Animal Care & Veterinary

    City and Guilds of London Institute
    Vocational

    Specification: 610/0358/X

    The CITY-AND-GUILDS-OF-LONDON-INSTITUTE Vocational Animal Care & Veterinary specification covers 36 topics with 41 learning objectives (610/0358/X). Use the topic browser below to explore subtopics, exam tips, common mistakes, and key terminology for each area of the course.

    This subject will help you develop key knowledge and skills required for exam success.

    36

    Units

    41

    Learning Outcomes

    137

    Assessment Guidance

    154

    Key Skills

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    Key Features

    • Master key concepts
    • Develop exam technique
    • Apply knowledge effectively

    Common Exam Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exams

    • •Focusing solely on the human client while ignoring the dog’s body language, leading to heightened animal stress or avoidable nipping incidents.
    • •Failing to confirm vaccination records before allowing the dog into holding areas, risking disease transmission.
    • •Using jargon or technical terms without explanation, causing confusion or anxiety for the visitor.
    • •Neglecting to sanitise hands or surfaces between handling different dogs, compromising infection control.
    • •Neglecting to adequately scrub or prepare the surgical site, leading to contamination.
    • •Failing to recognize subtle signs of pain or discomfort in horses post-operatively due to misinterpretation of equine behaviour.
    • •Over-restricting movement in convalescent horses, leading to stiffness or ileus.
    • •Providing discharge instructions that are not tailored to the owner's level of experience or horse's specific needs, resulting in non-compliance.

    Top Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for exam success

    • •In practical assessments, narrate your actions as you perform them—explain why you are checking vaccination records or why you are allowing the dog to sniff your hand, demonstrating underpinning knowledge.
    • •Be prepared to write clear, factual incident reports during the written test; always include date, time, individuals involved, actions taken, and signatures.
    • •Memorise key legislation (e.g., Animal Welfare Act, Data Protection) and be ready to apply it to scenarios, such as refusing entry to an unvaccinated dog despite client pressure.
    • •Practice role-playing difficult visitor interactions, such as dealing with complaints or aggressive dogs, so you can showcase conflict resolution and safety strategies confidently.
    • •In written or oral assessments, always reference the rationale behind each nursing intervention, linking to equine anatomy and physiology.
    • •During practical assignments, demonstrate consistent aseptic technique and thorough monitoring, documenting all actions in the patient record.
    • •For case study scenarios, detail a holistic nursing plan from admission to discharge, including psychological care for the horse and education for the owner.
    • •In written or practical assessments, always structure your approach using the nursing process: assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation for each condition.

    Qualification Units

    36 units

    How this qualification is graded

    Vocational qualifications are marked against criteria, not an exam percentage. Each unit is assessed across three bands - build up from Pass by applying your knowledge to realistic workplace scenarios.

    Pass

    Accurately describe and explain the core knowledge for the unit and link it to the given scenario.

    Merit

    Apply and analyse that knowledge in detail, showing why it matters in the workplace context.

    Distinction

    Evaluate and justify decisions, weigh up alternatives and make well-reasoned professional recommendations.

    Welcome, receive and care for visitors to sites

    This element focuses on the essential front-of-house duties within a dog grooming salon, ensuring assistants can professionally welcome clients and their dogs, manage initial assessments, and maintain a safe and reassuring environment. Mastering these competencies is critical for building client trust, ensuring animal welfare, and complying with industry health and safety protocols from the point of entry.

    City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate for Dog Grooming Assistants

    1 learning outcomes8 guidance points

    Practical peri-operative veterinary nursing support for horses

    This subtopic addresses the comprehensive peri-operative nursing care of equine patients, encompassing preparation for surgery, immediate post-operative monitoring, convalescent support, procedure-specific interventions, and seamless transition to home care. It emphasizes aseptic technique, effective analgesia, wound management, and client education to ensure optimal recovery and welfare.

    City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Veterinary Nursing

    1 learning outcomes7 guidance points

    Practical veterinary nursing support of equine patients

    This element equips veterinary nursing students with the practical skills to support equine patients across a spectrum of clinical scenarios, from acute conditions like colic and laminitis to chronic disease management. Learners develop competence in advanced nursing interventions, strict isolation protocols, and the formulation of tailored home care plans that ensure continuity of care and owner compliance.

    City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Veterinary Nursing

    1 learning outcomes8 guidance points

    Handle payments from clients

    This element covers the correct procedures for handling client payments within a dog grooming salon, including cash, card, and digital transactions. It ensures learners can process payments accurately, maintain financial integrity, and provide professional customer service while adhering to salon policies and legal requirements. Mastery of this skill is essential for building trust and ensuring smooth business operations.

    City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate for Dog Grooming Assistants

    1 learning outcomes9 guidance points

    Comparative functional anatomy for veterinary nursing practice

    This element explores comparative functional anatomy across common veterinary species, emphasizing anatomical terminology and palpable landmarks essential for clinical procedures. It examines normal form and function of major body systems in mammals, birds, and reptiles, and how these relate to disease processes and subsequent nursing interventions.

    City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Veterinary Nursing

    1 learning outcomes9 guidance points

    Control and restrain animals

    This unit focuses on the safe and humane handling of dogs within a grooming environment, emphasizing the reduction of stress and the prevention of injury to both the animal and the handler. Learners develop essential practical skills in selecting and applying appropriate restraint methods—from gentle manual hold techniques to the correct use of muzzles and grooming restraints—while strictly adhering to current health and safety legislation and the principles of animal welfare.

    City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate for Dog Grooming Assistants

    1 learning outcomes4 guidance points

    Principles of supporting veterinary anaesthesia

    This subtopic provides foundational knowledge of anaesthetic principles, drugs, equipment, preparation, monitoring, and emergency response essential for safe veterinary nursing practice. Mastery ensures the veterinary nurse can support the veterinary surgeon in delivering safe anaesthesia, minimising risks to animal patients through vigilant monitoring and prompt intervention. It underpins the practical competence required to maintain aseptic technique, operate anaesthetic machines, and recognise deviations from normal physiological parameters.

    City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Veterinary Nursing

    1 learning outcomes10 guidance points

    Practical peri-operative veterinary nursing support for small animals

    This subtopic focuses on the practical nursing skills required to support small animal patients through the entire surgical journey, from preoperative preparation and intraoperative assistance to immediate postoperative monitoring, convalescent care, and discharge planning. Mastery involves applying species-specific knowledge, maintaining asepsis, monitoring vital signs, managing pain, and effectively communicating with the veterinary team and clients to ensure optimal patient outcomes.

    City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Veterinary Nursing

    1 learning outcomes10 guidance points

    Infection control in veterinary practice

    This subtopic covers the fundamental principles of infection control in veterinary settings, focusing on the chain of infection, transmission routes, and effective prevention strategies. Students learn to apply disinfection and sterilisation techniques, maintain hygienic environments, and implement personal protective measures to safeguard both animal and human health. Practical application includes establishing protocols for cleaning, waste management, and infection surveillance to minimise nosocomial infections.

    City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Veterinary Nursing

    1 learning outcomes6 guidance points

    Essentials of practical veterinary nursing care for hospitalised animals

    This element covers the fundamental hands-on skills required to deliver holistic care to hospitalised animals, ensuring their physiological and psychological well-being. It integrates clinical monitoring, hygiene protocols, nutritional support, mobility management, basic wound care, and safe medication administration as core competencies for a veterinary nurse. Mastery of these skills is essential for maintaining patient dignity, preventing complications, and supporting recovery in a clinical setting.

    City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Veterinary Nursing

    1 learning outcomes10 guidance points

    Understanding the operational requirements of a veterinary practice

    This subtopic delves into the foundational operational elements of a veterinary practice, essential for ensuring smooth clinical workflows and compliance with professional standards. Learners explore team dynamics, health and safety protocols, equipment husbandry, stock management, and meticulous record-keeping, all critical for delivering high-quality veterinary nursing care.

    City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Veterinary Nursing

    1 learning outcomes8 guidance points

    Preparing for professional registration

    This subtopic equips student veterinary nurses with the essential legal and ethical knowledge required for professional registration. It covers the legislative framework governing veterinary nursing, including the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 and the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct, ensuring practitioners understand their accountability, the principles of informed consent, and their duties towards clients, colleagues and animals. Mastery of these aspects is critical for safe, lawful practice and successful registration with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

    City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Veterinary Nursing

    1 learning outcomes10 guidance points

    Practical monitoring of small animal veterinary anaesthesia

    This element focuses on the practical competencies required of a veterinary nurse to ensure safe and effective anaesthesia in small animals. It encompasses the preparation and maintenance of anaesthetic equipment, assistance during patient preparation and induction, and vigilant monitoring of vital parameters from induction through to recovery. Mastery of these skills is critical to minimise anaesthetic risk and respond promptly to complications.

    City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Veterinary Nursing

    1 learning outcomes7 guidance points

    Principles of peri-operative veterinary nursing support for horses

    This subtopic covers the comprehensive nursing care required for horses undergoing surgery, from pre-operative preparation through to discharge and home convalescence. It emphasises the practical application of aseptic technique, patient monitoring, wound management, and client education to ensure optimal surgical outcomes and welfare in equine patients.

    City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Veterinary Nursing

    1 learning outcomes8 guidance points

    Principles of equine veterinary nursing emergency and critical care

    This element focuses on the principles of equine veterinary nursing within emergency and critical care contexts, covering initial field triage, first aid, intravenous catheterisation, and the intensive nursing of critically ill horses. It prepares veterinary nurses to support emergency interventions, apply advanced monitoring, and implement specialised care techniques tailored to the unique physiological, behavioural, and welfare needs of equine patients under acute stress.

    City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Veterinary Nursing

    1 learning outcomes10 guidance points

    Prepare and groom dogs prior to bathing

    This element focuses on the essential pre-bath preparation of dogs, including thorough assessment of coat condition, skin health, and temperament to determine appropriate grooming techniques. Learners must demonstrate safe and effective removal of excess hair, knots, and tangles using suitable tools while adhering to health and safety legislation and environmental best practices to protect both the dog and the workspace.

    City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate for Dog Grooming Assistants

    1 learning outcomes6 guidance points

    Supporting the supply of veterinary medicines

    This element equips veterinary nursing students with the knowledge to manage veterinary medicines safely and legally, from storage and supply to client communication. It covers regulatory frameworks such as the Veterinary Medicines Regulations, practical dispensing procedures, and the foundational pharmacodynamics that underpin drug actions and interactions. Mastery of these principles ensures patient safety, professional accountability, and effective support for veterinary surgeons in clinical practice.

    City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Veterinary Nursing

    1 learning outcomes7 guidance points

    Practical veterinary nursing support of small animal patients

    This subtopic focuses on the practical application of advanced nursing skills for small animal patients, encompassing care for common conditions, complex techniques, isolation protocols, chronic disease management plans, and active participation in nursing clinics. It equips learners to deliver holistic, evidence-based care while adapting to individual patient needs and promoting client education.

    City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Veterinary Nursing

    1 learning outcomes6 guidance points

    Understanding the essentials of veterinary nursing care for hospitalised animals

    This subtopic covers the holistic nursing care of hospitalised animals, emphasising a systematic approach from admission to discharge. It integrates patient assessment, species-specific and life-stage considerations, tailored accommodation, and safe medication administration to ensure optimal welfare and recovery. Practical application involves creating and following individualised care plans that address both physical and behavioural needs.

    City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Veterinary Nursing

    1 learning outcomes6 guidance points

    Principles of peri-operative veterinary nursing support for small animals

    This element covers the comprehensive nursing support required for small animal patients throughout the perioperative period, from pre-operative preparation and immediate post-operative monitoring to convalescent care and discharge planning. It emphasises species-specific considerations, surgical procedure adaptations, and the promotion of optimal recovery through evidence-based nursing interventions, ensuring patient welfare and client education for successful home convalescence.

    City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Veterinary Nursing

    1 learning outcomes8 guidance points

    Principles of veterinary nursing support for small animal patients

    This element equips veterinary nursing students with the skills to assess how disease processes (pathology) disrupt normal physiological functions, enabling them to plan and implement individualised care plans for small animal patients with common conditions. It emphasises wound management, infection control through isolation nursing, and continuity of care from clinic to home, including long-term illness support. Furthermore, it addresses the vital communication skills needed to compassionately guide clients through end-of-life decisions and bereavement.

    City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Veterinary Nursing

    1 learning outcomes12 guidance points

    Veterinary Nursing Support of Diagnostic Imaging

    This element covers the essential knowledge and practical skills required for veterinary nurses to support diagnostic imaging, including adherence to legal frameworks, understanding radiographic principles, operating equipment safely, positioning patients, capturing diagnostic images, and processing radiographs to ensure high-quality diagnostic outcomes for animal care.

    City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Veterinary Nursing

    1 learning outcomes7 guidance points

    Veterinary nursing support of laboratory diagnostics

    This element develops the veterinary nurse's competence in supporting laboratory diagnostics, focusing on the correct operation and maintenance of common laboratory equipment, accurate specimen collection and handling, reliable performance of routine pathological tests, and compliant preparation of samples for external transport, all within the legal and ethical framework of veterinary practice.

    City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Veterinary Nursing

    6 learning outcomes11 guidance points

    Bathe and clean dogs

    This subtopic covers the essential practical skill of bathing and cleaning dogs, including pre-bath preparation such as removing excess hair, knots, and tangles, and selecting appropriate shampoos and equipment for different coat types. Learners must demonstrate safe working practices, comply with health and safety legislation, and minimise environmental impact through correct water usage and waste disposal. Mastery of these skills underpins effective grooming and promotes canine skin and coat health.

    City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate for Dog Grooming Assistants

    1 learning outcomes7 guidance points

    Principles of veterinary nursing support for equine patients

    This element equips veterinary nursing students with the essential knowledge and skills to support equine patients across a variety of clinical and home environments. It covers the impact of common pathologies on normal function, planning and implementing individualized care, managing wounds and isolation protocols, and providing holistic support including long-term home care and bereavement guidance for owners.

    City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Veterinary Nursing

    1 learning outcomes12 guidance points

    Basic trim of a dog

    This subtopic covers the essential pre-bath grooming procedures of removing excess coat, mats, tangles, and dead hair, followed by a basic tidy trim to maintain the dog's coat condition and appearance. It focuses on foundational skills required by dog grooming assistants to prepare a dog for bathing and achieve a neat, balanced trim according to health and safety standards.

    City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate for Dog Grooming Assistants

    1 learning outcomes6 guidance points

    Equine neonatal care

    This subtopic covers the essential aspects of equine neonatal care, focusing on normal foal physiology, nutritional requirements, and routine veterinary procedures. It also addresses the nursing management of sick foals, including recognition of abnormalities, supportive care, and therapeutic interventions. Mastery of these competencies ensures the veterinary nurse can effectively contribute to the survival and well-being of neonatal foals in clinical practice.

    City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Veterinary Nursing

    1 learning outcomes8 guidance points

    Moving animals between locations

    This subtopic covers the protocols for safely transporting dogs between different areas within a grooming environment or between sites, emphasizing the use of appropriate handling equipment, risk assessment, and adherence to animal welfare legislation. It also includes maintaining hygiene to minimize environmental damage and keeping accurate records to ensure traceability and compliance. Practical application involves selecting the right equipment, calming anxious animals, and following step-by-step procedures to prevent injury, escape, or disease transmission.

    City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate for Dog Grooming Assistants

    1 learning outcomes9 guidance points

    Supporting veterinary operating theatre practice

    This element focuses on the essential role of the veterinary nurse in supporting surgical procedures, encompassing theatre design, aseptic technique, equipment management, and direct assistance during operations. Learners apply theoretical knowledge to maintain a sterile environment, manage surgical instruments, and ensure patient safety, all crucial for positive surgical outcomes. Practical competence is assessed through demonstration of circulating nurse duties and adherence to theatre protocols.

    City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Veterinary Nursing

    1 learning outcomes9 guidance points

    Dry dogs and prepare their coat for styling

    This element covers the essential post-bath procedures in dog grooming, including safe and effective drying techniques, coat preparation prior to styling, and nail clipping, all while maintaining high standards of canine welfare and salon hygiene. It equips learners with the skills to handle dogs calmly, communicate effectively with clients, and maintain equipment in line with health and safety regulations, ensuring a professional finish and positive customer experience.

    City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate for Dog Grooming Assistants

    1 learning outcomes7 guidance points

    Clean and maintain equipment used for grooming or removing hair from animals

    This subtopic covers the essential practices of cleaning, disinfecting, and maintaining dog grooming equipment such as clippers, blades, scissors, and brushes to ensure optimal performance, prolong tool lifespan, and safeguard animal welfare. Learners develop the ability to work safely, adhere to health and safety legislation like COSHH, and minimise environmental impact through correct waste disposal, aligning with industry standards for a professional grooming environment.

    City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate for Dog Grooming Assistants

    1 learning outcomes7 guidance points

    Principles of small animal veterinary nursing emergency and critical care

    This subtopic covers the essential knowledge and skills required to manage emergency and critical care cases in small animal veterinary nursing. Learners explore triage, first aid, intravenous catheterisation, and intensive nursing interventions, with a focus on monitoring, supportive care, and species-specific adaptations. Practical application includes the ability to stabilise patients, administer fluid therapy, and provide compassionate, evidence-based nursing to critically ill dogs, cats, and exotic species.

    City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Veterinary Nursing

    1 learning outcomes4 guidance points

    Professional relationships and communication for veterinary nursing practice

    This element explores the essential role of effective communication and professional relationships in veterinary nursing, focusing on how nurses interact with clients, colleagues, and the wider team to ensure optimal patient care and client satisfaction. It covers practical reception duties, the application of customer service principles, and the management of factors that can impact working relationships, all crucial for maintaining a harmonious and efficient practice environment.

    City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Veterinary Nursing

    1 learning outcomes9 guidance points

    Carry out reception duties

    This element focuses on the essential reception and client communication skills required in a dog grooming environment. Learners will develop the ability to handle enquiries, schedule appointments effectively, and provide a professional first point of contact, ensuring client satisfaction and smooth salon operations. Mastery of these duties is crucial for maintaining a positive reputation and fostering client loyalty.

    City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate for Dog Grooming Assistants

    1 learning outcomes7 guidance points

    Maintain the cleanliness and bio security of the animal care working environment

    This subtopic covers essential practices for maintaining a clean, hygienic, and secure dog grooming workspace, preventing cross-contamination between animals and ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations. Learners will develop skills in selecting appropriate cleaning agents, disinfecting equipment, safely disposing of waste, and implementing biosecurity measures to protect both canine clients and staff. Mastery of these procedures is crucial for achieving industry standards and passing practical assessments.

    City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate for Dog Grooming Assistants

    1 learning outcomes10 guidance points

    Applied animal welfare, health and husbandry for veterinary nurses

    This element equips veterinary nurses with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to promote and safeguard animal welfare through evidence-based husbandry, health management, and safe handling across a range of species. It integrates core concepts such as the Five Freedoms, species-specific environmental and nutritional needs, reproductive management, and identification techniques, enabling learners to deliver high-quality care and educate clients effectively. Mastery of these principles ensures holistic animal health and compliance with regulatory standards in veterinary practice.

    City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma In Veterinary Nursing

    1 learning outcomes9 guidance points

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    City and Guilds of London Institute Vocational Animal Care & Veterinary