Small Animal Care & Management Course

This home learning course in Small Animal Care and Management is a must for any student looking to move into caring or working with animals. This very rewarding distance learning course will offer you everything required to enhance your career or help you make massive strides if considering entering this line of work. One of the most popular courses on offer from the UK Open College continues to create massive interest year after year. Enjoy the benefits and flexibility Open Learning brings. See details below for our Certificate in Small Animal Care and Management.

This course explores the care and management of small or companion animals. It includes units on history, characteristics of different species, housing, equipment, handling, reproduction, diseases, and ailments. Full-colour photos help readers easily identify different species. This course also includes related Internet sites for further study. This comprehensive course is useful for anyone interested in the care of small animals.

Features:

• Full-colour photographs enhance text and help readers identify species by colour
• Updated text includes new information on handling and animal restraint as well as expanded coverage of exotic species
• Complex scientific material is presented in an organised, easy-to-understand format
• Units can be reviewed out of sequence, allowing students to customise course to meet their needs

Pay monthly on this course: £60.00 deposit followed by 5 monthly payments of £50.00. Call 0800 0131030 for guaranteed set up

Entry requirements:
Good news! There are no previous qualifications required to register for this course. This course presumes no prior knowledge.

Support:
All students on this course can email student support with any questions they may have. Monday-Friday

Provided materials:

• Course manual
• A4 ring binder
• Pen
• Document holder
• Plain paper
• Unlimited support Monday- Friday during office hours

This course comes complete in a college study bag allowing you to transport it and study anywhere. Real flexibility!

Duration:
This course will take approximately 120 hours to complete. Students are required to complete within one year of enrolment, alternatively complete as quickly as you want.

Course syllabus:

The course consists of the following twenty modules:

 Click for Sample assignment questions.

Unit One:

Introduction

• A brief history of animals
• Domestication
• The small animal industry
• Classification of organisms

Unit Two:

Safety

• Risks
• Physical restraint
• Guidelines for safety

Unit Three:

Small Animals as Pets

• Choosing a pet
• Children and pets
• Pets and pet therapy
• Euthanasia
• Overpopulation

Unit Four

Animal Rights and Animal Welfare

• History
• Current issues

Unit Five:

Careers in Small Animal Care

• Pet care workers
• Zoo administrators
• Laboratory animal care
• Small animal breeders
• Animal trainers
• Pet groomers
• Veterinarians
• Veterinary technician
• Biologists

Unit Six:

Nutrition and Digestive Systems

• Nutrition
• Animal Digestion

Unit Seven:

Dogs

Groups and breeds

• Anatomy
• Choosing a dog
• Feeding and exercise
• Training
• Grooming and care
• Common diseases
• Reproduction

Unit Eight:

Cats

• Groups and breeds
• Anatomy
• Characteristics
• Choosing a cat
• Feeding and training
• Grooming and care
• Common diseases
• Reproduction

Unit Nine:

Rabbits

• Uses
• Breeds
• Anatomy
• Housing and equipment
• Feeding
• Handling
• Diseases and ailments
• Reproduction

Unit Ten:

Hamsters

• Major groups
• Anatomy
• Characteristics
• Housing and equipment
• Feeding
• Handling
• Diseases and ailments
• Reproduction

Unit Eleven

Gerbils

• Groups and breeds
• Characteristics
• Housing and equipment
• Feeding
• Handling
• Diseases and ailments
• Reproduction

Unit Twelve:

Rats

• History
• Major colour groups
• Characteristics
• Housing and equipment
• Feeding
• Handling
• Diseases and ailments
• Reproduction

Unit Thirteen

Mice

• History
• Characteristics
• Housing and equipment
• Feeding
• Handling
• Diseases and ailments
• Reproduction

Unit Fourteen

Guinea Pigs

• History
• Major varieties
• Characteristics
• Housing and equipment
• Care
• Handling
• Diseases and ailments
• Reproduction

Unit Fifteen

Chinchillas

• History
• Major colour groups
• Characteristics
• Housing and equipment
• Care
• Handling
• Diseases and ailments
• Reproduction

Unit sixteen

Ferrets

• History
• Major colour groups
• Characteristics
• Housing and equipment
• Care
• Handling
• Diseases and ailments
• Reproduction

Unit Seventeen:

Amphibians

• History
• Characteristics
• Classification: Newts and Salamanders
• Major families: Newts and Salamanders
• Classification: Frogs and Toads
• Major families: Frogs and Toads
• Classification: Caecilians
• Major families: Caecilians
• Housing and equipment
• Feeding
• Handling
• Diseases and ailments
• Reproduction

Unit Eighteen:

Reptiles

• Characteristics
• Classification: Turtles, terrapins and Tortoises
• Major families: Turtles, terrapins and Tortoises
• Classification: Snakes, Pythons and Boas
• Major families: Snakes, Pythons and Boas
• Classification: Iguanas and Lizards
• Major families: Iguanas and Lizards

 

 

Examination:
No examination is necessary

Assessment method:
This course is completed using continual assessment. Assignments are completed and assessed continually as you progress. This will allow student support to monitor your progress every step of the way. All assignments are required to be submitted via email throughout your course.

Qualification:



Certificate in Small Animal Care and Management

All successful students will be awarded the UK Open College Certificate in Animal Care. This award is an independent college certificate issued by the UK Open College for successful learners. Once completed successfully each student will receive their certificate from the college proving their skills and knowledge in this rewarding field. Add this to your completed folder of courswork and impress any potential employer. Your certificate will give you the self belief and confidence to progress further with your studies or help make inroads to getting that job you have always wanted.