Introduction to Veterinary MedicineSubmitted by Callie Parr and used in cooperation with the University of Illinois at

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INTRODUCTION TO VETERINARY MEDICINE, by CALLIE PARR

Materials produced for classroom use in conjunction with permission from the University of Illinois Agricultural Education Program.

Introduction to Introduction to Veterinary Veterinary MedicineMedicine

What is it?What is it? Veterinary Medicine is the medical treatment of animals.Veterinary Medicine is the medical treatment of animals.

How is it different from a How is it different from a Doctor?Doctor?

Must know many different species.Must know many different species. Must know many areas such as internal medicine, pediatrics, Must know many areas such as internal medicine, pediatrics,

obstetrics, surgery, etc.obstetrics, surgery, etc. Can’t talk to the patientCan’t talk to the patient

Pets, livestock, lab animals, zoo animals, wildlifePets, livestock, lab animals, zoo animals, wildlife

What animals does a Vet What animals does a Vet treat?treat?

What is the History of Vet What is the History of Vet Med?Med?

Veterinary Medicine developed alongside Veterinary Medicine developed alongside human medical advancements.human medical advancements.

Recorded references as early as 9000 bc in the Recorded references as early as 9000 bc in the Middle Eastern sheparding cultures.Middle Eastern sheparding cultures.

Hieroglyphs in Egypt refer to placing stones in a Hieroglyphs in Egypt refer to placing stones in a female camel’s uterus to prevent pregnancy.female camel’s uterus to prevent pregnancy.

In American West a veterinarian would find In American West a veterinarian would find themselves treating animals and people alike themselves treating animals and people alike because of their skills in many areas.because of their skills in many areas.

What are the Career What are the Career options in Vet Med?options in Vet Med? VeterinarianVeterinarian

Small AnimalSmall Animal Large AnimalLarge Animal ExoticExotic ZoologicalZoological

Veterinary TechnologistVeterinary Technologist Veterinary AssistantVeterinary Assistant Clinical PathologistClinical Pathologist AcademiaAcademia

What education is What education is needed for Veterinary needed for Veterinary Medicine?Medicine? A DVM needs 8 years of post secondary A DVM needs 8 years of post secondary

education. education. There are 28 schools of veterinary medicine in the countryThere are 28 schools of veterinary medicine in the country..

A Vet Tech needs 4 years of post secondary A Vet Tech needs 4 years of post secondary education.education.

A Vet assistant can have 2-4 years of post A Vet assistant can have 2-4 years of post secondary education.secondary education.

A pathologist will need 4-6 years of post A pathologist will need 4-6 years of post secondary educationsecondary education

Duties in Veterinary Duties in Veterinary MedicineMedicine

Breed selectionBreed selection NutritionNutrition GroomingGrooming TrainingTraining General husbandryGeneral husbandry VaccinationVaccination Spay/neuterSpay/neuter

Treat illness/injuryTreat illness/injury Health screeningHealth screening Treat parasitesTreat parasites Provide referralsProvide referrals Humane euthanasiaHumane euthanasia Allay concerns of Allay concerns of

ownerowner

How does someone in Vet How does someone in Vet Med contribute to Med contribute to society?society? By Promoting animal health and welfare.By Promoting animal health and welfare.

By Combating zoonotic diseases.By Combating zoonotic diseases. By inspecting livestock and food-processing By inspecting livestock and food-processing

procedures to ensure safety of food supply.procedures to ensure safety of food supply. By preserving and conserving wildlife.By preserving and conserving wildlife. By conducting scientific research that impacts By conducting scientific research that impacts

the food we eat, the medicine we take, etc.the food we eat, the medicine we take, etc.

Veterinary Medical Veterinary Medical TerminologyTerminology

On the body:On the body:

DorsalDorsal - toward the ceiling or back - toward the ceiling or back VentralVentral - toward the floor or belly - toward the floor or belly Cranial/anteriorCranial/anterior - toward the head - toward the head Caudal/posteriorCaudal/posterior - toward the butt rear - toward the butt rear LateralLateral - toward the side - toward the side MedialMedial - toward the midline - toward the midline

On the limbs:On the limbs:

Proximal Proximal - toward the body - toward the body DistalDistal - away from the body - away from the body PalmarPalmar - the front foot pads - the front foot pads PlantarPlantar - the rear foot pads - the rear foot pads

Movement:Movement: FlexionFlexion - decreasing a joint’s angle - decreasing a joint’s angle ExtensionExtension - increasing a joint’s angle - increasing a joint’s angle

On the head:On the head: RostralRostral – toward the nose – toward the nose CaudalCaudal – toward the tail/rear – toward the tail/rear

SuffixesSuffixes ……ectomy – to remove ______ectomy – to remove ______ ……itis – inflammation of ______itis – inflammation of ______ ……ose – sugarose – sugar ……ase – enzymease – enzyme ……gen – producinggen – producing ……tomy – incisiontomy – incision ……emia – bloodemia – blood ……oid - resembleoid - resemble

Suffixes cont.Suffixes cont. … … oma – tumor/swellingoma – tumor/swelling ……osis/iasis – abnormalosis/iasis – abnormal ……sclerosis – hardeningsclerosis – hardening ……plegia – paralysisplegia – paralysis ……rrhea – dischargerrhea – discharge ……rrhage – burst forthrrhage – burst forth ……ptosis – prolapse/falling outptosis – prolapse/falling out ……spasm - contractionspasm - contraction

PrefixesPrefixes Hema/o… - having to do with the bloodHema/o… - having to do with the blood Hyper… - increased levels/activity of ______Hyper… - increased levels/activity of ______ Hypo… - decreased levels/activity of _______Hypo… - decreased levels/activity of _______ Hetero… - differentHetero… - different Homo… - the sameHomo… - the same Psuedo… - falsePsuedo… - false Anti… - againstAnti… - against Peri… - aroundPeri… - around

Tachy… - fastTachy… - fast Mega/macro… - largeMega/macro… - large Micro… - smallMicro… - small Poly… - manyPoly… - many Pan… - allPan… - all Hap/mono… - oneHap/mono… - one Di… - twoDi… - two A… - none/notA… - none/not

Prefixes cont.Prefixes cont. Prim… - firstPrim… - first Iso… - equalIso… - equal Ambi… - bothAmbi… - both Laevo… - leftLaevo… - left Dextro… - rightDextro… - right Trans… - throughTrans… - through Ex/o… - outEx/o… - out End/o… - inEnd/o… - in

Prefixes cont.Prefixes cont. Brachy… - shortBrachy… - short Steno… - narrowSteno… - narrow Ortho… - straightOrtho… - straight Leuk/o… - whiteLeuk/o… - white Cirrh/o… - yellowCirrh/o… - yellow Chlor/o… - greenChlor/o… - green Melan… - blackMelan… - black Glauc/o… - greyGlauc/o… - grey

Misc termsMisc terms Malignant – cancerousMalignant – cancerous Benign – non-cancerousBenign – non-cancerous Local – in one specific locationLocal – in one specific location General – all over or in many locationsGeneral – all over or in many locations Acute – rapid onsetAcute – rapid onset Palpate – to feel by handPalpate – to feel by hand Feces/fecal – excrementFeces/fecal – excrement Triage – to collect information and assess Triage – to collect information and assess

the situationthe situation

Misc TermsMisc Terms

Infectious – can be spreadInfectious – can be spread Diagnosis – to determine a cause for symptomsDiagnosis – to determine a cause for symptoms Prognosis – how it will turn outPrognosis – how it will turn out Congenital – with/upon/before birthCongenital – with/upon/before birth Appendages – arms or legsAppendages – arms or legs Digits – fingers or toesDigits – fingers or toes Vestigial – non-functionalVestigial – non-functional Phalanges – fingers/toesPhalanges – fingers/toes

Clinical ExperienceClinical Experience You will be required to complete and document 10 You will be required to complete and document 10

clinical hours.clinical hours. Clinical hours include working with animals in any Clinical hours include working with animals in any

structured environment.structured environment. Examples are: Examples are:

working at a vets office cleaning cages, feeding, etc. working at a vets office cleaning cages, feeding, etc. Working at a local animal shelter cleaning cages, feeding, Working at a local animal shelter cleaning cages, feeding,

socializing, etc. socializing, etc. Working at a barn/stableWorking at a barn/stable

Documentation comes in the form of detailed records Documentation comes in the form of detailed records listing days & hours worked, tasks completed, and listing days & hours worked, tasks completed, and skills learned. Signed by the owner/ operator/ skills learned. Signed by the owner/ operator/ manager.manager.