Arkansas FFA Veterinary Science

Career Development Event

  1. Purpose

The purpose of the veterinary science career development event is to promote college and career readiness by providing opportunities to develop technical knowledge and demonstrate practical skills in the field of veterinary science.

  1. Event Rules
  1. Team can consist of four members with all four members’ scores counting toward the total team score.
  2. Tools and Equipment:
  3. Students will need to have: pencils, non-programmable calculators and clipboards.
  4. Arkansas FFA and the host site will provide the specific tools and equipment needed to complete the practicums.
  5. Due to sanitation reasons, some items that may be needed in the event (such as stethoscopes) will need to be provided by the participant or their chapter. Teams will be provided a list of specific items needed for a specific year based on the event activities.
  1. Event Format
  1. Written Exam – 100 points
  2. The objective, multiple-choice exam is designed to determine team members’ broad understanding of the veterinary science field. The written exam will consist of 50 multiple-choice questions. The resource material that questions will be pulled from is: “Veterinary Science, Preparatory Training for the Veterinary Assistant” by Floron C. Faries, Jr., DVM, MS.
  3. Topics for the exam will be on a two year rotation as listed below:
  4. Odd Years:
  5. Chapter 1: Introduction
  6. Chapter 4: Normal Animal
  7. Chapter 5: Animal Nutrition
  8. Chapter 9: Human and Animal Health
  9. Chapter 10: Infectious Diseases
  10. Chapter 11: Non-Infectious Diseases
  11. Chapter 12: Principles & Methods of Disease Control
  12. Chapter 15: Production Practices
  13. Chapter 17: Animal Management During Emergencies
  14. Even Years:
  15. Chapter 1: Introduction
  16. Chapter 2: Practice Management
  17. Chapter 3: Patient Management
  18. Chapter 6: Handling & Restraining Animals
  19. Chapter 7: Assisting with Examinations & Treatments
  20. Chapter 8: Laboratory Aids & Examinations
  21. Chapter 13: Sterilization & Disinfection
  22. Chapter 14: Assisting with Surgery
  23. Chapter 16: Regulatory Veterinary Medicine
  24. Identification – 100 Points Total
  25. Participants will identify equipment, parasites and breeds/species for a total of 100 points (2 points per item). Identification lists are located on the website.
  26. Equipment – 50 points (25 items)
  27. Participants will identify pieces of equipment (actual equipment or photos). Resource material: “Veterinary Instruments and Equipment, a Pocket Guide” by Teresa Sonsthagen.
  28. Parasites – 30 Points (15 items)
  29. Participants will identify parasites (specimen or photos). Resource material: Parasites powerpoint located on the website.
  30. Breeds – 20 points (10 items)
  31. Participants will identify breeds/species of small and large animals (photos or live animals) based on the following six year rotation:
  32. 2016: Dog Breeds (Resource: AKC Website, photos and drawings)
  33. 2017: Cats, Rabbits, Birds, Small Mammals, Reptiles, Poultry and Potbellied Pig (Resource for cats: Cat Fanciers Association Website, Resources for all others: Powerpoint on website)
  34. 2018: Dairy Cattle, Beef Cattle, Swine, Horse, Goat and Sheep (Resource: Powerpoint on website)
  35. 2019: Dog Breeds (Resource: AKC Website, photos and drawings)
  36. 2020: Cats, Rabbits, Birds, Small Mammals, Reptiles, Poultry and Potbellied Pig (Resource for cats: Cat Fanciers Association Website, Resources for all others: Powerpoint on website)
  37. 2021: Dairy Cattle, Beef Cattle, Swine, Horse, Goat and Sheep (Resource: Powerpoint on website)
  38. Practicums – 200 points Total
  39. Math Application Practicum – 100 Points
  40. The number of practicum questions will vary based on the type of activity that is assigned. Participants will have 30 minutes to complete the entire math application practicum. Questions may include conversions, dose calculations, dilutions, cost calculations and invoices.
  41. Practicums – 100 Points (Members will either compete in a handling and restraining practicum or a clinical procedure practicum)
  42. Handling and Restraining Practicum
  43. Fifteen to Thirty Minutes will be allotted for this section depending on the activities selected each year. Participants are expected to talk through the handling and restraining steps to a judge as they are being scored. Judges may speak and ask questions to the participant at the end of each activity, if time allows. All handling and restraining scorecards can be found on the website.
  44. Possible Handling and Restraining Practicums based on the following six year rotation:
  45. 2016
  46. Carrying a Cat
  47. “Cat Stretch” (Restraint of the Cat in Lateral Recumbency)
  48. Removing a Dog from a Cage or Kennel
  49. Haltering a Horse
  50. 2017
  51. Applying a Cat Muzzle
  52. Tying a Half Hitch
  53. Restraint of a Rabbit
  54. Applying a Gauze Dog Muzzle
  55. 2018
  56. Restraint of the Cat for Cephalic Venipuncture
  57. Restraint of a Small Dog in Lateral Recumbency
  58. Tying a Bowline Knot
  59. Placing a Tail Tie
  60. 2019
  61. Using a Cat Bag
  62. Tying a Double Half Hitch Knot
  63. Building a Temporary Rope Halter for a Cow
  64. Restraint of the Dog for Cephalic Venipuncture
  65. 2020
  66. Restraint of the Cat for Jugular Venipuncture
  67. Restraint of the Dog for Venipuncture of the Lateral Saphenous Vein
  68. Haltering Cattle
  69. Tying a Reefer’s Knot
  70. 2021
  71. Removing a Cat from a Cage
  72. Applying a Commercial Dog Muzzle
  73. Restraint of the Dog for Jugular Venipuncture
  74. Restraint of the Dog in Sternal Recumbency
  75. Tying a Square Knot
  76. Clinical Procedures Practicum
  77. Fifteen to thirty minutes will be allotted for this section depending on the activities selected each year. Participants are expected to talk through the clinical procedure steps to a judge as they are being scored. Judges may speak and ask questions to the participant at the end of the activity, if time allows. All clinical procedures scorecards can be found on the website.
  78. Possible Clinical Procedures Practicums based on the following six year rotation:
  79. 2016
  80. Administering an Intramuscular Injection
  81. Opening a Surgery Pack
  82. Removal of Sutures
  83. 2017
  84. Administering a Subcutaneous Injection
  85. Bandage Application
  86. Fecal Floatation
  87. 2018
  88. Administering Ophthalmic Medication
  89. Bandage Removal
  90. Surgical Preparation
  91. 2019
  92. Administering a Topical Medication
  93. Prepare a Gram-Stained Slide
  94. Open a Gown and Gloves
  95. 2020
  96. Administering Aural Medication
  97. Filling a Syringe
  98. Collect a Sample for Dermatophyte Culture and Inoculate Dermatophyte Culture Media
  99. 2021
  100. Use of a Microscope
  101. Prepare a Surgical Pack for Sterilization
  102. Prescription Filling
  1. Event Scoring

Written Exam100 points per member

Identification100 points per member

Math Application Practicum100 points per member

Practicum100 points per member

Maximum Total Points Per Member400 points

Maximum Total Points Per Team1,600 points

  1. Tiebreakers
  1. Team tiebreakers will be settled in the following order:
  2. Combined individual practicum total score
  3. Combined individual written exam total score
  4. Individual tiebreakers will be settled in the following order:
  5. Combined practicum score
  6. Written exam score