Week 1

Dentistry Analgesia

Different analgesia drugs available

Dose selection

Routes of administration

Drug combinations

Local nerve blocks

Sides effects of drugs

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Assist the veterinary surgeon in selecting appropriate analgesic drugs for different oral surgeries

Be aware of potential side effects of these drugs

Alongside the veterinary surgeon, create a tailored drug protocol for each patient to go home with

Comfortably calculate analgesic drugs at low doses

Be aware of what drugs are suitable as a combination

Understand the exclusion or reduced dose of some drugs, regarding co-morbidities

Use pain scoring methods and understand what analgesia the patient may need

Week 2

Anaesthesia – Airway Security and Hypothermia

How to maintain a patent airway

Patient positioning

To cuff or not to cuff?

Causes of hypothermia

Negative effects of hypothermia

Preventing and treating hypothermia

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Understand different styles of ET tubes and their benefits and potential negatives

Understand appropriate ET tube cuff pressures and why this is so integral to protecting the airway

Appreciate techniques to protect the airway

Know the gold standard method to move patients under anaesthesia, whilst protecting their airway

List the common causes of hypothermia

Understand the negative effects of hypothermia

Have practical knowledge on how to prevent and treat hypothermia

Understand the risk of using some heating devices

Week 3

Anaesthesia – Managing Hypotension

Causes of hypotension

Negative side effects of hypotension

How to obtain accurate blood pressure reading

How to prevent hypotension

Fluid therapy

Anaesthesia drug choices

The use of vasopressors and anticholinergics

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Obtain accurate blood pressure readings for cats and dogs under general anaesthesia for dentistry

Understand the limitations of blood pressure measurements and trouble shoot potential problems

Know what is deemed as an appropriate blood pressure reading under general anaesthetic

Know which drugs may interfere with maintaining blood pressure

Understand what could happen to our patients if left hypotensive

Feel more confident, alongside the veterinary surgeon, in making a treatment plan tailored to each individual patient, to treat any hypotensive episodes

Week 4

Post-operative Care

Immediate post op care once extubated

Care for patients in the recovery ward

Discharge instructions

Post op care at home

Post op checks

Learning objectives
After completion of this week, participants should be able to:

Maintain and monitor a patent airway in the immediate post-operative period

Understand the importance of close monitoring in recovery

Create a post-operative plan tailored to each individual patient

Feel confident to create discharge instructions for your patient

Confidently communicate with the owner about the anaesthesia and surgery the patient has received

Perform a thorough physical post-operative check, including the whole patient

Understand the best dental care an owner can provide at home, along with alternative options if these goals cannot be met