Canine Pregnancy Scanning: LEVEL ONE

Canine Pregnancy Scanning (Level 1) is a one day course focusing on dog breeder ultrasound techniques, taught by professional sonographer Yvette Lovis, DCR BSc (Hons) PGdip, and is organised and regulated by Vet Image Solutions based in Bromley, Kent. This course is currently in its 3rd year and offers non-veterinarians the only opportunity in the UK to receive professional training on the use of ultrasound to detect pregnancy in dogs.

All attendees receive a copy of the course notebook to keep and refer to in their work, as well as a certificate of attendance and listing in the Vet Image Solutions ‘approved scanner’ directory to kick-start their new career as a professional scanner.

 

The level one course syllabus includes the following chapters:

  • What is ultrasound?
  • Pulse echo principle and the Piezo-Electric effect.
  • Image optimisation: correct orientation of the probe head, adjustment of depth, overall gain, focal points, time gain control, frequency, zoom, freeze.
  • Examining the pregnant canine, finding anatomical landmarks (liver, bladder, spleen). Anatomy of the bitch – uterine horns, LH surge, gestation length, foetal structures, dating a pregnancy.
  • Development of the canine embryo: assessing foetal age and number with ultrasound.
  • Abnormal appearances of the canine uterus.
  • Ultrasound terminology.

 

Canine Pregnancy Scanning: LEVEL TWO

Canine Ultrasound (Level 2) is designed for those who have had more than six months of practice in the field, and want to advance their knowledge and understanding of the following areas:

  • Using M-Mode for foetal cardiology
  • Colour map and colour Doppler
  • The Doppler equation
  • Canine embryology and calculating gestational age using biparietal diameter, gestational sac diameter and crown-rump length.
  • Normal canine anatomy and incidental findings (bladder stones, bladder tumours, cardiac disease)
  • Hydrops / Anascara / water puppies.

 

The level two course gives attendees a unique opportunity to refresh and improve their knowledge, share experiences with other scanners, and address issues they have encountered in their work.

 

Cattle Scanning

 

It is currently illegal for a non-veterinarian to examine a cow rectally in the United Kingdom without DEFRA exemption. This exemption, set out in The Veterinary Surgery (Rectal Ultrasound Scanning of Bovines) Order 2010, can only be obtained through successful completion of a DEFRA-approved cattle scanning course. Vet Image Solutions run this course two times per year.

This is an extremely rigorous course which is taught over four days, with a combination of classroom and practical sessions (on farm). A written and practical examination must be passed on the final day, in the presence of a veterinarian and DEFRA-certified examiner, in order for students to obtain their qualification.

The teaching schedule is as follows:

Day 1:
Registration and introduction to course
Introduction to Ultrasound Scanning
Physiology of reproduction and pregnancy - dissection

Day 2:
Anatomy of the bovine pelvic region
Operator hygiene and disease control
Animal welfare and cattle handling
Scanning - practical demonstration
Scanning - practical

Day 3:
Theory and physics of ultrasound
Description and demonstration of range of equipment: machine controls, maintenance and safety
Timing of scanning and system limitations
Record keeping
Paraprofessionals and the law
Scanning – practical

Day 4:
Scanning - practical and oral assessment
Written paper

 

Please contact us to book your place at any of our courses.