VTMED 6755 - Introduction to Laboratory Animal Medicine

Spring. 2 credits. S/U grades only.

Enrollment limited to: first-, second-, and third-year veterinary students.

W. Williams.

With a primary focus on the use of traditional laboratory rodents (mice, rats, hamsters, and gerbils), this course introduces students to the breadth of the role of the laboratory animal veterinarian. Students learn about concepts and skills that laboratory animal veterinarians apply to the oversight of the use of animals in research, teaching, and testing. Course content is presented in an interactive format, using a combination of recorded lectures, reading assignments, interactive discussions, breakout sessions, videos, and scenarios. Topics include ethics of animal use, regulations and guidelines, occupational health and safety, biology and medicine of traditional rodents, rodent housing and management of specific pathogen free rodent colonies, quarantine, and importation, training research personnel, alternatives, intervention points, and research models.