, shellfish, pet fish and public display aquaria.  The remainder of the course includes the principles of management and diseases in pocket pets.  Methods of disease prevention and the rational use of chemotherapeutics will be considered.  

Veterinary Pharmacology/ Toxicology I
PARA 508
In this course information is presented on the principles of pharmacology and toxicology, the mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetic properties, and the effects (therapeutic and adverse) produced on the various systems of the body by representative drugs belonging to each pharmacological class. Species variations in pharmacodynamic activity or pharmacokinetic behavior that contribute differences in drug dosage requirements are described and special attention is given to unusual sensitivity of particular animal species (or breeds) to the effects produced by certain drugs. The overall objective of the course is to provide the requisite information for rational selection and appropriate use of drugs for therapeutic purposes in mainly the domestic animals species and other species of veterinary interest. Even though this is a basic course, the material is presented with an applied (veterinary clinical) orientation.

Veterinary Pharmacology/ Toxicology II
PARA 509
In the first component of this course information is presented on drugs used in the management of acute inflammation and control of pain, antineoplastic drugs, anthelmintics and insecticides, antimicrobial agents and antifungal drugs. The overall objectives in chemotherapy are to provide basic material and clinical applications of representative drugs belonging to the various classes. Attention is given to adverse effects associated with the use of some of these drugs in certain species and to species – related dosage forms. The second component is devoted to veterinary toxicology. The actions of active principles of poisonous plants and symptoms of toxicity produced by poisonous plants and commonly encountered chemical substances that cause toxicity in domestic animals are presented. Species differences in susceptibility to toxic substances are highlighted. Attention is given to the clinical management of poisoned animals, including appropriate antidotal substances to use. Pathological lesions that various plants characteristically produce are described.

Introduction to Clinics
CLIN 527
Students are assigned in groups to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, where they acquire experience in clinical history taking, physical examination and diagnosis, further clinical investigation and case management of outpatients and hospitalized patients. 

Small Animal Medicine
CLIN 517
Students are introduced to concepts concerning the diagnosis, treatment and management of infectious and non-infectious diseases affecting small companion animals. Emphasis is on aspects of prevention and control of zoonotic diseases in these species.

Small Animal Surgery
CLIN 518
The introductory portion of the course covers principles of surgery, including asepsis, instrumentation and surgical techniques. The remainder of the course covers the management and treatment of surgical conditions of small companion animals, including soft tissue, orthopedic, neurological and ophthalmic conditions.

Large Animal Medicine I
CLIN 514
Concepts of diagnosis, treatment and management of major infectious and non-infectious diseases affecting various food-producing species and horses are introduced. Attention is given to conditions affecting the individual animal and to control and prevention of disease conditions involving groups of animals. Lectures are supplemented by numerous case scenarios and discussions.

Large Animal Medicine II
CLIN 515
The majority of the course focuses on the major medical diseases and disorders of domestic ruminants (bovine, caprine, ovine).  The course is organized along body systems with the emphasis placed on diagnosis, treatment, control and prevention of disease in the individual and in the herd or flock.  A section of the course is devoted to the major diseases and disorders of swine.  Another section of the course is devoted to some diseases and disorders of zoological species with the focus on the more exotic domestic pets.

Large Animal Surgery
CLIN 518
Surgical conditions, including trauma encountered in the food producing and equine species, are presented in terms of their diagnosis, treatment, and management. Abdominal and other soft tissue and orthopedic conditions are included along with various more specialized procedures.

Theriogenology
CLIN 519
In this course, students are instructed in the diseases affecting the male and female reproductive systems of large and small domestic mammals. Causes and treatment of infertility are considered, as are obstetrical procedures in normal parturition and in dystocia. Breeding techniques, for example, artificial insemination and embryo transfers are reviewed with methods for determination of pregnancy in the various species.

Anesthesiology
CLIN 520
In this course, students gain an understanding of the principles, concepts and techniques utilized in general and local anesthesia in small and large animal species, and the various conditions in which particular techniques may be utilized.

Diagnostic Imaging
CLIN 513
Principles of radiography are introduced, including the potential hazards of radiation. Radiographic imaging techniques utilized in small and large animal species are described, with other imaging methods, for example, ultrasonography. The principles and practices of radiation therapy are introduced. The students are introduced to interpretation of radiographs in small group film reading sessions.

Clinical Pathology
CLIN 521
Students gain an understanding of the principles of hematology, cytology and clinical chemistry in this course. Students learn to interpret alterations in peripheral blood smears, cytological samples from various organ systems and chemical data derived from blood serum or other body fluids.

Ethics/Jurisprudence
CLIN 523
The legal framework related to veterinary medicine practice is considered with an indication of differences occurring in the legal systems in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and the Caribbean. Ethical principles governing professional practice and the self-regulatory nature of control within the profession are discussed in relation to malpractice and professional misconduct.

Clinical Skills I, II, III, IV, V and VI
PARA 513, 514 – CLIN 527, 528, 529 and 530
The courses in Clinical Skills commence in Term 3 and extend through to Term 6. They provide the students with training in a variety of practical and clinical skills that must be acquired in preparation for the completion of clinical training in Year 4 of the program. These skills are correlated with theoretical instruction throughout Terms 3 to 6. In the early stages, students practice restraint and handling and then progress to clinical examination/physical diagnosis including specialized procedures, for example, venipuncture and catheterization. Practical experience of radiography and anesthesia of small and large animals is also gained. In the latter stages of the course, students gain experience in practical surgical skills, for example, spaying and castration and in techniques of pregnancy diagnosis in many species.

These experiences are gained on campus, in various clinical sites, and on the SGU's teaching farm.  Students are assigned in groups to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, where they acquire experience in clinical history taking, physical examination and diagnosis, further clinical investigation and case management of outpatients and hospitalized patients. 

The Clinical Training Program
The clinical training program SGU veterinary curriculum is delivered at our affiliated veterinary schools in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, the Republic of Ireland and Australia. SGUSVM students are fully integrated with the clinical students at these affiliated schools in a program of rotating assignments for a 48 week period.

The clinical curriculum content is defined as a 48-week mixed track (species) program that includes the following Clinical Core subjects: a minimum of four weeks in each of Small Animal Medicine, Small Animal Surgery, Large Animal Medicine and Large Animal Surgery, and a minimum of two weeks in Diagnostic Imaging, Clinical Anesthesia and Diagnostic Services.  The remaining weeks of the clinical program are comprised of electives that may be a continuation of some components of the core topics above and/or certain specialty disciplines. Externships approved by the affiliated schools may be included in the clinical training program.

Top

Back