Offsite Electives

During the externship (4-6 weeks), students will participate in all aspects of the veterinary department's activities, including routine, emergency, and preventative health care of the animal collection, maintaining health records, assisting the veterinary technicians with routine tests, and assisting in the care of hospitalized animals. Six Flags Great Adventure and Wild Safari Park is a 350 acre safari that is home to over 1200 animals representing over 70 species including many hoofstock, carnivores, reptiles, and avian species.

Kanawha Valley Animal Emergency Hospital is a busy after-hours companion animal emergency hospital located just outside Charleston, WV. Our veterinarianas manage a wide variety of medical and surgical cases, see referrals from local primary care veterinarians, and collaborate with local rescue groups to manage care for unwell sheltered animals. We primarily treat dogs and cats, but occasionally have exotic and wildlife patients as well.

Our caseload frequently includes trauma (HBC, BDLD or other bite wounds, GSW), abdominal surgeries (GDV, C-section, splenectomy, cystotomy, gastrotomy/enterotomy), an assortment of toxicities, and infectious diseases such as parvo, panleuk, and pneumonia. We work up more cases of ADR and gastroenteritis than we want to think about.

Observe small animal dentistry and oral surgery in a practice with a board certified veterinary dentist. Opportunities to learn dental radiographic technique and interpretation. There is the possibility to see zoo, pocket pet, rabbit, and/or rodent dentistry.

Assist in management of a variety of small animal medical and surgical problems

Clinical experience with an experienced team of DVM's and RVT's in a busy primary care pet animal practice.

Preventive care, medical care, surgeries and dental care; hands on experience in all areas.

Learning Outcome: To understand the importance of behavior in companion animal practice, primarily that of dogs and cats, and apply the knowledge learned during this rotation, as well as other sources during veterinary school, to prevent and treat problematic behaviors in companion animals.

We are a high volume spay neuter clinic. The student will have the opportunity to hone their surgical skills with hands-on practice in the presence of a licensed veterinarian. 

A two week long clinical rotation which will include:

1. Participation in receiving outpatients

2. Participation in diagnosis, treatment/care and discharge of hospitalized patients

3. Participation in all aspects of in-hospital patient consultations

4. Students should anticipate having independent library-research projects for subsequent small group discussion.

5. Students will be expected to participate in all aspects of weekend duty which is typically (but  not necessarily) 8:00 am to Noon each Saturday and Sunday.

Primary emphasis will be placed on the student learning to perform and interpret the results of the neurologic examination.  Reviewing the description of the examination procedures in any standard veterinary neurology textbook will be extremely valuable.  The course will provide opportunity for the student to become familiar with various diagnostic methods.  The student will be expected to have reviewed and know the contents of classroom notes.

Faculty method of evaluation: Students will be judged on their knowledge, commitment, contribution and accomplishment.

We are a 24/7 full service referral hospital with ambulatory service and reproduction center. This together with the number of cases seen each day and the knowledge and expertise of the veterinarians provide a strong learning environment. The hospital is staff boarded in surgery, sports medicine and rehabilitation and internal medicine, and has an inpatient caseload of approximately 1750 patients annually.

The hospital provides for orthopedic surgery, soft tissue surgery (including respiratory, urogenital, gastrointenstinal, and ophthalmic), emergency colics (both medical and surgical), neonatal intensive care, dystocias (including cesarean section or fetotomy), 14-hour intensive care with lab results for blood gas, chemistries and hematology, and 24-hour emergency service. It also provides medical workups of all kinds (including cardiac care and evaluation, ultrasonography, and electrocardiogram), lameness examinations, reproductive evaluations, radiography, gastric endoscopy, and a sports medicine barn with scintigraphy and under-tack dynamic scope.

Our ambulatory veterinarians have extensive experience in equine reproduction and training horses and we have the largest ambulatory fleet in the southeastern United States. Our Reproduction Center conducts all aspects of assisted reproduction at a separate 90-acre facility with the largest recipient mare herd in the southeastern United States. In addition to the general reproduction management of the stallion and mare, services include: embryo transfer, embryo freezing, oocyte transfer, ICSI, semen collection and shipment.

Stundents will experience the life of a mixed animal veterinarian in the beautiful mountain setting of Shippensburg in south central Pennsylvania. They will see how compassionate veterinarians and staff work with companion animals and their owners. They will also enjoy the experiences of working along side the veterinarians on the farms of our Mennonite and Amish clients, along with our "English" clients. Students will become involved in cases in as much depth as is comfortable by the student, veterinarian, and veterinary technician. They will also be allowed to attend the weekly doctors' meeting and be present to listen to the discussions of specific cases, equipment purchasing decisions, vaccination protocols, and, possibly, staffing concerns.