Academic Catalog

V T 83B: PHARMACOLOGY FOR VETERINARY NURSES II

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Summer 2026
Units: 3
Hours: 3 lecture per week (36 total per quarter)
Prerequisite: V T 83A.
Advisory: Not open to students with credit in V T 83.
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: CSU
Grade Type: Letter Grade Only
Repeatability: Not Repeatable
Formerly: V T 83

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Apply pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles to evaluate medication selection, dosing, and expected responses in medications covered for veterinary patients
  • Demonstrate the ability to educate clients on medication administration plans and evaluate client understanding

Description

Second in a two-course series to provide students with an introduction to the basic principles of veterinary pharmacology. Students will build on their knowledge of physiology and disease to grasp how medications will impact the patient and disease processes. Basic knowledge on preparation and dispensing of medications. Overview of the actions and interactions of the major classes of medications, with emphasis on common veterinary uses of specific medications. 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. Interpret a drug order and a prescription, and label dispensed medications correctly.
  2. Perform medication calculations.
  3. Identify the common pharmaceuticals used in veterinary medicine.
  4. Describe and demonstrate record keeping requirements for controlled substances.
  5. Create client education plans.

Course Content

  1. Medication orders
    1. Client patient doctor relationship
    2. Rights of medication administration
    3. In-clinic prescriptions orders
    4. Prescriptions to go home orders
    5. Filling and labeling prescriptions
  2. Medical calculations
    1. Dosage calculations
    2. Dilutions and reconstitution
    3. Constant rate infusions
  3. Common pharmaceuticals used in veterinary medicine
    1. Emergency medications
      1. Classification
      2. Indications
      3. Clinical application
      4. Adverse reactions
      5. Contraindications
      6. Nursing considerations
    2. Gastrointestinal medications
      1. Classification
      2. Indications
      3. Clinical application
      4. Adverse reactions
      5. Contraindications
      6. Nursing considerations
    3. Urinary medications
      1. Classification
      2. Indications
      3. Clinical application
      4. Adverse reactions
      5. Contraindications
      6. Nursing considerations
    4. Endocrine and reproduction medications
      1. Classification
      2. Indications
      3. Clinical application
      4. Adverse reactions
      5. Contraindications
      6. Nursing considerations
    5. Neurological medications
      1. Classification
      2. Indications
      3. Clinical application
      4. Adverse reactions
      5. Contraindications
      6. Nursing considerations
  4. Controlled substances
    1. D.E.A. regulation
    2. Classes II, III, IV, V
    3. Record keeping
    4. Handling
  5. Client education
    1. Estimates
    2. Discharge instructions
    3. Medication administration instructions

Lab Content

Not applicable.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. Classroom with projection capabilities.
2. Representative veterinary pharmaceuticals for demonstration.

Method(s) of Evaluation

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

Assessments
Assignments

Method(s) of Instruction

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

Lecture
Discussion

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

Plumb's online veterinary formulary.

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

  1. Online research of medications
  2. Creation of pharmacology "nerd book"
    1. Study guide created utilizing medications students interact with during their internship courses

Discipline(s)

Registered Veterinary Technician