Pet Care

Lesson Structure: Pet Care AAG100

There are 8 lessons:

Introduction to Animal Care
Laws and licenses
Animal Charities and Societies (eg. RSPCA, WSPA, Blue Cross)
Pet Care Needs (Feeding, Watering, Shelter, Containment, Fencing, Caging, Protection)
Maintaining Health
Hygiene
Cats
Breeds (Long Haired, Semi Long Haired, Short Haired, Oriental etc)
Selection
Allergies
Containment
Sexing
Desexing
Breeding
Newborn Kittens
Exercise
Behaviour
Hygiene
Feed and nutrition
Amount of food, Watering
Grooming
Traveling
Care for a sick cat (Signs of illness, Temperature, Common ailments, Skin disorders, Ticks)
Cats and wildlife
Dogs
Selection
Breeds (Pure and mixed)
Varying size and temperament
Grooming
Skin care
Inherited traits (aggression, deafness)
Containment
Breeding
Desexing
Exercise
Behaviour
Feeding
Canine Nutrition
Bones
Watering
Training
Travelling
Identifying sickness
Birds
Selection, Breeds (eg. Canaries, Finches, Budgerigars, Small Parrots etc)
Sexing
Desexing
Containment (Aviaries, selection, design, size, management)
Feed
Feeding
Watering
Grooming (Wing trim, Beak Trim, Nail Trim)
Hygiene
Catching and Restraining
Travelling
Caring for the Sick Bird
Signs of illness
Temperature
Supportive therapy
Common Ailments (eg. Abscesses, Alopecia, Apoplexy, Aspergillosis, Breathlessness, Constipation, Parasites)
Safety in the Home
Fish
Selection
Inside or Outside
Warm or Cold water
Number of fish
Types of fish (Tropical, Marine, Cold Water)
Costs, Size, Equipment
Tanks, Ponds, Pumps, Aquariums, Night lights
Water quality
Changing Water
Feed (Pelleted, Live feed, Daphnia, Brine Shrimp)
Illnesses (Fungal, Bacterial, Parasites, Environmental)
Rabbits
Breeds (Large, Small and Dwarf)
Selection
Legality (Illegal in some areas)
Containment (Hutch or Cage)
Environment (temperature etc)
Feeding and Nutrition
Watering
Feed quantities and routine
Grooming and Handling
Moulting
Transporting
Sexing
Breeding
Identifying illness
Care of sick rabbits
Reptiles and Amphibians
Types (eg. Salamander, Frogs, Venomous snakes, Non-venomous snakes, Shingle-backed lizard, Tortoises, Terrapins, Axolotls, etc)
Selection
Legal Issues
Housing
Environmental requirements (Moisture, Humidity, Warmth, etc)
Terrariums
Problems (eg. Dehydration, Stress, External and internal parasites, Blisters, Scale Rot, Mouth Rot or Canker, Colds/pneumonia, Constipation and diarrhea, Cannibalism,Incomplete sloughing of the skin -shedding of the skin)
Feed and feeding
General Care
Rodents, Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, Mice
Varieties
Selection
Containment
Sexing
Breeding
Grooming
Feeding
Watering
Illness (eg. Skin Problems, Abscesses, Mites, Ringworm, Fleas, Respiratory Infection, Vitamin C Deficiency, Otitis, Salmonella, Stripping etc)
Learning Goals: Pet Care AAG100

Discuss the general principles of pet care, as they relate to a wide range of different types of pets.
Describe routine care for cats.
Compare the characteristics of different cat breeds.
Describe routine care for dogs.
Compare the characteristics of different dog breeds.
Describe routine care for birds as pets.
Describe routine care for fish
Describe routine care for rabbits as pets.
Describe routine care for reptiles and amphibians.
Describe routine care for rodent pets.
Practicals:

Develop timetables for husbandry tasks to be undertaken over a typical week, caring for a specific breeds of animals (several, but your choice).
Recognize things that indicate a dog is sick
Develop a checklist of things which should be done regularly to ensure the good health for pets
Determine things a person should consider when trying to decide what type of pet to acquire.
Compare the requirements & restrictions for keeping different types of animals as pets in your locality.
Discuss the advantages/disadvantages of keeping different types of cats.
Understand why is it particularly important to have cats desexed; and when should desexing be carried out?
Discuss the nutritional requirements of a cat, and identify the cause of N.S.H., and its early signs.
Describe problems associated with long haired dogs.
Discuss a dogs sleeping requirements if it lives in a temperate climate.
Explain problems can arise through over feeding a dog.
Identify ideal diet for a dog.
Explain why puppies under 6 months should be allowed to exercise themselves.
Determine common signs of a general disease condition in a dog.
Explain why birds moult.
Discuss the characteristics of large, open aviaries, and all their requirements.
Discuss how should a small bird be caught in its cage.
Explain what breathlessness indicates in a bird.
Discuss factors are common in the care of all fish.
Explain why it is important to maintain the correct level of oxygen in water for fish.
Discuss the differences in requirements for caring for salt water fish compared with freshwater fish.
Explain the handling, caging, feeding and other aspects of rabbit care.
Discuss different colours & breeds of rabbits.
Discuss the environmental/caging needs of all reptiles.
Discuss the feeding requirements of reptiles.
Explain the handling of reptiles.
Discuss the care of both sick & healthy amphibians and reptiles.
Explain how you determine the sex of a guinea pig, and at what age do they reach sexual maturity.
Explain the temperature guinea pigs should be kept at, and what happens if the temperature drops.
Explain the feed & nutritional needs of rodents.
Discuss what can happen if a female hamster with a litter is disturbed.
Explain how many litters a year could a female mouse produce if not prevented from doing so.
Explain health & disease problems associated with mice.