This home learning course in Small Animal Care and Management is an ideal course for students wanting to move into the rewarding career of caring or working with animals.              
This course covers subjects including 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.  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

Entry requirements:

There is no experience or previous qualifications required for enrolment on this course. It is available to all students, of all academic backgrounds.

Provided materials:
Course manual

A4 ring binder

Pen & pencil 

Study Hours:

This course will take approximately 120 hours to complete. Students can take as long as they need or alternatively complete as quickly as you want.

Tutor Support:

All students will be have an unlimited and unrivalled amount of email support for the duration of their course

Course syllabus:
The course consists of the following 22 modules:

Unit One:

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

Unit Two:

• Safety
• Risks with small animals
• Physical restraint of animals
• 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
• Animal Breeders and technicians
• Animal Caretakers
• Animal Handlers
• Animal Trainers
• Aquarists
• Biologists
• Naturalists
• Pet groomers
• Veterinarians
• Veterinary technician
• Zoo and Aquarium Curators and directors
• Zookkeepers
• Zoologists

Unit Six:

• Nutrition and Digestive Systems
• Nutrition
• Animal Digestion

Unit Seven:

• Dogs
• Classification
• Groups and breeds
• Choosing a dog
• Feeding and exercise
• Training
• Grooming and care
• Common diseases
• Reproduction

Unit Eight:

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

Unit Nine:

• Rabbits
• Classification
• History
• Major Groups
• Anatomy
• Characteristics
• Housing and equipment
• Feeding
• Handling
• Diseases and ailments
• Reproduction

Unit Ten:

• Hamsters
• Classification
• History
• Major Groups
• Anatomy
• Characteristics
• Housing and equipment
• Feeding
• Handling
• Diseases and ailments
• Reproduction

Unit Eleven

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

Unit Twelve:

• Rats
• Classification
• 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
• Feeding
• Care and handling
• Diseases and ailments
• Reproduction

Unit Fifteen

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

Unit sixteen

• Ferrets
• History
• Major colour groups
• Characteristics
• Housing and equipment
• Handling and training
• 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
• Classification: Crocodiles, Alligators and Gharials
• Major Familes: Crocodiles, Alligators and Gharials
• Housing and Equipment
• Feeding
• Handling
• Diseases and Ailments
• Reproduction

Unit Nineteen

Birds

• Anatomy
• Classification – Macaws, Conures, Parrots and related Birds
• Major Sub-families
• Classification – Woodpeckers (Toucans)
• Major Families – Woodpeckers (Toucans)
• Classification – Perching Birds
• Major Families – Perching Birds
• Housing and Equipment
• Feeding
• Training and Handling
• Diseases and Ailments
• Reproduction

Unit Twenty

Fish

• Characteristics
• Anatomy
• General Classification
• Classification – Cypriniformes
• Major Families – Suborder Characoidei
• Major Families – Suborder Cryprinoidei
• Classification – Siluriformes
• Major Families – Catfish
• Classification – Atheriniformes
• Major Families – Suborder Exocoetoidei
• Major Families – Suborder Cyprinodontoidei
• Classification – Perciformes
• Major Families – Suborder Percoidei
• Major Families – Suborder Blennioidei
• Major Families – Suborder Mastacembeloidei
• Major Families – Suborder Anabantoidei
• Classification – Tetradontiformes
• Classification – Scorpaeniformes
• Classification – Gasterosteoidei
• Classification – Mormyriformes
• Classification – Osteoglossiformes
• Aquarium Tanks and Equipment
• Feeding
• Diseases and Ailments
• Reproduction

Unit twenty one

• Hedgehogs
• Classification
• History
• Major Genus
• General Characteristics
• Hedgehogs as pets
• Housing and equipment
• Feeding
• Diseases and Ailments
• Reproduction
• Anointing
• Hibernation and Estivation

Unit twenty two

Sugar Gliders

• History
• Characteristics
• Sugar Gliders as pets
• Housing and Equipment
• Feeding
• Reproduction
• Diseases and Ailments
 
Examination:
No examination is necessary as students are assessed on the assignments they submit for grading

Qualification:

Certificate in Small Animal Care and Management
All successful students will be awarded the First Choice Learning College Certificate in Animal Care.

Are there any additional costs?

The only additional costs on top of your course fees is £9.99 postage.

How do I pay for my course?
 
Debit/Credit card call 0800 0025451
Fast & Secure Google Checkout
Paypal
Cheque or Bank Transfer

Still unsure...?

Contact our Live Support on the Homepage
Call Free on 0800 0025451
Email info@firstchoicelearningcollege.co.uk

                 .......where we will be happy to resolve your enquiry promptly