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Focus Area Leader

Dr. Laurel Williams

Emphasis Leader

Dr. Keven Flammer

DVM Professional
Degree Program

DVM Program

Focus Area for Small Animal Practice

Avian & Exotic Animal Emphasis Available

Description of the Focus Area

Small animal practice (SAP) combines many elements of veterinary medicine, including medicine, surgery, dermatology, neurology, oncology, ophthalmology, clinical and anatomic pathology, diagnostic imaging, anesthesia, nutrition, behavior, and practice management. Small animal general practitioners and specialists are employed in private practice, academia, and industry and are responsible for diagnosing and treating a wide variety of diseases. Small animal veterinarians can enter into general practice directly following graduation or they may elect to pursue advanced training through an internship (typically one year), residency (typically three years), or graduate school (typically 3-5 years) either immediately after graduation or following practice or other experience. Advanced training positions can be very competitive and, therefore, good planning and preparation are important during the veterinary school years.

SAP is a sufficiently broad career path that should enable veterinary students to avoid too much specialization very early in their careers. Important skills for all small animal practitioners include obtaining a complete medical history, performing a physical examination, identifying, prioritizing, and addressing problems, knowing where to find pertinent scientific information, and communicating effectively and compassionately with clients.

* For students desiring to enter a multi-species small animal practice, an Avian & Exotic Animal Emphasis is available. In the veterinary context, “exotic animal” medicine refers to the common non dog/cat species kept by private citizens.. The most common exotic animal species are birds (especially parrots), small mammals (e.g. rabbits, ferrets, hamsters etc.) and reptiles. A variety of other species, including wildlife, fish, and other vertebrate and invertebrate species are also seen by exotic animal clinicians. Most exotic animal species are seen as part of a small animal (dog/cat) practice. Specialization is also possible and internship and residency positions are available for advanced training. Students pursuing this emphasis area will have four requirements in addition to those in SAP: (1) two advisors will be required, one in Small Animal and one in Avian & Exotics, (2) three selectives will be required (to be chosen from the list below), (3) one fourth year externship (VMC 963) at an approved Avian & Exotic animal practice will be required and may require travel outside the Triangle area (an additional externship in Small Animal Medicine (VMC 994) is encouraged), and (4) enrollment in either the Special Species Medicine or the Advanced Clinical Avian Medicine 4th year rotation or consent of the emphasis area leader for substitution of a different course will be required. Students must contact Dr. Keven Flammer before signing up for this emphasis area.

Current Number of Small Animal Focused Students

Advisors (Small Animal)

Advisors (Avian & Exotics)

Steps to pursue a focus in small animal practice

  1. Identify a SAP focus area advisor by September 15 of third year (this may be the same advisor worked with in the first two years or a new advisor who will take their place)
  2. Choose CVM selectives and other activities (see below)
  3. Make contacts/arrangements for externships (summers, 4th year). The sign up / drop deadline is one month before the experience, unless the course coordinator decides to grant an exception for special circumstances.
  4. Plan 4th year CVM rotations with SAP focus area mentor
  5. Obtain signature of SAP focus area organizer following identification of advisor and for Extramural Studies Program (externship) requests
  6. Avian & Exotics Animal Emphasis interested students should plan early. In addition to the above list:
    1. Contact Dr. Keven Flammer, Avian & Exotic Animal emphasis leader, before declaring this focus area emphasis.
    2. Select two advisors, one in Small Animal and one in Avian & Exotics, by September 15th of the third year. Earlier declaration is possible and will give students priority for the required selectives in the Avian & Exotics Emphasis area.

Year 1-3 Recommended Courses

There are no required courses in years 1-3 for Small Animal Practice Focus Area students.

Avian & Exotic Animal Emphasis ONLY
Choose 3 of the following selective courses:

Year 1-3 Recommended Courses

General Clinical

Clinical Laboratory

Other

Avian & Exotic Animal Emphasis

Fourth Year Required Rotations

Required

**Extramural Rotations (in 4th year) - maximum of 6 credits (3 rotations)

And 4 of the following:

And 1 of the following:

 Recommended

Other

The SAP focus area has a total of 15 required blocks. The remaining 9 blocks are to be chosen under the direction of the SAP focus area faculty advisor.

Other Experiences

Employment Opportunities/Externships/Funding

a. Extramural Studies Program (Externships) TBA
b. Research Opportunities

c. Funding CVM Summer Research Interns (Dr. Jody Gookin & Dr. Sam Jones)

CONFERENCES

Students may benefit from attending a conference. Annual meetings to consider include those sponsored by the following. Check websites of these organizations listed below, which have the latest information on upcoming meetings.

American Animal Hospital Association (5-day meeting in March); http://www.aahanet.org/

American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (4-day meeting in May or June); http://www.avma.org/

American College of Veterinary Surgeons (3-day meeting in September or October); http://www.acvs.org/

American Veterinary Medical Association (5-day meeting in July); http://www.acvim.org/

Association of Avian Veterinarians (4 day meeting in August; http://www.aav.org

Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians (often in conjuction with Avian Vets meeting: http://www.aemv.org/

Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (meeting varies); http://www.arav.org/ECOMARAV/timssnet/common/tnt_frontpage.cfm

Mid-Atlantic Staes Association of Avian Veterinarians (3 day meeting in late April); http://www.masaav.org/

National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (3 day meeting in mid-March); http://www.nwrawildlife.org/home.asp

North American Veterinary Conference Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (annual meeting in early-mid September) Western States Veterinary Conference

Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (annual meeting in early-mid September)

Western Veterinary Conference (6 day meeting in February); http://www.wvc.org/

 

Rounds/Seminars/Journal Clubs

 

a. Advanced Topics in Zoological Medicine 1&2 are held: Thursdays from 4:15 - 6:00PM in D-239 North. Lecture, journal review, case presentations and discussion on zoological species.

b. Clinical Conference: Fridays, 8:00 a.m.

c. Dermatology Rounds: "Flea" Rounds are held each Tuesday at 8:00 a.m.; Week 1 of the senior clinical rotation at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, "Topical Therapies," are discussed. Week 2, "Endocrine Testing," is discussed. Thursdays at 2:00 p.m. "Mystery Cases," are presented by senior students. **Due to space limitations, attendance by students other that those on this rotation is by prior permission only.

d. Medicine Rounds: are held daily at 8:00 a.m. in the Medicine Rounds Room, VTH. Space is limited, however, and prior approval for attendance is required (contact the senior clinician on duty for permission).

e. Neurology Daily Rounds: are held daily at 9:00 a.m. in the Electrophysiology room, VTH.

f. Oncology Daily Rounds: are held daily at 2:30 p.m. in the Oncology Rounds Room, VTH.

g. Oncology Journal Club: is held each Friday at 10:15 a.m. in the Oncology Rounds Room, VTH.

h. Pain Interest Group Rounds: are held the first Wednesday of every month in B222

i. Pathology Rounds: Anatomic Pathology rounds are held Wednesdays at 12:15-1:15 p.m. in the Necropsy amphitheatre. Histopathology rounds are held Fridays at 7:50-9 a.m. in D236.

j. Research seminar: several ongoing series, as well as guest/invited speakers (usually posted on CVM listserv)

k. Soft tissue surgery walk-through rounds: are held daily at 7:30 a.m. in the VTH wards. Discussion rounds are held at variable times and by daily arrangement; contact the service for details.

Extracurricular Activities

Other Useful Information

Recommended Journals

Recommended Memberships

Computer and Internet Resource Sites

Skill Lists

The following lists, while not complete, are an indication of the entry level skills needed for general small animal practice. These lists were taken from “ Greenfield CL, Johnson AL, Scaffer DJ. Frequency of use of various procedures, skills, and areas of knowledge among veterinarians in private small animal exclusive or predominant practice and proficiency expected of new veterinary graduates. JAVMA 2004, 224: 1780-1787.”

The ten most important skills overall listed by practitioners were: general and elective surgery skills, good communication skills, ability to perform a complete physical exam, ability to interpret diagnostic tests, ability to take a good history, ability to obtain and interpret radiographs, ability to perform anesthesia and manage pain, ability to formulate a diagnostic plan, good interpersonal skills and being a team player.

 

Specific Procedures
(in order of expected proficiency) 		Where Taught

Vaccine Protocols and Techniques

951, 970, Ford’s senior handout

Anal Sac Expression

932

Heartworm Testing

Parasitology, 970

Skin Scraping

937, 970, 983

Ear Cleaning

937

Anesthesia, including intubation

932, VMB 977

Venipuncture

932, 937, 957, 970, VMB 977, clinics

Castration

932, 957, 970

Dental Prophylaxis

Dental selective

Ovariohysterectomy

932, 957, 970

Wound Management

932 (lecture), bear dog project

Peripheral venous catheter placement

932, 957, 965, VMB 977, clinics

Fine-needle aspiration

937, clinics

Onychectomy

965

Tooth Extraction

965

Cystocentesis

932, clinics

Routine periodontal treatment

Dental selective

Urinary catheter placement

937

Select skin lesion and skin biopsy

937

Bandage, splint, cast application

932, 961

Superficial mass excision

932 (lecture), surgery selective

Necropsy

Pathology lecture, rotation

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Emergency elective

Incisional biopsy

932 (lecture)

Management of worn or fractured teeth

Dental Selective

 

Specific Skills
(in approximate order of frequency performed in practice)		 Where Taught

Take a complete patient history

937, clinics, 971 rounds

Perform complete physical exam

937, 932, clinics

Practice with integrity

 

Have a good attitude

 

Take a complete history

 

Provide excellent client services

 

Formulate diagnostic/therapeutic plans

Problem-based medicine, 951, clinics

Good written/oral communication skills

 

Have well developed interpersonal skills

 

Interpret results of blood, urine, fecal testing

Clinical pathology, Parasitology, 951, clinics

Assess and manage anesthetized patient

932, 977

Demonstrate critical thinking skills

 

Apply knowledge disease diagnosis/control

970

Perform oral exam

Dental selective

Multitask and deal with stress

 

Assess patient, formulate anesthetic plan

932, 977

Plan, organize, present ideas

 

Be goal-oriented

 

Have a team-oriented approach

All team-taught courses

Provide optimal post-operative care

932, clinics

Evaluate body weight/condition

937

Communicate risks, benefits, costs anesthesia

 

Create and encourage enthusiasm

 

Produce quality radiographs

Radiology

Asses and treat postoperative pain

932, clinics

Properly restrain patients

Dogs 937, cats 970

Advise owners on early socialization

Behavior

Perform basic eye examination

937

Recognize 1 o and 2 o skin lesions

937

Use monitors on anesthetized patients

932, 977

Safely restrain/immobilize aggressive patient

No specific lecture/lab

Perform orthopedic examination

937, 961

Understand ectoparasite lesion distribution

951

Assemble anesthetic machine

932, 977

Understand dx, rx of DJD

932, 961

Troubleshoot anesthesia machine

932, 977

Interpret radiographs

Radiology, 951, 961

Know how to humanely shape behavior

Behavior

Give client ed on flea allergy

951

Perform cardiovascular exam

Physiology, 937

Monitor growth rates in young animals

 

Use nutrition in managing disease

Nutrition

Prepare slides for cytology

Clinical Pathology

Test/interpret conscious proprioception

937, 961

Dx/rx hip dysplasia

932, 961

Correlate tests for hepatic dysfunction

951

Differentiate prerenal/renal azotemia

951

Test/interpret deep pain

937, 961

Recognize inflammatory leukogram

Clinical Pathology

Test/interpret spinal reflexes

937, 961

Obtain complete behavioral history

Behavior

Perform cytological interpretation

Clinical Pathology

Id cardiac disease/failure on radiograph

Radiology

Localize spinal pain

937, 961

Rx/dx cats inappropriate urination

Behavior

Rx/dx cranial cruciate rupture

937, 961, 965

Rx/dx/prognosis congestive heart failure

951

Rx/dx noise phobia/separation anxiety dogs

Behavior

Construct glucose curve

951, clinics

 

Specific Areas of Knowledge
(in approximate order of frequency used in practice)		 Where taught

Influence history/signalment on ddx

951, 971

How to use diagnostic laboratory

Clinical Pathology

Ddx/rx for pruritus

951

Behavioral effects castration/OHE

932

Dx/rx localized alopecia

951

Problems related to improper diet

Nutrition, 932, 961

Nutritional needs dogs/cats

Nutrition

Nutritional needs at various life stages

Nutrition

Normal/abnormal species specific behavior

Behavior

Attributes of commercial dog food

Nutrition

Behavioral counseling for common dog issues

Behavior

General and systemic pathology

Pathology courses

Behavioral changes indicating problem

Behavior

DDx/rx generalized alopecia

951

How to interpret food labels

Nutrition

Basic ocular pharmacology

Pharmacology, 961

Normal reproductive behavior dog/cat

 

Use elimination diet for food allergy

Nutrition, 983

Association growth rate/diet/skeletal disease

961

Influence of neuro exam on DDx

961

Pathophysiology electrolyte disturbances

951

References for rx seizure disorders

961

References for ddx neuro disorders

961

Pathophysiology anemia

951

Advantage/disadvantage diagnostic ultrasound

Radiology

Pathophysiology adrenal gland dysfunction

951

NC State College of Veterinary Medicine 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607(919) 513-6786