Dogs, Cats and Popular Pets

Distance Education Course  Click here to enrol

 

PET CARE(AAG100)

 

A course that focuses mostly on Dogs and cats, and secondarily on other animals that are more commonly kept as pets. The general principles that come through in this course will however provide a broad understanding of howe to care for pets of all types.

Whatever type of pet you keep, or hope to keep, this course is designed to develop knowledge and skills in pet care practices for people who work with animals or who want to care for their own pets.

 

Duration:100 hours (nominal duration)

 

COURSE AIMS

·Understand the general principles of pet care as they relate to different types of pets.

·Describe general principles of care for specific kinds of animals: cats, dogs, birds, fish, rabbits, reptiles and amphibians, and rodents.

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COURSE STRUCTURE

There are eight lessons in this module as follows:

1. Introduction to Animal Care

2. Cats

3. Dogs

4. Birds

5. Fish

6. Rabbits

7. Reptiles and Amphibians

8. Guinea Pigs, Hamsters and Mice.

 

WHAT YOU WILL DO IN THIS COURSE

Many things, including the following:

·Develop timetables for husbandry tasks to be undertaken over a typical week, caring for a specific breeds of animals (several, but your choice).

·Recognize things that indicate a dog is sick – diet and temperament

·Develop a checklist of things which should be done regularly to ensure the good health for pets

·Determine things a person should consider when trying to decide what type of pet to acquire

·Compare the requirements and restrictions for keeping different animals as pets in your locality

·Discuss the advantages/disadvantages of keeping different types of cats

·Explain why is it particularly important to de-sex cats and when de-sexing should be carriedout

·Discuss the nutritional requirements of a cat, and identify the cause of N.S.H., and its early signs.

·Describe problems associated with long haired dogs

·Discuss a dog’s sleeping requirements if it lives in a temperate climate

·Explain problems can arise through over feeding a dog

·Identify ideal diet for a dog

·Explain why puppies under 6 months should be allowed to exercise themselves

·Determine common signs of a general disease condition in a dog

·Explain why birds moult.

·Discuss the characteristics of large, open aviaries, and all their requirements

·Discuss how a small bird should be caught in its cage

·Explain what breathlessness indicates in a bird

·Discuss factors are common in the care of all fish

·Explain why it is important to maintain the correct level of oxygen in water for fish

·Discuss the differences in requirements for caring for salt water fish compared with freshwater fish

·Explain the handling, caging, feeding and other aspects of rabbit care.

·Discuss different colours and breeds of rabbits

·Discuss the environmental/caging needs of all reptiles

·Discuss the feeding requirements of reptiles

·Explain the handling of reptiles.

·Discuss the care of both sick and healthy amphibians and reptiles.

·Explain how you determine the sex of a guinea pig, and at what age do they reach sexual maturity

·Explain the temperature guinea pigs should be kept at, and what happens if the temperature drops

·Explain the feed and nutritional needs of rodents.

·Discuss what can happen if a female hamster with a litter is disturbed

·Explain how many litters a year could a female mouse produce if not prevented from doing so

·Explain health and disease problems associated with mice.

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