Pet Care Course Code AAG100 Fee Code S1 Number of Assignments 8 Duration (approx) 100 hours
COURSE STRUCTURE
There are eight lessons in this module as follows:
1. Introduction to Animal Care
What Does Each Lesson Cover?
1. Introduction to Animal Care: Laws and licenses, Animal Charities and Societies (eg. RSPCA, WSPA, Blue Cross), Pet Care Needs (feeding, Watering, Shelter, Containment, Fencing, Caging, Protection), Maintaining Health, Hygiene
2. Cats: Breeds (Lang Haired, Semi Long Haired, Short Haired, Oriental etc), Selection, Allergies, Containment, Sexing, Desexing, Breeding, Newborn Kettens, Exercise, Behaviour, Hygeine, Feed and nutrition, Amount of food, Watering, Grooming, Travelling, Care for a sick cat (Signs of illness, Temperature, Common ailments, Skin disorders, Ticks), Cats and wildlife.
3. Dogs Selection, Breeds (Pure and mixed), Varying size and temperament, Grooming, Skin care, Inherited traits (aggression, deafness), Containment, Breeding, Desexing, Exercise, Behaviour, Feeding, Canine Nutrition, Bones, Watering, Training, Travelling, Identifying sickness, etc.
4. Birds Selection, Breeds (eg. Canaries, Finches, Budgerigars, Small Parrots etc), Sexing, Desexing, Containment (Aviaries –selection, design, size, management), Feed, Feeding, Watering, Grooming (Wing trim, Beak Trim, Nail Trim), Hygiene, Catching and Restraining, Travelling, Caring for the Sick Bird, Signs of illness, Temperature, Supportive therapy, Common Ailments (eg. Abscesses, Alopecia, Apoplexy, Aspergillosis, Breathlessness, Constipation, Parasites), Safety in the Home,
5. Fish Selection, Inside or Outside, Warm or Cold water, Number of fish, Types of fish (Tropical, Marine, Cold Water), Costs, Size, Equipment, Tanks, Ponds, Pumps, Aquariums, Night lights, Water quality, Changing Water, Feed (Pelleted, live feed –Daphnia, Brine Shrimp), Illnesses (Fungal, Bacterial, Parasites, Environmental)
6. Rabbits Breeds (Large, Small and Dwarf), Selection, Legality (Illegal in some areas), Containment (Hutch or Cage), Environment (temperature etc), Feeding, Nutrition, Watering, Feed quantities and routine, Grooming, Handling, Moulting, Transporting, Sexing, Breeding, Identifying illness (Coccidiosis, Snuffles, Myxomatosisis, Sore Hocks, Pasteurellosis, Ear Canker, Heat Stroke, Cannibalism, Calcivirus Disease), Care of sick rabbits, etc.
7. Reptiles and Amphibians Types (eg. Salamander, Frogs, Venomous snakes, Non-venomous snakes, Shingle-backed lizard, Tortoises, Terrapins, Axolotls, etc), Selection, Legal Issues, Housing, Environmental requirements (Moisture, Humidity, Warmth, etc), Terrariums, Problems (eg. Dehydration, Stress, External and internal parasites, Blisters, Scale Rot, Mouth Rot or Canker, Colds/pneumonia, Constipation and diarrhea, Cannibalism,Incomplete sloughing of the skin -shedding of the skin); Feed and feeding, General Care,
8. Rodents, Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, Mice – Varieties, Selection, Containment, Sexing, Breeding, Grooming, Feeding, Watering, Illness (eg. Skin Problems, Abscesses, Mites, Ringworm, Fleas, Respiratory Infection, Vitamin C Deficiency, Otitis, Salmonella, Stripping etc)
WHAT YOU WILL DO IN THIS COURSE
Here is some of what you will do in this course:
- Develop timetables for husbandry tasks to be undertaken over a typical week when caring for a specific breeds of animals (several, your choice).
- Recognize signs that indicate a dog is sick
- Develop a checklist of things which should be done regularly to ensure the good health for pets
- Determine what a person should consider when trying to decide what type of pet to acquire.
- Compare the requirements and restrictions for keeping different types of animals as pets in your locality.
- Discuss the advantages/disadvantages of keeping different types of cats
- Explain why is it particularly important to have cats desexed, and when should desexing be carried out
- Discuss the nutritional requirements of a cat, and identify the cause of N.S.H. and its early signs.
- Describe problems associated with long-haired dogs
- Discuss a dog's sleeping requirements in a temperate climate
- Explain problems can arise through over-feeding a dog
- Identify ideal diet for a dog
- Explain why puppies under 6 months should be allowed to exercise themselves
- Determine common signs of a general disease condition in a dog
- Explain why birds moult.
- Discuss the characteristics of large, open aviaries, and all their requirements
- Discuss how to catch a small bird in its cage
- Explain what is indicatec by breathlessness in a bird
- Discuss factors common to the care of all fish
- Explain why it is important to maintain the correct level of oxygen in water for fish
- Discuss the differences in requirements for caring for salt water fish compared with freshwater fish
- Explain the handling, caging, feeding and other aspects of rabbit care.
- Discuss different colours and breeds of rabbits.
- Discuss the environmental/caging needs of all reptiles
- Discuss the feeding requirements of reptiles
- Describe the correct handling of reptiles.
- Discuss the care of both sick and healthy amphibians and reptiles
- Explain how to determine the sex of a guinea pig, and at what age they reach sexual maturity
- Explain the temperature guinea pigs should be kept at, and what happens if the temperature drops
- Explain the feed and nutritional needs of rodents.
- Discuss what can happen if a female hamster with a litter is disturbed
- Explain how many litters a year a female mouse could produce if not prevented from doing so
- Explain health and disease problems associated with mice.COURSE AIMS
Discuss the general principles of pet care, as they relate to a wide range of different types of pets.
Describe routine care for cats
Compare the characteristics of different cat breeds
Describe routine care for dog.
Compare the characteristics of different dog breed.
Describe routine care for birds as pet.
Describe routine care for fish
Describe routine care for rabbits as pet.
Describe routine care for reptiles and amphibian.
Describe routine care for rodent pets.
or Gain Skills to Work in the Pet Industry
A course for pet owners or anyone working with pets, providing a sound introduction to caring for a wide variety of different pets including dogs, cats, fish, birds, rabbits, rodents, reptiles and amphibians.
If you love animals this is a course for you!
