DO0150, Evidence-based practice within veterinary rehabilitation, 15.0 Hp
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Syllabus

Finalized by: PN-VH, 2025-11-11
Valid from : Autumn semester 2026 (2026-08-31)

Level

Second cycle (A1F)

Main field of study

Veterinary Nursing

Grading Scale

5 / 4 / 3 / U

The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.

Course language

English

Entry Requirements

Objectives

The aim of the course is for the student, with application to various injuries and diseases, to acquire theoretical and some practical knowledge regarding a selection of evaluation and rehabilitation methods within rehabilitation, primarily concerning the animal species horse, dog and cat.
After completing the course, the student should be able to:

• analyse and account for how the musculoskeletal system's tissue healing and response to stress affect the design of rehabilitation work,
• argue for individually adapted choices of evaluation and rehabilitation methods in a selection of injury and disease panoramas, based on science and proven experience,
• practically perform a selection of basic evaluation and rehabilitation methods,
• describe, based on science and proven experience, the basis for movement analysis, and how different types of physical training affect the animal's movement and circulatory system,
• based on general knowledge of diseases and injuries in the musculoskeletal system, prioritize and apply relevant measures in the rehabilitation of animals with illness and/or injury, and provide suggestions for prophylactic measures,
• provide suggestions for prophylactic measures,
• provide suggestions for measures regarding animal handling, ethics, animal welfare and occupational safety, which may arise during rehabilitation work,
• reflect on issues regarding animal handling, ethics, animal welfare and occupational safety that may arise during rehabilitation work and provide suggestions for measures.

Content

Subject content
Theoretical and practical teaching in evidence-based rehabilitation, with clinical application to different types of injuries and diseases, and related ethical issues. In addition, the course includes movement analysis including biomechanics, pharmacology with a focus on pain relief, pathology (with a focus on the musculoskeletal system and nervous system), animal handling and ethics related to rehabilitation work, and preventive rehabilitation measures.

Implementation
The course contains various teaching forms to promote student learning through lectures, seminars, exercises and skill training on models, live and/or dead animals. In this way, the student gains theoretical knowledge and to some extent basic practical skills in rehabilitation, with a focus on rehabilitation measures based on different types of injuries and diseases. Through presentations, discussions and review of articles, the student is trained in evidence-based rehabilitation, ethics, animal welfare and responsibility issues. The course may include study visits.

The course focuses on the following general competencies
Critical thinking, ethical consideration, scientific methods, information literacy, problem solving, independence and oral communication.

The following components are compulsory
Seminars, exercises, practical skills training.

Examination Formats and Requirements for Passing the Course

Passed written and oral examination and approved participation in compulsory components.

•  If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
• The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
• If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
• For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Responsible Department/Equivalent

Department of Clinical Sciences

Supplementary information

Included in program

• Masterprogrammet Djuromvårdnad

Module set

Title	Credits	Code
Mandatory components	5.0	0101
Written examination	6.0	0104
Oral presentation	2.0	0105
Written opposition	2.0	0106

The Course Replaces

DO0133

Other Information

• The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.
• If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.