VETERINARY MEDICINE 1 - 2019/0

Module code: VMS3010

Module Overview

This module introduces the student to the concepts of pharmacology, anaesthesiology, surgery and imaging as they are relevant to veterinary practice. This module also presents the clinical conditions of the cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, integumentary and alimentary systems across the species, the means of their diagnosis and their therapy both with medical and surgical interventions. By presenting conditions across the species, the commonality of disease process and similarities of therapies are illustrated. The species specific therapies will also be highlighted.

Module provider

School of Veterinary Medicine

Module Leader

LANGTON Sean (Vet Med)

Number of Credits: 45

ECTS Credits: 22.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Overall student workload

Independent Learning Hours: 270

Lecture Hours: 117

Practical/Performance Hours: 63

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

Successful completion of all first and second year BVMSci units

Module content

Fundamentals of Veterinary Practice 1
• Principles of Pharmacology
Lectures will introduce the pharmacological theory and the legal regulations underpinning medicines use in veterinary practice.
• Principles of Anaesthesia
Lectures will describe the pharmacology of anaesthetic, sedative and analgesic drugs, their safe and effective use and perioperative patient management. The clinical skills essential to the practice of anaesthesia will be taught in the practical class.
• Principles of Imaging
Lectures will introduce the theory behind imaging practice, provide knowledge of radiation safety and discuss the acquisition, interpretation and reporting of images. Patient positioning, preparation and safe use of xray and ultrasound equipment will be reinforced in a practical class.
• Principles of Surgery
Lectures will provide the knowledge unpinning the practice of surgery and discuss the use of surgery in specific situations. The basic clinical skills used in the practice of surgery will be taught in the practical class.

Clinical Practice 1
• Integumentary system
Lectures will introduce the approach to diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of dermatological conditions. The clinical skills associated with dermatological examination and management of dermatological cases will be taught in the practical classes.
• Alimentary system
Lectures will introduce the approach to diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of alimentary conditions. Diagnostic and interventional techniques related to the alimentary tract (including small animal and equine dentistry) will be taught in the practical classes.

Clinical Practice 2
• Cardiovascular and Respiratory systems
Lectures will introduce the approach to diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of diseases affecting the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Assessment of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems and clinical skills related to cardiorespiratory medical and surgical interventions will be taught in the practical classes.
• Musculoskeletal system
Lectures will introduce the approach to diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of diseases affecting the musculoskeletal system. Clinical examination of the musculoskeletal system, including lameness assessment will be taught alongside clinical skills related to further diagnosis and treatment in this area

Assessment pattern

Assessment type Unit of assessment Weighting
School-timetabled exam/test In Class Test (60 minutes) 10
Examination Written Examination: Fundamentals of Veterinary Practice 1 (90 minutes) 30
Examination Written Examination: Clinical Practice 1 (90 minutes) 30
Examination Written Examination: Clinical Practice 2 (90 minutes) 30
Pass/Fail competencies Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail competencies Peer-Led Portfolio Pass/Fail

Alternative Assessment

None

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate:


  • Practical skills

  • That they have taken full responsible for their own learning

  • Teamwork and participation in group learning both in the practical sessions and group presentations

  • Content knowledge relating to the subject areas of module units



Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:


  • In Class Test – 10% (60 minutes) 

  • Written Examination: Fundamentals of Veterinary Practice 1 – 30% (90 minutes) 

  • Written Examination: Clinical Practice 1 – 30% (90 minutes)

  • Written Examination: Clinical Practice 2 – 30% (90 minutes) Objective Structured Clinical

  • Examination – PASS/FAIL

  • Peer-led Portfolio – PASS/FAIL



To pass the module students are required to achieve a mark of 50% in each of the Written Examinations and pass 80% of stations within the Objective Structured Clinical Examination. To obtain a pass in the Peer-Led Portfolio all elements must be completed. All units of assessment are core.

Module aims

  • Prepare the students for the transition to practice in the areas above by giving them practical skills and the theory under pinning the practice.
  • Ensure that they are safe in the operation of ‘basic’ imaging equipment prior to beginning their clinical EMS
  • Ensure that the students will understand how to safely conduct themselves in an operating theatre, use appropriate attire, self-positioning and movements
  • Ensure safe behaviour and operation in the handling of medicines including anaesthetic drugs and associated equipment
  • Give students the skills to diagnose, treat and give a prognosis for diseases of the cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, integumentary and alimentary systems in equine, production, companion animal and non-traditional companion animal species
  • Introduce the therapeutic drugs used for conditions affecting the cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, integumentary and alimentary systems.
  • Introduce the basic surgical treatments for common conditions of the cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, integumentary and alimentary systems.

Learning outcomes

Attributes Developed
001 Demonstrate the basic practical skills and theory under pinning the practice of medicine and surgery (including anaesthesia). RCVS KU 1, KU 8, RCVS 30, 32. CKPT
002 Know how to safely operate ‘basic’ imaging equipment and apply the principles of radiography, ultrasonography and endoscopy in diagnostic investigations. RCVS 24 KPT
003 Show professional conduct within the operating theatre, using appropriate attire, self-positioning and movements; and create appropriate conditions for the conduct of aseptic and clean procedures. RCVS KU 11, RCVS 30, 31 CKPT
004 Perform suture techniques relevant to the various species. RCVS 31 KPT
005 Demonstrate safe behaviour and operation in the handling of medicines (including anaesthetic drugs) and associated equipment. RCVS KU 8, RCVS 28, 29,31. KPT
006 Apply core structure, function and pathophysiological knowledge to common clinical scenarios of the cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, integumentary and alimentary systems RCVS 18, 22, 24 KU 5 KT
007 Establish a holistic clinical approach to animals with cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, integumentary and alimentary system disorders, including integration of detailed system-specific examinations RCVS 5, 16, 18, 20. CKPT
008 Assess the different clinical presentations associated with conditions of the cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, integumentary and alimentary systems and formulate differential diagnoses. RCVS 21, 22. KU 5 CKP
009 Develop knowledge and technical skills appropriate to the investigation of cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, integumentary and alimentary disorders and apply clinical reasoning to perform a diagnosis and assess diagnostic and prognostic indicators. RCVS 10, 12, 22, 24. CKPT
010 Recommend appropriate medical and surgical interventions in the management and treatment of conditions affecting the cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, integumentary and alimentary systems and determine control measures appropriate to disease prevention RCVS 19, 20, 34, 37 KU 8, 9 KPT

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:
• Provide hands on facility in each of the areas of the course
• Provide a safe supportive environment to learn these essential skills prior to starting EMS
• Ensure that students understand the legal and workplace requirements prior to being placed in a clinical setting
• Provide deep understanding of the clinical conditions of the cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, integumentary and alimentary systems – the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis
• Highlight the similarities of the disease processes across the species and allow the concept of One Health – One Medicine to be considered for some conditions.

The learning and teaching methods include:
• Lectures, flipped classroom, small group sessions, case based scenarios, practical classes using real and simulated equipment, models, image video and audio libraries

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: VMS3010

Other information

None

Programmes this module appears in

Programme Semester Classification Qualifying conditions
Veterinary Medicine and Science BVMSci (Hons)(CORE) 1 Core Each unit of assessment must be passed at 50% to pass the module

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2019/0 academic year.