Large Animal Internal Medicine, Management, and Pathology

The module aims to integrate students' knowledge with specialized clinical concepts related to the most common diseases affecting cattle and small ruminants. Some of the topics covered during the theoretical and practical activities will include:

Clinical reasoning based on the "general examination" clinical visit, which involves a comprehensive examination including an extensive search for abnormalities in the individual patient (10 hours of clinical activity with patients affected by spontaneous diseases hospitalized at the Ruminant and Swine Clinic of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Lodi).
Management of calf bronchopneumonia using thoracic ultrasound as a systematic diagnostic tool within predisposed animal groups (4 hours of activity at a livestock farm in the province of Lodi).
Management of neonatal calf diarrhea through a pathogen-focused approach (4 hours of activity at a livestock farm in the province of Lodi).
Practical use of blood gas analysis as a point-of-care diagnostic tool in cattle farming (4 hours of activity at a livestock farm in the province of Lodi).
Management of calf colostrum intake following the new guidelines from the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) for the prevention of the most common neonatal diseases (4 hours of activity at a livestock farm in the province of Lodi).
Practical clinical management of the transition cow (4 hours of activity at a livestock farm in the province of Lodi).
Literature research with practical examples of how to use databases and veterinary support services to assist young veterinarians in solving complex clinical cases and herd problems, following an evidence-based medicine approach (2 hours of activity in a multifunctional room at the Department)

The module aims to integrate students' knowledge with specialized clinical concepts related to the most common diseases of farm animals. Furthermore, this module aims to improve students' understanding for the proper management of medical therapy in the most frequent diseases affecting farm animals. Some of the topics covered during the theoretical and practical activities of this module will include:

Clinical reasoning based on the "general examination" type clinical visit, which involves a thorough general assessment including an extensive search for abnormalities in the individual patient (10 hours of clinical activity with spontaneously ill patients hospitalized at the Ruminant and Swine Clinic of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Lodi).
The choice of therapy in livestock medicine: a precision approach and the rational use of antimicrobials (2-hour seminar).
Practical course in veterinary therapy through the use of the electronic veterinary prescription within the National Pharmacovigilance Information System (4 hours of activity in a multifunctional classroom of the Department).

The objective of the module is to provide students, through practical experiences (seminars, labs, farm visits), with a set of tools to address the management of the main infectious diseases of ruminants, with particular focus on diagnosis, prevention, and farm-level management. By the end of the module, students should have acquired the ability to correctly identify critical control points on farms that may contribute to the onset of infectious diseases, and to properly use diagnostic and therapeutic tools in order to prevent and control such diseases. This will ultimately benefit both the safety and profitability of production, in accordance with the One Health approach.

Classroom seminar: "General aspects and management of farm-level critical points for mastitis control" (2 hours, classroom in the teaching area)
Identification and management of farm critical points, hygienic milking procedures, milk sampling for bacteriological diagnosis (4 hours of activities at a livestock farm in the province of Lodi)
Organization and activities in a microbiological diagnostic laboratory (4 hours in the teaching laboratory)
Reading and interpretation of milk bacteriological analyses (2 hours in the teaching laboratory)
Management and interpretation of farm data from milk recording schemes and evaluation of on-farm diagnostic test performance (2 hours in the computer lab)
Classroom seminar: "General aspects and management of farm-level critical points for the control of infectious diseases in swine" (2 hours, classroom in the teaching area)

The course aims to provide theoretical knowledge and key technical skills for reproductive management in dairy cattle and swine farms. The practical approach is intended to equip students with comprehensive clinical training, preparing them to handle the main gynecological and obstetrical conditions of veterinary interest, as well as the routine reproductive management of cattle and swine herds. By the end of the course, students should be able to perform a reproductive tract examination in cows and be familiar with the main tools for manipulating, monitoring, and treating reproduction in cows and sows.

Clinical examination of the bovine reproductive tract, recognition of main physiological (including pregnancy diagnosis) and pathological conditions, and management of therapy: practical training through visits to cattle farms - 8 hours
Principles of estrous cycle manipulation (including synchronization protocols), artificial insemination, and advanced reproductive technologies in cattle species; practical training on embryo transfer with the contribution of a private practitioner - 4 hours
Overview of main herd management software systems for fertility evaluation and control; seminar on farm data analysis with an industry expert - 2 hours
Reproductive physiology and management in sows - theoretical background and practical examples - 2 hours

The module aims to provide students with knowledge of the pathology of cattle, sheep and goats, as well as swine, contextualized within different types of farming systems. The course will offer guidelines for performing necropsies; for collecting samples intended for various diagnostic analyses; and for describing and interpreting microscopic findings of morphological alterations observed during necropsy. Students will acquire knowledge of domestic ruminant and swine pathology, learn to recognize their characteristic morphological features on the carcass, independently manage the autopsy examination as well as the collection and preservation of samples for diagnostic investigations; they will also learn to describe simple histological preparations.

Approach to necropsy: acquisition of techniques used in different types of animals (6 hours)
Collection and management of various types of samples taken during the autopsy examination (1 hour)
Processing of histological samples (1 hour)
Microscopic examination of histological preparations obtained from processing samples collected during necropsies performed in the course (3 hours)
Reading and interpretation of findings (3 hours)
Writing an anatomical pathology report and presenting it to colleagues (2 hours)

The module aims to provide theoretical and practical knowledge on the use of precision livestock farming for monitoring the management and welfare of ruminants and swine, both on farms and during hospitalization. Students will acquire knowledge and understand the advantages and limitations of sensor technologies, learn to correctly interpret the results, and implement necessary management changes to improve the welfare of ruminants and swine both in the farm environment and in clinical settings.

Description of the main technologies available for monitoring the welfare of ruminants and swine on farms (4 hours)
Practical application of sensors for the assessment of welfare in farmed and hospitalized livestock (6 hours)
Case study analysis: interpretation of sensor outputs (both herd and individual), identification of the advantages and limitations of different technologies (6 hours)

The module aims to provide theoretical and practical knowledge on the use of indicators for assessing the welfare of farm animals in livestock production. Students will acquire knowledge about the risk and management factors that influence animal welfare on farms, and will also learn to apply the main welfare assessment systems for swine in farming environments.

Main behavioral and health indicators for livestock species (4 hours)
Main structural and management risk factors influencing the welfare of farm animals in livestock production (6 hours)
Data collection systems for the assessment of welfare in swine farming (6 hours)