Exotic Pets

Course Overview

The ESAVS Exotic Pets – Reptile and Avian Surgery and Endoscopy course cover the core of the reptile and avian surgery and endoscopy curriculum, with particular emphasis on the soft tissue surgery, orthopaedics, diagnostic endoscopy and mini-invasive surgery in reptiles and birds from an advanced care perspective.

This program is designed specifically for veterinarians wishing to gain advanced experience in reptile and avian surgery and endoscopy.

Participants of ESAVS Exotic Pets Reptile and Avian Surgery and Endoscopy course will learn and discuss anaesthesia and analgesia in chelonians, lizards, snakes and birds, methods of soft tissue surgery and orthopaedics including shell repair or beak repair. Participants of the course will learn modern methods of diagnostic endoscopy and mini-invasive surgery in clinical practice with reptiles and birds. The successful management of difficult to treat problems will be discussed. Wet labs will provide practical approaches.

Key Features of Exotic Pets – Reptile and Avian Surgery and Endoscopy Course

• The program consists of five-days residential course (one week course)
• The course consist of teaching classes (~50%) and intensive practical sessions in labs (~50%)
• Course participants obtain access to comprehensive teaching materials and have the opportunity to practice in small groups.
• Participants have access to distance learning modules.
• Exotic Pets – Reptile and Avian Surgery and Endoscopy Course of ESAVS is routinely recognized by the European College of Zoological Medicine (ECZM), which means they satisfy all the required criteria for continuing recognition in this discipline.

Topics covered

• Clinical anatomy of reptiles
• Clinical anatomy of birds
• Reptile anaesthesia
• Reptile analgesia
• Anaesthesia in avian medicine
• Analgesia in avian medicine
• Soft tissue surgery in reptiles I, II, III
• Soft tissue surgery in birds
• Reptile orthopaedics and shell repair
• Avian orthopaedics and beak repair
• Endoscopy in reptiles
• Endoscope assisted surgery in reptiles
• Avian endoscopy
• Endo-surgery in exotic animal practice

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Supervise and perform effective anaesthesia and analgesia, including the use of modern methods of monitoring the reptile and avian patient.
2. Supervise and perform the classical as well as the newest methods of soft tissue surgery and orthopaedics in reptile and avian patients (including the shell repair in chelonians or beak repair in birds).
3. Perform modern techniques of diagnostic endoscopy in reptile and avian practice.
4. Perform methods of endoscope-assisted surgery or mini-invasive surgery in exotic pet patients.

Course program (subject to change)

Course location

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