Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

1. Recognize and describe the role that Certified Veterinary Technicians play in the diverse laboratory animal area of the veterinary healthcare industry.
2. Recognize and describe the techniques used to maintain various types of laboratory animal research facilities.
3. Recognize and describe the various restraint techniques, nursing procedures, common diseases, husbandry, and veterinary procedural techniques used in laboratory animal species, including the rat, mouse, rabbit, gerbil, hamster, guinea pig and zebra fish. 
4. Apply skills listed above to hands-on care of laboratory animal species used in class.

Laboratory Animal Medicine is a important part of the veterinary healthcare industry.  This course provides program students needed exposure to this area of the profession and prepares them for possible employment in this field.

Lecture/Lab activities will include hands-on demonstrations and student participation in the common handling, diagnostic, and treatment techniques used in a variety of commonly used laboratory animal species.

Grading:

• Grading will be based upon student understanding of the course content as demonstrated by periodic examinations, homework assignments, quizzes, a comprehensive final exam, performance of laboratory tasks, and attendance. To be eligible for a passing grade, the student must have attended a minimum of 80 percent of each of the lecture and lab classes.
• Graduate performance on the "Laboratory Animal" -related  sub-sections of the Veterinary Technicians National Examination
• These outcomes will be routinely assessed and used to drive relevant changes in the curriculum.

• Exploration of careers as a CVT in a Laboratory Animal Medicine facility
• Laboratory Animal Facility Maintenance and Regulations
• Concepts of Laboratory Animal husbandry, nutrition, common diseases, diagnostic and treatment procedures
• Hands-on laboratory animal care