Avian Medicine

with Dr Michael Cannon

February 2009

Do you have a special interest in all things avian?

The Avian Medicine Distance Education Program provides veterinarians with the opportunity to extend their skills and knowledge in a variety of avian medicine topics. Study is flexible and coordinated in your own time. The majority of your study can be completed in your practice and at home, catering for the busy practitioner.

This course is available to all veterinarians, regardless of their location or background, who have the desire to develop or refresh their knowledge of avian medicine.

By participating in this course, you can expect to:

• gain the skills to assess the ability of your practice to deliver an effective clinical examination of avian patients
• improve your knowledge of the diagnostic techniques commonly used in avian medicine, as well as their interpretation and application
• develop an understanding of effective delivery of medications to your avian patients, including critical and emergency care
• gain exposure to current approaches for anaesthesia and surgery on avian patients
• improve your understanding of common medical conditions, including an awareness of exotic diseases and special requirements for paediatric medicine
• gain a greater understanding of the different approaches required for companion birds compared to avicultural medicine

Tutor

Dr Mike Cannon
BVSc MACVSc Grad Dip Ed

Mike Cannon is a well-known Australian avian veterinarian who has tremendous experience over the past 30 years working with pet birds in private practice and in aviculture as well as wildlife parks and zoos. He has held many important positions within the bird industry and is a fine educator, having delivered lectures and seminars on avian topics nationally and internationally to both veterinarians and bird carers. His course will help you to gain an increased understanding of avian medicine and improve your capacity to handle bird cases. Mike maintains a small collection of Australian and exotic parrots and is involved in the rehabilitation of Australian native animals, particularly birds.

Until mid-2001, Mike Cannon was the teacher-in-charge of zookeeping at the Sydney Institute of Technology. This course was based at Taronga Zoo, Mosman. He was also the project officer for the Curriculum Development of Accreditation of Zookeeping Certificate for the NSW TAFE Commission.

Mike is a consultant veterinarian to many wildlife parks and a member of the Non-Indigenous Animals Advisory Committee to NSW, minister for agriculture and chairman of its avian sub-committee. He is a past president of the Avian Health Chapter of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists and a past President of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, Australian Chapter. He is also a member of the Animal Welfare and Ethics Board of the NSW TAFE Commission.

Enquiries

Please contact Leo Adler, course coordinator.

All DE participants are required to be CVE members.