Content Clinic periods

In the clinic in companion animal differentiation, it is emphasized on practicing what the student has learned in active clinic and have the opportunity to more independently assess and treat patients, including customer contact. There will be planned more skills training than active clinic. The students will write detailed records on a defined number of patients.

Content Sedation, anesthesia and treatment of pain 

The course focuses on the theoretical background for sedation, anasthesia and pain management in companion animal veterinary practice.

Content Radiology

Radiology deals with the use of imaging diagnostic in companion animal practice. Emphasis is placed on radiology diagnostic, but other modalities such as ultrasound, scintigraphy and CT will also be reviewed.

Content Clinical pathology 

Principles of sampling, evaluation of pre-analytical factors and interpretation of test results in clinical chemistry, clinical endocrinology, hematology and cytology. Practical exercises in preparation of hematology/cytological, cell slide samples and microscopy will be included. Special emphasis is placed on interpretation of test results from dogs and cats.

Content Reproduction and obstetrics 

Reproduction and obstetrics (physiology and pathology) in dogs and cats

Diagnosis and treatment of reproductive disease, obstetric problems and pediatrics Introduction to the most common operations related to the genital performed on dogs and cats

Content Scientific and methodological specialization related to the thesis 

Self-study and preparation work to be able to implement an in-depth study within 10 weeks.

Optional labarotory animal science: Content

To create interest and knowledge about the various tasks a laboratory veterinary has. We will look at the career opportunities a vet have within laboratory animals and teach the students to start thinking critical and ethical like a real scientist. To increse the student's skills in practical handling and simple methods (like blood tests and injection methods) and surgical methods (like OVHV and tooth pull) of rabbit, rat and mice. Aswell as get to know these species as laboratory animals, we would like to have a closer look at them as pets. 

Aim Differentiation in Companion Animal Medicine 

The teaching in the differentiation year in companion animal medicine will provide students with a deeper theoretical knowledge in selected areas and clinical skills in disease development, diagnosis, treatment and preventive health in pets.

Learning outcome Clinic periods

Builds on the descriptions of the learning outcomes of the 9th semester

After completing the course the students will

• Have acquired a good knowledge of independent practicing clinical diagnostics, perform treatment and advise on disease prophylaxis.
• Have good ethics to benefit the veterinary profession and the customers we serve.

Learning outcome Sedation, anesthesia and treatment of pain 

After completing the course the student should:

• Possess good knowledge to plan and implement sedation, anesthesia and pain management of companion animal patients.

Aim and Learning outcome Radiology

The course will provide a thorough introduction to imaging diagnostics as a tool for companion animal practice, and provide students with knowledge about the practical implementation of picture-taking to interpretation.

After the course the student shall be able to understand imaging diagnostics in companion animal practice.

Aim amd Learning outcome

The course will provide students with a sound basis for using clinical chemistry, clinical endocrinology, hematology and cytology in its companion animal practice.

After completing the course the student should be able to:

• Assess indications for various tests, know the most common pre-analytical factors that influence test results and have a basic understanding of the interpretation of test results.
• Present cell slide samples (hematology/cytology) of diagnostic quality.

Aim and Learning outcome Reproduction and obstetrics

To teach the students the general principles relating to reproductive physiology and pathology in females and male cats and dogs as well as knowledge of the common operations related to reproductive organs. Introduction to obstetric problems such as obstetrics, udder health and puerperium diseases, as well as pediatrics will be included.

After completing the course the students will be able to

• Clarify the general principles relating to reproductive physiology and pathology in females and males of cats and dogs, ferrets and rabbits and other rodents.
• Make a pregnancy diagnosis in dogs, have knowledge of normal and abnormal conditions related to childbirth, performing obstetrics in dogs and cats, as well as to diagnose and treat udder diseases and puerperium diseases.
• Clarify diseases and treatment of puppies and kittens.

Aim and Learning outcome Clinical neurology

The course will provide students with a thorough review of the topic of neurology in dogs and cats.

After completing the course the student should be able to assess patients with neurological symptoms, and diagnose and know the most common differential diagnosis of neurological diseases in dogs and cats.

Aim: Scientific and methodological specialization related to the thesis 

Give more time associated with tasks that require extra preparation.

External work experience rather than mandatory clinic (1.5 ECTS x 2, 1-2 weeks)

In special circumstances, up to two of the mandatory clinic weeks mat be taken with the ambulatory clinic, by appointment and approval from the direction responsible.

This requires 100 % attendance and approved records.

This can also take place at reputable clinics abroad for direction Manager's approval.

At clinics in Norway this will only apply in DNV approved clinics

It is the same quality assurance requirements as for optional programs (see this.)

It is essential that this is a full day companion animal practice with participation in on-call.

Responsible: Hege Brun-Hansen

Program Sedation, anesthesia and treatment of pain 

In addition to the theoretical analysis, the student shall work with anesthesia cases in the clinic weeks. Students collect the necessary anesthesia cases while they are in regular clinic service.

Program Radiology 

Radiology is structured as a combination of lectures and assignments. In addition to basic radiology and physics, any step in the study of individual body parts being systematically reviewed. Which patients are appropriate for the different types of research, how the researched are made, the choice of projections, assessment of images, etc. are reviewed.

Program Clinical Neurology 

Video-based case reviews and discussions on assessment of patients with neurological symptoms as well as lectures on diseases of the nervous system in dogs and cats.

External visitation as an optional part (1.5 ECTS x 2, 1-2 weeks)

Up to 2 weeks of the elective courses can be taken externally.

This requires 100 % attendance and approved records.

Shadowing at clinics in Norway can only be done in DNV-approved clinics.

This can also take place at recognized clinics abroad after the direction Manager's approval. It is essential that this is a full day companion animal practice. Students will also write a reflective report on the shadowing. Scope of the report is determined by the direction manager.

Optional laboratory animal science: Program

From 2016, this course will be an "inverse classroom". It means that the students will get access to lectures in form of instruction videos and they have to reviewing the syllabus in the form of own work. The gatherings (flipped sessions) with lecturer will be used for review of group assignment, discussion and practical work with the animals/cadavers

Part 1: Laboratory animal science

We will delve into the subject and looking specifically at what tasks a vet can have within laboratory animals. 

Part 2: Clinical examination techniques on living animals.

We will work specifically with clinical examination and simple techniques (like blood samples and infection methods) on rabbit, rat and mice.

Part 3: Surgery methods

We will work specifically with surgical methods (like OVHV and tooth pull) on cadavers of rabbit, rat and mice.

Mandatory teaching and program requirements: Clinic periods

The clinic is mandatory. Weekend and night shifts are also mandatory. In the clinic a maximum of one day documented abscence is allowed during one week, and for every fifth nighshift one day documented abscence is allowed. All abscense from weekend and night shifts must be retaken.

It is allowed up to 1 day of legitimate absence per week and up to 1 day¿s absence per night shift rotation per 5 days shift. It is not possible to accumulate days. Valid absence beyond this must be repeated in accordance with the direction responsible¿s instruction.

The clinic service is divided onto policlinic, surgical clinic and medical clinic.

Mandatory teaching and program requirements: Sedation, anesthesia and treatment of pain 

The student must have participated in anesthesia one week while they are in the clinic. 

Each specialization student must write their own casuistic, and there is only one student who can write about each anesthesia. 

Mandatory teaching and program requirements: Radiology

80 % attendance, at least

Mandatory teaching and program requirements: Clinical pathology 

At least 80 % attendance and passed multiple choice test.

Mandatory teaching and program requirements: Reproduction and obstetrics 

80 % attendance, at least

Mandatory teaching and program requirements: Clinical Neurology 

80 % attendance at classes, and participation in the presentation of the homework

Mandatory teaching and program requirements: Optional animal laboratory science

- Attendance: All gatherings (flipped sessions 1, 2 and 3) is mandatory.

- Participation in the review of the group tasks. 

Reviews Clinic periods

To pass the clinic period, all program requirements must be passed. In addition, the student must have been sufficiently present and possess widely acceptable professional and ethical standards as described in Part 2 of the document: Clinical rotation 8th and 9th semester, information and forms.

Assessment of academic specialization topics

To pass the academic specializations all records, papers, presentations and tests needs to be approved in line with what has been described for each subject. Students may be necessary to wait until next year unless the records, papers, presentations and tests are approved after 3 attempts. In addition, the minimum presence must be met. With valid absence of more than 20% it is agreed that work experience and a task must be approved by the subject responsible. By not valid absences, the student must follow the subject next year.

Subject responsible keeps lists of students with approved topics in the academic specialization which is filed. Subject responsible acknowledges the subject as approved on the censorship form to the student.

Review of optional part

Presence and mandatory activities have to be completed in order to get approved. It is the students responsibility to ensure that the optional part will be completed, and it will not be given extra lectures unless the students can document valid absence.

Course supervisor gives diploma/certificate and/or acknowledge the evaluation form where the chosen part will be listed. Only 100% completed optional tasks is approved. 

Reviews Thesis

To pass the differentiation direction in companion animal medicine, the following 2 parts must be passed:

Task specialization (15 ECTS): Passed

Norwegian and English names should be applied the diploma

Specialization in companion animal medicine: Passed

(Consisting of the mandatory part (clinic and subjects) and elective)

Censorship form and 2 copies of the thesis must be delivered SFA no later than two weeks before the end of the term of the certificate shall be issued to exam completion.

Requirements for external clinics approved:

Clinics in Norway must be DNV certified. Shadowing at clinics in universities shall be made on an accredited EAEVE / AVMA institution. Beyond this, shadowing at a foreign clinic needs to be approved by the responsible of the direction.

Optional laboratory animal science: HMS

Quarantine rules: No contact with rodents or rabbits on 48 hours. No contact with animal abroad on 72 hours. 

Notify if you have allergy against animals, dust or grass

Optional laboratory animal science: Following students can apply the course:

Open for everybodt: Maximum 12 participants.

Requirements for own equipment

Work clothes, hard toe shoes, stethoscope and scissors.