Objectives

To gain authorisation to provide pain relief during lamb castration, you must show you can:

• Communicate and know the risks and after-care instructions when using pain relief during castration in the absence of a veterinarian.
• Prepare, assemble, and check all equipment, including troubleshooting vaccine guns used in administration. 
• Evaluate lamb weight, lamb health and the environment for suitability to use injectable pain relief during castration.
• Be methodical in administration of injectable local anaesthetic, injectable non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, and/or oral mucosal meloxicam.
• Be methodical in castration and post-castration care.
• Be reactive and know what to when problems occur, e.g. with equipment, adverse drug events, and accidental human administration.

Outcomes

Meeting the objectives will ensure you can confidently:

• Evaluate and manage lambs prior to, and after castration.
• Examine safe and effective use of pain relief at castration, including:
• Local anaesthetic at castration site.
• Systemic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory use (injectable meloxicam, oral buccal mucosal meloxicam).
• Safely and effectively perform castration using rubber rings.

Guidance

You must be working alongside a qualified veterinarian to verify your competency in administering xylazine for sedation during calf disbudding.

Resources

Once your registration is received, you will sent access to the resources in VetScholar (NZVA's online learning platform) which you will need to work through to complete the authorisation. The materials are only available to those working with veterinary clinics.

Authorisation

You must complete the following to gain authorisation:

1. Authorisation form, completed by participant and supervising veterinarian.
2. Attestation of learner competency, including verification of employment, completed by supervising veterinarian. 

Authorisations are only valid for 12 months while working with the supervising veterinarian. If employment changes, a new authorisation will need to be completed.

Cost

$30 incl. GST.