Graded Project: Animal Nutrition, Reproduction, Genetics, and Aging
Overview
Veterinary medical practice is multifaceted, exciting, and challenging. Just as there are marked differences in medical treatment approaches across species, nutritional and other daily care concepts can vary greatly among different types of animals, even between dogs and cats. The life stages within a species correspond to specific, differing feeding as well as other care requirements. Also fascinating is the special bond between humans and animals; these bonds enhance the life and health of both human and animal. As healthcare professionals, veterinary technicians provide a special role in promoting health and assisting end-of-life phases of animals.
The purpose of this research project is for you to strengthen your skill set related to animal nutrition, reproductive assistance, and end-of-life stage support, and to know how to best help clients with pet loss by understanding and helping others to understand the human-animal bond.
Instructions
This research project contains four parts on which you’ll be graded (three topics and paper composition/format). You’ll research and write regarding each of the following areas.
1 Small Animal Clinical Nutrition and Feeding in Large Animal Production
2 Theriogenology
3 Hospice Care and the Human-Animal Bond
The recommended length is one to three pages. The questions should be thoroughly researched and answered, making sure to avoid straying too far from the stated focus. Use publication search engines such as PubMed to obtain original research papers if you plan to use these to address any of the questions. Consult reliable and up-to-date reference materials as needed and appropriate.
Part 1: Small Animal Clinical Nutrition and Feeding in Large Animal Production
This first part of the research project involves discussion of factors to consider and procedures for providing assisted nutrition for hospitalized patients.
A 12-year-old-dog who already has advancing renal failure was recently hit by a car and hospitalized. The dog has a jaw fracture and can’t eat. For three days prior to the accident, the dog had decreased appetite and wouldn’t eat.
1 What’s the best choice of assisted feeding for this dog, and what factors would you consider when deciding the approach to feeding?
2 Identify the most common mechanical complications associated with the assisted feeding method chosen, and describe the measures taken to prevent and address these complications.
3 Discuss common metabolic complications of the assisted feeding method chosen and the factors that contribute to these complications.
4 What discharge instructions would you provide the client, including how to continue with the assisted feeding at home?
Now you’ll investigate the feeding requirements for a sheep wool production business.
A client who started a Merino sheep farm seeks veterinary guidance regarding care and feeding for optimal wool production.
1 What amino acid is essential for wool production, and what feed components/types are good sources of this amino acid?
2 Breeding of ewes will produce new stocks of sheep used for wool. What are important feeding measures to ensure healthy gestation? Indicate the special feeding needs during the last trimester.
3 What makes lambs susceptible to enterotoxemia, and how can this be prevented nutritionally and medically?
Part 2: Theriogenology
In this part of the research project, you’ll discuss camelid reproduction.
1 How does ovulation proceed in alpacas, and what’s the typical frequency of dominant follicle appearance?
2 What physiologic and anatomic qualities are examined during a breeding soundness exam for a male llama? What parameters are evaluated for semen quality?
3 Indicate three infectious diseases that can cause abortion in llamas and alpacas, and investigate preventive measures that can help reduce the risk of infectious, disease-related pregnancy losses in camelids.
Part 3: Hospice Care and the Human-Animal Bond
Part 3 of the research project is an opportunity for you to apply your knowledge of assisting clients and their pets through the hospice care process.
1 A client has been with her pet cat since it was born 22 years ago. Being very attached to the cat, she wants to provide supportive care for as long as possible. What feeding and medical recommendations would you give the client to help her care for her cat, who in addition to being geriatric is diabetic?
2 The cat has limited mobility but doesn’t show signs of much pain. How would you instruct the client on how to prevent decubital sores in the cat?
3 Given its limited mobility, the cat spends a considerable amount of time in recumbency and often urinates in that position. What advice and instructions would you provide the caregiver regarding complications associated with the cat’s urination while in recumbency?
4 The cat’s caregiver asked when she should consider euthanasia. What criteria regarding quality of life would you evaluate to determine when euthanasia may be the best option for the cat?
Project Specifications
1 The research paper must be typewritten using a word processing program such as MS Word or equivalent. Use 12-point Times New Roman font and double spacing.
2 The title page should contain the following information:
a Title: VET225: Animal Nutrition, Reproduction, Genetics, and Aging Project
b Your name
c Your student number
d The date the project is submitted
3 The paper should be easy to read with correct spelling, grammar, and sentence/paragraph structure.
4 The research paper should include at least two references for each part of this project. You can use your Penn Foster study guide and the course textbook for assistance, but you’ll need to have at least one other outside reference. The information used must be supported by trusted veterinary medical publications and websites. (Avoid using Wikipedia.)
5 Please be sure to consult the Penn Foster library. It contains many great resources for trusted veterinary publications as well as information on using APA format for citing references.
Grading Criteria
All of these criteria are evaluated according to the following skill levels:
Advanced. If the essay is scored in this category, the writing demonstrates a command of the skill.
Proficient. If the essay is scored in this category, the writing shows knowledge and application of the skill but lacks cohesion and clarity.
Developing. If the essay is scored in this category, the writing shows effort and competence but indicates a lack of complete understanding or command in this area.
Emerging. If the essay is scored in this category, the writing lacks a required element or is below average for a college-level paper.
Not developed. If the essay is scored in this category, the writing either doesn’t include or severely lacks a required element.
The following rubric will be used to grade your project:
NUTRITION GRADING RUBRIC
Advanced—Score of 100%
The paper effectively addresses the purpose of the assignment and the requirements of the prompt.
• Student thoroughly and accurately answers or discusses all topics or questions
• Part 1: Provides logical choice of assisted feeding method and excellent detail regarding mechanical and metabolic complications of the feeding method
• Demonstrates excellent understanding of sheep nutrition during gestation and how to prevent enterotoxemia in lambs
• Part 2: Demonstrates excellent understanding of camelid reproduction and the most common infectious diseases causing abortion in camelids
• Part 3: Demonstrates excellent understanding of how to address home care of geriatric pets and the factors to consider when determining if/when euthanasia is appropriate
• Written: Explanations flow logically using correct grammar and spelling.
Proficient—Score of 85%
The essay adequately addresses the purpose of the assignment and the requirements of the prompt.
• Student accurately answers or discusses most of the topics or questions
• Part 1: Provides logical choice of assisted feeding method and good detail regarding mechanical and metabolic complications of the feeding method
• Demonstrates sufficient understanding of sheep nutrition during gestation and how to prevent enterotoxemia in lambs
• Part 2: Demonstrates sufficient understanding of camelid reproduction and the most common infectious diseases causing abortion in camelids
• Part 3: Demonstrates sufficient understanding of how to address home care of geriatric pets and the factors to consider when determining if/when euthanasia is appropriate
• Written: Explanations flow logically, with minor errors in grammar and spelling.
Developing—Score of 70%
The essay partially addresses the purpose of the assignment and the requirements of the prompt.
• Student accurately answers or discusses few of the topics or questions.
• Part 1: Provides an adequate but not the most ideal choice of assisted feeding method, with an average level of detail regarding complications of the assisted feeding choice
• Demonstrates below-average understanding of sheep nutrition during gestation and how to prevent enterotoxemia in lambs.
• Part 2: Demonstrates below-average understanding of camelid reproduction and the most common infectious diseases causing abortion in camelids
• Part 3: Demonstrates below-average understanding of how to address home care of geriatric pets and the factors to consider when determining if/when euthanasia is appropriate
• Written: Shows some disconnection in the flow of written thoughts and details as well as minor grammatical and spelling errors
Emerging—Score of 60%
The essay minimally addresses the purpose of the assignment and the requirements of the prompt.
• Part 1: Provides limited detail when addressing the four topics/questions
• Provides limited detail when addressing the three sheep-production topics
• Part 2: Provides limited detail when addressing the three topics
• Part 3: Provides limited detail when addressing the four topics
• Written: Provides disconnected thoughts, limited details in information, and numerous grammatical and spelling errors
Not Developed—50%
The essay does not address the purpose of the assignment or the requirements of the prompt.
• Part 1: Provides little to no correct detail regarding the topics related to small animal clinical nutrition
• Provides little to no correct detail regarding the topics related to sheep production
• Part 2: Provides little to no correct detail regarding the topics related to camelid reproduction
• Part 3: Provides little to no correct detail regarding the topics related to hospice and geriatric care
• Written: Provides disconnected thoughts, a severe lack of detail, and numerous grammatical and spelling errors
Submitting Your Project
Your project must be submitted as a Word document (.docx, .doc)*. Your project will be individually graded by your instructor, and therefore it may take up to five to seven days to grade.
Be sure that each of your files contains the following information:
1 Your name
2 Your student ID number
3 The exam number (353089)
4 Your email address
To submit your graded project, follow these steps:
1 Log in to your student portal.
2 Click on Take Exam next to the lesson you’re working on.
3 Find the exam number for your project at the top of the Project Upload page.
4 Follow the instructions provided to complete your exam.
Be sure to keep a backup copy of any files you submit to the school!
Category: Veterinary science
Veterinary Computer Software
Goals
Identify the various types of veterinary software programs that are available.
Explain the use and benefits of veterinary software programs in practice.
Report the pros and cons of different programs.
Categorize and examine the features of various programs.
Evaluate your research to determine which programs may provide the best service in a veterinary practice.
Instructions
Many veterinary clinics and hospitals rely heavily on computers for day-to-day operations. Computer software companies are constantly developing and upgrading programs for use in veterinary medicine.
Imagine you’re the head veterinary technician working in a multidoctor veterinary practice. The practice owner is considering upgrading the outdated invoicing software and paper medical records, wanting to replace them with veterinary management software that can perform a wide variety of management functions.
The practice owner wants each member of the veterinary team to gather information on two different brands of veterinary management software. Each team member will compile his or her information into a written report, which will be given to the practice owner and practice manager to help them make their decision.
As the head technician, you’re given the first choice on which software brands to research. Select two different brands of veterinary management software. Research each software brand, paying attention to the items in the following list, and then write a research paper that compares and contrasts the two software brands, including (but not limiting your writing to) the following information:
Name the two brands of software that you’ve chosen, and give a brief description of each of them. (I would like the 2 software to be Cornerstone and Hippo)
Include information about the companies that make the software.
What are some benefits for a practice using a software program?
List office features and functions, as well as pros and cons of each software package—what does each program do, or not do?
How are technical support issues handled?
How is loss of data prevented in each type of program?
Is this a cloud- or server-based program? What hardware or software might be required?
Is training provided? In what ways?
Are laboratory and imaging results imported? Provide details on those that are compatible with the software program being discussed.
Hippo Manager Software Reviews, Demo & Pricing – 2024 (softwareadvice.com)
Cornerstone Software Software Reviews, Demo & Pricing – 2024 (softwareadvice.com)
Hi so my project is about african forest elephant and i attached the direction in the list.. she wants the sheet to be filled out too, and please do the citation word as she said and the sources that im allow to use
In class presentation Project: (I want to be discussing veterinary medicine, below i will attach photos and videos i would like you to add in the presentation.)
Students will create a power point presentation on the helping profession that they have personal interest in: (no more than 10 minutes long)
• Be sure to address what characteristics, values, skills you have or will have to develop to be an effective human service worker in your chosen area.
• Discuss the major needs and/or issues of the client population you want to serve
• Discuss the different categories of helpers you may have to collaborate with to support the needs of your population.
• Research and discuss one local agency that does serve your population, include agency mission.
• What are some ways you’re going to continue to develop multicultural
competencies?
• Feel free to add videos within your PowerPoint and anything else you feel will be helpful
**Please remember to cite sources
Although there’s no required minimum or maximum page length, the recommended length is two to three pages per topic. The questions should be thoroughly researched and answered, making sure to avoid straying too far from the stated focus. Use publication search engines such as PubMed to obtain original research papers if you plan to use these to address any of the questions. Consult reliable and up-to-date reference materials as needed and appropriate.
Part 1. Fluid Administration
For Part 1, discuss intravenous fluid administration in a feline patient. Include the following in your research:
What physical exam parameters would you use to assess the hydration status in your patient? Detail the different percentages of dehydration and the signs you see on examination with each one.
Describe the purpose of each phase of fluid therapy for a female feline patient, assuming the following:
The patient isn’t showing any signs of shock.
The cat weighs 8 lbs, is 10 percent dehydrated, and doesn’t have any vomiting or diarrhea.
Use this information to calculate the fluid rates for each needed phase of fluid therapy for this patient. Be sure to include the formula you’re using and show each step in the calculation of the fluid rates.
How should you monitor the IV fluid therapy in this patient?
Why is it important to monitor patients receiving IV fluid therapy?
Part 2. Emergency Care
For Part 2, explain how to perform CPR on a Labrador retriever in the veterinary clinic. Include the following in your research:
An explanation of what CPR is and its goal
The steps of veterinary CPR and how it’s performed in the veterinary clinic
A discussion of the emergency crash cart and the items that you would use from it during CPR
Part 3. Wound Management
For Part 3, discuss the factors associated with delayed wound healing.
Investigate the primary patient factors and environmental factors that can lead to delayed healing of traumatic wounds in animals.
Choose one patient factor and one environmental factor that contribute to delayed wound healing. Then, discuss the biological basis by which these factors delay wound healing.
For the factors chosen in #2, explain what measures may be taken to limit their impact on wound healing.
Part 4. Veterinary Periodontics
For Part 4, explain why periodontal disease is common in dogs and cats, its main causes, and how some forms of the disease are treated.
What are the steps involved in extraoral and intraoral dental examinations, and what’s the rationale behind doing an extraoral examination to assess dental disease?
Describe the early stages of periodontal disease and its pathogenesis.
What are the materials commonly used for surgical intervention in cases of Grade IV periodontal disease? How do these materials help restore health to the periodontal tissue?
Determine the preventive measures that can be used by clients, and describe how you would educate them in this regard.
Project Specifications
The research paper must be typewritten using a word processing program such as MS Word or equivalent. Use 12-point Times New Roman font and double spacing.
The title page should contain the following information:
The Title: VET110: Medical Nursing for Veterinary Technician Research Project
Your name
Your student number
The date that the project was submitted
The paper should be easy to read with correct spelling, grammar, and sentence and paragraph structure.
The research paper should include at least two references for each part of this project and should follow proper APA formatting. You can use your Penn Foster lessons and the course textbook, but you’ll need to have at least one other outside reference. The information used must be supported by trusted veterinary medical publications and websites (avoid using Wikipedia).
Please be sure to go to the Penn Foster library. It contains many great resources for trusted veterinary publications, as well as information on using APA format for citing references.
Please submit your project as one file.