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Veterinary Student Externship
The main purpose of the two week veterinary student externship program is to give veterinary students the opportunity to work in an animal shelter environment and experience the problems of pet overpopulation first-hand.
From an Animal Services’ perspective, our objectives for the externship are as follows:
- Demonstrate the role of a veterinarian in animal service operations.
- Promote a cooperative relationship between veterinarians and animal services.
- Provide insight into the seriousness of pet overpopulation.
Expose future veterinarians to common problems faced by animal service agencies.
- Teach the basics of “herd health” as they relate to sheltered animals to include husbandry, principals of vaccination, and facility construction among other topics.
- Teach sound surgical techniques that can be used in high volume spay and neuter settings (to include juvenile spay and neuter procedures).
Encourage future veterinarians to be part of the solution to pet overpopulation.
In order to provide the most complete view of the animal shelter, students will participate in as many shelter operations as possible. Students will perform, observe or assist the following:
- Laboratory work and health examinations on adoptable animals.
- Treatment of sick or injured stray or adopted animals.
- Spay/neuter surgery and surgery preparation, including early spay/neuter procedures.
- Accompany Animal Control Officer on the road.
- Rabies vaccination and licensing procedures.
- Animal bite investigation procedures.
Veterinary Student Externship Curriculum
FIRST WEEK
Monday
AM:
 Welcome – Director of Veterinary Services
Participate in all phases of anesthesia and surgery (spay/neuter) on shelter owned animals under the direct supervision of a board certified veterinarian
PM:
Orientation and briefing on the mission of Pinellas County Animal Services; Receive reading assignments for the Externship
Work alongside certified veterinary technicians in performing their daily mission of preparation for the next day’s surgery, evaluating previously adopted animals for common shelter related diseases and infestations, performing preventive medical procedures on sheltered animals (species appropriate laboratory tests, vaccinations and parasite control) and providing appropriate care to sick or injured animals in the shelter.
Tuesday
AM:
Participate in all phases of anesthesia and surgery (spay/neuter) on shelter owned animals under the direct supervision of an experienced veterinarian
PM:
Orientation to the Pinellas County rabies control program to include background, quarantine actions and oral wildlife rabies vaccination
Work alongside certified veterinary technicians in performing their daily mission of preparation for the next day’s surgery, evaluating previously adopted animals for common shelter related diseases and infestations, performing preventive medical procedures on sheltered animals (species appropriate laboratory tests, vaccinations and parasite control) and providing appropriate care to sick or injured animals in the shelter.
Wednesday
AM:
Participate in all phases of anesthesia and surgery (spay/neuter) on shelter owned animals under the direct supervision of a board certified veterinarian
PM:
Visit to local veterinary practice to observe clinics, and discuss topics of importance to a new graduate with the practice owner.
Thursday
AM:
Participate in all phases of anesthesia and surgery (spay/neuter) on shelter owned animals under the direct supervision of a board certified veterinarian
PM:
Work alongside certified veterinary technicians in performing their daily mission of preparation for the next day’s surgery, evaluating previously adopted animals for common shelter related diseases and infestations, performing preventive medical procedures on sheltered animals (species appropriate laboratory tests, vaccinations and parasite control) and providing appropriate care to sick or injured animals in the shelter.
Friday
AM:
Participate in all phases of anesthesia and surgery (spay/neuter) on shelter owned animals under the direct supervision of a board certified veterinarian
PM:
Work alongside certified veterinary technicians in performing their daily mission of preparation for the next day’s surgery, evaluating previously adopted animals for common shelter related diseases and infestations, performing preventive medical procedures on sheltered animals (species appropriate laboratory tests, vaccinations and parasite control) and providing appropriate care to sick or injured animals in the shelter.
SECOND WEEK
Monday
AM:
Participate in all phases of anesthesia and surgery (spay/neuter) on shelter owned animals under the direct supervision of a board certified veterinarian
PM:
Work alongside certified veterinary technicians in performing their daily mission of preparation for the next day’s surgery, evaluating previously adopted animals for common shelter related diseases and infestations, performing preventive medical procedures on sheltered animals (species appropriate laboratory tests, vaccinations and parasite control) and providing appropriate care to sick or injured animals in the shelter.
Tuesday
AM:
Participate in all phases of anesthesia and surgery (spay/neuter) on shelter owned animals under the direct supervision of an experienced veterinarian
PM:
Orientation to the Pinellas County rabies control program to include background, quarantine actions and oral wildlife rabies vaccination
Work alongside certified veterinary technicians in performing their daily mission of preparation for the next day’s surgery, evaluating previously adopted animals for common shelter related diseases and infestations, performing preventive medical procedures on sheltered animals (species appropriate laboratory tests, vaccinations and parasite control) and providing appropriate care to sick or injured animals in the shelter.
Wednesday
AM:
Participate in all phases of anesthesia and surgery (spay/neuter) on shelter owned animals under the direct supervision of a board certified veterinarian
PM:
Accompany Animal Control Officer as he performs code enforcement duties in the field
Thursday
AM:
Participate in all phases of anesthesia and surgery (spay/neuter) on shelter owned animals under the direct supervision of a board certified veterinarian
PM:
Work alongside certified veterinary technicians in performing their daily mission of preparation for the next day’s surgery, evaluating previously adopted animals for common shelter related diseases and infestations, performing preventive medical procedures on sheltered animals (species appropriate laboratory tests, vaccinations and parasite control) and providing appropriate care to sick or injured animals in the shelter.
Discuss reading assignments and various topics related to shelter medicine and surgery with Externship mentor.
Friday
AM:
Participate in all phases of anesthesia and surgery (spay/neuter) on shelter owned animals under the direct supervision of a board certified veterinarian
PM:
Work alongside certified veterinary technicians in performing their daily mission of preparation for the next day’s surgery, evaluating previously adopted animals for common shelter related diseases and infestations, performing preventive medical procedures on sheltered animals (species appropriate laboratory tests, vaccinations and parasite control) and providing appropriate care to sick or injured animals in the shelter.
Complete administrative actions to depart Externship.
For the Veterinary Student Externship- Contact the Staff Veterinarian at email dgtaylor@pinellascounty.org or phone 727-582-2607
VETERINARY TECHNICIAN STUDENTS
As part of their curriculum, veterinary technician students are required to obtain work experience at a shelter – usually at least 16 hours. During that period the student will receive supervised training on shelter technician duties.
Some of the tasks covered during the training period include:
- Presurgical physical examinations
- Subcutaneous, intramuscular and intravenous injections
- Intratracheal intubation
- Proper drug dosing and administration
- Anesthesia and post-surgical monitoring
- Basic grooming (nail-clipping, ear cleaning)
- Basic laboratory procedures
- Infection control procedures
- Dealing with the public
For the Veterinary Technician Externship- Contact the Senior Veterinary Technician at 727-582-2600, ext 22632 or email at mjtaylor@pinellascounty.org. |
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