During this clinical rotation, students gain practical experience working with both companion animals and livestock under the supervision of veterinary professionals. The rotation provides exposure to routine veterinary care, diagnostic procedures, and treatment planning while helping students develop foundational clinical and professional skills across a wide range of species. We commonly work with multiple species on a daily basis, with our large animal caseload consisting mostly of beef cattle, equine, small ruminant and camelids.
Students gain experience in small and large animal medicine cases, assisting with patient evaluations, treatment planning, and follow-up care. The rotation includes management of hospitalized patients, where students manage hospitalized patients, fluid therapy, medication administration, and supportive care. Students will also assist with emergency and urgent care cases, developing an understanding of triage, stabilization, and emergency treatment protocols.
Along with extensive medicine cases, students will also be immersed in the typical day-to day appointments. Routine wellness, vaccines, follow-up appointments typical for small animal. On the large animal side they will also complete bovine fertility tests, working calves, dystoicas, down cow calls, colics, routine equine exams and lameness exams.
The rotation also provides extensive experience in veterinary surgery, allowing students to hone their skills doing common procedures including spay and neuter surgeries, orthopedic procedures, and general soft tissue surgeries such as cystotomies, enterotomies, and gastrotomies. Students may also gain exposure to large animal surgical procedures when available.
In addition to companion animals and traditional livestock, students gain experience with small ruminants, camelids, and occasional exotic species, broadening their understanding of species-specific handling, medicine, and preventive care.
We are a full-service, independently owned, mixed animal veterinary practice equipped with an in-house laboratory, access to a local referral laboratory, digital radiology, and both large and small animal ultrasound. Our mobile unit allows us to provide convenient farm call services for our large animal clients.
Our team currently consists of four veterinarians supported by six experienced veterinary technicians, allowing us to provide efficient and compassionate care. We routinely host students and enjoy mentoring and working with the future of our profession.
For large animal patients, our facility includes an in-clinic bovine working facility with a hydraulic chute, as well as hospitalization pens when needed. We also maintain stocks designed for the safe handling and treatment of equine patients.
Our hours are M-F (8a-5p) Sat (8a-12p) along with emergency services. Calling students in for after-hours calls is at the discretion of the doctor on call and the student.
Appointments/ Day Admissions/ Surgeries: Jump right in! Students will be expected to work up drop off appointments starting with a complete physical exam, cases then will be presented to/ discussed with the clinician in the same manner as you would complete rounds. No diagnostics, treatments, or diagnosis will be performed, completed or finalized until discussed with and okayed by the clinician on the case. Appointments and surgeries will vary based on case load, and the student’s learning objectives; with similar expectations for drop off appointments. If samples are collected TVMDL forms can be found in the office and should be completed along side the clinician for submission. On the large animal side, any regularity forms should be completed alongside the clinician and if needed samples prepared and sent to the diagnostic lab.
Medical Records: During orientation we will discuss what is expected of record keeping during your time here!
Follow-up/ Client communications: The attending student will make follow up calls as needed, and/or when pending test results are available for their patients. These calls should be documented in the patients medical record, even if a message is just left.
In a mixed animal practice, you will see a variety of cases, and our schedule will reflect this. Be prepared for early starts and late evenings, especially during busier times of the year. The goal of this rotation is to get students exposure to may types of cases seen in mixed animal practice, and allow you to grow your knowledge base and apply your skills.
Rounds: Informal rounds regarding hospitalized/surgery or scheduled patients will be conducted daily. Students can expect all attending doctors to ask questions before, and after appointments/ surgeries. 99% of the time they will be open ended questions, don’t get nervous and answer honestly. This is to help you develop out of the box/ critical thinking skills, not to stump you. Be prepared to work with multiple doctors on cases that you are not lead on, we bounce ideas and questions off of each other on a daily bases. Majority of the time we are just asking for feedback, ideas and/or opinions on an image, lab result ect. Collaboration is one of our favorite parts of practice! We are ALL here to help you become a successful Veterinarian, and learn from you!
2004 Church St
Gonzales, TX 78629
United States