Name
Small Bodies Big Skills: Technician Clinical Foundations for Exotic Mammal Care
Speakers
Description
Exotic mammal patients such as rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, and chinchillas are now routine in clinical practice, yet formalized procedural training for veterinary technicians remains limited. This cadaver-only wetlab combines structured didactic education with repetitive, anatomically accurate skill practice to establish foundational proficiency in small mammal vascular access and injection techniques.
The lab begins with a technician-centered lecture co-instructed by a dual-credentialed DVM and RVT, emphasizing comparative anatomy, sedation and stress considerations, vessel fragility, catheter sizing by species, and complication prevention. Detailed visual guides will review jugular, cephalic, lateral saphenous, and cranial vena cava access landmarks, species-specific muscle mass limitations for IM injections, ideal SC zones, and safety considerations unique to rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, and chinchillas, including bone density differences, cardiac sensitivity, cavity proportions, and IO placement tolerances.
Following instruction, participants rotate through cadaver-based skill stations to practice IM and SC injections, IV catheterization, and intraosseous catheter placement (tibial and humeral). Directed coaching reinforces needle angle, tactile feedback, catheter advancement, IO flush confirmation, securement, and clinical decision-making for IV vs IO access. Repetition facilitates confidence while prioritizing anatomic respect, procedural safety, and proper tissue handling.
This lab builds repeatable, evidence-supported competency in essential small mammal nursing skills, improving patient safety, procedural success, and the standard of exotic mammal clinical care delivered by veterinary technicians.
Session Type
Hands-On Workshop (4 Hr)