11/21/2024 5:58:05 AM	VETT 109 Course Outline as of Summer 2025	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  VETT 109	Title:  COMP/ALT VET MED
Full Title:  Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine
Last Reviewed:4/13/2020

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	2.00	Lecture Scheduled	2.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	35.00
Minimum	2.00	Lab Scheduled	0		8 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	2.00			Contact Total	35.00
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  70.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 105.00

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 109

Catalog Description:

This class will focus on disease treatment in animal species, (primarily feline and canine) using complementary and alternative modalities. Modalities covered will include acupuncture, herbal medicine, chiropractic, and homeopathy. This class will include complentary and alternative veterinary medicine (CAVM) terminology; record keeping, preparation and administration of nutraceutical, herbal, and homeopathic medicines; patient monitoring; removal, handling and disposal of acupuncture needles; prescription preparation; and client education regarding CAVM treatments.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Completion of or Current Enrollment in VETT 50

Recommended Preparation:

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

This class will focus on disease treatment in animal species, (primarily feline and canine) using complementary and alternative modalities. Modalities covered will include acupuncture, herbal medicine, chiropractic, and homeopathy. This class will include complentary and alternative veterinary medicine (CAVM) terminology; record keeping, preparation and administration of nutraceutical, herbal, and homeopathic medicines; patient monitoring; removal, handling and disposal of acupuncture needles; prescription preparation; and client education regarding CAVM treatments.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:Completion of or Current Enrollment in VETT 50
Recommended:
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.  Describe and discuss the use of homeopathy, acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal medicine, and nutrional supplementation for veterinary patients.

2.  Describe and discuss routine preventative care including vaccinations, nutritional support, and age-related medical needs from a complementary and alternative perspective.

3.  Describe and discuss the preparation and administration of homeopathic remedies, herbal medicines, and nutritional supplements.

 

Objectives:

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

1.   Discuss proper preventative medicine protocols including vaccination.

2.   Compare homeopathic approach to conventional treatment.

3.   Describe the symptom based method of homeopathic remedy selection.

4.   Identify key symptomology and describe patient evaluation under homepathic care.

5.   Describe proper administration of homeopathic remedies.

6.   Describe common dosing interval and potency of homeopathic remedies.

7.   Describe the theories commonly used for treatment in Tradtional Chinese Medicine.

8.   Describe the location and action of major acupuncture points used in animals.

9.   Describe the proper technique for acupressure.

10. Describe the proper technique for acupuncutre needle removal.

11. Describe common treatment frequency and patient monitoring with acupuncture.

12. Discuss range of motion palpation and chiropractic adjustments in animals.

13. Discuss treatment frequency and patient monitoring with chiropractic treatment.

14. Describe proper restraint for animals receiving physical examinations, acupuncture and/or

      chiropractic treatments.

15. Recognize relevant terminology for record keeping purposes.

16. Describe the normal grieving process, including assisting clients with grieving.

17. Discuss euthanasia, including appropriate indications for euthanasia and assisting

      veterinarian in the process.

Topics and Scope

I. Medical Record Keeping

    A. Patient signalment and modality specific medical history

    B. Subjective-Objective Assesment Plan (SOAP) record keeping format

    C. Acupuncture point abbreviations

    D. Chiropractic adjustment abbreviations

II. Physical Examination

    A. Body systems based examination

    B. Acupuncture specific physical examination

    C. Chiropractic specific physical examination

    D. Handling to assist with examination, acupuncture, or chiropractic treatments

III. Preventative Medicine

    A. Preventable diseases

    B. Susceptibility factors

    C. Vaccination protocols

    D. Vaccination handling and administration

    E. Homeopathic treatments including Nosodes

    F. Diets for healthy animals

    G. Dental home care

    H.  Client education

IV. Medication Administration

    A. Medication preparation

    B. Forms of medication

    C. Medication dosage calculations

    D. Frequency of administration

    E. Oral medication administration

V. Homeopathy

    A. History and theory    

     B. Treatment strategy and therapeutic use

    C. Outcome assessment

    D. Terminology, client communication, and client education    

     E. Commonly treated conditions and contraindications    

VI. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Herbs

    A. History and theory    

     B. Treatment strategy and therapeutic use

    C. Outcome assessment

    D. Terminology, client communication, and client education    

     E. Commonly treated conditions and contraindications

     F. Acupressure, electrostimulation, and acu-laser therapy    

VII. Chiropractic

    A. History and theory    

     B. Treatment strategy and therapeutic use

    C. Outcome assessment

    D. Terminology, client communication, and client education    

     E. Commonly treated conditions and contraindications    

VIII. Other Modalities

     A. Physical therapy

    B. Massage

    C. Tellington Touch

    D. Psychomotor therapy

    E. Reiki

    F. Western and Ayervedic herbs

    G. Flower essences

IX. Nutrition

    A. Labels and manufacturer regulations

    B. Nutrients and common ingredients

    C. Nutritional needs based on life stage

    D. Nutritional needs based on disease status

    E. Nutrient requirements

     F. Rotational diets

     G. Food actions from a Chinese Medicine perspective

    H. Home preparation of diets

X. Euthanasia

    A. Quality of life and pain assessments

    B. Hospice and end of life care

    C. Recommended euthanasia procedures and assisting the veterinarian

    D. Grief process and assisting the client

Assignments:

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

2. Participation in mock client interactions and medical record keeping

3. Reflective essays (up to 5 assignments of approximately 1-3 pages each)

4. Presentations on complementary and alternative veterinary treatment

5. Participation in mock patient handling, restraining and physical examinations

6. Midterm(s) (up to 2), quizzes and final exam

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 20 - 35%
Reflective essays and presentation materials
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 20 - 35%
Presentations and mock client and patient activities
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 30 - 50%
Quizzes, midterm examination(s), and final exam
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 0%
None

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

The Natural Cat; The Comprehensive Guide to Optimum Care. Fraizer, Anitra and Eckroate, Norma. Plume. 2008 (classic)

Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs, Small Doses for Small Animals. 2nd ed. Hamilton, Don. North Atlantic Books. 2010 (classic)

The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine. Kaptchuk, Ted. McGraw-Hill. 2000 (classic)

Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats. 3rd ed. Pitcairn, Richard and Pitcairn, Susan. Rodale Press. 2005 (classic)

Four Paws, Five Directions. Schwartz, Cheryl and Schwartz, Mark. Celestial Arts Press. 1996 (classic)

Acu-Cat A Guide to Feline Acupressure. 2nd ed. Zidonis, Nancy and Snow, Amy. Tallgrass Publishers. 2013 (classic)

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