If you are a veterinary student interested in shelter medicine, there is no better, “real world” place to learn than at Austin Pets Alive!. Here, you'll learn how to treat more animals under a tight shelter budget. Your experience will be under the guidance of five full-time shelter veterinarians. This program is heavily concentrated in shelter medicine (minimal to no spay/neuter experience) and may include some soft tissue surgery.
Maddie's Lifesaving Academy Veterinarian
What Will Students Learn?
- Infectious diseases rounds - Calicivirus, Parvovirus,
- Distemper, Ringworm
- Other Rounds Topics
- Disease prevention starting at intake
- Best Practices for managing high volume shelter cases
- Protocols: using them effectively for maximum efficiency
- Triaging of critical/emergency cases in a high volume
- shelter setting
- Trauma - head trauma, wounds, fractures, etc
- Parvo puppies in shock
- “Fading” neonatal kittens and puppies
- Surgeries (based on current case-load)
- Spay/Neuter techniques (this will not be a heavy focus)
- Emergency Surgery
- Diaphragmatic hernia repair surgery
- Abdominal explores, RnA
- Esophageal tube placement
- “Elective” Surgeries - enucleation, amputation, mass
- removal
- Practice Clinical Skills
- Bandage/splint changes
- IV catheter placement
- If time/cases allow, assisting in surgeries listed above
- Efficiency in physical exam
Who Should Attend?
Veterinarians and vet students
What to Bring
- Scrubs & closed toe shoes for the clinic
- If you would prefer not to wear our communal scrubs and shoes bring flip flops & scrubs to leave in parvovirus ward.
- Stethoscope
Travel Stipend
If your applications are filled to completion, you may receive a grant for travel and housing during your externship.
Recommended Reading
Infectious Disease Management in Animal Shelters By Lila Miller and Kate Hurley. A binder with APA’s medical protocols will be provided at the apprenticeship.