Introduction

This course is designed to give the veterinary practitioner a basic understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of birds. Areas of care and husbandry of different pet birds will also be covered.

Many veterinarians are called upon to treat and diagnose both wild and pet birds. Owners often seek advice from their veterinarian on simple care and behaviour of their birds and how this may differ from dogs and cats. Other birds may be presented to a veterinary clinic when unwell or traumatised.  Commonly the owner is unfamiliar with how to handle their own bird and what is the normal behaviour and anatomy of their pet bird. The veterinarian must decide if the bird is normal, unwell or an emergency case. In order to do so the veterinarian must know the normal bird anatomy, husbandry and behaviour. These unwell birds may need further diagnostic work up to determine their illness, including crop and faecal tests, blood tests and radiographs. Once a diagnosis has been reached appropriate medication and/or surgical procedures may be necessary on these often relatively simple cases.

On completion of this course, participants will have a basic knowledge and understanding of the husbandry and common illnesses in birds, the diagnostic tests available and treatment options.   

Course content

The course is designed to take approximately 10 hours to complete. It will be broken down into 9 subjects. The list of subjects is:

1: Anatomy and Physiology
2: Husbandry, Care and Advice
3: Emergency Medicine and Care
4: Handling and Examination
5: Microscope Diagnosis
6: Radiology
7: Common Problems
8: Biochemistry
9: Common Syndromes

The first unit will give the participant a brief overview of the differences in anatomy and physiology between birds and mammals. Important anatomical and physiological differences of birds will be highlighted. These differences will be related to practical considerations for veterinarians and relevant treatment protocols.

Each subject following the introduction will focus on one area of avian practice and will cover handling, husbandry, common presentations of these animals, diagnostic tests and how these problems might be managed in practice. Case studies, videos and images will complement the course notes to give the participant a better knowledge of the subject.

At the end of each unit there will be a short quiz which will need to be completed before moving on to the next unit.

Units are NOT of equal value. Units 1-4 are the handling and the basics of birds. Units 5-8 are on diagnosis. Unit 9 is on approaches to common syndromes.

Please note: The above timetable is a guide only. The above is just an estimate on the time it will take you to complete each unit. They may take longer. You have been given 6 weeks to complete the course.

Additional reading and reference list

Course resources

The Post Graduate Foundation, like many other Australian educational institutions, is committed to greater flexibility in its approach to learning and teaching, and supports the adoption of student-centred pedagogical strategies through the implementation of a more flexible and blended approach to learning.

• Operating system: Microsoft Windows 98 second edition, Me, NT, 2000, XP
• CPU: Pentium Class 266 MHz or faster processor (500 MHz recommended)
• Memory: 64 Mb RAM memory (128 recommended)
• Browser: Netscape 6.2.x, 7.0, and 7.1, Mozilla 1.5, 1.6, Microsoft IE 5.0, 5.5, 6.0 or AOL 7.0, 8.0, 9.0
• Modem: Minimum 56 kbps, preferably Broadband ISDN, ASDL, and an Internet Service Provider
• Hard disk: At least 150 Mb available space
• Multimedia: x16 spin CD-ROM
• Colour monitor capable of 800 x 600 pixels at High colour (16 bit)
• Software: Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Quicktime Media Player

Macintosh

• Operating system: Macintosh 0S 9.2, OS X v.10.1x, v.10.2x, v.10.3x
• CPU: Power Macintosh (G3 and G4) or higher
• Memory: 64 Mb RAM memory (128 recommended)
• Browser: Netscape 6.2.x (OS 9.x and OS X), 7.0 & 7.1 (OS X), Mozilla 1.5, 1.6 (OS X), Microsoft IE 5.1 (OS 9.x and OS X 10.1) and 5.2 (OS X 10.1, 10.2, 10.3), Safari 1.2
• Modem: Minimum 56 kbps, preferably Broadband ISDN, ASDL, and an Internet Service Provider
• Hard disk: At least 150 Mb available space
• Multimedia: x16 spin CD-ROM
• Colour monitor capable of 800 x 600 pixels at High colour (16 bit)
• Software: Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Quicktime Media Player

For more information regarding WebCT technical requirements go to http://www.usyd.edu.au/webct/student/getstart/requirements.shtml

• Read your Online Course Requirements
  
  
• Receive a discount on this course - become an Member of the Post Graduate Foundation