15 lecture hours = 1 credit
The purpose of this "Avian & Exotic Animal Medicine": course is to build confidence, competence, and commitment to the species of small, "exotic", mammalian, avian, and reptilian species that are most commonly presented to clinicians in North American practices. Each of these three taxons represented include between 6000 to 8000 species. The representative species discussed and studied in this basic medicine course will enable the veterinary student to gain a basic understanding of the unique challenges and requirements of these increasingly popular, companion animals. Likewise the veterinary student will learn that (s)he will not only broader one's knowledge and skill base, but also potentially increase one's income capacity by provided professional care for these species. This "Avian & Exotics" (A&E) course will build on the knowledge & skills the sixth semester veterinary student has developed over the previous five semesters. This A & E course will require a sound knowledge of parasitology, anatomy, physiology, general pathology, immunology, infectious diseases, and other disciplines of medicine and surgery. The veterinary student will be expected to be able to adapt and modify their skill sets and knowledge base to adapt to the unique characteristics of these species of other taxons of the vertebrate phylum.