UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG - Mercy College

284 / Course Descriptions
VETC 241 Small Animal Diseases: Principles of Treatment and Nursing:
This course will furnish the skills necessary for the nursing duties of the veterinary technician
including hands on experience with animals and models. Principles of emergency care,
intensive care, administration of drugs, fluid therapy, CPR, oxygen therapy, and the placement
of indwelling catheters will be discussed. This course will include a general study of diseases,
their definition, etiology, pathogenesis, clinical signs, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.
Intensive care nursing will include hands-on experience with animals and models. Prerequisites:
VETC 220; VETC261; VETC 224; VETC 445. Corequisite: VETC 247. 3 hrs. lect. 2 hrs. lab. 4
sem hrs. 4 crs.
VETC 247 Surgical Nursing and Radiography:
Surgical nursing will include in-depth discussion and hands-on experience with hygiene
of the surgical suite and surgical prep room, asepsis, surgical instruments, sterilization and
surgical assistance. It includes drugs and equipment for anesthetic administration along
with management of anesthetic emergencies. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative
monitoring and care are covered. The basic principles of radiology will be taught with the
student learning to properly position animals, expose films, and process radiographs of
diagnostic value. Prerequisite: VETC 220; VETC 261;VETC 224; VETC 445. Corequisite: VETC
241. 3 hrs. lect., 2 hrs. lab. 4 sems. hrs. 4 crs.
VETC 256 Anatomy of Domestic Animals:
This course will provide students with a sound working knowledge of mammalian anatomy.
Topographical, applied and clinical anatomy of the cat and dog will be presented and emphasis
placed on the relationship between anatomical structure and function. Functional adaptation
in mammals will be explored by comparative study of common domestic animals: cat, dog,
cow, and horse. A review of avian species will provide further understanding of structure and
function. In the laboratory students will study skeletal materials from the five species above
and will complete dissection of the cat. Prerequisites: VETC 101 (add), BIOL160 and BIOL 161.
3 hrs. lab; 3 hrs. lect.; 4 crs.
VETC 260 Principles of Large Animal Medicine:
The course will include basic principles of large animal medicine including humane care,
nutrition, breeding, housing, genetics, and husbandry. The essential tasks relating to handling,
restraint, treatment, venipuncture and blood collecting, anesthesia, and administration of
drugs and fluids to farm animals will be covered. A study of diseases of these animals with
emphasis on disease control, prevention, treatment, and immunization will be included.
Common surgical procedures as well as specimen collection and preservation will be performed.
Prerequisites: VETC 256; VETC 261; VETC 224; VETC 241; VETC 247; VETC 445. 3 hrs. lect., 2
hrs, lab. 4 sem hrs. 4 crs.
NOTE: Preference for registration in this course will go to graduating seniors. Students should anticipate
taking the course in the summer after completing VETC 241, VETC 247 and VETC 395.
VETC 261 Physiology of Domestic Animals:
A comparative study of the physiological mechanisms, functions, and metabolism of the
organ systems within the body. A regional approach will be used to study the various classes
of domestic animals including canine, feline, equine, ruminants, and swine. Prerequisite: BIOL
160-161; CHEM 160; VETC101. 4 sem. hrs. 4 crs.
VETC 275 Applied Animal Behavior:
In this course, the student will learn techniques of animal training, including the proper
selection and socialization of animals. Instruction will be based on a practical level relying
on the use of animals in training and observation of training classes. Behavioral problems,
causes and corrections will be discussed. Off-campus facilities of the Center for Animal