Postgraduate Course: Feline Medicine 1 (VESC11103)
Course Outline
| School | Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Online Distance Learning |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | This course discusses many of the diseases of ageing, giving up-to-date understanding of the causes, diagnostics, and practical treatment options.
Additionally, we will start the course by considering the behavioural aspects of cats, how these impact on disease, and how disease impacts on behaviour.
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| Course description |
This course will cover two areas of Feline Medicine Endocrinopathy and Gerontology, i.e., Hyperthyroidism, Diabetes, Other Endocrinopathies (e.g., hypersomatotropism [acromegaly], hyperaldosteronism, hyperadrenocorticism, phaeochromocytoma), and Gerontology (presented as Geriatric Behavioural Problems, built around a case, with a focus on Feline Dementia [aka Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome] and Osteoarthritis). This course discusses many of the diseases of ageing, giving up-to-date understanding of the causes, diagnostics, and practical treatment options.
We will start the course by considering the behavioural aspects of cats, how these impact on disease, and how disease impacts on behaviour by considering how to develop a Cat Friendly Clinic and What Makes a Cat a Cat?
This five-week course is fully taught online through a mixture of recorded presentations, formative activities and asynchronous discussion. Live non-compulsory sessions may be scheduled depending on student group availability and time zones.
As a guide, each week students will spend approximately seven hours working through online materials including essential reading and up to three hours of online discussion and activity. A further ten hours may be spent on additional self-study and work on the assignment. As it is very difficult to measure time spent in any intellectual undertaking, the timings are only intended for guidance.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2022/23, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Flexible |
| Course Start Date |
08/08/2022 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
98 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
This course will be assessed by the following methods.
Summative assessment
Case study (50%)
Learning diary critically reflecting on the student¿s learning development through the course (40%)
Open book MCQs on key topics within the course (10%)
Formative assessment
Weekly discussion topics and activities
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| Feedback |
All assignments will be marked and feedback provided within a period of 15 working days following submission (excluding holidays periods whereby the University of closed, e.g. over the Christmas period).
Opportunities for informal feedback arise within the course discussion boards and live sessions as well as through email discussions. Formal feedback and feedforward will be provided on coursework assignments and on formative activities.
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate a good working knowledge of feline endocrinological disorders that are commonly and not so commonly seen in older cats, including how to recognise, diagnose and treat them.
- Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the diagnostic processes necessary prior to embarking on a treatment of geriatric behavioural problems.
- Critically evaluate the literature relevant to the topics covered and discuss how the literature can be used to inform practice.
- Utilise their understanding of Evidence Based Medicine and Decision Analysis to develop practical diagnostic and treatment protocols for their patients.
- Demonstrate their ability to communicate with owners in such a way as to achieve optimum results in their practice
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Reading List
| The course reading list will be provided via the University¿s Resource List service and a link will be provided on the Learn course. A maximum of three essential reading items will be given each week with further reading as required. Additional resources will be provided, making full use of university electronic library, Learn, Media Hopper and other online resources. Other support material will be available through external open-access websites. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Knowledge and skills will include:
A. Research and Enquiry
Graduates of the University will be able to create new knowledge and opportunities for learning through the process of research and enquiry. This may be understood in terms of the following:
- be able to identify, define and analyse problems and identify or create processes to solve them
- be able to exercise critical judgment in creating new understanding
- be ready to ask key questions and exercise rational enquiry
- be able to critically assess existing understanding and the limitations of their own knowledge and recognise the need to regularly challenge all knowledge
- search for, evaluate and use information to develop their knowledge and understanding
- have an informed respect for the principles, methods, standards, values and boundaries of their discipline(s) and the capacity to question these
- understand economic, legal, ethical, social, cultural and environmental issues in the use of information
B. Personal and Intellectual Autonomy
Graduates of the University will be able to work independently and sustainably, in a way that is informed by openness, curiosity and a desire to meet new challenges. This may be understood in terms of the following:
- be independent learners who take responsibility for their own learning, and are committed to continuous reflection, self-evaluation and self-improvement
- be able to make decisions on the basis of rigorous and independent thought, taking into account ethical and professional issues
- be able to use collaboration and debate effectively to test, modify and strengthen their own views
- be intellectually curious and able to sustain intellectual interest
- be able to respond effectively to unfamiliar problems in unfamiliar contexts
C. Communication
Graduates of the University will recognise and value communication as the tool for negotiating and creating new understanding, collaborating with others, and furthering their own learning. This may be understood in terms of the following:
- make effective use of oral, written and visual means to critique, negotiate, create and communicate understanding
- use communication as a tool for collaborating and relating to others
- further their own learning through effective use of the full range of communication approaches
- seek and value open feedback to inform genuine self-awareness
- recognise the benefits of communicating with those beyond their immediate environments
- use effective communication to articulate their skills as identified through self-reflection
D. Personal Effectiveness
Graduates of the University will be able to effect change and be responsive to the situations and environments in which they operate. This may be understood in terms of the following:
- appreciate and use talents constructively, demonstrating self-discipline, motivation, adaptability, persistence and professionalism
- be able to manage risk while initiating and managing change
- be able to flexibly transfer their knowledge, learning, skills and abilities from one context to another
- understand social, cultural, global and environmental responsibilities and issues
- be able to work effectively with others, capitalising on their different thinking, experience and skills
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| Keywords | veterinary,clinical practice,feline medicine |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Danielle Gunn-Moore
Tel: (0131 6)50 6182
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Linda Pollock
Tel: (0131) 650 6149
Email: |
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