Week 1

Feline Heart Disease

Prevalence, aetiology and pathophysiology of feline heart disease

Classification systems used to diagnose and treat feline cardiomyopathies

Nursing care and treatment aims

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

Explain the pathophysiology of feline heart disease

Understand the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) classification system as it applies to feline cardiomyopathies

Be familiar with the best approach to a nurse a cat with heart disease and heart failure

Week 2

Canine Heart Disease

Prevalence, aetiology and pathophysiology of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)

Classification systems used to diagnose and treat MMVD

Staging systems used to diagnose and treat DCM in dogs

Nursing care of dogs with heart disease and heart failure

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

Explain the pathophysiology of MMVD and DCM

Understand the ACVIM classification system as it applies to MMVD and the staging system as it applies to canine DCM

Be familiar with the best approach to nurse a dog with either MMVD or DCM

Week 3

Electrocardiography (ECG) – Theory

The ECG machine and settings

Achieving a good quality ECG trace

How to interpret an ECG

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

Set up an ECG and understand the settings

Apply theory to achieve a good quality ECG trace

Understand how to interpret an ECG, using an algorithmic system

Week 4

Electrocardiography (ECG) – Application

Application of theory from week 1 to cases

Anaesthesia and ECGs

Life threatening arrhythmias

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

Apply theoretical learning to practical cases

Understand the role of anaesthesia and surgery upon ECGs

Identify life threatening arrhythmias

Week 5

Heart Failure

Pathophysiology of heart failure

Acute life threatening and chronic management

Management of patients with heart failure

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

Understand how heart failure can occur

Identify patients with heart failure and nurse them appropriately

Recognise drugs used in the treatment of heart failure

Week 6

Diagnostic Tests and the Cardiac Patient

Diagnostic tests used in cardiac patients

How to approach the test and the patient

Evaluation of diagnostic tests in cardiac patients

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

Perform or assist with diagnostic tests with confidence

Apply best practice methods to achieve reliable and repeatable results

Understand the purpose of diagnostic tests used in cardiac medicine