Animal Health Care

Learn to manage animal health for pets, wildlife or farm animals via distance education. Study veterinary and animal health, disease prevention, health therapies and nursing at home, online, via e-learning or correspondence study.

Course Code: VAG100
Fee Code: S2
Duration (approx) Duration (approx) 100 hours
Qualification Statement of Attainment
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Do you want to work with animals?

 
Animal service is one of the most popular and sought after types of employment.
 
Give yourself an edge over the competition with our comprehensive animal health care course. This course has been designed to help you understand animal health care and basic veterinarian procedures, and by studying with us you will gain invaluable knowledge and experience in understanding the many different aspects of Animal Health Care and their application.
 
Use this course to improve your employment prospects, form part of a career pathway towards becoming a qualified Veterinary Nurse or Animal Technician, or simply to provide better health care to your less human family or business enterprise members.
 
 

This is an experiential learning-based course. Throughout your studies you will have the opportunity to network with and learn from a variety of industry professionals. Establishing real-world relationships and confidence is key to career success. 


 

Lesson Structure

There are 12 lessons in this course:

  1. Introduction to Animal Health Care
    • Nature and scope of veterinary services
    • Private veterinary practices
    • Other veterinary services; laboratories, quarantine, agriculture departments, pharmaceutical companies, educational, etc.
    • Other animal services; breeders, holiday care, etc.
    • Animal welfare and control
    • Veterinary services
    • Code of practice
    • Terminology
    • Transporting animals
  2. Common Health Problems in farm animals and pets
    • Causes of ill health
    • Injury
    • Conditions
    • Nutritional problems
    • Living organisms
    • Parasites
    • Family pets common conditions
    • Dogs
    • Cats
    • Caged birds
    • Aquarium fish
    • Mice
    • Wild animals common conditions
    • Reptiles
  3. Animal Behaviour
    • Communication in dogs
    • Scent
    • Barking
    • Body language
    • Handling cats
    • Bird language
    • Types of behaviour
    • Time orientation
    • Space orientation
    • Territorial behaviour
    • Aggression
    • Horse psychology
  4. Signs of Ill Health
    • Vital signs
    • The healthy animal
    • Signs & symptoms of diseases
    • Recognising ill health
    • Diagnosis of diseases
    • Taking smears
    • Taking tissue samples
    • Diagnosis and control of different types of diseases including
    • Viruses
    • Bacteria
    • Protozoa
    • Parasites
    • Mites
    • Fleas
  5. Veterinary Facilities
    • Types of facilities; clinic, hospital, mobile facility, emergency facility, etc
    • First aid kit; aids for diagnosis, instruments, medicines, preparations, etc
    • Record management
    • Enclosure for animals
    • Environmental requirements
  6. Safety Procedures
    • Duty of care
    • Lifting heavy weights
    • Reducing back injury
    • Protective equipment
    • Dealing with chemicals
    • Skin penetrating injuries
    • Risk categories
    • Separating animals
    • Disposal of dead/infected tissues
    • Dangerous non-animal wastes
    • Storage and handling of medicines
    • Handling larger animals
  7. Administration of Animal Health
    • Animal insurance
    • Quarantine
    • Importing animals
    • Managing a veterinary office
    • Telephone usage
    • Record keeping
    • Filing information
  8. Animal First Aid
    • Types of wounds
    • Cuts
    • Punctures
    • Tears
    • Treating and cleaning wounds
    • Granulating wounds
    • Stitching a wound
    • Bone and joint problems
    • Broken bones
    • Tendon injury
    • Poisoning
    • Restraining animals during first aid
    • Restraining cats
    • Restraining dogs
    • Restraining horses
    • Restraining cattle
    • Restraining sheep
  9. Preventative Health Care
    • Preventing ill health
    • Balanced diet
    • Insect control
    • Dip
    • Vaccination
    • Comparing natural active immunity, artificial active immunity, natural passive immunity, and artificial active immunity
    • Tetanus antiserum
    • Types of vaccines
    • Alternatives to vaccination
    • Avoid stressing livestock
  10. Routine Health Treatments
    • De-sexing
    • Castration
    • Vasectomy
    • Spaying
    • Tubal ligation
    • Castration of cats
    • Dogs
    • Pregnancy
    • Gestation periods
    • Euthanasia
    • Anaesthesia and analgesia
    • Preparing an animal for surgery
    • Sterilising equipment
    • Castrating a colt
  11. Health Problems in Domestic Pets
    • Burns
    • Urinary tract infections;
    • Shock
    • Electrolytes
    • Ticks
    • Reptiles
    • Fish problems
  12. Rehabilitation Care
    • Scope of rehabilitation
    • Planning a recovery
    • Animal nursing
    • The hospital pen
    • Monitoring temperature, pulse, respiration
    • Enclosures

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims

  • Describe the scope of services offered by animal care services.
  • Describe common health problems in various animals.
  • Explain the natural behaviour of different types of domestic animals in different situations.
  • Identify common signs of ill health in a variety of animals.
  • Describe purposes of a range of facilities in a veterinary practice.
  • Determine safety procedures for a veterinary practice.
  • Describe a range of administrative tasks carried out in veterinary practices.
  • Describe first aid procedures and treatments for different animals.
  • Describe requirements for maintaining good health in domestic animals.
  • Develop an understanding of routine treatments for healthy animals.
  • Develop broader awareness of health issues and treatments in domestic pets.
  • Develop skills in caring for animals prior to, during or after treatment.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF DISEASES

Recognising Ill Health

There are degrees of ill health ranging from the animal that is merely "off-colour" to one that is desperately ill.

The animal that looks "not quite right" should be observed closely until it appears fully recovered. If it is incubating a serious disease, an early diagnosis could save the animal. By checking the vital signs of the animal, the farmer can receive early warning that something is amiss. Seriously ill animals must receive immediate and urgent veterinary attention.

The first sign that an animal is becoming sick is that it picks at or refuses food. It may drink more or less water than normal, depending on the illness. The eyes will be dull, and on closer inspection, the mucous membranes may have changed colour. Deep red membranes indicate fever; pale membranes show anaemia; yellow membranes indicate a liver disorder, while blue-red membranes show heart and circulatory problems, or pneumonia.

The coat will look dull and dry, and the hairs may stand up (on cattle and goats). The animal might be sweating. A cold sweat indicates pain while a hot sweat indicates fever. If the animal is in pain, it will probably be restless (getting up and down and pacing about) and it might even be groaning.

The animal will either scour (e.g., pass very loose droppings), or will become constipated and pass no droppings at all. The passing of urine might also cease. A very sick animal will lie down for long periods and will not get up when approached.

The vital signs of a sick animal will change. The temperature may go up or down. A rise in temperature of one or two degrees usually indicates pain, while a rise of more usually indicates infection.

The rate of respiration, and the way the animal breathes could also slow changes. With pain or infection, breathing becomes more rapid. In a very sick animal, breathing can be laboured and shallow.

A slightly increased pulse rate suggests pain, while a rapid pulse suggests fever. An irregular pulse can indicate heart trouble. In a very sick animal, the pulse is weak and feeble.

 

DIAGNOSIS OF DISEASES

In the case of infectious diseases, early and accurate diagnosis is most important. 

The early stages of a disease are more easily treated as the germ causing the disease has not gained a strong foothold in the body of the animal, and it is less likely to have produced tissue damage which may be difficult to repair. Moreover, as a disease develops in an infected animal, the longer it is left untreated the greater the risk of the disease spreading to other animals on the farm.

Diagnosis of disease depends to a large extent on the skill and experience of the farmer or the veterinary surgeon. Quite often an accurate diagnosis can only be made by taking samples of blood, mucous, sputum, milk or dung from the animal, and sending these to a veterinary laboratory for examination. For example, dung samples will often show the presence of worms and other internal parasites inside the animal. Blood from an aborted calf might show the presence of bacteria causing spontaneous abortion.

 

Learning from this course can support those wishing to enter into:

  • Animal welfare and care
  • Local government animal management
  • Animal breeding
  • Animal holiday care and sitting
  • Animal transportation
  • Veterinary services

Why Study with ACS?

Design your own learning pathway.

Study at your own pace, from anywhere, at any time. 

Receive prompt, expert support from our team of committed and friendly tutors.

Your learning is our priority. We are flexible and adaptable to meet your educational needs!

 
 
ACS student comments:
 "Very happy with how my work is being marked. I am enjoying my course, and have learnt a lot of new things that are valuable to know considering I have a lot of animals and is useful information for me to know."  -- Michelle Rottenberry, Australia, Animal Health Care course.

"I cannot praise the animal health care course highly enough. I have learned a great deal, far beyond my expectations."  --G. Kite, Australia, Animal Health Care course.
 
"I have found the course to be a great deal of help with trying to get into the animal industry. I have also found my tutors comments of great help. Would highly recommend this course for anyone wanting to get into the animal industry or for anyone wanting to learn more about our furry friends." -- Dyane Haubus, Australia, Animal Health Care course.
 
ACS is a Member of the Complementary Medicine Association.
ACS is a Member of the Complementary Medicine Association.
Member of Study Gold Coast Education Network.
Member of Study Gold Coast Education Network.
ACS Global Partner - Affiliated with colleges in seven countries around the world.
ACS Global Partner - Affiliated with colleges in seven countries around the world.
Since 1999 ACS has been a recognised member of IARC (International Approval and Registration Centre). A non-profit quality management organisation servicing education.
Since 1999 ACS has been a recognised member of IARC (International Approval and Registration Centre). A non-profit quality management organisation servicing education.
UK Register of Learning Providers, UK PRN10000112
UK Register of Learning Providers, UK PRN10000112

How can I start this course?

You can enrol at anytime and start the course when you are ready. Enrolments are accepted all year - students can commence study at any time. All study is self paced and ACS does not set assignment deadlines.

Please note that if a student is being assisted by someone else (e.g. an employer or government subsidy), the body offering the assistance may set deadlines. Students in such situations are advised to check with their sponsor prior to enrolling. The nominal duration of a course is approximately how long a course takes to complete. A course with a nominal duration of 100 hours is expected to take roughly 100 hours of study time to complete. However, this will vary from student to student. Short courses (eg. 100 hrs duration) should be completed within 12 months of enrolment. Certificates, Advanced Certificates and Awards (eg. over 500 hours duration) would normally be completed within 3 -5 years of enrolment. Additional fees may apply if a student requires an extended period to complete.
If a student cannot submit their assignments for 6 months to ACS, they should advise the school to avoid cancellation of their student
registration. Recommencement fees may apply.

Simply click on the ENROL OPTIONS button at the top of this screen and follow the prompts.

You can see the course price at the top of this page. Click 'enrolment options' to see any payment options available.

You can pay by Credit Card, PayPal, Afterpay or bank transfer.

Yes! We have payment plans for most courses. Click 'enrolment options' to see the available payment plans.
We also have Afterpay that will allow you to pay for your course or payment plans in four instalments (if you are in Australia).


What do I need to know before I enrol?

There are no entry requirements that you need to meet to enrol in our courses, our courses are for everyone.
If you are under 18, we need written permission from your parent/ guardian for your enrolment to continue, we can arrange that after you have enrolled.

You don’t need to purchase any additional resources to complete our courses.

We aim to teach you the essentials without you having to purchase any specific computer program.
We recommend that you have access to a word processing program, such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs, so that you can easily complete and submit your assignments.

You sure can. We are here to help you learn whatever your abilities.

Yes, if you are enrolling in a Certificate or Advanced Certificate, you might be eligible for credits if you have evidence of your previous studies or relevant experience. More information is here.

We recommend that you are able to browse websites, send emails and conduct online research. You will need to be able to type and submit your assignments.
If you have limited computer skills, we can make special arrangements for you.

This is possible, it depends on the institution. We recommend that if you would like to use our courses that you contact the institution first. Our Course Handbook is a good resource for this.

Our courses are written in English and we only have English speaking academic staff. If you can read and complete your assignments in English, our courses are ideal for you.

Our courses are designed to build knowledge, hands on skills and industry connections to help prepare you to work in the area, running your own business, professional development or as a base for further study.

This course has been designed to cover the fundamentals of the topic. It will take around 100 hours to complete, which includes your course reading, assignment work, research, practical tasks, watching videos and anything else that is contained in the course. Our short courses are a great way to do some professional development or to learn a new skill.

It’s up to you. The study hours listed in the course are a rough guide, however if you were to study a short course (100 hours) at 10 hours per week, you could finish the course in 10 weeks (just an example). Our courses are self-paced, so you can work through the courses in your own time. We recommend that you wait for your tutor to mark and return your assignment before your start your next one, so you get the benefits of their feedback.

The course consists of course notes, videos, set tasks for your practical work, online quizzes, an assignment for each lesson (that you receive feedback from your tutor from) and ends in an exam (which is optional, if would like to receive the formal award at the end), using our custom built Learning Management System - Login.Training.

Our courses are designed for adults to gain professional development and skills to further their careers and start businesses.

Our custom online learning portal allows you to conduct your learning online. There may be practical tasks that you can do offline. You have the option of downloading your course notes or print them to read later.

There is also the option to pay an additional fee for printed course notes and or USB (availability limited to location and deliverability).

Yes, if you don’t have access to the internet, you can receive the course as paper notes or on a USB stick for an additional fee. We can also make alternative arrangements for you to send your assignments to us.

We offer printed notes for an additional fee. Also, you can request your course notes on a USB stick for an additional fee.

Yes, your tutor is here to help you. Simply post any questions you have in your login.training portal or contact the office and we can pass on a message to your tutor.

We are more learning focussed, rather than assessment focussed. You have online quizzes to test your learning, written assignments and can complete an exam at the end of the course (if you want to receive your certificate). You will not receive a pass/ fail on your course work. If you need to add more details on your assignment, we will ask you to resubmit and direct you where you need to focus. If you need help, you can ask your tutor for advice in the student room.

Each module (short course) is completed with one exam.

Exams are optional, however you must sit an exam if you would like to receive a formal award. You will need to find someone who can supervise that you are sitting the exams under exams conditions. There is an additional cost of $60 incl. GST for each exam.
More information is here

There are practical components built into the course that have been designed to be achieved by anyone, anywhere. If you are unable to complete a task for any reason, you can ask your tutor for an alternative.

When you complete the course work and the exam and you will be able receive your course certificate- a Statement of Attainment. Otherwise, you can receive a Letter of Completion.

You can bundle the short courses to create your own customised learning bundle, Certificates or Advanced Certificates. More information is on this page.

Yes, our courses are built to be applicable for people living anywhere in any situation. We provide the fundamentals, and each student can apply their own unique flair for their own interests, region and circumstances with the one-on-one guidance of a tutor. There is also a bit of student directed research involved.

Employers value candidates with industry skills, knowledge, practical skills and formal learning. Our courses arm you with all of these things to help prepare you for a job or start your own business. The longer you study the more you will learn.

ACS has an arrangement with OAMPS (formerly AMP) who can arrange Professional Indemnity from Australian and New Zealand graduates across all disciplines. Ph: 1800 222 012 or email acs@oamps.com.au.


Who are ACS Distance Education?

ACS Distance Education have been educating people for over 40 years.

We are established and safe- we have been in education for over 40 years.
We are focused on developing innovative courses that are relevant to you now and what you will need to know in the future.
We are focused on helping you learn and make the most of your experience.
You can enrol at any time, you can work on your course when it suits you and at your own pace.
We are connected to many industry bodies and our staff participate in continuous improvement and learning activities to ensure that we are ahead of what learning is needed for the future.

Our courses are not accredited by the Australian Government. However many of our courses are recognised and held in high regard by many industry bodies.

Our courses are written by our staff, who all have many years experience and have qualifications in their speciality area. We have lots of academic staff who write and update our courses regularly.


How do I enrol my staff/ sponsored students?

Yes, you can do a request for a bulk enrolment and request an invoice on our Invoice Request Form

We can prepare an invoice, quote or proforma invoice. Simply complete your details on our Invoice Request form

We can arrange bulk discounts for your course enrolment, please get in touch with us to discuss your needs.

Yes, we have many students who are in locked facilities, such as prisons or hospitals. We can cater by also offering paper notes at an additional cost.


What if I have any more questions or need more information?

We can assist you to find the right course for your needs. Get in touch with us via email (admin@acs.edu.au) call on +61 7 5562 1088 or complete our course advice form.


What if I change my mind?

Please get in touch with studentservices@acs.edu.au if you would like to be removed from our mail list.

If you would like ACS Distance Education to delete your information at any time (whether you are a customer or a prospective customer), please contact our privacy officer and we will process this ( admin@acs.edu.au ).

If students require a reproduction of their certificate, an electronic copy can be provided at a cost of AUD$35 incl GST. Printed copies are not available.




Course Contributors

The following academics were involved in the development and/or updating of this course.

Dr. Gareth Pearce

Veterinary scientist and surgeon with expertise in agriculture and environmental science, with over 25 years of experience in teaching and research in agriculture, veterinary medicine, wildlife ecology and conservation in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Post-graduate qualifications in Education, Wildlife Conservation Medicine, Aquatic Veterinary Studies and Wildlife Biology & Conservation.
Gareth has a B.Sc.(Hons), B.V.Sc., M.A., M.Vet.S,. PhD, Grad. Cert. Ed.(HE), Post-Grad.Cert. Aq.Vet.Sc., Post-Grad. Cert. WLBio&Cons., Dipl. ECPHM, MRCVS.

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