Veterinary students participating in an offsite elective with the Louisiana SPCA gain hands-on experience in shelter and community veterinary medicine within a high-volume, mission-driven environment. Students work alongside veterinarians and veterinary support staff while participating in preventive care, diagnosis and treatment of common medical conditions, population medicine, infectious disease management, and high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter.
Students may rotate through both our shelter and public-facing Community Clinic, providing exposure to the unique medical, financial, and social considerations involved in caring for shelter animals and pets belonging to underserved members of the community. Depending on experience level and caseload, students may participate in physical examinations, development of diagnostic and treatment plans, interpretation of diagnostic testing, surgical procedures, anesthesia, client communication, medical record documentation, and case follow-up.
The elective emphasizes practical clinical decision-making, efficient patient care, resource-conscious medicine, animal welfare, and the veterinarian’s role in improving access to veterinary care. Students are encouraged to take an active role in cases while receiving mentorship and supervision from experienced veterinarians.
The Louisiana SPCA provides veterinary students with access to a multidisciplinary veterinary team that includes experienced shelter and community medicine veterinarians, veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, and client service staff. Students work directly with supervising veterinarians and receive case-based instruction, clinical mentorship, and opportunities for hands-on participation appropriate to their level of training and experience.
Our veterinary facilities include dedicated examination and treatment areas, surgical suites, dental equipment, anesthesia and patient monitoring equipment, digital radiography, in-house laboratory capabilities, microscopy, and pharmacy resources. Students also have access to outside reference laboratories and specialty diagnostic services when indicated.
The combination of our public Community Clinic, shelter medical program, and high-volume surgical services provides a diverse clinical caseload and allows students to gain experience with individual patient care, population medicine, preventive medicine, surgery, dentistry, diagnostic testing, infectious disease management, and resource-conscious clinical decision-making.
Students are expected to participate as active members of the veterinary team rather than solely shadowing clinicians. Elective experiences are generally scheduled Monday through Saturday, with specific days and service assignments determined by the student’s learning objectives, clinical interests, and the needs of the veterinary program. Students should anticipate full clinical days, typically approximately 8 hours per day, and are expected to arrive on time and remain engaged throughout their scheduled shift.
Under the direct supervision of a veterinarian, students may assist with patient examinations, history taking, development of differential diagnoses and treatment plans, diagnostic sample collection and interpretation, medical record documentation, client communication, inpatient and shelter patient care, anesthesia, and surgical procedures. The degree of hands-on participation will be based on the student’s year in veterinary school, demonstrated competency, comfort level, and the supervising veterinarian’s discretion. Students are encouraged to ask questions, research cases, participate in clinical discussions, and progressively assume greater responsibility as appropriate.
Students are expected to demonstrate professionalism, reliability, initiative, and respect for clients, animals, staff, volunteers, and fellow students. Our organizational Core Values are incorporated into the elective experience, and students are expected to be compassionate toward people and pets, adaptable, creative problem solvers, emotionally intelligent, inclusive, and humbly confident in their approach to veterinary medicine.
Because shelter and community medicine can be fast-paced and caseloads vary daily, flexibility and teamwork are essential. Students should come prepared to learn, contribute to patient care, and participate wherever they can provide meaningful support while maintaining patient safety and high standards of veterinary care.
1700 Mardi Gras Blvd
New Orleans, LA 70114
United States