SCAM13024U Companion Animal Cardiology – Applied Clinical Cardiology

Volume 2024/2025
Education

This course is a specialisation course at the Master of Companion Animal Clinical Science. The Master is a post graduate education targeted small animal veterinarians seeking Continual Professional Development (CPD).

Content

The purpose of this course is to further develop the skills of the student within the discipline of veterinary cardiology in companion animals. The level of prior knowledge and skills within cardiology from both veterinary candidate level and the first part of the master-education will further be developed into an advanced level. In theory and by practical exercises to extend the participants knowledge, professional skills and competences within the subject of clinical companion animal cardiology at an advanced basic level.
 

Read more about the Master of Companion Animal Science.

Learning Outcome

Having completed the course, the student must be able to:

Knowledge
Having completed the course, the participant must be able to
• Define, identify and discuss veterinary methodology and paraclinical tools in systematised reflective clinical decision making in companion animal clinical practice specifically within clinical cardiology
• Explain the pathophysiologic mechanism involved in cardiac remodelling and development of congestive heart failure in the companion animal cardiology patient
• Explain, reflect about and demonstrate overview of systematic clinical approach to the companion animal cardiovascular patient at an advanced level
• List appropriate differential diagnoses according to the signs of cardiovascular diseases and the development of disease

Skills
Within the area of companion animal clinical cardiology the graduate must be able to
• Apply the quantitative and qualitative methodologies such as performing and applying clinical cardiovascular examination and assess cardiovascular size and function and tools as well as master relevant skills such as auscultation, clinical ECG, thoracic radiology and conventional trans-thoracic echocardiography
• Interpret, assess and reflect on collected patient data in order to localize the lesion and cause of cardiovascular disease.
• Discriminate between cardiac and non-cardiac disorders, discriminate between heart disease and left/right congestive heart failure
• Make clinical decisions, arrive at a diagnosis and consider evidence based scientific approaches in order to plan and administer further appropriate diagnostics, patient therapy and management
• Communicate effectively in writing and pass on results to relevant parties

Competences
The graduate must be able to
• Evaluate companion animal diseases within clinical cardiology
• Educate owners of chronic cardiovascular patients concerning long-term medical treatment
• Work independently, take responsibility for, predict, prognosticate and make decisions within clinical cardiology at an advanced basic level
• Independently evaluate and structure own learning processes and continuously obtain new knowledge at a specialty level within clinical cardiology
• Use relevant scientific literature in the field
• Evaluate different patient types combining the above achieved skills

Literature

Updated literature list will be posted 1 month prior to course start. The participant should have theoretical knowledge updated prior to participation.

Inclusion criteria for Master's Programme in Companion Animal Clinical Science: Degree in veterinary medicine and at least two years of relevant work experience.

SCAM13001U, SCAM13002U, SCAM13003U, SCAM13004U or one of the following certifications in Companion Animal Diseases:
• DVA in Small Animal Diseases, in Danish known as “certificeret fagdyrlæge i sygdomme hos hunde og katte”
• Swedish specialist in diseases of dogs and cats, in Swedish known as Steg 1
• Norwegian specialist in diseases of dogs and cats, in Norwegian known as Specialisering i veterinærmedisin, spesialitet smådyr
• Finnish specialist in diseases of dogs and cats, in Finnish known as Pieneläinsairauksien erikoiseläinlääkäri
Lectures, e-learning, theoretical and practical exercises. Case-study work.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 10
  • Preparation
  • 87
  • Theory exercises
  • 10
  • Practical exercises
  • 15
  • Exam
  • 40
  • Total
  • 162
Oral
Individual
Collective
Credit
6 ECTS
Type of assessment
Portfolio
Type of assessment details
The portfolio exam consists of two parts.
1) The course certificate, which supports, underpins, and focuses on the learning process (learning portfolio). All required components of the course certificate must be approved and include a) a minimum of 80% active participation, b) preparation and oral presentation of problem oriented clinical cases and c) an on-site steeplechase test.
2) A graded evaluation, which focuses on the intended learning outcomes (evaluation portfolio). The graded evaluation includes a) three written assignments on clinically relevant topics and b) a case-log with three cases from clinical practice.
Exam registration requirements

80 % active participation in the on site course activities are required in order to obtain approved course certificate. Both, approved course certificate and a passed examination are required to pass the course. Students may attend examination without approval of course certificate.

Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
More than one internal examiner
Exam period

Exam dates will be published on the programme  homepage.

Criteria for exam assesment

To achieve the maximum grade of 12, the student shall be able to:

Knowledge

• Define, identify and discuss veterinary methodology and paraclinical tools in systematised reflective clinical decision making in companion animal clinical practice specifically within clinical cardiology
• Explain the pathophysiologic mechanism involved in cardiac remodelling and development of congestive heart failure in the companion animal cardiology patient
• Explain, reflect about and demonstrate overview of systematic clinical approach to the companion animal cardiovascular patient at an advanced level
• List appropriate differential diagnoses according to the signs of cardiovascular diseases and the development of disease

Skills

Within the area of companion animal clinical cardiology the graduate must be able to

• Apply the quantitative and qualitative methodologies such as performing and applying clinical cardiovascular examination and assess cardiovascular size and function and tools as well as master relevant skills such as auscultation, clinical ECG, thoracic radiology and conventional trans-thoracic echocardiography
• Interpret, assess and reflect on collected patient data in order to localize the lesion and cause of cardiovascular disease.
• Discriminate between cardiac and non-cardiac disorders, discriminate between heart disease and left/right congestive heart failure
• Make clinical decisions, arrive at a diagnosis and consider evidence based scientific approaches in order to plan and administer further appropriate diagnostics, patient therapy and management
• Communicate effectively in writing and pass on results to relevant parties

Competences


• Evaluate companion animal diseases within clinical cardiology
• Educate owners of chronic cardiovascular patients concerning long-term medical treatment
• Work independently, take responsibility for, predict, prognosticate and make decisions within clinical cardiology at an advanced basic level
• Independently evaluate and structure own learning processes and continuously obtain new knowledge at a specialty level within clinical cardiology
• Use relevant scientific literature in the field
• Evaluate different patient types combining the above achieved skills