Medical care for even the smallest of patients. (Image courtesy of Gretchen E. Kaufman, D.V.M.)

This course, which combines Introduction to Zoological Medicine and Zoological Medicine, is exceptionally content rich. Lectures range from Fish Medicine to Avian Fungal Diseases to Marine Mammal Medicine to Rabbit Medicine. The Related References and Resources document contains a listing of invaluable resources from a variety of formats including websites, journals, articles, books, papers, and multimedia. The course also includes extensive vivid images within the lectures which visually reinforce the text.

The core curriculum in Zoological Medicine at Tufts is presented in two separate, but continuous courses: Introduction to Zoological Medicine and Zoological Medicine. Zoological medicine has recently been adopted as a universal term to be applied to all non-traditional species, including wildlife, zoo species, companion exotic animals, pet birds, marine mammals, and fish.

As stated in a recent article (Stoskopf, MK, Paul-Murphy, J, Kennedy-Stoskopf, S, and Kaufman, G. American College of Zoological Medicine recommendations on veterinary curricula, JAVMA v219 (11)):

"Zoological Medicine integrates veterinary medicine and the principles of ecology and conservation as applied in both natural and artificial environments."

In these two courses we will also include domestic poultry (technically a domestic food animal) as part of our avian section. The introductory course (Spring 2nd year) develops the topic of conservation medicine and introduces the management issues involved with this diverse group of animals in a variety of settings. General concerns with diagnosis, treatment and animal restraint are also discussed in preparation for the clinical material.

A detailed taxonomic review of health issues in non traditional species and poultry is presented in Zoological Medicine (Fall 3rd year).

The introductory course is organized into sections. "Career Tracks in Zoological Medicine" deals with the main career paths currently defined to deal with the majority of these species. "Diagnostic and Theraputic Challenges" introduces topics common to many of the taxonomic groups including wildlife immobilization and restraint, basic diagnostic sampling and finding creative solutions to theraputic challenges.

The main course (Zoological Medicine) is also organized into three main parts based on taxonomic groupings. An examination will be given at the end of each section. The first section "Invertebrates, Amphibian, Fish, and Reptile Medicine" presents the basic health issues of these four groups. Part 2 includes a detailed presentation of basic Avian health issues with an emphasis on companion psittacines, but with a comparative approach drawing in important topics in poultry and wild birds. Part 3 deals with the health of selected non-traditional mammals in both free-ranging and captive settings.