Animal Health Academy

Skills & Technical Courses

MSD Animal Health Skills Courses

Sign Up Today
Module 1: Introduction to Animal Diseases

Module overview:

  1. What is a disease?
  2. Occurrence of diseases
  3. Animal vital signs
  4. Classification of diseases:
    – Infectious diseases
    – Non-infectious diseases
  5. Parasites:
    – External parasites
    – Internal parasites
Module 2: Bacterial diseases in farm animals

Module overview:
Introduction – Each disease will be discussed according to:

  • Cause
  • Transmission
  • Symptoms
  • Treatment
  • MSD Products
  • Prevention
  1. Actinobacillosis/Actinomycosis
  2. Anthrax
  3. Atropic rhinitis of pigs
  4. Blackleg/Black quarter
  5. Botulism
  6. Brucellosis, Epizootic abortion, Undulant fever, Bang’s disease
  7. Calf diphtheria
  8. Caseous lymphadenitis
  9. Colibacillosis
  10. Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia
  11. Enterotoxaemia (Pulpy kidney disease)
  12. Foul-in-the-foot (Panaritium)
  13. Glanders
  14. Hemorrhagic septicemia (Pasteurella)
  15. Infectious avian coryza
  16. Leptospirosis
  17. Malignant oedema/Braxy
  18. Mastitis
  19. Ornithosis (psittacosis)
  20. Johne’s disease (Para tuberculosis)
  21. Salmonellosis
  22. Strangles
  23. Swine erysipelas
  24. Tetanus
  25. Tuberculosis
  26. Vibriosis
Module 3: Viral diseases in farm animals

Module overview:
Introduction – Each disease will be discussed according to:

  • Cause
  • Transmission
  • Symptoms
  • Treatment
  • MSD Products
  • Prevention

3.1. Foot-and-mouth disease

3.2. Cattle plague (rinderpest)

3.3. Malignant catarrhal fever

3.4. Malignant head catarrh

3.5. Infectious papillomatosis (warts)

3.6. Scrapie

3.7. Contagious pustular dermatitis (Vuilbek, contagious ecthyma)

3.8. Lumpy skin disease

3.9. Ovine virus abortion

3.10. Sweating sickness

3.11. Calf pneumonia

3.12. Pox (variola)

3.13. Leukosis

3.14. Rift Valley fever (enzootic hepatitis)

3.15. Blue tongue

3.16. Nairobi sheep disease

3.17. Swine fever (Europe)

3.18. Hog cholera (America)

3.19. African swine fever

3.20. Enzootic pneumonia of piglets

3.21. Equine infectious anemia

3.22. African horse-sickness

3.23. Rabies

3.24. Canine distemper

3.25. Hard pad disease

Module 4: Protozoan diseases in farm animals

Module overview:
Introduction – Each disease will be discussed according to:

  • Cause
  • Transmission
  • Symptoms
  • Treatment
  • MSD Products
  • Prevention

4.1. Aegyptianellosis

4.2. Anaplasmosis/Gallsickness

4.3. Besnoitiosis

4.4. Biliary fever

4.5. Blackhead disease (Histomoniasis)

4.6. Coccidiosis

4.7. Corridor disease

4.8. East Coast Fever (ECF)

4.9. Gonderiosis

4.10. Piroplasmosis (babesiosis, theileriosis)

4.11. Red Water disease

4.12. Spirochetosis

4.13. Toxoplasmosis

4.14. Trichomoniasis

4.15. Trypanosomiasis

Module 5: Parasites & related conditions in farm animals

5.1. External parasites (Ectoparasites) (MSD products)

5.1.1. Ticks
5.1.2. Lice (Pediculosis)
5.1.3. Fleas
5.1.4. Mites
5.1.5. Keds
5.1.6. Flies

5.2. Internal parasites (Endoparasites) (MSD products)

5.2.1. Roundworms
5.2.2. Tapeworm
5.2.3. Hookworm
5.2.4. Flukes

Module 6: Injuries & Wound Treatment

6.1. Indication/Signs of pain
6.2. Diagnose/Identify the cause
6.3. Dislocation of joints/hip socket
6.4. Bone fractures
6.5. Wound treatment

Module 7: Poisonings – Prevention & Treatment

7.1. Plant poisonings

7.1.1. Poisonings of the cardiovascular system
7.1.2. Liver poisoning
7.1.3. Central Nervous System (CNS) Poisoning
7.1.4. Poisonings of the circulatory system
7.1.5. Poisonings of the digestive system
7.1.6. Poisonings of the urogenital system
7.1.7. Other plant poisonings

7.2. Other poisonings

7.2.1. Arsenic poisoning
7.2.2. Lead poisoning
7.2.3. Nonprotein Nitrogen Poisoning (Ammonia Poisoning)
7.2.4. Phosphorus poisoning
7.2.5. Poison and activated charcoal
7.2.6. Salt poisoning
7.2.7. Sodium thiosulfate (Hypo) poisoning
7.2.8. Strychnine poisoning

Module 8: Metabolic diseases & Nutritional deficiencies in Farm Animals

8.1. Acetonemia (Ketosis)
8.2. Bent leg (Bowie)
8.3. Cobalt deficiency
8.4. Diabetes (mellutis/Insipidus)
8.5. Exertional myopathy (azoturia in horses)
8.6. Fibrous Osteodystrophy/ Osteodystrophia fibrosa
8.7. Milk fever, Hypocalcemia, Puerperal paresis
8.8. Mineral deficiency diseases
8.9. Motion sickness
8.10. Pregnancy toxemia
8.11. Rheumatism
8.12. Selenium deficiency
8.13. Urinary stones
8.14. Vitamin deficiencies
8.15. Wet carcass syndrome

Module 9: Introduction to Veterinary Pharmacology

9.1. Nomenclature of drugs/medications

• Chemical Name
• Generic Name
• Brand/Trade Name

9.2. Routes of Administration
9.3. Classification

9.3.1. Vaccines
9.3.2. Parasite Control
9.3.3. Hormones
9.3.4. Antibiotics
9.3.5. Pain Management

9.4. Dips/Doses

9.4.1. Dosing & Dipping Agents
9.4.2. Dosing/Dipping program
9.4.3. Methods of Dipping/Dosing

9.5. Active ingredients
9.6. MSD Product classification

Module 10: Biosecurity on the Farm

10.1. What is Biosecurity?
10.2. Why do we need biosecurity?
10.3. Principles of Biosecurity of Animals
10.4. Sample Collection
10.5. Developing a Biosecurity Program for Animals
10.6. What is RFID (radio frequency identification)?
10.7. Cold Chain

10.7.1. Retention of the Cold Chain
10.7.2. The correct use of vaccines
10.7.3. Reasons why vaccines fail
10.7.4. The dangers of freezing/heating vaccines
10.7.5. Vaccine expiry date
10.7.6. Developing an Immunization Program
10.7.7. Vaccine lifetime after use/mixing
10.7.8. Joint administration of vaccines

Module 11: A Good Farm Health Plan

11.1. What is a farm health plan?
11.2. Why have a health plan?
11.3. What are the everyday disease challenges on your farm?
11.4. Approaches to livestock health and biosafety:
11.5. Determining the health status of animals
11.6. What to include in the health plan:

Module 12: Sheep health & biosecurity

12.1. Health Management

12.1.1. Sheep Vital Signs
12.1.2. A Good Farm Health Plan

12.2. Biosecurity on a Sheep Farm

12.2.1. What is Biosecurity?
12.2.2. Why do we need biosecurity?
12.2.3. Major routes for disease ingress and pathogen transmission
12.2.4. Overall Biosecurity within the Farm
12.2.5. List of Notifiable Sheep Diseases

12.3. Diseases

12.3.1. Non-Infectious Diseases

12.3.1.1. Poisons/Chemicals
12.3.1.2. Metabolic Disorders & Nutritional Deficiencies

12.3.2. Infectious Diseases

12.3.2.1. Bacterial diseases of Sheep
12.3.2.2. Viral Diseases of Sheep
12.3.2.3. Protozoan Diseases of Sheep

12.4. Parasites

12.4.1. Internal Parasites
12.4.2. External Parasites

Module 13: Cattle health & biosecurity

13.1. Health Management

13.1.1. Cattle Vital Signs
13.1.2. Determining the health status of cattle
13.1.3. Basic Procedures towards Clinical Evaluation of a Bovine

13.2. Biosecurity on a Cattle Farm

13.2.1. What is Biosecurity?
13.2.2. Why do we need biosecurity?
13.2.3. Major routes for disease ingress and pathogen transmission
13.2.4. Overall Biosecurity within the Farm
13.2.5. List of Notifiable Cattle Diseases

13.3. Diseases

13.3.1. Non-Infectious Diseases
13.3.1.1. Poisons/Chemicals
13.3.1.2. Metabolic Disorders & Nutritional Deficiencies
13.3.2. Infectious Diseases
13.3.2.1. Bacterial diseases of Cattle
13.3.2.2. Viral Diseases of Cattle
13.3.2.3. Protozoan Diseases of Cattle
13.3.3. Parasites
13.3.3.1. Internal Parasites
13.3.3.2. External Parasites

Module 14: Pig health & biosecurity

14.1. Health Management

14.1.1. Pig Vital Signs

• Heart rate
• Respiratory rate
• Rectal temperatures

14.2. Biosecurity on a Pig Farm

14.2.1. What is Biosecurity?
14.2.2. Why do we need biosecurity?
14.2.3. Major routes for disease ingress and pathogen transmission
14.2.4. Overall Biosecurity within the Farm
14.2.5. List of Notifiable Pig Diseases

14.3. Diseases

14.3.1. Non-Infectious Diseases
14.3.1.1. Poisons/Chemicals
14.3.1.2. Metabolic Disorders & Nutritional Deficiencies

14.4. Infectious Diseases

14.4.1. Bacterial diseases of Pigs
14.4.2. Viral Diseases of Pigs
14.4.3. Protozoan Diseases of Pigs
14.5. Parasites
14.5.1. Internal Parasites
14.5.2. External Parasites

Module 15: Poultry health & biosecurity

15.1. Health Management

15.1.1. Poultry Vital Signs

15.2. Biosecurity on a Poultry Farm

15.2.1. What is Biosecurity?
15.2.2. Why do we need biosecurity?
15.2.3. Major routes for disease ingress and pathogen transmission

15.3. Management of stress in a poultry flock
15.4. Overall Biosecurity on a poultry farm

15.4.1. Transmission of Diseases
15.4.2. Traffic control (humans & vehicles)
15.4.3. Cleaning & disinfecting (Sanitation)
15.4.4. Isolation
15.4.5. Pest & rodent control
15.4.6. Spent litter
15.4.7. General observation
15.4.8. Know the warning signs for infectious diseases
15.4.9. Report sick birds
15.4.10. Keeping records (vaccinations, disease problems, medicines used)
15.4.11. Physical facilities
15.4.12. Disease control
15.4.13. Vaccinations & Antibiotics
15.4.14. Necropsy on dead birds
15.4.15. Sample collection
15.4.16. Dead bird disposal
15.4.17. List of Notifiable poultry diseases

15.5. Diseases

15.5.1. Non-Infectious Diseases
• Poisons/Chemicals
• Metabolic Disorders & Nutritional Deficiencies
• Miscellaneous Non-Infectious Diseases
15.5.2. Infectious Diseases
• Bacterial diseases of Poultry
Non-respiratory
Respiratory
• Viral Diseases of Poultry
Non-respiratory
Respiratory
• Fungal Diseases of Poultry
Respiratory
• Protozoan Diseases of Poultry
• Miscellaneous Diseases
15.5.3. Parasites
• Internal Parasites
• External Parasites

Module 16: Goat health & biosecurity

16.1. Health Management

16.1.1. Goat Vital Signs
16.1.2. A Good Farm Health Plan

16.2. Biosecurity on a Goat Farm

16.2.1. What is Biosecurity?
16.2.2. Why do we need biosecurity?
16.2.3. Major routes for disease ingress and pathogen transmission
16.2.4. Overall Biosecurity within the Farm
16.2.5. List of Notifiable Goat Diseases

16.3. Diseases

16.3.1. Non-Infectious Diseases
• Poisons/Chemicals
• Metabolic Disorders & Nutritional Deficiencies
16.3.2. Infectious Diseases
• Bacterial diseases of Goats
• Viral Diseases of Goats
16.3.3. Protozoan Diseases of Goats

16.4. Parasites

16.4.1. Internal Parasites
16.4.2. External Parasites

Module 17: Horse health & biosecurity

17.1. Health Management

17.1.1. Horse Vital Signs
17.1.2. A Good Farm Health Plan

17.2. Biosecurity on a Horse Farm

17.2.1. What is Biosecurity?
17.2.2. Why do we need biosecurity?
17.2.3. Major routes for disease ingress and pathogen transmission
17.2.4. Overall Biosecurity within the Farm

17.3. Diseases

17.3.1. Non-Infectious Diseases
17.3.2. Infectious Diseases
17.3.3. Parasites
• Internal Parasites
• External Parasites

Module 18: Dog health & biosecurity

18.1. Dog Vital Signs
18.2. Diseases

18.2.1. Non-Infectious Diseases
18.2.2. Infectious Diseases

18.3. Parasites

18.3.1. Internal Parasites
18.3.2. External Parasites

Module 19: MSD Practical Workshop (5 days)

19.1 Biosecurity and Safety Regulations
19.2 Handing facilities and safety of animals and handlers
19.3 The medicine and equipment store
19.4 Identification and marking equipment
19.5 Equipment for health management
19.6 Application of MSD Dip and Parasite remedies
19.7 Administration of injections
19.8 Weighing and dose calculations / calibrations
19.9 Practical management practices
19.10 Clinical evaluation of farm animals

19.10.1 Clinical evaluation cattle
19.10.2 Clinical evaluation sheep and goats
19.10.3 Clinical evaluation pigs
19.10.4 Clinical evaluation poultry
19.10.5 Clinical evaluation horses

19.11 First aid on animals

Module 20: MSD Customer Sales & Services

20.1 Introduction to retail and agri-business techniques
20.2 Merchandise in retail
20.3 Inventory and stock retail
20.4 Promotions
20.5 Effective working relationships