DVM Student Externship Program

Our veterinary team is committed to providing fourth-year DVM students with comprehensive shelter medicine rotations. Externship experiences are open to any fourth-year DVM student enrolled in an AVMA-accredited veterinary college.

Those interested in an externship opportunity can look forward to:

• A robust educational experience at any of our campuses in San Diego, Escondido or Oceanside.
• Supporting the annual intake of more than 40,000 animals to our open-admission shelter, giving students the opportunity to gain experience with a wide variety of medical, surgical, emergency and behavioral patients.
• Mentorship from a team of experienced veterinary staff.
• Daily high-quality, high-volume (HQHV) spay/neuter surgeries, with hands-on surgical mentoring.
• Observing advanced surgical and dental procedures.
• First-hand experience in infectious disease and shelter management.
• Observing the investigation and management of Humane Law Enforcement cases.
• Participating in the efforts of our Kitten Nursery (March through November).
• Participating in veterinary didactic and case rounds.
• Mentored preparation of case and subject presentation.
• Comprehensive overviews of shelter medicine in the context of animal shelter management and community support.
• Opportunities to shadow other departments such as Behavior and Training, Project Wildlife and 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.
• Evaluating of imaging, laboratory, and other diagnostic findings.
• Performing spay/neuter surgeries, assisting with orthopedic, dental, or soft tissue surgeries, cystocentesis, venipuncture and benchtop laboratory procedures, placement of IV catheters, assisting with anesthesia, nerve blocks and post-mortem examinations, administration of treatments, pre-surgical examinations, assistance with vaccine clinics, and other duties depending on the opportunity.
• Participation in case and didactic rounds.

For more information about our DVM externship program or to request an externship reservation, please email [email protected]. Reservations are required and subject to availability. DVM students are required to be in their fourth (final) year of their DVM curriculum and enrolled in an AVMA-accredited veterinary college.

Please note: Changes and cancellations may occur at any time due to extenuating and unforeseen circumstances in an environment such as an animal shelter.