Introduction to Veterinary Medicine

1. Introduction to Veterinary Medicine Submitted by Callie Parr and used in cooperation with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The materials that appear in this document may be freely reproduced for educational/training activities. There is no requirement to obtain special permission for such uses. We do, however, ask that the following statement appear on all reproductions: This permission statement is limited to the reproduction of material for educational/training events. Systematic or large-scale reproduction or distribution (more than one hundred copies per year)—or inclusion of items in publications for sale—may be done only with prior written permission. Also, reproduction on computer disk or by any other electronic means requires prior written permission. Contact the University of Illinois Agricultural Education Program to obtain special permission. The University of Illinois and its affiliated entities, in addition to the individual submitting the materials, assumes no liability to original work or activities therein. INTRODUCTION TO VETERINARY MEDICINE, by CALLIE PARR Materials produced for classroom use in conjunction with permission from the University of Illinois Agricultural Education Program.

2. Introduction to Veterinary Medicine

3. What is it? How is it different from a Doctor? • Veterinary Medicine is the medical treatment of animals. • Must know many different species. • Must know many areas such as internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, surgery, etc. • Can’t talk to the patient What animals does a Vet treat? • Pets, livestock, lab animals, zoo animals, wildlife

4. What is the History of Vet Med? • Veterinary Medicine developed alongside human medical advancements. • Recorded references as early as 9000 bc in the Middle Eastern sheparding cultures. • Hieroglyphs in Egypt refer to placing stones in a female camel’s uterus to prevent pregnancy. • In American West a veterinarian would find themselves treating animals and people alike because of their skills in many areas.

5. What are the Career options in Vet Med? • Veterinarian • Small Animal • Large Animal • Exotic • Zoological • Veterinary Technologist • Veterinary Assistant • Clinical Pathologist • Academia

6. What education is needed for Veterinary Medicine? • A DVM needs 8 years of post secondary education. • There are 28 schools of veterinary medicine in the country. • A Vet Tech needs 4 years of post secondary education. • A Vet assistant can have 2-4 years of post secondary education. • A pathologist will need 4-6 years of post secondary education

7. Duties in Veterinary Medicine • Treat illness/injury • Health screening • Treat parasites • Provide referrals • Humane euthanasia • Allay concerns of owner • Breed selection • Nutrition • Grooming • Training • General husbandry • Vaccination • Spay/neuter

8. How does someone in Vet Med contribute to society? • By Promoting animal health and welfare. • By Combating zoonotic diseases. • By inspecting livestock and food-processing procedures to ensure safety of food supply. • By preserving and conserving wildlife. • By conducting scientific research that impacts the food we eat, the medicine we take, etc.

9. Veterinary Medical Terminology

10. On the body: • Dorsal - toward the ceiling or back • Ventral - toward the floor or belly • Cranial/anterior - toward the head • Caudal/posterior - toward the butt rear • Lateral - toward the side • Medial - toward the midline

11. On the limbs: • Proximal - toward the body • Distal - away from the body • Palmar - the front foot pads • Plantar - the rear foot pads

12. Movement: On the head: • Rostral – toward the nose • Caudal – toward the tail/rear • Flexion - decreasing a joint’s angle • Extension - increasing a joint’s angle

13. Suffixes • …ectomy – to remove ______ • …itis – inflammation of ______ • …ose – sugar • …ase – enzyme • …gen – producing • …tomy – incision • …emia – blood • …oid - resemble

14. Suffixes cont. • … oma – tumor/swelling • …osis/iasis – abnormal • …sclerosis – hardening • …plegia – paralysis • …rrhea – discharge • …rrhage – burst forth • …ptosis – prolapse/falling out • …spasm - contraction

15. Prefixes • Hema/o… - having to do with the blood • Hyper… - increased levels/activity of ______ • Hypo… - decreased levels/activity of _______ • Hetero… - different • Homo… - the same • Psuedo… - false • Anti… - against • Peri… - around

16. Prefixes cont. • Prim… - first • Iso… - equal • Ambi… - both • Laevo… - left • Dextro… - right • Trans… - through • Ex/o… - out • End/o… - in • Tachy… - fast • Mega/macro… - large • Micro… - small • Poly… - many • Pan… - all • Hap/mono… - one • Di… - two • A… - none/not

17. Prefixes cont. • Brachy… - short • Steno… - narrow • Ortho… - straight • Leuk/o… - white • Cirrh/o… - yellow • Chlor/o… - green • Melan… - black • Glauc/o… - grey

18. Misc terms • Malignant – cancerous • Benign – non-cancerous • Local – in one specific location • General – all over or in many locations • Acute – rapid onset • Palpate – to feel by hand • Feces/fecal – excrement • Triage – to collect information and assess the situation

19. Misc Terms • Infectious – can be spread • Diagnosis – to determine a cause for symptoms • Prognosis – how it will turn out • Congenital – with/upon/before birth • Appendages – arms or legs • Digits – fingers or toes • Vestigial – non-functional • Phalanges – fingers/toes

20. Clinical Experience • You will be required to complete and document 10 clinical hours. • Clinical hours include working with animals in any structured environment. • Examples are: • working at a vets office cleaning cages, feeding, etc. • Working at a local animal shelter cleaning cages, feeding, socializing, etc. • Working at a barn/stable • Documentation comes in the form of detailed records listing days & hours worked, tasks completed, and skills learned. Signed by the owner/ operator/ manager.