VTEC 1713 - Animal Nursing for Veterinary Technologists

Course Description

Veterinary Technology students develop a practical understanding of the principles and techniques involving small companion animals; emphasizing technical procedures and nursing care. Students focus on the day-to-day procedures performed by a Registered Veterinary Technologist in a veterinary clinic.

Learning outcomes

• Collect blood from companion animals utilizing a variety of vessels depending on the species.
• Identify routes of medications using enteral, parenteral and topical routes.
• Demonstrate knowledge of pedicures, grooming, bathing in companion animals.
• Discuss requirements during parturition and pediatrics patients and care. Identify and discuss the management and treatment of vomiting, diarrhea and anorexia.
• Describe the appropriate ways to administer an enema safely and effectively to a companion animal and provide basic nursing care for anal sacs.
• Utilize and demonstrate bandaging, splinting and casting of limbs for companion animals.
• Utilize nutritional selection for companion animals using basic principles of nutrition, including calculations for daily rations based on energy requirements.
• Demonstrate knowledge of physical examinations for domestic species.

Course topics

• Module 1: Physical Examination
• Module 2: Administration of Medications/Fluids, Enteral, and Parenteral
• Module 3: Venipuncture
• Module 4: Nutrition Basics
• Module 5: Feeding Companion Animals
• Module 6: Vomiting/Diarrhea/Anorexia
• Module 7: Prenatal Care, Parturition and Pediatrics
• Module 8: Wounds
• Module 9: Bandaging, Splints, and Casts
• Module 10: Skin Disease Management, Bathing, Grooming, and Pedicures
• Module 11: Anal Sacs and Enemas

Required text and materials

Note: Print versions of the textbooks are strongly recommended for all VTEC courses.

Students are responsible for purchasing the required materials on their own:

• Boyle, J. (2016). Crow and Walshaw’s manual of clinical procedures in dogs, cats, rabbits and rodents (4th ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.
  Type: Textbook. ISBN: 9781118985700 / 9781118985724

Note: This item can be purchased directly from the following link.

The following textbook would have been purchased in VTEC 1101. Students who did not take VTEC 1101 and/or don't already own the required textbook, will need to purchase it. 

• Samples, O.M. (2026). McCurnin’s Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians (11th ed.). Elsevier. 

Type: Textbook. ISBN: 9780323936514

Additional requirements

A video recording device.

Optional materials

It is strongly recommended that students have access to one of the following editions (or earlier) of a veterinary dictionary. The recommended veterinary dictionaries are:

• Studdert, V. P., & Gay, C. C. (2020). Saunders comprehensive veterinary dictionary (5th ed.). Elselvier.
  ISBN: 9780702074639
• Aiello, S. E., & Moses, M. A. (Eds.). (2016). The Merck veterinary manual (11th ed.). Merck & Co.
  ISBN: 9780911910612 

Assessments

To successfully complete this course, students must achieve a passing grade of 60% or higher on the overall course, and 50% or higher on the final mandatory exam.

The following table illustrates how your final grade will be determined for this course.

Prerequisites

• VTEC 1201 with a minimum grade of C and;
• VTEC 1693 with a minimum grade of C