Academic Catalog

V T 61: PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF ANIMAL DISEASE

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2026
Units: 4
Hours: 4 lecture per week (48 total per quarter)
Prerequisite: BIOL 41.
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: CSU
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Using multiple peer-reviewed sources in the library database, research an approved disease of interest. Create a handout using simplified language geared toward client education that discusses common signalment, etiology, pathophysiology, treatment, monitoring and prognosis of the disease.
  • Using multiple peer-reviewed sources in the library database, research an assigned disease and, using appropriate medical terminology, create a presentation for veterinary technician peers that describes the etiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, differential diagnoses, and prognosis of the disease.

Description

Pathophysiology of animal disease is presented, using an "organ systems" approach. Students learn mechanisms of response to disease of common domestic animals. Includes study of the common diseases of domestic animals with emphasis on the dog and cat. Emphasis is on learning how patients respond to disease and how the effective veterinary technician assesses and intervenes to benefit the patient. Topics include: etiology, pathogenesis, clinical signs, diagnostics, and nursing management of selected diseases. Principles of vaccination, disease prevention, public health, client education, and zoonosis. Students will build on their personal knowledge as well as information that they've learned in previous courses. 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 physiology of the immune system and immune functions within specific organ systems.
  2. Explain how vaccinations protect animals from disease.
  3. Explain the role of veterinary technicians in the compassionate nursing care of patients.
  4. Explain the etiology, pathogenesis, clinical signs, diagnostics, treatment, nursing assessments, and clinical management of selected diseases organized by body systems.
  5. Describe select infectious and parasitic diseases of domestic animals, including etiology, mode of transmission, natural history or life cycle, pathogenesis, clinical signs, diagnostic procedures, and clinical nursing management.
  6. Explain the role of the veterinary technician in "One Health."
  7. Create a plan for learning about disease and the role of the veterinary nurse.

Course Content

  1. Review of immune system and immune functions
    1. Homeostasis
      1. Normal anatomy and physiology in wellness
      2. Pathology and pathophysiology in disease
    2. The pathogenesis of disease
      1. Stressors: causes of cellular adaptation, injury, and death
      2. Adaptive/maladaptive responses to stressors
    3. Importance of signalment
    4. Clinical signs
      1. Non-specific
      2. Localizing
    5. Classification of disease processes
  2. Vaccination
    1. Sources of infectious disease
      1. Animal sources
      2. Vectors
      3. Fomite
    2. Contamination vs. infection
    3. Transmission of disease
      1. Direct transmission
      2. Indirect transmission
    4. Common portals of entry
    5. Contamination prevention
      1. Aseptic technique
      2. Universal precautions
    6. Host-pathogen interactions
      1. Clinical classification of organisms
      2. Pathogenic organisms
      3. Host defenses
      4. Immunity
      5. Inflammation
      6. Role of the veterinary technician
  3. Veterinary technicians and compassionate nursing care of patients
    1. Veterinary technician practice model
      1. Nursing assessments
      2. Nursing interventions
  4. Selected diseases organized by body systems
    1. Cardiovascular, respiratory, integument, gastrointestinal, renal, endocrine, musculoskeletal, neurologic, and reproductive systems
      1. Pathophysiology
      2. Clinical signs
      3. Diagnostics
      4. Nursing assessments
      5. Treatment and nursing interventions
      6. Client education
  5. Infectious and parasitic diseases of domestic animals
    1. Pathophysiology
    2. Clinical signs
    3. Diagnostics and identification
    4. Nursing assessments
    5. Treatment and nursing interventions
    6. Client education
  6. "One Health" (One Medicine)
    1. Common zoonotic and vector-borne diseases
    2. Veterinary technician's role in public health and zoonoses
    3. Discussion of USDA (US Department of Agriculture) reportable diseases
  7. Create a plan for learning about disease and the role of the veterinary nurse
    1. Orientation to the professional periodical literature
      1. Use of reference materials and databases
      2. Introduction to computer search techniques

Lab Content

Not applicable.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. Veterinary instructional software and access to subscription online learning resources.
2. Fully equipped classroom with teaching station and internet access.

Method(s) of Evaluation

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

Written assignments and essays
Multiple collaborative group case presentations
Written quizzes and written final exam

Method(s) of Instruction

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

Lecture presentation
Collaborative group case presentations
Discussion using the language of veterinary medicine

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

Bassert, Joanna, Angela Beal, and Oreta Samples. McCurnin's Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians, 10th ed.. 2022.

Merck & Co., Inc.. Merck Veterinary Manual. 2024.

Rockett, Lattanzio, and Christensen. The Veterinary Technician's Guide to Writing SOAPS. 2016.

Although the Rockett, et al. text is older than the suggested "5 years or newer" standard, it remains seminal in this area of study.

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

  1. Multiple case-based group presentations which will be researched from textbooks and library databases, created, reviewed by instructor, and collaboratively presented to the whole class.
  2. Written disease summary.
  3. Written client education brochure.
  4. Written quizzes and final exam.

Discipline(s)

Registered Veterinary Technician