Avian Medicine with Dr Mike Cannon

• Introduction
• Timetable for Modules
• Content of Modules
• Reading List
• Technical Requirements for Online Study
• Register for this Course

The Avian Medicine program is divided into ten modules. Each module covers a range of topics that an avian practitioner may anticipate encountering in the normal course of practice. One month per module is the optimal rate at which we anticipate participants will cover the program so by the end of one year, you will have covered avian medicine relevant to practice fairly comprehensively.

Each module is divided into five sections:

• Required reading: refers to core reading material that is integral to the topic that is central to the module.
• Supplemental reading: consists of additional reference material, be they articles, article summaries or references, that the participant may wish to read now, or store as a reference library.
• Formal home based learning is central to the program, so with avian medicine in mind, a number of case studies pertinent to the module are provided.
• Unknown case studies: provided to test your avian medicine skills. You are expected to write a report on each of these cases before reviewing the prepared solution to each case.
• An assignment: must be completed and submitted for evaluation. The assignment has two parts. Part A is a formal assignment, completed by all participants. Part B is more flexible, requiring you to submit a detailed case study and report that meets certain prescribed objectives. In some modules, additional exercises have been included.
• There are an additional 3 case studies, based on cases encountered in your practice during the course. These will be discussed with the group at workshops. You are expected to use these as learning material for the group and, after the workshop, write a report on each of these cases, in a format suitable for submission to a scientific journal. These reports are to be submitted with the completed assignments to the Post Graduate Foundation. After reviewing them, they are returned to you with comments.

 At completion of the Distance Education course you can expect to have:

• Assessed the ability of your practice to deliver an effective clinical examination of avian patients, for your clients.
• Reviewed the diagnostic techniques commonly used in avian medicine, as well as their interpretation and application.
• Reviewed effective delivery of medications to your avian patients, including critical and emergency care.
• Reviewed current approaches for anaesthesia and surgery on avian patients.
• Reviewed common medical conditions encountered in practice, including an awareness of exotic diseases and special requirements for paediatric medicine.
• Reviewed the different approaches required for companion birds compared to avicultural medicine.
• Completed at least 10 assignments.
• Discussed and reported on at least 3 case studies from your practice case-load.

You will have been assessed ten times and will have received written feedback on completion of each module.

In addition, there will be one two-day live workshop held during the year at the tutor's practice in Wollongong, NSW. This will be in October, during which participants will spend their day discussing cases and attending wet laboratories. They will give you the opportunity to meet the tutor and other course participants and also to raise any questions that you have about the course content. This workshop is a valuable element of the course, however it is not compulsory.

Key Benefits

By the end of this course you can expect to:

• Gain the skills to assess the ability of your practice to clinically examine avian patients effectively.
• Improve your knowledge of the diagnostic techniques commonly used in avian medicine as well as their interpretation and application.
• Develop an understanding of effective medication delivery including critical care and emergencies
• Improve your understanding of common medical conditions including awareness of exotic disease and the special requirements of paediatric medicine.
• Gain a greater understanding of the different approaches required for companion birds compared with avicultural medicine.

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Remember, 30 November is the last day for the PGF to receive Distance Education material for assessment.

1. Avian Medicine Principles and Applications
Ritchie B W, Harrison G J and Harrison L R
Wingers Publishing Inc, Lake Worth, Florida, 1994
This book is also available as a CD-ROM.

2. Manual of Avian Medicine
Olsen G H and Orosz S E.
Mosby, St Louis, 2000

Additional Reading - good for the bookshelf

1. Laboratory Medicine, Avian and Exotic Pets
Fudge A M
W B Saunders Co. Philadelphia, 2000

2. Avian Medicine
Samour J
Mosby, London, 2000

3. Avian Medicine and Surgery
Altman R B, Clubb S L, Dorrestein G M and Quesenberry K
WB Saunders Co. Philadelphia, 1997

4. Everybird
Ed Macwhirter
Inkata Press, Second Edition.

5. Diseases of Cage and Aviary Birds
Rosskopf W J and Woerpel R W
Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 1996

Technical requirements for online study WebCT is a software program developed in Canada which provides a platform and a set of web course teaching tools for online learning. As an introduction to the online learning environment The Post Graduate Foundation in Veterinary Science is using this platform to give you access to your course online. This medium will allow you to access your course and participate in online discussions with other participants and your tutor via a computer, a modem and a web browser, such as Netscape or Internet Explorer.

To optimise your use of WebCT for online learning we recommend the following specifications: http://www.pgf.edu.au/disted/index.cfm#technical

• Read your Online Course Requirements?
  
  
• Read the General Information page?
  
  
• Read the How Much Does it Cost page?
  
  
• Become a Member of the Post Graduate Foundation?