Offsite Electives

Small animal full service hospital- community practice, urgent care, soft tissue surgery, orthopedic surgery and dental services. Mentorship and practice management/ownership experience provided. 

The veterinary externship at the South Florida Wildlife Center is designed to introduce the extern to wildlife medicine in a high-volume veterinary hospital and to expose the extern to the basics of wildlife handling, husbandry, and rehabilitation. The extern will be trained in the physical exam, triage, diagnostic testing, and surgery of a variety of wildlife species. They will gain knowledge of many common disease and injuries seen in willdife, be exposed to the operations of a wildlife center, and gain knowledge in humane coexistence with willdife. 

Dove Valley Animal Hospital is part of AZPetVet, a locally owner operated family of 21 small animal general practice hospitals. Dove Valley sees dogs, cats, reptiles, amphibians, and pocket pets. Preventative care as well as urgent care cases are seen daily. Preventative care surgeries, dentals, advanced soft tissue and orthopedic procedures are performed in clinic. The student(s) would be invited to participate in consults and surgery of the various species while always under direct supervision and guidance of a DVM mentor. 

VCA Northwood Animal Hospital provides students hands-on experience in general practice medicine while working right alongside our doctors. A typical day will be spent seeing appointments and the occasional emergency. They will be shadowing the doctor in the exam rooms and performing physical exams. They will interpret diagnostic blood work and develop treatment plans with the doctor on duty.  One day each week includes multiple surgeries ranging from spay/neuters to dentals and growth removals. Students will be assisting in dental and surgical procedures under doctor supervision Students will focus on learning how to effectively communicate with clients, provide routine exams, diagnose a variety of conditions, develop emergency and non-emergency treatment plans, assist with routine and non-routine surgical procedures and collaborate with support staff in a fast-paced environment. 

Small animal GP/Urgent Care

VEG gives students hands-on experience in emergency medicine while working right alongside our expert emergency doctors. Students will focus on learning how to effectively communicate with clients, diagnose a variety of emergent conditions, develop emergency treatment plans and collaborate with support staff in a fast-paced environment. 

General exam room rotation with both vaccine appointments and a large range of sick patients

In-house lab experience including upgraded technology (Imagyst, Abaxis blood machines, SignalPet)

Surgical exposure with routine procedures including spays, neuters, dentals

Surgical exposure with emergencies including exploratory, cystotomy, mass removals

Client communication and appropriate approach

Working up cases and understanding based upon diagnostics

There will be opportunity to perform reproductive palpation and ultrasound in cattle.  There will be opportunity to assist with surgeries and supportive treatment on farm.  There will be opportunity to assist with bovine embryo collection, ovum pick up and embryo transfer.

Immersive experience with a group of veterinarians with a focus on small animal dentistry 

Assist with examinations and appointments including history taking, diagnostics and procedures (based on skill of student).  A typical day will be spent seeing appointments and the occasional emergency. They will be shadowing the doctor in the exam rooms and performing physical exams. They will interpret diagnostic blood work and develop treatment plans with the doctor on duty.  One day each week includes multiple surgeries ranging from spay/neuters to dentals and growth removals. Students will be assisting in dental and surgical procedures under doctor superision. Students will refine their skills in jugular blood draws and placement of IV catheters.