Learn to recognise signs of illness or disease in animals and ensure timely intervention. This course is ideal professional development for anyone who works with animals, including breeders, farmers, pet shop employees or animal shelter volunteers.
Introduction to Animal Diseases is a professional development course that helps you recognise the first signs and symptoms of disease in animals and respond with appropriate care.
In this animal welfare course, you will learn how to diagnose and detect animal diseases, including viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitological conditions. You will also explore metabolic, nutritional, genetic and age-related disorders and conditions that result from poisoning, allergies and dehydration.
On completion of this course, you will have a foundation for understanding diseases in animals.
Course Structure
Unit - Animal Diseases
Unit 1 – How animal diseases are diagnosed
- Disease investigation
- Terminology
- Recognising that an animal is unwell
- Differential diagnosis of disease
- Clinical examination
- Physical examination
- Post mortem or necropsy
- Necropsy in the field
- Gross pathology
- Clinical pathology
- Histopathology
- Toxicology
- Microbiology
- Bacteriology
- Mycology
- Virology
- Cytology
- Parasitology
- Haematology
- Sample collection
- Sample collection from live animals
- Blood samples
- Blood smears
- Procedure for making a blood smear
- Taking smears of pus and discharges
- Post mortem sample collection
- Some general hints on submitting samples
- Feed and environmental samples
- Marking samples
- Check list of equipment for clinical and post mortem examinations
- Example of post mortem procedure
- Steps in a sheep post mortem
Unit 2 -Diagnostic testing
- Information to be supplied with samples
- Support services – veterinary diagnostic laboratories
- Diagnostic techniques
- Arthrocentesis
- Allergy testing
- Biopsy
- Capillary refill time (CRT)
- Endoscopy
- Imaging techniques
- Computed tomography (CAT or CT scan)
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Nuclear scintigraphy
- Blood testing
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Red blood cells
- White blood cell counts (WBC)
- Platelet counts
- Biochemical profile (chemistry panels)
- Bacteriological testing
- Microscopy
- Routine culture
- Antibiotic sensitivity testing
- PCR assays
- Immunodiagn
- osis
- Complement fixation test (CFT)
- Enzyme – linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or enzyme immunoassay (EIA)
- Agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID)
- Serum agglutination test (SAT)
- Microscopic agglutination test (MAT)
- Urinalysis
Unit 3 – Viral diseases
- Viruses
- Virus species
- Taxonomy
- Virus types
- Double-stranded, enveloped, DNA viruses of animals (including humans)
- Double-stranded, non-enveloped, DNA viruses of animals
- Single-stranded, non-enveloped, DNA viruses of animals
- Segmented, single-stranded, enveloped, negative sense, RNA viruses of animals
- Non-segmented, single-stranded, enveloped, negative sense RNA viruses of animals
- Non-segmented, single-stranded, enveloped, positive sense RNA viruses of animals
- Non-segmented, single-stranded, non-enveloped, positive sense RNA viruses of animals
- Segmented, double-stranded, non-enveloped (double capsid) positive sense, RNA viruses of animals
- Laboratory identification
- Transmission
- Virus replication cycle
- Prevention
- Common viral conditions:
- Canine distemper
- Feline leukaemia virus (FELV)
- Feline respiratory disease complex (feline herpesviral rhinotracheitis (FVR) and feline calicivirus (FCV))
- Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)
- Equine influenza (EI)
- Epidemiology and aetiology
- Foot and mouth disease (FMD)
- Newcastle disease
- Avian influenza (AI)
- Rabies
- Rift valley fever (RVF)
- Emerging viruses (Nipah virus and Hendra virus (HeV)
Unit 4 – Bacterial and fungal diseases
- Bacteria
- Characteristics of bacteria
- Laboratory identification
- Controlling bacterial infection
- Common bacterial conditions in farm animals
- Common bacterial conditions in domestic animals
- Fungi
- Characteristics of fungi
- Important fungal conditions
- Specimen collection
- Laboratory identification
- Controlling fungal infections
- Common fungal conditions in livestock
- Common fungal conditions in companion animals
Unit 5 – Parasitological conditions
- Terminology and classification
- Life cycles
- Protozoa
- Control
- Helminths (worms)
- Life cycles
- Characteristics
- Examples of helminths diseases
- Arthropods
- Class: arachnida
- Class: insecta
- An example of a fly-borne disease: screwworm
- Parasitic diseases in australian reptiles
Unit 6 – Metabolic and nutritional conditions
- Understanding metabolic and nutritional disease
- Cattle
- Milk fever (hypocalcaemia)
- Grass tetany (hypomagnesaemia)
- Ketosis
- Pregnancy toxaemia (fat cow syndrome)
- Sheep and goats
- Twin lamb disease/pregnancy toxaemia
- Lambing sickness/transit tetany
- Dogs
- Puerperal hypocalcemia
- Cushing’s disease
- Diabetes mellitus
- Pigs
- Nutritional myopathy of pigs (hepatosis dietetica, mulberry heart disease)
- Horses
- Nutritional myopathy
- Big head or bran disease
- Cats
- Diabetes
- Periodontal disease
- Kidney disease
- Nutritional diseases in Australian reptiles
Unit 7 – Poisoning
- Cardiorespiratory disorders
- Bovine hyperthermia
- Eupatorium
- Central nervous system (CNS) disorders
- Oxalate poisoning
- Tropane alkaloids
- Rye grass staggers
- Annual rye grass toxicity
- Phalaris toxicity
- Lead
- Chocolate poisoning (dogs)
- Dermatological disorders – livestock
- Johns wort (Hypericum perforatum)
- Leucaena leucocephala (lead tree/wild tamarind)
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Solanum (Nightshades)
- Bryophyllum (Mother of Millions)
- Haematological disorders
- Bracken fern poisoning
- Hepatological disorders
- Lupinosis
- Lantana poisoning
- Sudden deaths
- Algal poisoning
Unit 8 – Inherited conditions (genetic disorders)
- Genetic disorders
- Types of genetic inheritance
- Horses
- Hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA)
- Equine hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP)
- Overo lethal white syndrome (OLWS)
- Lavender foal syndrome
- Dogs
- Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
- Hip dysplasia
- Hereditary epilepsy
- Diabetes mellitus
- Cats
- Feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Dystrophy-like myopathies
- Polydactyly
- Radial agenesis
Unit 9 – Other conditions and disorders
- Allergies
- Dehydration
- Age-related conditions
Unit 10 – PBL Project
Study Hours
Estimated duration 50 hours
Course Delivery and Start
Start anytime, self-paced and 100% online
Assessment
Assessment will be comprised of written exercises, including short-answer questions, reflective tasks, short reports and/or projects. There are no examinations or due dates for assessment. As a result, you can complete training in your own time and at your own pace with the assistance of unlimited tutor support.
Testimonials
About Us
Graduation
A Certificate of Attainment and Statement of Results will be issued upon successful completion of this course.
How to Enrol
Enrol Online: Enrol Now
Enrol via Live Chat (Business Hours)
Enrol via Telephone 1300 76 2221 (Business Hours)
Enrol via Purchase Order/Tax Invoice
Enrolling Multiple Staff?
To enrol multiple staff, please complete the Employer Enrolment Form. We’ll be in touch within 60 minutes during business hours!
Payment Options
Visa, Mastercard, BPAY and EFT/Direct Deposit. Please allow 1-2 Business days for processing for EFT and BPAY.
Course FAQs
Why Choose Australian Online Courses?
- Professional development that is widely recognised and respected;
- Improve your employment opportunities;
- Study online, anywhere via our elearning system;
- High-quality professional development programs written by industry experts;
- All course materials provided online – no textbooks to buy;
- Unlimited tutor support via email;
- We offer twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply);
- Course may be tax deductible; see your tax advisor.
Are there any entry requirements or pre-requisites?
There are no course or subject pre-requisites for entry into our programs. However, our professional development programs are generally intended for people over the age of 18. In some circumstances, enrolments from younger people may be considered. Please complete the AOC Parent Guardian Consent Form prior to enrolling and submit here.
Are there any computer requirements?
To study online with Australian Online Courses you will need a computer (desktop PC/laptop) running a current/updated operating system with reliable high-speed internet access. You will need to use the Google Chrome browser to access your course.
When can I start this course?
You can start within 60 minutes during business hours when you enrol and pay in full with a credit card!
Credit card: Within 60 mins during business hours.
BPAY: Within 1-2 working days.
Internet Banking: Within 1-2 working days.
Cheque/Money Order: Upon receipt of mailed cheque.
How is this course delivered?
This course is delivered online via our easy-to-navigate Learning Management System (LMS), where you will discover interactive online learning/written content, resources and assessment.
Do I need to attend classes or undertake any work placements?
No. All courses are delivered online via our LMS and there are no work placement requirements in this course.
What support can I expect from Australian Online Courses?
Unlimited tutor support is available throughout your studies via email only during business hours Monday to Friday. Our Administrative team are available Monday to Friday via email, live chat and telephone.
I am an international student. Can I enrol into this course?
Yes! We accept enrolments from individuals both within Australia and internationally; location is no barrier to entry into our programs.
Career Pathways
Future growth
Strong
Unemployment
Low
Professional Development for:
- Animal boarders
- Breeders
- Pet shop employees
- Animal shelter volunteers
- Farmers
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