VETT 2210 Syllabus

Subject Code

VETT

Course Number

2210

Course Title

Laboratory and Exotic Animals

Prerequisites

VETT 1070 with a grade of C or higher, VETT 1110 with a grade of C or higher, VETT 2120 with a grade of C or higher

Corequisites

VETT 2220, VETT 2230

Terms Offered

Credit Hours

Course Description

This course provides an overview into the study of laboratory and exotic animals. Instructors place emphasis on the principles of animal research, maintaining human health and safety in a research environment, providing proper animal care and husbandry, nursing procedures, and euthanasia. Topics include the principles of animal research, human safety and health considerations, animal care and husbandry, nursing procedures, and euthanasia.

Course Outcomes

Principles of Animal Research

  • Explain the basic principles of animal use in research.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of state, federal, and local animal welfare regulations.

Human Safety and Health Considerations

  • Demonstrate proper PPE use and appropriate techniques for handling laboratory and exotic animals.
  • Discuss avian, laboratory and exotic animal zoonotic diseases and modes of transmission.

Animal Care and Husbandry

  • Recognize mice, rats, rabbits, and birds.
  • Determine sex and demonstrate an understanding of reproduction in mice, rats, and rabbits.
  • Discuss nutritional needs and methods for feeding/watering laboratory and exotic animals in research and/or as pets.
  • Discuss identification methods used for mice, rats, and rabbits.
  • Discuss the unique husbandry issues in laboratory and exotic animals in research and/or as pets including housing, grooming, nutrition, and transportation methods.
  • Describe methods of environmental enrichment.

Nursing Procedures

  • Restrain mice, rats, rabbits, and birds.
  • Perform physical examination on birds.
  • Trim nails in birds and other exotic species kept as pets.
  • Perform oral dosing in mice, rats, and rabbits.
  • Collect blood samples from mice, rats, and rabbits.
  • Demonstrate subcutaneous and intraperitoneal injections in rats and mice.
  • Demonstrate subcutaneous injections in rabbits.
  • Discuss anesthesia and recovery procedures in laboratory and exotic animals.
  • Discuss common disease signs in laboratory and exotic animals.
  • Discuss normal and abnormal behavior patterns in exotic animals.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the modifications of diagnostic imaging techniques as they apply to mice, rats, guinea pigs, lizards, and amphibians.
  • Position birds for radiographic studies.

Euthanasia

  • Define euthanasia.
  • Discuss the legal requirements and institutional policies regarding euthanasia of laboratory animals.
  • Consider ethical and humane considerations in performing euthanasia.
  • Discuss the effects that euthanasia can have on personnel, and describe ways to cope with euthanasia-associated stress.
  • Discuss appropriate methods of disposing of carcasses.