Academic Catalog

V T 75C: LARGE ANIMAL SKILLS LABORATORY

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Summer 2025
Units: 1
Hours: 3 laboratory per week (36 total per quarter)
Prerequisite: V T 75B.
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: CSU
Grade Type: Letter Grade Only
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Students will demonstrate entry level skills in handling horses and goats.
  • Make accurate entries into the animals' medical records and demonstrate the ability to write thorough charts by completing the assessment and plan part of the chart, with the help of senior students.

Description

Third in a series of courses on animal care and handling. Focus on large animal species evaluation and nursing care. Physical examination, common procedures, and specialized equipment. Restraint, behavior, and handling of large domestic animals. Opportunity to perform skills on live animals during field trips and on campus. Intended for students in the Veterinary Technology Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in the program.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Describe proper restraint techniques of horses, goats, cattle, sheep, and pigs.
  2. Demonstrate physical examination of horses, cattle, and small ruminants.
  3. Describe proper biosecurity measures pertaining to barns, farms, and intensive farming.
  4. Identify equine feeds and describe proper feeding practices related to equine colic.
  5. Demonstrate proficiency in the essential large animal skills.
  6. Describe an equine lameness examination.

Course Content

  1. Proper restraint techniques
    1. Behavior of prey species
    2. Anatomical adaptations of prey
    3. Restraint techniques
      1. Horse
      2. Goat and sheep
      3. Cattle
      4. Pigs
  2. Physical examination
    1. History taking
    2. Physical exam
      1. Horse
      2. Cattle
      3. Small ruminant
    3. Body condition scoring
  3. Proper biosecurity measures
    1. Equine
    2. Cattle
      1. Dairy
      2. Beef
    3. Goat and sheep
      1. Fiber
      2. Food
      3. Milk
    4. Pigs
  4. Equine feeds and equine colic
    1. Forage
    2. Concentrates
    3. Equine colic overview
  5. Large animal skills
    1. Injections (SQ, IM, IV)
    2. Phlebotomy
    3. Bandaging horses
    4. Haltering horses and cattle
    5. Use of a cattle chute
    6. Balling gun and dosing syringe
    7. Application of an equine twitch
  6. Equine lameness examination

Lab Content

  1. Practical application of animal care skills and principles
  2. Bandaging on horses during field trips and on models
  3. Restraint of large animal species
  4. Physical examination on horses and ruminants
  5. Lameness exam on a horse

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. Housing and restraint facilities for companion animals.
2. Horse skeleton and other models.
3. Large animal equipment and instruments.

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Instructor observation and evaluation of care of program animals
Assessments
Presentation on large animal instrument use

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Discussions
Field trips
Demonstrations
Hands-on practice of essential skills specific to large animal nursing and husbandry

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

Bassert, Joanna M., and Dennis M. McCurnin. Clinical Textbook For Veterinary Technicians, 10th ed.. 2023.

Holtgrew-Bohling, Kristin J.. Large Animal Clinical Procedures for Veterinary Technicians. 2020.

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

  1. Presentation of essential equipment for use in large animal appointments
  2. Completion of questions on case studies in large animals
  3. Reading required in textbook and from readings assigned in course management system

Discipline(s)

Registered Veterinary Technician