Introduction to Nursing Exotic Patients
A six week online tutored CPD course with John Chitty
Following completion of the tutored course, you now have unlimited lifetime access to the learning resources. These are provided for future reference only, and no further CPD hours may be claimed for reviewing the materials.
Week 1
The Rabbit Consultation
- Handling, examination and history taking
- Preventative care
- Making your clinic rabbit friendly
Learning objectives:
By the end of this week, delegates should be able to:
- Appreciate the importance of stress reduction in rabbits, including during hospitalisation and examination
- Understand essentials of preventive care of rabbits
- Understand handling and therapeutic techniques in rabbits
Week 2
Anaesthesia of Small Furries
- Basic anaesthesia
- Reducing stress around anaesthesia
Learning objectives:
By the end of this week, delegates should be able to:
- Describe a holistic approach to stress reduction in the peri-anaesthetic period to improve anaesthetic success rates
- Prepare a patient for anaesthesia
- Understand how to provide airway support for rabbits
Week 3
Examination of Parrots
- Handling and examination of parrots
- Basic husbandry of parrots
- Routine grooming techniques
Learning objectives:
By the end of this week, delegates should be able to:
- Achieve safe handling techniques for parrots
- Understand the basic husbandry of pet parrots and how this relates to disease
- Appreciate and apply the techniques of beak, nail and wing trimming and understand how issues with these adnexa may reflect systemic disease
Week 4
Avian Anaesthesia and Imaging
- Basic anaesthesia techniques
- Introduction to avian radiography and ultrasound
Learning objectives:
By the end of this week, delegates should be able to:
- Appreciate basic anaesthetic techniques, including induction and intubation, to improve anaesthetic success rates
- Take a well-positioned radiograph and interpret the image
- Understand the indications for ultrasonography in birds
Week 5
Reptile Examination Techniques
- Handling
- Examination techniques
- History taking, including the husbandry review
Learning objectives:
By the end of this week, delegates should be able to:
- Achieve safe handling techniques of reptiles – snakes, lizards and chelonia
- Perform a basic examination of these species
- Appreciate the role of husbandry in reptile disease and how to conduct a full husbandry review
Week 6
Reptile Anaesthesia, Imaging and Hospitalisation
- Basic anaesthesia techniques
- Introduction to reptile radiography and ultrasound
- Hospitalisation requirements for reptile species
Learning objectives:
By the end of this week, delegates should be able to:
- Appreciate basic anaesthetic techniques, including the importance of ventilation and when to use it
- Take a well-positioned radiograph
- Perform ultrasonography in reptiles
- Understand the hospitalisation needs of reptile species