VETM809

041718

Foundational knowledge of the gastrointestinal tract and the three main accessory organs (Pancreas, Liver, and Gallbladder) will be deepened and expanded in this course from a clinical perspective. This course will include collaborative learning and instruction to enable students to synthesize signalment, history, and physical exam into a differential list from most to least likely for a patient/flock/herd with gastrointestinal signs. Students will outline and implement an iterative diagnostic plan prioritizing high yield tests over lower yield tests, understanding the rationale, risks and benefits, results and information gleaned from each test. Students will begin to formulate and implement a treatment plan that may include medical, pharmacological, nutritional, and surgical interventions based on the owner's budgetary restrictions (understanding the role of the primary & referral veterinarians), and adjust these plans based on the patients' response and disease progression, financial and emotional limitations of the owner, as well as additional information that may result from more advanced testing. Rare facts or processes not used in a daily clinical setting are not emphasized. Instead, the course aims to give students a process by which to approach clinical signs of illness in the GI tract and accessory organs. The knowledge will provide a solid basis for future multi-systemic, internal medicine and surgery courses, as well as electives in the student's area of interest.

PNP - Pass/Fail

Veterinary Medicine