12/27/2024 5:47:36 AM	VETT 121 Course Outline as of Summer 2025	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  VETT 121	Title:  VET SURGICAL/DENTAL ASST
Full Title:  Veterinary Surgical and Dental Assistance
Last Reviewed:5/8/2023

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		8 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  ANHLT 121

Catalog Description:

Students will explore all aspects of veterinary surgery and dentistry with emphasis on the role of the technician.  All aspects of the surgical experience are covered, including surgical instrumentation, suturing techniques, application of bandages, splints and casts, patient preparation, surgical nursing and assisting, intravenous catheter placement, common surgical procedures, pain assessment and patient recovery. Dental care of companion, laboratory and large animals will be discussed, including disease progression, dental prophylaxis, and extractions.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Course Completion of VETT 50

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Students will explore all aspects of veterinary surgery and dentistry with emphasis on the role of the technician.  All aspects of the surgical experience are covered, including surgical instrumentation, suturing techniques, application of bandages, splints and casts, patient preparation, surgical nursing and assisting, intravenous catheter placement, common surgical procedures, pain assessment and patient recovery. Dental care of companion, laboratory and large animals will be discussed, including disease progression, dental prophylaxis, and extractions.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:Course Completion of VETT 50
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Certificate Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Recognize and describe the pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative care for veterinary patients.

2. Identify and explain dental disease, prophylaxis, and extractions on veterinary patients.

 

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Identify surgical and dental instrumentation.

2. Describe appropriate surgical instrument and surgical suite preparation.

3. Describe and evaluate sterile protocols, including pre-surgical patient preparation and intra-operative assistance.

4. Describe common surgical protocols and procedures and explain them to clients.

5. Evaluate and complete proper surgical medical records.

6. Describe dental anatomy, pathogenesis of periodontal disease, and common dental procedures, including prophylaxis and extractions.

7. Evaluate and describe post-surgical monitoring and after care procedures.

8. Perform a pain assessment on a surgical patient.

9. Place routine bandages and assist in the placement of a splint or cast.

10. Perform simple interrupted skin sutures and describe other common suture patterns.

11. Evaluate suture material and identify appropriate use of suture instrumentation and suture selection.

12. Evaluate and describe proper protocols for intravenous (IV) catheter placement, use, and monitoring.

Topics and Scope

I. Surgical Preparation                  

    A. Patient risk assessment      

    B. Patient preparation and scrubbing      

    C. Surgical team scrubbing, gowning, and gloving      

    D. Sterile technique and room preparation      

II. Surgical Nursing and Assistance                  

    A. Common surgical procedures      

    B. Surgical monitoring      

    C. Induction and intubation      

    D. Pain assessment of veterinary patients      

III. Surgical Instrumentation                  

    A. Identification and common uses      

    B. Surgical pack preparation      

IV. Post Operative Patient Care                  

    A. Initial recovery      

    B. Common post operative treatment      

    C. Discharge instructions      

V. Suturing Materials and Suturing Techniques                  

VI. Application of Bandages, Splints and Casts                  

VII. IV Catheter Placement                  

VIII. Veterinary Dentistry                  

    A. Normal companion animal dental anatomy and dental assessment      

    B. Dental terminology and directional anatomy      

    C. Dental prophylactic procedures      

    D. Periodontal disease pathogenesis and other common dental diseases      

    E. Dental radiography      

    F. Dental extractions      

    G. Preventative dental care and home care

Assignments:

1. Reading in texts and handouts (20-40 pages/week)

2. Reading, summarizing, and answering questions regarding case studies or veterinary/anatomical research papers

3. Developing and critiquing hospital protocols and client handouts

4. Identification of structures on and re-creation of anatomical diagrams

5. Presentations relating to surgical protocols and procedures

6. Demonstrations of clinical skills (suturing, splint placement, etc)

7. Quizzes (up to 10) and exams (up to 3)

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 10 - 30%
Hospital protocols and client handouts
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 10 - 30%
Case studies; hospital protocols; identification of structures on and re-creation of anatomical diagrams
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 10 - 30%
Presentations; clinical skills demonstrations
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 40 - 60%
Quizzes and exams
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 0%
None

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Small Animal Surgical Nursing. 4th ed. Tear, Marianne. Mosby. 2012 (classic).

McCurnin's Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses. 10th ed. Bassert. Saunders. 2021.

Small Animal Dental Procedures for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses. 2nd ed. Perrone, Wiley-Blackwell. 2020.

Instructor prepared materials

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