Knowledge of the common medical diseases of small animals is essential in order to be able to provide the best possible nursing.

Infectious diseases of cats and dogs (including zoonoses) are covered separately in Chapter 10. You will find information related to this chapter in the Surgical Nursing section since medical conditions that may be corrected by surgery are covered there.

When you reach Module 9 - Medical Diseases of the Cutaneous System, it is important not to forget that parasites are an important cause of skin disease. Please refer to Part II - Chapter 6 - Elementary Parasitology & Bacteriology.

Learning Objectives
The learning objectives of this chapter are:

• To understand the nutritional requirements of small animals suffering from cancer (see Part 1 - Nutrition & Feeding) and to be able to provide suitable diets for sick patients in your care.
• To recognise medical conditions and diseases affecting the respiratory system and be able to provide effective nursing.
• To recognise medical conditions and diseases affecting the circulatory and haematopoeitic systems and be able to provide effective nursing.
• To recognise medical conditions and diseases affecting the digestive system and be able to provide effective nursing.
• To recognise medical conditions and diseases affecting the urinary system and be able to provide effective nursing.
• To recognise medical conditions and diseases affecting the endocrine system and be able to provide effective nursing.
• To recognise medical conditions and diseases of the skeletal system and be able to provide effective nursing.
• To recognise medical conditions and diseases of the cutaneous system and be able to provide effective nursing.
• To recognise medical conditions and diseases of the eye and ear and be able to provide effective nursing.
• To provide effective nursing in animals suffering from seizures.
• To provide effective nursing in animals suffering from paralysis/paresis.

NB. Poisons are included in this section of the syllabus; information on this subject can be found in Part I - First Aid.