Syllabus
Small Animal Behavior-VARB 5210
Instructor:
Sharon L. Crowell-Davis, DVM, PhD, DACVB
Phone: 542-8343
Email: scrowell@vet.uga.edu
Office: 214
Prerequisites:
Veterinary Animal Behavior VARB 5240
Objectives: The student will learn the normal behavior of the dog and cat, including social organization, communication (auditory, visual, tactile, olfactory), sexual, developmental, parental and maintenance behavior. The student will also learn how to diagnose and treat behavior problems, including the process of conducting a behavior evaluation and taking a behavioral history, constructing an appropriate differential diagnosis list for a given chief complaint, making a final diagnosis, and initiating appropriate treatment. Behavior problems of dogs and cats will be covered comprehensively. Treatment protocols will include behavior modification, medication, and surgery. At the completion of the course, the student should know the process by which to choose a psychoactive drug and be familiar with current standards of use based on diagnosis of the patient’s problem, patient’s medical status, and the indications, contraindications and side effects of the psychoactive medications. At the conclusion of the course, the student will be able to answer clients questions about normal behavior of dogs and cats, conduct a behavioral examination and evaluation, and diagnose and treatment behavior problems in companion animals.
Requirements:
In addition to tests and quizzes, students will be assigned to small groups
to investigate and present one case. Each group of students will be assigned
a case and will be expected develop a presentation that covers all possible
differential diagnoses to consider, and how various diagnoses are ruled in
or out. They will also develop a complete treatment plan for their case and
justify all steps in their plan. These presentations will be given to the
entire class during the latter part of the course.
Grading policy: Grades will be based on the following scale.
A>90%
B>80%
C>70%
D>60%
Grades will be based on tests and quizzes that will be announced at the start of the course, an oral presentation of a case, and unannounced quizzes or additional assignments that may be given during the course.
Attendance policy: Students will be expected to attend all classes unless they have a written excuse from the Dean’s office.
Make-up examination policy: Tests that are missed due to an excused absence will be made up at a time to be arranged. If one quiz is missed due to an excused absence, it will not be made up and will not be considered in calculating the students’ grade. If two or more quizzes are missed, due to an excused absence, a makeup quiz covering all missed material will be scheduled. If any test or quiz is missed due to an unexcused absence, it will be assigned a grade of 0.
All students are expected to abide by the University’s Academic Honesty Policy.
The course syllabus provides a general plan for the course; deviations may be necessary.