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 reality and severity 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.
- 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.
- Laboratory work and health examinations on adoptable animals
- Treatment of sick, injured stray or adopted animals
- Spay/neuter surgery and surgery preparation, including early spay/neuter procedures
- Accompany Animal Control Officers enforcement on the road
- Licensing procedures
- Animal bite investigation procedures
- Welcome – director of veterinary services
- Participate in all phases of anesthesia and surgery (spay/neuter) on shelter-owned animals under the direct supervision of an experienced veterinarian
- Orientation and briefing on the mission of Pinellas County Animal Services
- Receive reading and project 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
- Participate in all phases of anesthesia and surgery (spay/neuter) on shelter owned animals under the direct supervision of an experienced veterinarian
- 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.
- Participate in all phases of anesthesia and surgery (spay/neuter) on shelter-owned animals under the direct supervision of an experienced veterinarian
- Visit to local veterinary practice to observe clinics, and discuss topics of importance to a new graduate with the practice owner.
- Participate in all phases of anesthesia and surgery (spay/neuter) on shelter-owned animals under the direct supervision of an experienced veterinarian
- 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.
- Participate in all phases of anesthesia and surgery (spay/neuter) on shelter-owned animals under the direct supervision of an experienced veterinarian
- 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.
Monday
- Participate in all phases of anesthesia and surgery (spay/neuter) on shelter-owned animals under the direct supervision of an experienced veterinarian
- 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.
- Participate in all phases of anesthesia and surgery (spay/neuter) on shelter-owned animals under the direct supervision of an experienced veterinarian
- 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.
- Participate in all phases of anesthesia and surgery (spay/neuter) on shelter-owned animals under the direct supervision of an experienced veterinarian
- Accompany animal control officer performing code enforcement duties in the field
- Participate in all phases of anesthesia and surgery (spay/neuter) on shelter owned animals under the direct supervision of an experienced veterinarian
- 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
- Participate in all phases of anesthesia and surgery (spay/neuter) on shelter owned animals under the direct supervision of an experienced veterinarian
- 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 Director of Veterinary Services or phone (727) 582-2625
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
- Endotracheal intubation
- Proper drug dosing and administration
- Anesthesia and post-surgical monitoring
- Basic grooming (nail clipping, ear cleaning)
- Basic laboratory procedures
- Infection control procedures
For the Veterinary Technician Externship - Contact the Vet Tech Hotline at 727-582-2633 or e-mail.
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