Lesson 1Urgent care and stabilization: protocols for thin/respiratory animals, fluid therapy basics, wound care, pain assessment and analgesia indicationsThis covers fast checks for weak or breathing sick animals, safe oxygen help, simple fluid giving, cleaning and covering wounds, and checking pain to know when to give medicine as the vet says.
Primary survey and triage categories at intakeRecognizing respiratory distress and cyanosisSafe oxygen delivery and positioning techniquesFluid therapy indications and monitoring basicsWound cleaning, bandaging, and pain scoringLesson 2Initial physical exam checklist for dogs, cats, and small mammals (temperature, hydration, body condition, respiratory/GI signs)This gives a clear list for first checks on dogs, cats, and small animals, looking at body heat, water levels, body health, and main signs of breathing or stomach problems, so you spot issues and tell vets quick.
Safe handling for dogs, cats, small mammalsMeasuring temperature, pulse, and respirationAssessing hydration and body condition scoreScreening for respiratory and GI abnormalitiesDocumenting exam findings and concernsLesson 3Medical recordkeeping and ID: microchipping, temporary ID banding, intake forms, photographing and documenting clinical findingsThis teaches making full clear records when animals arrive, giving and checking special IDs, putting in microchips, short-term bands, and taking photos of animals and health signs for finding them, care, and rules.
Standardized intake medical history formsAssigning shelter IDs and collar bandingMicrochip scanning and new chip placementPhotographing animals and key lesionsStoring and backing up digital recordsLesson 4Parasite control at intake: deworming regimens by age and species, flea/tick treatment, ectoparasite inspectionThis shows steps to stop worms and bugs when animals come in, like checking waste, giving right worm medicine by age and kind, treating fleas and ticks, looking close for bugs, and noting all in records.
Common internal and external parasites seenFecal sample collection and test optionsAge and species based deworming protocolsFlea and tick product selection and safetyRecording treatments and follow‑up dosesLesson 5Criteria for medical clearance for adoption: treatment milestones, neuter timing, follow-up medical commitments for adoptersThis sets what health checks are needed before adoption, like finishing sickness treatment, when to fix male or female, and telling new owners about ongoing health care they must do.
Minimum health standards for adoptionTracking treatment milestones and outcomesDetermining safe spay or neuter timingCommunicating chronic care needs to adoptersPost‑adoption medical follow‑up planningLesson 6Vaccination protocols at intake: core vaccines, timing, modified live vs killed, vaccine reactions and documentationThis explains main shots for dogs and cats when they arrive, best times by age and health, live vs dead shots, spotting bad reactions, and writing it all down for rules and tracking.
Core vaccines for dogs and cats at intakeTiming by age, pregnancy, and health statusModified live versus killed vaccine selectionRecognizing and responding to vaccine reactionsRecording vaccines and lot numbers in recordsLesson 7Medication management for chronic cases (e.g., heart meds): owner surrender triage, medication reconciliation, continuity of care planningThis shows how to check animals given up with long sickness, confirm their medicines, match lists right, and plan steady care with vets to keep safe and follow through.
Interviewing owners about chronic conditionsCollecting and verifying prior prescriptionsMedication reconciliation and interaction checksCoordinating refills and dosing schedulesFlagging special monitoring needs in recordsLesson 8Isolation, quarantine, and cohorting: facility flow, length of isolation, PPE and sanitation between cohortsThis tells how to set apart sick animals, hold them for watch, group safe ones, plan paths in shelter, cage spots, gear and cleaning between groups to stop sickness spread while caring well.
Designing clean and dirty traffic flow pathsCriteria for isolation versus quarantine useCohorting by species, age, and risk factorsPPE selection, donning, and doffing stepsCleaning and disinfection between cohortsLesson 9Infectious disease screening at intake: core pathogens, when to test (FeLV/FIV, parvovirus, distemper, kennel cough, respiratory panels)This starts with main sickness risks when animals arrive, like cat viruses, dog belly sickness, coughs, when to test which, how to take samples right, and note results clear.
Core canine and feline infectious risksFeLV and FIV testing indications and timingParvovirus and distemper test selectionRespiratory panels and kennel cough testingRecording and communicating test results
