European College of Equine Internal Medicine

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General knowledge and skills in equine internal medicine

General learning outcomes for the residency-training programme: 

  1. Ability to explain disease mechanisms and selection of appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic modalities.
  2. Ability to perform common diagnostic and therapeutic procedures used in equine internal medicine and interpret the results.
  3. Ability to identify risk and implement preventative measures.
  4. Ability to evaluate experimental design, statistical and epidemiological outcomes.  

The resident should develop technical skills in the use of diagnostic and treatment modalities commonly used in equine internal medicine. The following is not an exclusive list:

  1. Rectal palpation, rebreathing exam, neurological exam, basic lameness exam, ophthalmic exam, basic reproductive exam, nerve blocks
  2. Catheter types and placement (intravenous, intra-arterial, sub-palpebral, urinary, tracheal), maintenance and monitoring
  3. Ultrasonography (cardiac, thoracic, abdominal, peripheral vasculature)
  4. Radiography (skull, cervical spine, thoracic, limb)
  5. Endoscopy (upper and lower airway, stomach/proximal duodenum, urinary tract)
  6. Transtracheal wash, Bronchoalveolar lavage, cytological interpretation
  7. CSF/peritoneal/thoracic tap, tissue biopsy (liver, lung, spleen, kidney, muscle, skin, mass), bone marrow biopsy, interpretation
  8. ECG (static and exercising) and interpretation
  9. Arterial and venous blood gas, urinalysis, interpretation
  10. Resuscitation, intubation, use of an ambu-bag
  11. Whole blood and plasma collection, different fluid therapy options  

In addition to self-study, it is expected that engagement in case presentations, journal and book reading clubs and course and/or conference attendance will assist the resident in acquiring necessary knowledge in equine anatomy, biochemistry, physiology and pathophysiology, equine exercise physiology, equine ethology, equine nutrition, clinical reasoning, experimental study design, statistics, epidemiology, preventive medicine, pharmacology, virology, bacteriology, parasitology, diagnostic and therapeutic measures.