Foundations of Large Animal Medicine

Large animal medicine spans livestock and equine practice. Sound practice rests on understanding individual animal care, herd health, and the economic context of production agriculture. This foundational course provides that base. By the end of this course you will be able to describe the species covered in large animal practice, recognize the difference between individual and herd-level approaches, identify common conditions across livestock and equine medicine, and understand the basics of production economics. What you will learn: - Species and categories in large animal practice including cattle, horses, sheep, goats, and swine - Individual animal assessment and handling considerations - Herd health concepts and the role of preventive medicine - Common conditions in dairy and beef cattle including production-related disease - Common equine conditions including colic and lameness - Common conditions in small ruminants and swine - The economic context of production agriculture and how it shapes medical decisions The course uses readings, species summaries, case examples, and reflection questions. Each module ends with applied exercises. This course is written for veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and students entering large animal practice. It does not replace supervised clinical training or species-specific specialty mentorship. By the end you will have a structured foundation in large animal medicine.