Animal Care Course

Course Accreditation

QLS-01977

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Animal Care and Welfare Level 2

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Animal Care Course

Animal Care and Welfare Diploma
Level 2

The Animal Care course explores the care and husbandry of a variety of companion animals. It has been carefully designed for anyone working, or wanting to work in a variety of animal care roles in the animal charity sector as well as boarding, pet sitting and the veterinary sector. 

This course is also for those wanting to gain more knowledge about the care and welfare of animals kept as companion animals.

Learn about a variety of companion animals including Dogs, Cats, Small Animals, Equines, Birds, Rabbits, Reptiles and Invertebrate. 

Learn about their care, welfare, nutrition and how to ensure their proper expression of behaviour through environmental enrichment.

The course concentrates on animal well-being according to a better understanding and applied interpretation of their biology.

This is a 6 module course. Modules 1 - 4 (Canine Care, Feline Care, Rabbit Care and the Animal Body) are compulsory modules. Learners can select 2 further modules and may choose from: Equine Care, Small Animal Care, Reptile & Invertebrate Care or Dog Walking).

This course includes a 1 or 2 week optional practical at an animal welfare charity in Gloucestershire

Module 1

The Animal Body

Module 1 of the Animal Care Course covers an introduction to the physiology of the companion animal through the study of body systems as well as the causes of disease that affect companion animals.

Module 2

Canine Care

This module explores the basic needs & care of dogs including their nutritional needs. Canine care involves being able to provide enrichment and exercise activities that are appropriate to various breeds and that meet their emotional needs too. Learn about the daily health check & how to recognise general signs of health & ill-health in the dog.

Module 3

Feline Care 

Feline care involves having an understanding of the daily health check & common health problems in cats. Learn about the basic principles of first aid and gain an understanding of how to manage the first aid treatments of a range of common feline injuries.  The nutritional needs of the cat are also explored in this module. 

Module 4

Rabbit Care

The rabbit is one the most vulnerable animals kept as a pet as their needs are often poorly understood. This module of the animal care course, provides an understanding of exercise & enrichment for rabbits, their specific nutritional requirements and rabbit health & disease.

Module 5

Equine Care

Explore the normal behaviour & physiology of the healthy horse and learn how to provide good equine care.  Learn about basic equine anatomy. This module includes information about equine first aid and how to maintain the contents of a first aid kit for equines. 

Module 6

Small Animal Care 

Small animals include the guinea pig, rodents, degu and birds. Learn how to provide adequate exercise & environmental enrichment for small animals, as well as how to recognise, prevent and respond to common health disorders. This module includes information about nutrition and appropriate foods for a range of small animals.

Module 7

Care of the Reptile & Invertebrate

This module is unusual in that it investigates how to care for a range of invertebrates (animal without a backbone) that are kept as ‘pets’. Caring for the the African Giant Land Snail is an example but more common, native species are also considered. Learn about the ecology of these animals as well as that of reptiles so that you can care for them properly. Accommodation for both the invertebrates and reptiles is included in this module.

Module 8

Dog Walking

Professional dog walking is becoming popular as career and it is a long-standing requirement for anyone who cares for dogs. This module covers all aspects of walking dogs; including equipment, dogs and the law, handling and restraint and understanding canine aggression.