Offsite Electives

The practice is engaged in Food Animal Medicine with a couple of species represented. Swine consulting is the primary focus with involvement in sow units of all sizes, nuseries and finishing facilities. A growing portion of the practice consults with dairy beef and feedlot facilities and additionally the student could receive some exposure to large scale poultry laying operations if there is interest.

The students will be exposed to population medicine and epidemiology, diagnostic collection and interpretation, therapy choices and treatment protocols, vaccination strategies, reporting and communication to clients, records and data analysis, surgery experience is seasonal and finally a broad exposure to livestock production facilities. 

Surgical assist position for rads iv catheter ultrasound client interaction bloodwork interpretation hands on hospitalization

Shadow various veterinarians 

For our In- Hospital experience: Students can expect to gain a full, well rounded experience not only with in-hospital procedures and daily wellness care, but also with shelter and emergency medicine. Daily responsibilities: Assist our Veterinarians, fellow Veterinary students and technicians with medical/patient care, medication administration, sterilization of surgical equipment, proper disinfection of isolation areas, and assist in surgical procedures.

For our Shelter experience: We have 10,000 sq. ft. full service practices housing an on-site Humane Society. Students are welcome to stay 2-12 weeks. During your stay, you can expect to do all the wellness care and surgical procedures for our on-site shelter animals. There will also be many opportunities to participate in numerous client medical and surgical cases.  We are also now performing advanced orthopedic procedures weekly such as: TECA, TPLO, Tightrope, and THR. Hospitals are fully equipped with DR, in-house Heska/Idexx equipment, heated surgical tables, Ultrasound, fluid pumps, the list goes on..! Externs work 5 days with 2 days off. Housing provided if needed

Small animal first opinion veterinary practice

The veterinary extern will accompany veterinarians to herd visits. They will gain hands-on experience with pigs and will learn more about keeping them healthy. The extern will learn about: process/procedure when a health break occurs, necropsy of a sow and pig, bleed sows and pigs, writing herd visit reports, production records, diagnostic records, pig flow, preg checking, compost management, management of vaccination programs, daily activities for the farm, communication with the staff, etc.

The student will experience veterinary public health as it is practiced in the U.S. Air Force. This will include shadowing of the entomology program, hearing conservation program, food security program, and public health surveillance program at the Epidemiology Consult Service Division, U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine. Time-permitting, the student may also have the opportunity to shadow a base public health officer at the Wright-Patterson Medical Center.

The student will be shadowing the veterinarian as he goes through typical work week.  The student can expect to see/assist with Bangs vaccinating of heifers, spay/neuter small animals, equine dental work, and any type and number of unpredictable emergency services.

DVM Student Externship Program

For more information about our externship Program for final-year DVM students or to request an externship reservation, please email externship@sdhumane.org.

San Diego Humane Society’s DVM student externship Program welcomes final-year DVM students interested in shelter medicine for approved school externship or independent study rotations. Official school documentation of rotation approval is required prior to confirming the rotation.

Those interested in an externship opportunity can look forward to:

• Center for Shelter Medicine full-service medical and surgical facility
• Annual intake of approximately 50,000 animals on an open-admission policy, affording students experience with a large variety of medical, surgical, emergency, and behavioral patients
• Team of experienced veterinary staff for mentorship
• Daily high-quality-high-volume (HQHV) spay-neuter surgeries, with hands-on surgical mentoring
• Observation of advanced surgical and dental procedures
• First-hand experience in infectious disease patient and shelter management
• Observation of investigation and management of Humane Law Enforcement investigation cases
• Participation in the 24-hour orphaned kitten nursery (March through November)
• Participation in veterinary didactic and case rounds
• Mentored preparation of case and subject presentation
• Comprehensive overview of shelter medicine in the context of animal shelter management and community support
• Opportunity to shadow other departments: Behavior Center, Project Wildlife, Humane Law Enforcement.

Current duties for DVM student externs from AVMA-accredited veterinary colleges include:

• Primary, mentored surgical and medical case responsibility, including patient examination, assessment, and formulation of a diagnostic and treatment plan
• Medical record keeping, S.O.A.P. format
• Care of hospitalized patients

Evaluation of imaging, laboratory, and other diagnostic findings

•  Spay/neuter surgeries, assistance with orthopedic, dental, or soft tissue surgeries, cystocentesis, venipuncture, benchtop laboratory procedures, placement of IV catheters, assistance with anesthesia, nerve blocks, , post-mortem examinations, ophthalmologic and otic examinations, administration of treatments, pre-surgical examinations, assistance with vaccine clinics, and other procedures, depending on opportunity.
• Participation in case and didactic rounds
• Preparation and presentation of a medical case or shelter medicine topic at the end of each two-week rotation.

Please note, the DVM externship program at San Diego Humane Society extends to DVM students enrolled at any AVMA-accredited veterinary college. Reservations are required for an externship opportunity. Please email externship@sdhumane.org for reservation availability.​

At South Anderson Veterinary Clinic we are a full service, Christian owned companion animal hospital with a sister clinic, Country Critters Veterinary Hospital, in Daleville, IN.  We are offering an externship opportunity for fourth year veterinary students with an interest in small animal medicine.  At SAVC you will see a wide variety of cases in a general practice setting with a small amount of exotics as well. We strive to uphold a great work-life balance while still offering a high standard of care for our patients.  While staying and learning at SAVC we will immerse you in the world of small animal GP services as well as demonstrate the mentorship you would expect if you were to join our team after graduation.  Housing is offered for the duration of your externship at SAVC.