Birds are the great unknown in the veterinary field, so professionals must specialize given the increase in cases in recent years”

The professional master’s degree in Avian Medicine and Surgery combines, in the formality of a medical book and the practical methodology of a manual, fundamental aspects to achieve advanced theoretical and practical knowledge applicable to daily clinical practice as a veterinary expert in this field. Hence, a very complete updating program has been developed for professionals who wish to specialize in the field.

This training develops specialized and advanced knowledge in all laboratory diagnostic tests.  So, veterinarians specialized in birds can resort to fundamental techniques such as biopsies, hematology and cytology, to provide excellent practice in the profession.

As a novel element, this professional master’s degree includes the interpretation of proteinograms in biochemical studies, which opens a truly important diagnostic window. These analyses are more expensive and interpreting the results is still lacks sufficient standardization. Avian electrocardiography, another great unknown for the veterinarian specializing in avian medicine, is also discussed. Although many structures of the avian cardiovascular system are similar to those of mammals, their anatomical differences must be taken into account. Thus, veterinarians face serious problems when they lack knowledge of the cardiorespiratory anatomy in birds.

This professional master’s degree also focuses on captive birds, which depend on the care, food, shelter and safety provided to them. This program addresses fundamental aspects such as the nutritional requirements of each species, existing types of nutrition and preparing suitable diets for each one of them. 

This specialization provides students with specific tools and skills to successfully engage in professional practice in the wide field of avian medicine and surgery. It addresses key competencies such as knowledge of the reality and daily practice of the veterinary professional, and develops responsibility in the monitoring and supervision of their work, as well as communication skills within the essential teamwork.

As it is an online degree, students will not be bound by fixed schedules or the need to move to another physical location, rather, they can access the content at any time of the day, balancing their professional or personal life with their academic life.

Do not miss the opportunity to do this professional master’s degree in Avian Medicine and Surgery with us. It's the perfect opportunity to advance your career”

This professional master’s degree in Avian Medicine and Surgery contains the most complete and up-to-date academic program on the market. The most important features of the program include:

• Practical cases presented by experts in of avian medicine and surgery
• The graphic, schematic, and eminently practical contents with which they are created provide scientific and practical information on the disciplines that are essential for professional practice
• The latest development in avian medicine and surgery
• Practical exercises where the self-assessment process can be carried out to improve learning
• Special emphasis on innovative methodologies in avian medicine and surgery
• Theoretical lessons, questions to the expert, debate forums on controversial topics, and individual reflection assignments
• Content that is accessible from any fixed or portable device with an Internet connection

This degree is the best investment you can make when choosing a refresher program to update your existing knowledge on Avian Medicine and Surgery”

Its teaching staff includes professionals belonging to the veterinary field, who contribute their expertise to this specialization, as well as renowned specialists from leading societies and prestigious universities.

The multimedia content, developed with the latest educational technology, will provide the professional with situated and contextual learning, i.e., a simulated environment that will provide immersive training programmed to train in real situations.

This program is designed around Problem-Based Learning, whereby the specialist must try to solve the different professional practice situations that arise during the academic year. For this purpose, the professional will be assisted by an innovative interactive video system created by renowned and experienced experts in avian medicine and surgery with extensive experience. 

This specialisation comes with the best didactic material, providing you with a contextual approach that will facilitate your learning"

This 100% online professional master’s degree will allow you to combine your studies with your professional work while increasing your knowledge in this field"

The professional master’s degree in Avian Medicine and Surgery is aimed at facilitating professional medical performance with the latest advances and the most innovative treatments in the sector.

You will learn to analyze the main infectious pathologies in birds: Viral, bacterial, mycoplasmic, fungal and parasitic” 

General Objectives

• Identify the differences between birds and mammals
• Ascertain the most characteristic property in avian patients: The capacity for flight
• Analyze variations between species based on avian anatomy and physiology
• Specify key anatomical points to select diagnostic techniques
• Establish the necessary requirements for keeping birds in captivity
• Examine the key criteria for health, welfare and success in avian husbandry
• Determine nutritional guidelines and specific diets for birds
• Generate guidelines for all birds, including birds of prey and others less clinically studied species such as pigeons
• Compile the most commonly used diagnoses techniques: Radiology, endoscopy and ultrasound
• Develop specialized knowledge in all laboratory diagnostic tests
• Establish the protocols to interrupt biochemical analysis and proteinograms
• Demonstrate the correct necropsy technique in avian patients
• Generate protocols for coprology in birds
• Examine radiology techniques in avian patients
• Anticipate diagnostic difficulties in ultrasound in avian patients
• Propose endoscopy as the diagnostic technique of choice
• Analyze the main infectious pathologies in birds: Viral, bacterial, mycoplasmic, fungal and parasitic
• Develop specialized knowledge of non-infectious pathologies: genetic, metabolic-endocrine, anatomical alterations, physical-chemical imbalances and nutritional deficiencies.
• Define soft tissue pathologies
• Specify treatments and prevention strategies
• Develop specialized knowledge of diseases in birds according to cause, epizootiology and physiopathogenesis
• Determine the close relationship between humans and wild birds
• Identify the routes of disease transmission
• Analyze the most frequent questions that arise in field situations
• Generate specialized knowledge of anesthetic techniques commonly used in bird clinics
• Develop the most important aspects about the types of anesthesia and frequently asked questions by veterinarians
• Analyze management techniques for exploration and anesthetic drug administration
• Determine the most common emergency situations
• Analyze the different anatomical and physiological aspects of birds to apply them to anesthetic techniques
• Examine emergencies in situations of hemorrhage and more advanced surgical problems
• Establish emergency protocols, as in any animal that is injured or needs surgical assistance
• Reach the shock state protocol, which is very difficult to determine in avian patients
• Provide nutritional and fluid therapy requirements for pathology recoveries
• Analyze the relevant aspects of drug administration
• Gain in-depth knowledge of the most used antibiotics, taking into account the routes of administration and the possible and real guidelines that can be followed in each real situation
• Acquire knowledge of new medications for birds
• Develop specialized knowledge to properly treat fractures and determine prognosis 
• Determine the proper praxis in resolving fractures in avian patients, using bandages and surgical methods of osteosynthesis, by means of external immobilizations, centromedullary interlocking, external fixators or locks
• Examine the most effective methods for treating each type of bird and potential fractures in terms of physical recovery and total recovery of the limb
• Analyze the different anatomical and physiological aspects of birds to apply them to the most effective treatments

Specific Objectives

Module 1.

• Substantiate the taxonomic classification according to each order
• Examine the skeletal system, anatomical memory of each location
• Identify the common breeds of chickens and hens kept as pets
• Evaluate blood composition and the circulatory system
• Develop the basis of respiratory functioning to advance knowledge of anesthesia and emergency treatment
• Compile all current information on the anatomy and physiology of the digestive system
• Detail the forgotten areas of the sense organs and their fundamental implication in patient recovery
• Collect all the information on the lymphoid organs, especially the characteristic bursa of Fabricius and other glands of interest

Module 2.

• Propose the challenges of keeping poultry and other avian species
• Examine the difficulty of bird scouting 
• Determine the requirements for keeping birds in captivity
• Analyze the most relevant clinical characteristics and their importance in physical examination to reach appropriate diagnoses and treatments
• Develop specialized knowledge on capture and adequate containment of avian patients
• Establish the main routes of drug administration
• Exhaustively analyze the nutritional requirements, types of nutrition and elaborate diets for each species kept in captivity

Module 3. 

• Analyze diagnostic evidence, information gathering methods, sample preparation for referral and transport purposes to anatomic pathology laboratories
• Examine hematology in birds with the different morphological changes they present
• Identify the results of biochemical analyses in birds
• Develop the latest cytological techniques
• Demonstrate the correct technique for sending samples to anatomic pathology services
• Examine the external and internal lesions that birds may present in the postmortem technique, and their diagnostic interpretation
• Obtain the necessary samples from the postmortem examination for study by histopathology, microbiology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
   

Module 4.

• Specify the sedation and anesthesia techniques necessary to perform diagnostic imaging techniques
• Study existing radiology equipment and diagnostic options in birds
• Develop management techniques for proper patient positioning, including the most commonly used projections in daily clinical practice
• Analyze the anatomical references in radiography, ultrasound and endoscopy to reach reliable diagnoses
• Justify why a specific type of ultrasound probe is used in avian patients
• Analyze the endoscopy techniques and applications in birds
• Achieve the maximum knowledge in other really important diagnostic techniques such as routine coprological analysis
   

Module 5. 

• Identify symptoms to be able to detect them in time and act as soon as possible 
• Examine the main pathologies derived caused by incorrect handling to avoid them and even prevent death
• Analyze the most frequent emergencies derived from incorrect handling, such as lead poisoning and capture myopathy
• Specify oral cavity disorders and their most appropriate treatments
• Completely and successfully deal with all the pathologies affecting the crop, the proventriculus and the ventriculus
• Delve deeper into all the most common pathologies affecting the distal part of the intestine
• Analyze liver disorders due to external causes, as well as the typical pathologies they present
• Develop specialized knowledge of the great avian unknown: The endocrine system, analyzing each of the endocrine glands in birds and their physiopathogenesis 

Module 6. 

• Identify the cause of the disease through causal agents
• Develop specialized knowledge of the most common diseases in wild birds
• Make the best use of a list of problems, together with their differential diagnoses to properly design work plans 
• Develop the most important viral diseases in wild bird pathologies, understanding that they are the most serious
• Diagnose diseases caused by bacteria, since they are mostly linked to respiratory infections, blood infections, intestinal infections or a combination of any of them
• Analyze parasitic diseases, their symptomatology and the most updated treatments

Module 7.

• Determine the anatomical and physiological characteristics of birds to adequately perform anesthetic procedures
• Perform the anesthetic technique of choice: inhalation anesthesia
• Generate specialized knowledge on cardiorespiratory monitoring and temperature control during and after anesthetic procedures
• Examine injectable anesthesia in birds
• Perform the most up-to-date methods for local anesthesia and analgesia
• Implement the most frequent emergency anesthetics to deal with them successfully
• Determine the anesthetic particularities of each type of bird

Module 8.

• Develop specialized knowledge in soft tissue surgery, starting from supplies in the operating room prior to any surgery
• Determine the special surgical supplies for avian patients
• Establish the main surgical problems of the skin and its appendages
• Perform all surgical techniques on male and female reproductive systems
• Evaluate all surgeries of the digestive and respiratory systems, following comprehensive and updated protocols
• Demonstrate the need for biopsies to reach a definitive diagnosis
• Emphasize the necessary guidelines for patient recovery

Module 9. 

• Compile the most important nutritional treatments, understanding dehydration as one of the key factors for each treatment recovery
• Examine all the external treatments that birds need, recognizing that these are the fundamental aspects that we must understand to proceed with the rest of pathologies and treatments
• Attain the maximum knowledge of traumatic injury treatments
• Present the routes of administration of drugs and their advantages and disadvantages
• Develop the list of antibiotics, antifungals and antiparasitics most commonly used, including dosage and clarifications
• Propose the success in nebulization treatments
• Reach peak knowledge of eye drops and ophthalmologic treatments

Module 10.

• Develop specialized knowledge regarding the most frequent ocular pathologies and the most updated treatments
• Analyze the most frequent pathologies in obese birds in captivity: nails
• Address bone fracture emergencies situations and treatments
• Establish bone fixation methods in wings and shoulder girdles
• Analyze the osseous injuries in bird carpus and tarsus
• Determine how to conduct bone repairs of the femur and their surgical treatments
• Gain in-depth knowledge of postoperative care in repaired fractures 

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