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Small Animal Care
Course Overview
Do you want to be a responsible pet owner? Working in the pet care industry? Are you interested in teaching your children how they should look after their pets? Then this course is for you. It covers all the key aspects of ownership from choosing a pet, preparing the house, training, grooming and health for dogs, cats, birds, fish and reptiles.
This specially commissioned course from MyDistance Learning is designed to provide you with all the basic skills and knowledge to enable you to successfully understand the care which a wide range of animals need. From horses to hamsters, from parrots to pole cats, we cover all the key issues that you, as an animal enthusiast, are likely to need to know to ensure that the animal thrives in a happy, hygienic and suitable environment. We also tell you how to protect yourself from what could be dangerous circumstances so that neither the animal nor you are hurt.
Just have a look at the detailed module in the course outline to see how comprehensive this course is. We are confident that whatever your specific interest you will find the course as a whole stimulating and informative.
This course has been independently accredited as being equivalent to level 2 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) which means it is comparable to a GCSE.
The NCFE certificate will list the following units that you will have achieved:
- Understand the importance of making a good choice of animal as a pet
- Recognise the key issues relating to safety, welfare, health and hygiene
- Recognise the relevant aspects of anatomy and physiology
- Understand the importance of the correct animal first aid procedures
- Recognise the principal aspects of looking after dogs
- Recognise the principal aspects of looking after cats
- Recognise the principal aspects of looking after horses and ponies
- Recognise the principal aspects of looking after birds
- Recognise the principal aspects of looking after fish
- Recognise the principal aspects of looking after snakes and lizards
- Recognise the principal aspects of looking after tortoises, turtles and terrapins
- Recognise the principal aspects of looking after insects and amphibians
- Recognise the principal aspects of looking after hamsters, gerbils, rats and mice
- Recognise the principal aspects of looking after ferrets and pole cats
- Recognise the principal aspects of looking after rabbits and Guinea pigs
- Recognise the principal aspects of looking after Chinchillas
Previous experience required: No
Course level: Level 2 NCFE (What does this mean?)
Study hours: 90
Length of course: 12 months
Tutor Support: 12 months (can be extended)
Tutor marked assignments: Yes
Final exam: No
Instalment plan available: Yes
Course Outline
The modules are:
Welcome
Introduction
Course structure
Benefits of this course
Getting the most out of this course
History and pet ownership
Domestication
Animals in the media
Classification of animals
Types of common pets
Choosing the right pet
Therapeutic value
Safety, welfare, health and hygiene
Safety and zoonosis
Correct handling methods
Typical restraints
Vehicle safety
Micro-chips and other ID methods
Pet proofing
Animal rescue and welfare organisations
How to clean an pet's bed/living areas
Dealing with pests and parasites
Preventative health
Anatomy and physiology
Cells and tissues
Locomotion
Digestive system
Urinary system
Circulatory and respiratory systems
Reproductive system
Endocrine system
Nervous system
Animal first aid
Aims
Handling and transport
Examination and history taking
ABC
Shock
Wounds and burns
Fractures
Poisoning and fitting
Diarrhoea and vomiting
Administering medication
First-aid kit
Dogs
Characteristics
Groups and breeds
Nutrition and exercise
Behaviour and training
Grooming and care
Breeding
Common diseases
Cats
Characteristics
Groups and breeds
Nutrition and exercise
Behaviour and training
Grooming and care
Breeding
Common diseases
Horses and ponies
History and anatomy
Groups and breeds
Nutrition, housing and exercise
Behaviour and training
Grooming and care
Breeding
Common diseases
Birds
Anatomy and characteristics
Cage or aviary
Seed eaters
Poultry
Birds of prey
Common diseases
Fish
General care
Cold water fish
Tropical fish
Marine fish
Breeding
Common diseases
Snakes and Lizards
Housing and general care
Bearded Dragons
Geckos
Blue Tongued Skinks
Green Anoles
Corn Snakes
King and Milk Snakes
Ball Pythons
More difficult to keep reptiles
Common diseases
Tortoises, turtles and terrapins
Anatomy and characteristics
Housing and general care
Nutrition
Hibernation
Breeding
Common diseases
Insects and amphibians
Why have a creepy crawly as a pet?
Spiders and Scorpions
Stick and leaf insects
Praying mantis
Beatles, centipedes and millipedes
Snails, slugs and worms
Frogs and toads
Common problems
Hamsters, gerbils, rats and mice
Characteristics
Housing and general care
Nutrition, and exercise
Breeding
Common diseases
Ferrets and pole cats
History and Characteristics
Groups and breeds
Nutrition, housing and exercise
Behaviour and training
Grooming and care
Breeding
Common diseases
Rabbits and Guinea pigs
Ownership and Characteristics
Groups and breeds
Anatomy
Nutrition, housing and exercise
Behaviour and training
Grooming and care
Breeding
Common diseases
Chinchillas
What makes them different?
Nutrition, housing and exercise
Grooming and care
Breeding
Common diseases
Wildlife
Safety
Types
What to do with injured wildlife
Orphans
Should we keep wildlife as pets?
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