Veterinary Refresher Scheme For Companion Animal Practice

Returning or changing to companion animal practice?

• Can you confidently anaesthetise dogs and cats?
• Are you up to date with current surgical practices and techniques?
• Are you comfortable handling the most common medical consultations?

This course is for veterinarians returning to companion animal practice or those wanting to change to companion animal practice from another area of clinical practice.  It is also a mini-refresher course for those veterinarians already in companion animal pratice.  Please note: A current practicing certificate is required to complete this course.

Phase 1 (3-4 months):  The online component, Phase 1 comprises 3 modules each divided into 3 topics.  With comprehensive notes for each module, quizzes to determine your progress and access to tutors via the 'live' online forum, you'll be up to date and ready for Phase 2.

Phase 2 (1-10 days):  The optional placement component for those re-entering practice.  You'll be assigned to a local BESTPRACTICE-accredited clinical practice for 1-10 days, where a mentor will help you through a prescribed checklist of practical tasks, ensuring you are ready to start work.

12 March - 22 April

This module starts with a quick summary of the effect of anaesthesia on physiology before taking you through the stages of anaesthesia and recovery, with guidelines for choosing appropriate anaesthetic agents.  You'll learn drugs and dose rates for the most appropriate agents as well as their beneficial and expected side effects.  The module covers analgesia, advantages and disadvatages of various anaesthesia machines circuits, before discussing anaesthetic and monitoring considerations (including drugs and dose rates) for compromised patients.  Lastly, you'll cover key points in critical care patients.

23 April - 3 June

This module begins with a revision of surgical principles and assessment of the surgical risk for a patient.  It covers Halsted's principles with particular reference to aseptic techniques, choice of suture materials and patterns for different body systems.  The examination, diagnosis and treatment options of more commonly encountered surgical procedures will be discussed.  This includes orthopaedic, neurologic and oncological conditions.

4 June - 15 July

This module deals with the 10 most common consultations seen in companion animal practice.  These include vaccinations, cat fight abscesses and animals presenting with urinary, skin, cardiac and neurological conditions.  It takes you through the problem as it would present in a consultation, its clinical examination, plus diagnostic, treatment and monitoring options.  It also discusses any recent changes in relevant diagnostic testing and treatment.

Sandra Forsyth BVSc, DipACVA - Sandra graduated in 1980 and gained clinical experience in New Zealand and Britain before becoming Instructor in Anaesthesia at the University of Missouri, followed by a Residency in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care at the University of California.  Sandra is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anaesthesiologists and an experienced clinical pathologist. She is currently a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Pathology at Massey University and Resident Clinical Pathologist for NZVP.

Andrew Worth BVSc, MACVSc (Radiology), PGDipVCSc, FACVSc (SA Surgery) - Andrew spent 9 years in small animal practice prior to undertaking a Residency in Small Animal Surgery at Massey University, where he is now a Senior Lecturer and Specialist Small Animal Surgeon.  Andrew is a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists and enjoys the challenges of clinical teaching and research.

Kate Hill BVSc, ACVIM - Kate graduated in 1996 and undertook a Residency in Small Animal Medicine at Purdue University in 1999.  She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, and a Registered Veterinary Specialist with the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council.  Kate is currently a Senior Lecturer in Small Animal Medicine at Massey University and her current research interests include Feline hyperthyroidism, gastric dilation volvulus in working dogs and preservative tubes for urinalysis in dogs and cats.