The veterinary nurse plays a key role in the care of pregnant animals and neonates as well as giving advice to owners about what to expect during both normal and complicated parturition. This course will focus on increasing your knowledge and confidence in these challenging situations. Your role in non-surgical and surgical births will be discussed, as well as the post operative care of the bitch and her puppies. How to deal effectively with neonatal emergencies and with sick neonates brought into the practice will also be discussed.

Topics to be covered will include:

• The pregnant bitch and advice during normal birth
• When is it no longer a normal birth?
• When to act and when to wait
• Setting up for and assisting the caesarean section
• Recovery of the bitch and revival of puppies
• Neonatal development and care
• Paediatric emergencies, weaning and rehoming