VETT 1700 - Pharmacology for Veterinary Technicians

Credit Hours: 2.00

Objectives:

1. Define terms relating to pharmacology.
2. List common sources of drugs used in veterinary medicine.
3. Outline the basic principles of pharmacotherapeutics.
4. Describe the difference between over-the-counter medications and prescription drugs.
5. Identify the events that occur to the patient following drug administration.
6. List and describe routes of administration.
7. List routes of excretion.
8. Explain the mechanisms by which drugs produce their effects in the body.
9. Recognize clinically important drug interactions.
10. Recognize the various names a particular drug may be given.
11. List the items that should be on a drug label.

Outcome B: Upon completion of this course, students will describe the routes and techniques of drug administration.

Objectives:

1. Identify the different forms of drugs that are available.
2. Describe the correct way to document drug administration.
3. Explain how to prepare a prescription medication.
4. Describe the federal government agency requirements for inventory and dispensing of controlled substances.

Outcome C: Upon completion of this course, students will demonstrate the use of calculations in pharmacology.

Objectives:

1. Describe the system of measurement.
2. Describe how to perform conversions.
3. Perform drug calculations.
4. Demonstrate how to prepare percent concentrations.

Outcome D: Upon completion of this course, students will recognize and list various drugs used in nervous, respiratory, urinary, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, integumentary, endocrine, reproductive, and sensory organ system disorders.

Objectives:

1. Describe how various drugs affect the autonomic nervous system.
2. Describe the different classes of ANS drugs.
3. Describe the major classification of barbiturates.
4. Describe the indications and precautions for the use of barbiturates.
5. Describe dissociative anesthesia and the drugs that produce this anesthesia.
6. Describe the indications for the use of narcotics and their potential side effects.
7. Define neuroleptanalgesia and describe examples of drugs that are neuroleptanalgesics.
8. Identify drugs used to control seizures and describe side effects, routes of administration and monitoring of these drugs.
9. Compare and contrast commonly used inhalant anesthetics.
10. Describe the characteristics of effective euthanasia agents.
11. Compare and contrast the actions of expectorants, antitussive, and mucolytics and identify drugs from each category.
12. Describe the function, clinical use and side effects of bronchodilators.
13. Discuss the clicical use of antihistamines and decongestants and describe side effects.
14. Identify respiratory stimulants and describe their clinical use.
15. Discuss renal dysfunction and its effect on the metabolizing and excretion of drugs.
16. Explore the classes of drugs affecting the urinary system and the clinical use and side effects of these drugs.
17. Describe the four compensatory mechanisms of the cardiovascular system.
18. Identify the indications for use, physiologic effects, and toxic side effects of positive inotropes.
19. Describe the four categories of antiarrhythmics, give an example of each category and list their potential side effects.
20. Describe the actions, clinical use and potential side effects of vasodilators, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and diuretics.
21. List emetic drugs and anit-emetic drugs and describe their mechanism of action and side effects.
22. Demonstrate the pathophysiology of diarrhea and the medications that control it.
23. Describe the clinical use and adverse effects and of antiulcer medications, laxatives, and GI stimulants.
24. Describe the difference between endogenous and exogenous hormones.
25. Discuss the uses of gonadotrophins, gonadal hormones, progestins, and prostoglandins.
26. Describe the hormonal treatment of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.
27. List the classes of insulin and their general characteristics.
28. Discuss the clinical indications for the common opthalmic and otic agents and their routes of administration.
29. Identify various classes of opthalmic and otic agents and their possible adverse side effects.
30. Discuss the use of antiseborrheics, topical antipruetics, fatty acid supplements, astringents, antiseptics, and skin irritants.
31. Describe the basics of wound healing and topical wound dressings.

Outcome E: Upon completion of this course, students will recognize and list miscellaneous drugs and therapeutic agents.

Objectives:

1. Describe the ingredients found in antihelmintics and insecticides.
2. List the classes of parasiticides and their contraindications.
3. Describe the importance of client education in the use of these drugs.
4. List indications, uses, and side effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
5. Describe the mechanism of action of antihistamines.
6. List the indications for muscle relaxants.
7. List the two major categories of corticosteroids, their indications for use and any side effects.
8. Describe the mechanism of action of local anesthetic agents, and the indications for their use.
9. Define terms related to fluid, electrolyte, and various therapeutic nutritional preparations.
10. List the distribution of water in the body.
11. Describe the basic principles of fluid therapy, and provide examples of the categories of fluids used in veterinary medicine.
12. Discuss fluid additives, oral electrolytes, vitamin, and mineral products.
13. Discuss various cancer treatment options, drugs used in those treatments, and adverse side effects of various treatments.
14. Describe the uses and adverse side effects of antidotes and reversal agents.
15. Recognize the names of common lubricants.
16. Discuss vaccine types and their advantages and disadvantages.
17. Recognize drugs used in immunotherapy. Common Degree Outcomes

• Communication: The graduate can communicate effectively for the intended purpose and audience.
• Critical Thinking: The graduate can make informed decisions after analyzing information or evidence related to the issue.
• Global Literacy: The graduate can analyze human behavior or experiences through cultural, social, political, or economic perspectives.
• Information Literacy: The graduate can responsibly use information gathered from a variety of formats in order to complete a task.
• Quantitative Reasoning: The graduate can apply quantitative methods or evidence to solve problems or make judgments.
• Scientific Literacy: The graduate can produce or interpret scientific information presented in a variety of formats.

1. History of pharmacology, units of measurement, and medical math
2. Absorption and excretion of drugs
3. Prescriptions and laws
4. Drug groups and categories, organized by body system
5. Fluid therapy
6. Drug administration and excretion routes