Veterinary Technician

In this course, students explore the Gateway Technical College community. They examine college resources and services, investigate skills that lead to academic success, and identify strategies for achieving educational and personal goals.

Introductory course focusing on general biological principles, cell structure and function, genetics, comparative anatomy and physiology, evolution, and ecosystems. Includes dissection of various fresh and preserved materials. This course is appropriate for OTA, AODA and other allied health students.

In this course, students explore the construction, meaning, and pronunciation of veterinary medical terms to establish understanding and facilitate communication among veterinary team members. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to correctly formulate veterinary medical terms to describe specific concepts.

In this course, students consider normal and abnormal animal behavior, training methods, and the relationship between behavior and physical health to identify problem behaviors and potential solutions. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to recognize some behavior issues in domestic animals and choose appropriate resources for their modification.

This course is designed for learners to develop knowledge and skills in all aspects of the writing process. Planning, organizing, writing, editing and revising are applied through a variety of activities. Students will analyze audience and purpose, use elements of research, and format documents using standard guidelines. Individuals will develop critical reading skills through analysis of various written documents.

Topics include structure and functions of microorganisms, microbial control, infectious diseases, immunity and resistance to disease, problems of sanitation and control in relation to microbiology of air, water, food and sewage. This course is equivalent to 806-197 at other WTCS schools.

Please complete 801-196 Oral/Interpersonal Communication or 801-198 Speech. This is for informational purposes only. Once you register for your course, you can delete this block from your timeline.

This course provides a basic understanding of the theoretical foundations of ethical thought. Diverse ethical perspectives will be used to analyze and compare relevant issues. Students will critically evaluate individual, social, and/or professional standards of behavior and apply a systematic decision-making process to these situations.

This course introduces students to some of the major theories and topics of psychology, including the physiological basis of behavior, personality and learning theories, memory, states of consciousness, stress, research methods, intelligence, human development, psychopathology, and social behavior.

In this course, students explore basic nutrition, housing needs, and behavior of common domestic animals to develop skills that enable them to assess animal condition. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to obtain a thorough history, perform a physical exam, administer medications, collect samples, and use proper restraint techniques

In this course, students develop practical workplace techniques for veterinary office procedures to develop customer service and veterinary team support skills. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to use veterinary software to manage records and financial applications, maximize client interactions, and participate in day-to-day operations of a veterinary facility.

In this course, students examine basic laboratory equipment and procedures, as well as features of common veterinary diseases, to acquire skills needed to perform various diagnostic tests. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to collect and process appropriate samples for hematology, blood chemistry, urinalysis, and parasitology, and correlate veterinary clinical pathology findings to clinical signs.

In this course, students explore veterinary imaging concepts and apply veterinary imaging techniques to use radiographic equipment and support diagnostic studies. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to properly position veterinary patients, produce diagnostic images, process exposed films, and maintain equipment.

In this course, students investigate surgical equipment and procedures to develop skills needed to assist with surgical care of animals. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to identify surgical instruments, develop sterile technique, maintain and operate surgical equipment, and assist with patient preparation, monitoring, and recovery.

In this course, students examine additional laboratory procedures and other veterinary disease processes to establish understanding of appropriate methodology and recognition of accurate results. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to collect and process appropriate samples for mycology, cytology, serology, endocrinology, and coagulation and reproductive evaluations, and correlate veterinary clinical pathology findings to clinical signs.

In this course, students assimilate skills in a clinical setting to develop proficiency in animal nursing techniques. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to perform routine veterinary clinic procedures such as venipuncture, urine collection, and subcutaneous injection.

In this course, students examine drugs, vaccines, and other substances used in veterinary medicine to establish a knowledge base of their therapeutic use, administration, and side effects. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to accurately calculate dosages, prepare dispensed medications, safely administer drugs, and recognize normal and abnormal responses to medications.

In this course, students investigate anesthetic delivery and monitoring equipment, pain management strategies, and appropriate responses to patient compromise to acquire skills needed to coordinate anesthetic events in veterinary patients. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to choose and administer appropriate veterinary anesthetic protocols, monitor and maintain patient status throughout anesthetic events, and maintain equipment and accurate anesthetic records.

In this course, students examine the care, handling, and restraint of large animals commonly encountered in veterinary practice. They explore the basic nutrition, common diseases, housing, and behavior of a variety of large animals, including equine, bovine, porcine, caprine, and ovine. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to assess animal conditions, administer medications, collect samples, and use proper restraint techniques.

In this course, students explore the veterinary technician's role in surgery to develop skills needed to manage veterinary patients in the pre-, intra-, and post-operative phases. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to anticipate needs of the surgeon, provide veterinary surgical assistance, manage wounds and incisions, and perform dental prophylaxis in dogs and cats.

In this course, students explore basic pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of common domestic animal diseases. They examine symptoms, transmission, prevention, and reporting requirements. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to identify and assess common disease presentations in domestic animals.

In this course, students explore characteristics, basic care, illness, and treatment of animals that may be encountered in research settings and/or kept as pets, to develop skills needed to participate in caring for these animals. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to properly restrain and examine mice, rats, rabbits, and birds, collect blood samples from rats and rabbits, and perform a necropsy on a laboratory animal.

In this course, students hone animal nursing skills in a clinical setting to achieve proficiency needed to function in the role of veterinary technician according to the standards set by CVTEA. Upon completion of this course, students will have the skills and knowledge required of an entry level veterinary technician.