SCAM13032U Companion Animal Dermatology – Applied Clinical Dermatology

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 for small animal veterinarians seeking Continual Professional Development (CPD).

Content

The purpose of this course module is to further develop the skills of the student within the discipline of veterinary dermatology in companion animals.

The level of prior knowledge and skills within clinical dermatology from both veterinary candidate level and the first part of the master-education will be developed in order to form a solid basic platform within clinical dermatology. In theory and by practical exercises the participant can expect that professional skills and competences within the subject of clinical companion animal dermatology will be extended at an advanced basic level.

The participants’ basic knowledge, professional skills and competences within clinical dermatology will be enhanced through theoretical seminars and case-based exercises. The participants will be encouraged to define, identify and discuss clinical methodology, including identification of clinical dermatological lesions, and paraclinical tools in systematised reflective clinical decision making in companion animal dermatology

Read more about the Master of Companion Animal Science.

Learning Outcome


Knowledge

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

  • Define, identify and discuss veterinary methodology and paraclinical tools in systematised reflective clinical decision-making in companion animal clinical dermatology.
  • Explain basic structure and physiology of the skin and hair and define pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in common dermatologic diseases.
  • Demonstrate critical reflection on the significance of skin anatomy and physiology in the clinical approach to dermatological lesions. 
  • Demonstrate critical reflection with respect to further diagnostic planning to achieve a specific diagnosis of the dermatological patient.
  • Discuss the fundamental prerequisites for appropriate preparation of diagnostic protocols.
  • List appropriate differential diagnoses based on clinical dermatologic presentations in companion animals.

 

Skills

Within the area of clinical dermatology, the graduate must be able to:

  • Apply methodologies such as performing clinical dermatological examination and use basic diagnostic tools for relevant dermatological cases in companion animals, especially for pruritic lesional skin and non-pruritic alopecic lesions.
  • Analyze and reflect on collected data in order to discriminate between relevant dermatological differential diagnoses.
  • Demonstrate systematic approach to pruritic versus non-pruritic skin diseases including the discrimination between infectious causes versus inflammatory, hypersensitivity causes for pruritus, as well as systemic (endocrine) and local causes of the hair follicle for non-pruritic alopecia.
  • 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

Following the course, the candidate must be able to:

  • Evaluate companion animal diseases within clinical dermatology.
  • Work independently, take responsibility for, predict, prognosticate and make decisions within clinical dermatology at an advanced basic level.
  • Educate owners of chronic dermatological patients concerning long-term medical treatment and supportive long-term treatment for the skin barrier.
  • Discriminate between curative and palliative treatment options in companion animal clinical dermatology.
  • Independently evaluate and structure own learning processes and continuously obtain new knowledge at an advanced level within clinical dermatology.
  • Use relevant scientific literature in the field of dermatology.
  • Evaluate different patient types combining the above-achieved skills.

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
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 and b) preparation and oral presentation of a problem oriented clinical case.
2) A graded evaluation, which focuses on the intended learning outcomes (evaluation portfolio). The graded evaluation includes a) a written assignment: a critical mini-review, weighted 40% of the final grade and b) an on-site steeplechase test, weighted 60% of the final grade.
Exam registration requirements

80 % active participation in the on site course activities are required in order to obtain approved course. 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
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 relevant to companion animal clinical dermatology.

  • Explain, reflect and demonstrate overview of systematic clinical approach to the dermatological patient at a basic specialized level.
  • Demonstrate critical reflection on the significance of morphological skin lesion identification in companion animals, including the interpretation of the basic pathophysiologic causes for common dermatological presentation patterns in companion animals.
  • Demonstrate critical reflection with respect to further diagnostic planning in an advanced practice situation.
  • Discuss the fundamental prerequisites for appropriate preparation of diagnostic protocols for dermatology in companion animals.
  • List appropriate differential diagnoses based on clinical dermatological presentation.

 

Skills

Within the area of clinical dermatology, the graduate must be able to:

  • Perform and apply clinical dermatological examination and identify and assess morphological clinical lesion patterns of the skin.
  • Use basic diagnostic tools and master relevant skills to perform a relevant diagnostic workup of the dermatological patient, including pruritic versus non-pruritic lesions in both dogs and cats and chronic otitis cases.
  • Interpret, assess and reflect on collected patient data in order to identify causes of dermatological disease.
  • 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
 

  • Work independently, take responsibility for, predict, prognosticate and make decisions within clinical dermatology at an advanced basic level.
  • Evaluate and manage common dermatological cases and have a solid understanding of applied treatment protocols.  
  • Evaluate and assess chronic dermatological patients concerning long-term medical treatment and supportive long-term treatment for the skin barrier.
  • Make ethical considerations regarding long-term therapy for chronic dermatological patients and place these into perspective.
  • Use relevant scientific literature in the field of dermatology.
  • Evaluate different patient types combining the above-achieved skills.