VETERINARY PHYSIOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY
VPB 201: RESPIRATORY, BLOOD, CARDIOVASCULAR AND
RENAL PHYSIOLOGY    (3 Units)

Functions of the respiratory system, mechanism of respiration and gas exchange in the lungs. Properties and regulation of respiratory gases and buffers in the blood. Composition and functions of blood. Manufacture, function and breakdown of blood cells. Measurement of blood volume, plasma volume, plasma protein content and blood coagulation time. Functions of the heart. Dynamics of circulation of blood and lymph. Regulation of heart rate and blood pressure. Flow of blood through vital organs including heart, lungs, brain, liver and kidney. The role of the kidney in homeostasis. Nephron, glomerular filtration and tubular functions. Water and electrolyte excretion and absorbtion. Antidiuretic hormone and diurectics. Micturition.

 

VBP 202: DIGESTIVE, REPRODUCTIVE AND ENDOCRINE PHYSIOLOGY
(3 Units)

Prehension, mastication and deglutition in monogastric animals. Production and function of saliva and digestive juices. Digestion and absorption of nutrients in monogastric and ruminant animals. Exocrine hormones of the gastro-intestinal tract. Digestion in chickens. Male reproductive process. Female reproductive process. Fertilisation, pregnancy, parturition and lactation. Comparative reproductive physiology; reproduction in chicken. Mechanism of secretion, regulation, and function of hormones from gonads, pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, parathyroid, pancreas and thymus glands. Effects of hyper- and hypo-secretion of hormonal glands.

 

VBP 203: PRACTICAL PHYSIOLOGY I   (1 Unit)

Selected experiments relating to respiratory, blood, cardiovascular and renal physiology (VB 201).

 

VBP 204: PRACTICAL PHYSIOLOGY II   (1 Unit)

Selected experiments relating to digestive, reproductive and endocrine physiology (VBP 202).

 

VBP 301: SKIN, MUSCULOSKELETAL AND NEUROPHYSIOLOGY (3 Units)

Functions of the skin in relation to the structure of the sweat and Sebaceous glands. Skin grafting. Physiological properties and functions of skeletal muscle. Propagation and conduction of nervous impulse. Neurotransmitters. Types and mechanism of reflexes. Motor function of the spinal cord. Ascending and descending fibre tracts in the spinal cord. Physiological properties and functions of the brain and the autonomic nervous system. Physiology of the sense (sight, hearing, smelling, taste and touch) organs.

 

VBP 303: PRACTICAL PHYSIOLOGY III  (1 Unit)

Selected experiments relating to the skin, musculoskeletal and neurophysiology (VBP 301).

 

VETERINARY PHARMACOLOGY

VPC 302: INTRODUCTORY VETERINARY PHARMACOLOGY (2 Units)

Introduction to the evolution and principles of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology. Sources, nomenclature and presentation of drugs. Disposition and fate of drugs: routes of administration, absorption, distribution in body, bio-transformation and excretion of drugs. Pharmacokinetics: concentration of drugs in blood and tissues; drug clearance and clinical application. Mechanisms of drug action; factors modifying action and fate of drugs; drug-drug interactions. Pharmacology of the central and autonomic nervous systems. Basic concepts in veterinary toxicology.

 

VPC 401: SYSTEMIC DRUGS AND THEIR ACTION (3 Units)

Drugs affecting appetite, buccal cavity, pharynx, oesophagus, gastric and intestinal functions. Drugs acting on cardio-vascular, integumentary and musculo-skeletal systems: neuro-muscular blocking agents, skeletal muscle spasmolytics, anabolic steroids. Drugs affecting nervous, reproductive, urinary and respiratory systems: expectorants, antitussive agents, bronchodilators, decongestants, anti-allergic agents, respiratory analeptics; oxygen therapy. Immuno-stimulation: passive and active immunization.

 

VPC 402: VETERINARY CHEMOTHERAPY  (2 Units)

Guidelines for clinical application of anti-microbial and other chemotherapeutic agents. Antibacterial agents: penicillins, cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, sulphonamides, nitrofurans, hydroxyquinolines, nitro-imidazoles. Antiseptics and disinfectants. Growth promoters. Anti-viral agents; Interferon. Anti-fungal agents: polyene macrolide antibiotics, imidazoles, flucytosine, griseofulvin. Anti-protozoan agents: Anthelmintics; Acaricides: Steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents.

 

VPC 404: VETERINARY PHARMACY AND TOXICOLOGY (3 Units)

Formulation of veterinary drugs. Essentials of prescription writing: choice of drugs and doses, administration vehicles, frequency of administration, duration of treatment. Requirements for prescription dispensing. Dispensing of mixtures, lotions, ointments, creams, emulsions, tablets, capsules and boluses. Legislations on handling, sale, prescription and administration of drugs. Organization of pharmacy inventory in a veterinary practice. Sources and types of poisons: poisonous plants, cyanogenetic glycosides and cyanide poisoning, insecticide poisoning, photosensitizing poisons. Iron dextran toxicity in newborn pigs. Diagnosis and principles of treatment of poisonings.