Comparative Stream I

Course Overview

VET 432A (Comparative Stream I) teaches disease mechanisms across diverse animal species. Students examine how pathophysiological processes manifest differently in dogs, cats, horses, cattle, birds, reptiles, and exotic animals. Focus areas: cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, endocrine disorders, infectious diseases, and metabolic derangements. The comparative approach reveals species-specific anatomy, physiology, and clinical presentation variations that influence diagnosis and treatment decisions.

Learning Objectives

• Compare cardiovascular anatomy and pathology across species
• Understand species-specific respiratory disease manifestations
• Apply endocrine diagnosis and management across animal types
• Recognize common infectious diseases affecting multiple species
• Evaluate metabolic disorders in comparative context
• Develop differential diagnoses considering species-specific epidemiology