PET CARE AAG100

Learn Care for Pets?

A sound introduction to caring for a wide variety of different of different pets. Covers dogs, cats, fish, birds, rabbits, rodents, reptiles and amphibians. The course was developed and is tutored by highly qualified and experienced professionals including Veterinary Surgeon,s a former wildlife park manager, and university lecturers.This course is a great introduction to the care of a wide variety of different pets.

Extend your knowledge and capacity to care for all types of pets; with lessons covering:

Dogs
Cats
Fish
Birds
Rabbits
Rodents
Reptiles
Amphibians.

This course provides an outstanding opportunity to extend your knowledge, perspective and capacity to care for all types of pets. This course was developed by highly qualified and experienced professionals including veterinary surgeons..

COURSE STRUCTURE AND CONTENTS

This course contains 8 lessons:
1. Introduction to Animal Care

Laws and licenses
Animal Charities and Societies (e.g. RSPCA, WSPA, Blue Cross)
Pet Care Needs (feeding, Watering, Shelter, Containment, Fencing, Caging, Protection)
Maintaining Health
Hygiene

2. Cats

Breeds (Lang Haired, Semi Long Haired, Short Haired, Oriental etc)
Selection
Allergies
Containment
Sexing
Desexing
Breeding
Newborn Kittens
Exercise
Behaviour
Hygiene
Feed and nutrition
Amount of food, Watering
Grooming
Traveling
Care for a sick cat (Signs of illness, Temperature, Common ailments, Skin disorders, Ticks)
Cats and wildlife

3. Dogs

Selection
Breeds (Pure and mixed)
Varying size and temperament
Grooming
Skin care
Inherited traits (aggression, deafness)
Containment
Breeding
Desexing
Exercise
Behaviour
Feeding
Canine Nutrition
Bones
Watering
Training
Traveling
Identifying sickness

4. Birds

Selection, Breeds (e.g. Canaries, Finches, Budgerigars, Small Parrots etc)
Sexing
Desexing
Containment (Aviaries, selection, design, size, management)
Feed
Feeding
Watering
Grooming (Wing trim, Beak Trim, Nail Trim)
Hygiene
Catching and Restraining
Traveling
Caring for the Sick Bird
Signs of illness
Temperature
Supportive therapy
Common Ailments (e.g. Abscesses, Alopecia, Apoplexy, Aspergillosis, Breathlessness, Constipation, Parasites)
Safety in the Home

5. Fish

Selection
Inside or Outside
Warm or Cold water
Number of fish
Types of fish (Tropical, Marine, Cold Water)
Costs, Size, Equipment
Tanks, Ponds, Pumps, Aquariums, Night lights
Water quality
Changing Water
Feed (Pelleted, live feed –Daphnia, Brine Shrimp)
Illnesses (Fungal, Bacterial, Parasites, Environmental)

6. Rabbits

Breeds (Large, Small and Dwarf)
Selection
Legality (Illegal in some areas)
Containment (Hutch or Cage)
Environment (temperature etc)
Feeding and Nutrition
Watering
Feed quantities and routine
Grooming and Handling
Moulting
Transporting
Sexing
Breeding
Identifying illness
Care of sick rabbits

7. Reptiles and Amphibians

Types (e.g. Salamander, Frogs, Venomous snakes, Non-venomous snakes, Shingle-backed lizard, Tortoises, Terrapins, Axolotls, etc)
Selection
Legal Issues
Housing
Environmental requirements (Moisture, Humidity, Warmth, etc)
Terrariums
Problems (e.g. Dehydration, Stress, External and internal parasites, Blisters, Scale Rot, Mouth Rot or Canker, Colds/pneumonia, Constipation and diarrhea, Cannibalism,Incomplete sloughing of the skin -shedding of the skin)
Feed and feeding
General Care

8. Rodents, Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, Mice

Varieties
Selection
Containment
Sexing
Breeding
Grooming
Feeding
Watering
Illness (e.g. Skin Problems, Abscesses, Mites, Ringworm, Fleas, Respiratory Infection, Vitamin C Deficiency, Otitis, Salmonella, Stripping etc)

Duration: 100 hours

COURSE AIMS

Discuss the general principles of pet care, as they relate to a wide range of different types of pets.
Describe routine care for cats.
Compare the characteristics of different cat breeds.
Describe routine care for birds as pets.
Describe routine care for fish, reptiles, rabbits and rodents

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR KEEPING PETS

No matter what type of pets you are looking after there are some general needs that must be fulfilled. These include:

Food
All animals will require sufficient food, of the right type/s, and at the right intervals. This will obviously vary considerably from animal to animal, for example dogs usually have diets with a high meat component, some birds will have diets high in seeds, some birds may require such things as insects or meal worms, rabbits and guinea pigs may be fed on grasses and vegetable scraps, while reptiles may be fed with live food (e.g. mice, frogs).

Understanding what types of food your animals require is very important, it is also important that you understand differing food requirements at different stages of their life (e.g. young versus mature animals, when pregnant or feeding young). To ensure the best health of your animals, only use good quality food that has been properly stored (e.g. not perished, or mouldy, or infested with pests). Discuss with your vet to ensure your animals are receiving adequate nutrition from their diet, and to determine ways in which you might need to modify it to improve their all round nutrient intake.

Although it can seem nice to treat pets to human foods and sweets, or to leave food constantly available to your pet, it can be very detrimental to their health. Certain foods that are fit for human consumption can in fact be toxic to pets. Allowing your pet to eat constantly, or providing them with a poorly balanced diet can lead to obesity. This is an increasing problem and has serious complications for animals, they are unable to move as freely and become sedentary, and they can develop joint problems such as arthritis, as well as injuries related to the stress on their spines from the additional weight. Heart disease is also more likely along with complications such as obesity related diabetes.

Watering
Nearly all animals will require regular watering, some having high water requirements. Water should be of high quality, and plenty provided. The types of water containers provided should be suitable to the types of animals you are watering, for example deep, steep-sided containers may pose a drowning risk to small animals, including birds, while containers or troughs used by multiple numbers of a particular pet should provide sufficient room (access) so that there is not any great degree of competition between the animals for the water - this is particularly important on days of high water need (i.e. very hot days), or with more aggressive animals.

Water containers/sources should also be placed in suitable position where they are stable (not easily dislodged or knocked over), where they will not be contaminated by debris or animal droppings falling into them, and easily accessed by both your pets to drink, and you to fill them. For some animals the containers may need to be placed in a position that provides some degree of shelter and/or protection from other animals. Placing water in a position sheltered from the sun will also reduce evaporation rates. Ideally at least two, and depending on the space available and animals you are watering, possibly more separate containers should be available, in case one becomes fouled, or is knocked over. Animals can quickly suffer or die if sufficient water is not available on a hot day. Containers should be regularly inspected for damage, and regularly and thoroughly cleaned to minimise pest and diseases problems. Any automatic watering systems should be regularly maintained, and regularly checked to ensure they are operating properly.

Shelter/Containment/Protection
Caging and fencing can serve a number of functions. This includes:

Containment - ensuring you pet/s don't escape.
Shelter - providing protection against the elements.
Protection - both against other animals (predators), and to protect other animals and people from your animal/s (e.g. snakes, aggressive dogs). Any caging or fenced area should have the following features:
Size - sufficient to cater for the animal’s needs
Strength – sufficient to contain the animal, to keep other animals out and to withstand the local weather conditions
Safe - no sharp edges, or protruding parts, ensure materials aren’t toxic to the animal (treated timbers, rusted metals, asbestos sheeting etc).
Position – providing shelter for the animal and being securely fixed into place
Access - for cleaning, providing food and water. Access should be secured to prevent escape. It is crucial that any containment area is regularly checked over and maintained properly.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN MORE?

ENROL TODAY!
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Phone (UK) 01384 44272, (International) +44 (0) 1384 442752, or

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