[NP-SDVC2] Specialist Diploma in Veterinary Clinical Practice (SDVC2)

"This module will cover clinical laboratory diagnostic techniques (i.e. haematology, cytology and urinalysis), as well as imaging diagnostic techniques (i.e. radiology and ultrasound). More specifically:
(a) Haematology, Cytology and Urinalysis Techniques & Concepts
This component will cover standard equipment and supplies (e.g. routine laboratory tests, automated analysers), sample types, and sample collection, storage, and preparation. The haematology subcomponent will focus on blood cell parameters, and the evaluation of erythrocytes, leukocytes, thrombocytes and their associated pathologies (e.g. atypical cells, haemoparasites) on blood smears, as well as fundamentals of diagnostic testing for haemostasis. The urinalysis subcomponent will cover basic renal physiology, common cells, crystals and microorganisms, examination of the urine sample, and the use of dipstick for urine chemistry. The cytology subcomponent will cover cell types and criteria of malignancy, as well as common infectious agents.
(b) Imaging Techniques & Concepts
This component will cover the physics and principles of radiology, as well as the fundamentals of positioning of the patient for thoracic, abdominal, pelvic, skull, limbs, and spinal radiography. This will be coupled with radiographic interpretation of the different body systems and anatomical regions (dog, cat, and birds) with a clinical emphasis. It will also offer fundamentals on the use of contrast media in radiology, and fundamentals of ultrasonography."

This module covers fundamentals of fluid therapy such as indications, body fluid compartments, types of IV fluids, fluid administration methods, fluid additives, monitoring of fluid therapy and complications. Participants will gain an understanding to transfusion medicine such as indications to blood and plasma transfusion, blood donors, pre-transfusion testing, blood collection, types of blood products and administration of blood products. Aspects of trauma management such as triage, assessment of hydration status, initial diagnostics, basic first aid, patient monitoring, emergency techniques (e.g. abdominocentesis, thoracocentesis, thoracic drain placement and tracheostomy tube placement), emergency respiratory support and cardiopulmonary resuscitation will be covered. A general approach to common emergencies involving different body systems such as cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, urogenital, endocrine, metabolic, neurological, oncology, musculoskeletal, reproductive, and ocular emergencies, and common poisonings (e.g. insecticides, chocolate, rodenticides, and heavy metals) will be taught to students. Critical care will cover the fundamentals of post resuscitation care and the management of post resuscitation syndromes (e.g. iatrogenic injury, cardiovascular instability, transient cerebral dysfunction, and systemic inflammatory response syndrome and multi organ dysfunction) and recumbent patients.

Pain management will cover effective communication to clients in ensuring delivery of appropriate analgesia for patients, the common causes, physiologic and behavioural aspects and effects of pain, basic principles of effective analgesic treatments and techniques, and adjunctive analgesic protocols in small animals. Anaesthesia will cover patient preparation (e.g. fasting, history and clinical examination), an introduction to common anaesthetic agents (e.g. injectables, inhalants) available in practice, principles of endotracheal tube intubation which involve tube selection, tube preparation, intubation procedure, checking for proper placement, cuff inflation, and complications. It will also cover anaesthetic protocol selection in different disease presentations and animal species, and the proper execution of anaesthesia (i.e. equipment preparation, preanaesthetic drugs, anaesthetic induction, maintenance of anaesthesia, patient positioning, comfort and safety and anaesthetic recovery). Students will learn monitoring of anaesthesia (i.e. stages and planes of anaesthesia, principles of monitoring, vital signs, indicators of circulation, oxygenation, ventilation, monitoring of reflexes and other indicators of anaesthetic depth), function and setup of anaesthetic (e.g. Anaesthetic machine, endotracheal tubes, laryngoscopes, breathing circuits, masks etc.) and monitoring equipment (e.g. capnography, ECG, blood pressure and SPO2), interpretation of data, and intervention in anaesthetic complications.

"WSP participants will undergo on-the-job training (OJT) at the workplace. The training consists of structured OJT and mentorship in the company which allow participants to apply the knowledge gained from the SDVCP course in the context of the workplace environment. Clinical skills (e.g. Intravenous catheterization, blood drawing, radiographic positioning techniques, anaesthetic monitoring, animal handling skills and basic laboratory analysis) or administrative skills (e.g. receptionist duties, accounting, management etc.) as specified by the company will be accessed by employers.
*Students who are enrolled into the SkillsFuture Work-Study Programme (WSP) will participate in OJT. Students who are not enrolled into the WSP program will undertake a Project Case Study in lieu of OJT."

This module will provide participants with basic management principles of an animal shelter. It will incorporate shelter design principles such as design and space planning, environmental and ventilation considerations, and material construction. Animal health considerations such as proper sanitation protocols, housing and nutrition, quality of life, shelter disease prevention and management, animal intake considerations, and behaviour management of common shelter animals in Singapore will also be incorporated. Participants will also learn about basic shelter programs related to emergency rescues, humane euthanasia, adoption, fund raising and neutering.

This module will provide participants with an understanding of statutory regulations covering licensing, import and export regulations of pets, animal feed & animal products, operations and regulations of pet related industries such as pet shops, and shelters. The module will also introduce legislation and regulations pertaining to pet ownership (e.g. leashing and muzzling laws, pet-friendly venues, animal abuse), claiming of impounded animals, keeping and trade of illegal pets (i.e. CITES regulations). Fundamentals of chemical and biosafety and workplace safety practices, infectious diseases management, inventory and pharmacy management, record keeping, veterinary biologics, and dispensing practices will be offered.

This module will provide participants with basic concepts and knowledge of customer service principles and skills, and marketing veterinary products and services. Customer service will give participants insights to the importance of service anticipation, public relations as well as service recovery strategies (e.g. complaint resolution) and grief counselling. A role-play activity on client communication will be conducted. Participants will also learn to propose a marketing system, from planning to pricing and promotion, and appreciate the impact of marketing variables in the formulation of marketing decisions. It will include the understanding of buying decision processes and factors influencing buyer’s decisions in veterinary products. This encompasses knowledge on consumer perceptions and attitudes, consumer demographics and lifestyles, and cultural and group influences. Participants will learn to provide sound product advice for over the counter sales to match consumer demand (e.g. price consideration, intention purpose). Advice will take into account, considerations in species-specific side effects, efficacy and conformation of scheduled or non-scheduled drug sale to regulations.