Foundations of Veterinary Surgery: Principles and Patient Preparation

Veterinary surgery rests on sound principles of patient preparation, aseptic technique, and structured assessment. This foundational course provides that base. By the end of this course you will be able to describe the principles of preoperative patient assessment, recognize the elements of aseptic technique, identify the role of surgical instrumentation, and understand the principles of anesthesia monitoring during surgery. What you will learn: - The principles of preoperative assessment including bloodwork and ASA status - The principles of aseptic technique including sterilization, scrubbing, and draping - The role of common surgical instrumentation and packs - The principles of suture selection and basic suturing patterns - The principles of anesthesia monitoring including vital sign trends - The principles of recovery and postoperative pain management - The principles of communication with owners about surgical risk The course uses readings, technique summaries, case examples, and reflection questions. Each module ends with applied exercises. This course is written for veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and students strengthening surgical foundations. It does not replace supervised clinical training, internship training, or specialty mentorship. By the end you will have a structured foundation in veterinary surgical principles.