Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology

The course provides basic understanding of the principles of drug administration, pharmacokinetics, biotransformation, pharmacodynamics and drug receptor interaction. The course emphasizes drugs belonging to the main pharmacological and chemotherapeutic classes. The pharmacological bases of veterinary therapy are also provided.Knowledge in veterinary toxicology is also provided with information on sources of intoxications, acute and chronic toxicity, toxicokinetic, metabolism and mechanism of actions of toxic substances, considering species-specific differences.

1) Knowledge and understanding: knowledge of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and toxicology. Know the mechanisms of action of drugs, their use and safety. Know the main toxicants responsible for acute and chronic poisoning, in the various animal species, and their mechanisms of action.
2) Appling knowledge and understanding: to be able to choose an appropriate drug, to know the rules for its prescription and administration and to consider the risks and benefits of the treatment, as well as assess the kinetic profile and manage pharmacovigilance. Acquiring skills to evaluate poisoning episode in the different animal species, associating it with the main toxic agents.
3) Making judgments: will have to develop critical and judgmental skills by critically addressing the frontal and practical lessons and the study of the various topics on the material provided by the teacher and on the textbooks.
4) Communication skills: being able to expose the notions acquired with an appropriate terminology consistent with the terminology used in the other disciplines both during lectures, when intervening during classroom discussions, and during practical lessons.
5) Life long learning skills: being able to effectively face the study of professionalizing subjects in order to have a complete preparation to enter the world of work.