Animal Care Course Level 2

Unit 1: History & Pet ownership

Domestication 
Animals in the media 
Classification of animals 
Types of common pets 
Choosing the right pet 
Therapeutic value

Unit 2: Safety, welfare, health and hygiene

Safety and zoonosis 
Correct handling methods 
Typical restraints 
Vehicle safety 
Micro-chips and other ID methods 
Pet proofing 
Animal rescue and welfare organisations 
How to clean an pet's bed/living areas 
Dealing with pests and parasites 
Preventative health 

Unit 3: Anatomy & Physiology

Cells and tissues  
Locomotion 
Digestive system 
Urinary system 
Circulatory and respiratory systems 
Reproductive system 
Endocrine system 
Nervous syste

Unit 4: Animal first aid

Aims 
Handling and transport 
Examination and history taking 
ABC 
Shock 
Wounds and burns 
Fractures 
Poisoning and fitting 
Diarrhoea and vomiting 
Administering medication 
First-aid kit

Unit 5: Dogs

Characteristics 
Groups and breeds 
Nutrition and exercise 
Behaviour and training 
Grooming  and care 
Breeding 
Common diseases 

Unit 6: Cats

Characteristics 
Groups and breeds 
Nutrition and exercise 
Behaviour and training 
Grooming  and care 
Breeding 
Common diseases 

Unit 7: Horses & Ponies

History and anatomy 
Groups and breeds 
Nutrition, housing and exercise 
Behaviour and training 
Grooming  and care 
Breeding 
Common diseases 

Unit 8: Birds

Anatomy and characteristics 
Cage or aviary 
Seed eaters 
Poultry 
Birds of prey 
Common diseases 

Unit 9: Fish

General care 
Cold water fish 
Tropical fish 
Marine fish 
Breeding 
Common diseases 

Unit 10: Snakes & Lizards

Housing and general care 
Bearded Dragons 
Geckos 
Blue Tongued Skinks 
Green Anoles 
Corn Snakes 
King and Milk Snakes 
Ball Pythons 
More difficult to keep reptiles 
Common diseases 

Unit 11: Tortoises, Turtles & Terrapins

Anatomy and characteristics 
Housing and general care 
Nutrition 
Hibernation 
Breeding 
Common disease

Unit 12: Insects & Amphibians

Why have a creepy crawly as a pet? 
Spiders and Scorpions 
Stick and leaf insects 
Praying mantis 
Beatles, centipedes and millipedes 
Snails, slugs and worms 
Frogs and toads 
Common problem

Unit 13: Hamsters, Gerbils, Rats & Mice

Characteristics 
Housing and general care 
Nutrition, and exercise 
Breeding 
Common diseases 

Unit 14: Ferrets & Polecats

History and Characteristics 
Groups and breeds 
Nutrition, housing and exercise 
Behaviour and training 
Grooming  and care 
Breeding 
Common diseases 

Unit 15: Chinchillas & Wildlife

Chinchillas

What makes them different? 
Nutrition, housing and exercise 
Grooming  and care 
Breeding 
Common diseases 

Wildlife

Safety 
Types 
What to do with injured wildlife 
Orphans 
Should we keep wildlife as pets?