"Every Diagnosis Begins with a Careful Clinical Examination”
Veterinary Medicine is a fascinating, clinical, practical and decision-oriented subject that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and control of diseases affecting domestic, companion, production, zoo and wild animals. The subject integrates clinical examination, diagnostic procedures, therapeutics, emergency medicine, infectious diseases, metabolic disorders, herd health, disease surveillance, animal welfare and veterinary public health.
By the end of this course, the students of 4th Professional year will be able to understand and apply, but not limited to, the following:
- Understand the principles and scope of Veterinary Medicine, including concepts of health, disease, etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and prevention.
- Understand and perform systematic clinical examination of cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, horse, pig, dog, cat and other domestic and companion animals.
- Develop skills in history taking, identification/signalment, assessment of vital parameters, problem-oriented approach and formulation of differential diagnoses.
- Understand and recognize important general systemic conditions including fever, hyperthermia, hypothermia, dehydration, oedema, anaemia, shock, septicemia, toxemia, anaphylaxis, coma and common clinical poisonings.
- Understand the diagnosis and management of major respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, urinary, nervous and hepatobiliary disorders in domestic animals.
- Recognize and manage important metabolic, nutritional, production and deficiency disorders affecting livestock and companion animals.
- Develop competence in the selection and interpretation of appropriate laboratory investigations, including haematology, serum biochemistry, urinalysis, cytology and other relevant diagnostic tests.
- Understand the principles and applications of diagnostic imaging, particularly ultrasonography and radiography, in clinical diagnosis.
- Recognize important bacterial, fungal, rickettsial, viral and parasitic diseases of veterinary importance and understand their epidemiology, transmission, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control.
- Understand diseases of zoonotic, emerging, notifiable and public-health significance, with emphasis on their surveillance, prevention and control.
- Develop the ability to formulate rational and evidence-based therapeutic protocols, including appropriate use of antimicrobials, antiparasitic drugs and supportive therapy.
- Understand the principles of fluid therapy, electrolyte correction, nutritional support, emergency medicine and critical care in veterinary patients.
- Recognize and manage common veterinary emergencies, prioritizing rapid assessment, stabilization, definitive diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
- Understand the principles of herd/flock health, disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, quarantine and bio security in livestock and poultry populations.
- Participate in clinical case work, case presentation, diagnostic reasoning and treatment planning at the Veterinary Clinical Complex, Shuhama and other clinical field units.
- Develop the ability to recognize production-limiting diseases and formulate preventive and control strategies for improvement of animal health and productivity.
- Understand the principles of zoo and wild animal medicine, including safe restraint, handling, disease prevention, hygiene, population health and public-health considerations.
- Understand and apply principles of animal welfare, humane handling and ethical veterinary practice during clinical examination, diagnosis, treatment and management.
- Maintain accurate clinical, diagnostic and medico-legal records and develop effective communication skills for professional veterinary practice.
- Develop the ability to make logical, timely, evidence-based and welfare-oriented clinical decisions for individual animals as well as herd/flock populations.
- Integrate clinical findings with laboratory and imaging results to arrive at a confirmatory diagnosis, assess prognosis and formulate an appropriate management plan.
Teacher(s):
- Dr. Zubair Ahmad Akhoon
- Dr. Syed Ashaq Hussain
- Dr. Mohd Iqbal Yatoo
- Dr. Aijaz Ahmad Dar
- Dr. Shahnaz Bashir
- Dr. Nuzhat Hassan
- Dr. Mehak Nisar
- Dr. Qurit Ul An
- Dr. Mohsina Mushtaq
- Teacher: Dr Zubair Ahmad Akhoon