A new session of each course opens each month, allowing you to enroll whenever your busy schedule permits!
How does it work? Once a session starts, two lessons will be released each week, for the six-week duration of your course. You will have access to all previously released lessons until the course ends.
Keep in mind that the interactive discussion area for each lesson automatically closes 2 weeks after each lesson is released, so you’re encouraged to complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.
The Final Exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the Final Exam has been released, you will have 2 weeks plus 10 days to complete the Final and finish any remaining lessons in your course. No further extensions can be provided beyond these 10 days.
Week One
Lesson 01 - History of Veterinary Practice and Dog and Cat Reproduction
Wednesday
This first lesson starts way back at the beginning and introduces how ancient veterinary medicine evolved into the modern-day practice that you're accustomed to. You will learn why a veterinary assistant is just as important to the success of the practice as the veterinarian.
Lesson 02 - Vaccinology for Dogs and Cats
Friday
In this lesson, you will learn how vaccines protect against disease and why they sometimes fail. You will take a close look at how often vaccines should be given, why they may be ill-advised, and why vaccinosis is so controversial.
Week Two
Lesson 03 - Parasites Infesting Pets and People
Wednesday
This lesson addresses the parasites that can infest both pets and people. You will see the worms that live in the intestines, and get acquainted with heartworm, a nasty guy that lives in the arteries. You will explore how parasites infect people, what they do, and how to prevent their invasion.
Lesson 04 - How to Pick the Best Food for Your Pet; Prescription Diets
Friday
Have you ever wondered how to pick the best food for your pet? This lesson will give you the tools to make the right decision, and how best to pass the information to your clients. You will also talk about the role of prescription diets in pet health.
Week Three
Lesson 05 - Euthanasia: The Procedure, How to Help Clients, and Assisting Children With Pet Loss
Wednesday
This will certainly be the most emotional lesson in the entire course. The topic is euthanasia, and you will look at it from the perspectives of both the client and the hospital employee. You will explore the stages of grief that everyone goes through after a loss.
Lesson 06 - Workplace Safety and Veterinary Hospital Economics
Friday
In this lesson, you will learn why a veterinary hospital can be a dangerous place. You will see how X-rays, anesthetics, and certain drugs can harm you. You will finish this lesson with Economics 101, a glimpse into the cash flow of a typical veterinary hospital.
Week Four
Lesson 07 - Pet First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
Wednesday
Designed like a short course in human first aid, this lesson will help you cope with almost any veterinary emergency, and you will discuss ways that some emergencies can be prevented. There's even a segment on cardiopulmonary resuscitation for dogs and cats!
Lesson 08 - External Parasites of Pets, Including the Flea
Friday
What is the most important parasite affecting people's pets? If you answered the flea, you're right. In this lesson, you will learn all about this parasite. You will hear about other crawling parasites that also live on or in the skin (mange) and how they can be managed.
Week Five
Lesson 09 - Confidentiality and Grievances, Client Communications, and Client Education
Wednesday
Did you know that as a hospital employee, any advice you give could end up in a lawsuit? You will find out how to handle these situations and, related to this, how to maintain client confidentiality. You will round off your study of client communications with an introduction to client education programs.
Lesson 10 - Medical Records and Prescriptions
Friday
As soon as you're hired as a veterinary assistant, you will be helping to prepare prescriptions. In this lesson, you will find out how to do this correctly. You will also learn about your role in keeping accurate medical records.
Week Six
Lesson 11 - Alternative Therapies in Veterinary Medicine
Wednesday
In this lesson, you will learn all about alternative therapies that some veterinarians are applying in their practices, including acupuncture, homeopathy, herbs, and chiropractic care. You will also examine the plusses and minuses of each diet.
Lesson 12 - Behavior Counseling for Puppies and Kittens and Putting It All Together in a Health Plan
Friday
In the last lesson, you will take a close look at animal behavior. You will delve into how best to train puppies and kittens, and more importantly, how to share the information with your clients. At the end of the course, you will see how everything you've learned can be put together for a comprehensive health plan.