VET SC 7006RW - Veterinary Pharmacology & Toxicology

Roseworthy Campus - Semester 1 - 2016

The aim of this course is to provide students with an understanding and knowledge of clinical pharmacology, toxicology and therapeutic. The course particularly covers the mechanisms of various drug actions, the PD/PK principles that are fundamental for the therapeutic uses and safe selection of therapeutic agents in clinical veterinary practice. ln addition, students will also gain knowledge of important aspects of toxicology and therapeutics.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code VET SC 7006RW
    Course Veterinary Pharmacology & Toxicology
    Coordinating Unit School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences
    Term Semester 1
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s Roseworthy Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 7 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Assumed Knowledge VET SC 7002RW
    Restrictions Available to DVM students only
    Course Description The aim of this course is to provide students with an understanding and knowledge of clinical pharmacology, toxicology and therapeutic. The course particularly covers the mechanisms of various drug actions, the PD/PK principles that are fundamental for the therapeutic uses and safe selection of therapeutic agents in clinical veterinary practice. ln addition, students will also gain knowledge of important aspects of toxicology and therapeutics.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Suong Ngo

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1 Understand aspects of clinical pharmacology & therapeutics to support veterinary practice
    2 Assess appropriate drug selection for various animal species
    3 Understand aspects of clinical toxicology in relation to veterinary practice


    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1, 2, 3
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1. 2, 3
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    1, 2
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1, 2, 3
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    1, 2
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    2
  • Learning Resources
    Recommended Resources
    Recommended Textbooks:
    1. Adams, H.R, Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 9th Edition, Wiley-Blackwell, Ames, Iowa, 2009.
    2. Maddison J.E., Page S. & Church, D.B, Small Animal Clinical Pharmacology, 2nd Edition, WB Saunders & Co, Philadelphia, 2008.
    Access to the Veterinary Health Centres, including the on-site Pharmacy

    Protocols in which animal use occurs will follow all UofA guidelines and obtain ethics approval
    Online Learning
    MyUni: Teaching materials and course documentation will be posted on the MyUni website http://myuni.adelaide.edu.au.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes

    This course will be delivered by the following means:

    This course will be taught via lectures and tutorial/practical sessions involving group work, discussion and presentations. Practical/tutorial sessions will cover various topics relevant to the lectures. Students will be allocated an exercise and work in groups (of up to four). Students will present and discuss their results with other students and a tutor.

    Lectures are used to establish a framework of knowledge; discussions and practice-based examples provided during lectures and practical/tutorial sessions will assist students to assess their understanding of fundamental concepts. The practical classes and tutorials will allow students to apply knowledge, and practise skills from lectures and receive quick feedback from the lecturer. Learning is achieved through a variety of strategies using methodologies that contextualise the understanding of the materials covered in lectures. Students will be encouraged to undertake some tasks themselves and not rely entirely on information gathered from lectures/practicals/tutorials, including searching for other relevant information that may be obtained from recommended texts, references in the library, or any other sources of reliable information.

    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).
    Learning Activities Summary
    Clinical Pharmacology
    Lectures

    • Principles of pharmacology – Pharmacodynamics/Pharmacokinetics
    • Adverse drug reactions
    • Regulations
    • Sedatives, Anaesthetics and Analgesics
    • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
    • Glucocorticoids and Mineralocorticoids
    • Antimicrobial drugs
    • System Therapeutics: Respiratory Cardiovascular, Gastrointestinal, Urinary tract, Skin, Neurological
    • Anti-neoplastic drugs
    Practicals/Case studies
    • ADME,and PK/PD
    • Drug dose calculations
    • Antiparasitic failure investigation
    • Antibiotic selection
    • Sedation, anaesthesia & analgesics
    • Companion animal case studies
    • Production animal case studies
    • Equine case studies
    • Wildlife considerations & allometric scaling


    Clinical Toxicology

    Lectures
    • Regulations
    • Production animal poisoning: plants, inorganic compounds
    • Disorders of the hepatic, dermatological, CNS, cardiorespiratory, haematological and gastrointestinal systems
    • Equine poisons
    • Companion animal poisons
    Practicals/Case studies
    • Production animal poisoning
    • Equine poisoning
    • Companion animal poisoning
    Specific Course Requirements

    Practical classes within laboratories require a minimum of sneakers and the wearing of a laboratory gown (that will be supplied). You will also need to display your student ID in the holder provided. Students must wear any required safety or protective clothing as directed.

    Any practicals that involve animal handling will require appropriate footwear and coveralls. It is likely that at some stage your clothes will be exposed to animal fluids and dirt.

  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment taskType of assessmentPercentage of total assessment for grading purposesHurdle (Yes/No)Outcomes being assessed
    Final Exam Summative 70% Yes 1, 2, 3
    Mid Semester Test Formative
    Summative
    20% No 1, 2, 3
    On Course Assessment Formative
    Summative
    10% No 1, 2, 3
    Assessment Related Requirements

    Attendance at practicals and tutorials is compulsory. Students are able to apply for an allowed absence from a class by submitting the application form, with appropriate supporting documentation, to the Course Co-ordinator. Application forms can be downloaded from http://www.sciences.adelaide.edu.au/current-students/forms/savs-allowed-leaveofabsence-tute-prac.pdf 



    Assessment Item Requirement for hurdle Is additional assessment available if student
    does not meet hurdle requirement?
    Details of additional assessment, if known
    Final examination 50% or greater in final
    examination
    Yes Students that do not meet this minimum requirement will be offered an additional examination. This examination may
    take the form of an oral or written paper, at the discretion of the course
    co-ordinator, based on the deficiencies identified.

    Assessment Detail

    Final Exam:

    Students will sit an end of semester written examination over 3 hours during the official examination period, on the materials given in lectures and tutorial/practical classes. The students’ knowledge of fundamental concepts developed from the course will be assessed along with their ability to synthesise/apply these concepts to the selection of therapeutic agents and their appropriate/safe use in current and future clinical veterinary practice. The examination will contribute 70% of the mark for the course.

    Mid Semester Test:

    A mid semester test will be given (around week 6) to provide students a benchmark for their progress in the course. The test will assess the materials covered in lectures, tutorials, and practical classes up to week 5. The mid semester test will contribute 20 % of the mark for the course.

    On Course assessment:

    Students will be given tasks (small assignment or case study) to work through in groups during and prior to various practical classes and tutorials. The students will present and discuss their results and findings with other students and staff in the associated practical and tutorial sessions. Students will be assessed on their presentation of material, knowledge of the subject matter and ability to answer questions.

    Submission

    Penalty Clauses (e.g. Late assignments)

    Reports which are late, without medical or compassionate grounds, will NOT be marked and a score of 0 will be entered on the mark sheet. Extensions of deadlines may be allowed for reasonable causes. Such situations would include compassionate and medical grounds of the severity that would justify the awarding of a supplementary examination. Evidence for the grounds must be provided when an extension is requested. Extensions of deadlines should be negotiated with the course coordinator before the assignment is due. Extensions will not be provided on the grounds of poor prioritising of time. The assessment extension application form can be obtained from: http://www.sciences.adelaide.edu.au/current/

    Hand-in/Pick-up Location and Recording Procedures

    Hard copies of assessment items must be handed into the course collection box at the Reception Desk in the Williams Building, Roseworthy Campus, on or before the due time and date. Electronic copies of assessment items must be handed in via the system noted on the MyUni page. Late items (without an approved application for extension attached) will not be marked. All assessment items should have a signed cover sheet (available on MyUni and at the Reception Desk) attached to your report.

    Provision of Feedback to Students

    Marked reports will be returned as soon as possible after the due date in the next available class. Feedback on assignments will be via annotations on reports. Should students wish to have verbal feedback on assignments an appointment should be made with the course co-ordinator. Any assessment items not collected by the end of the examination period for the Semester will be destroyed.

    Late submission of assessments

    If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of zero will be allocated to late submitted assessment.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.