Veterinary Experience Resource

Below, I have listed excellent opportunities to gain experience in different areas of veterinary medicine.  I will continue to add to the list as I hear of more opportunities. Feel free to e-mail me at travelingdogtor@gmail.com if you have had any great (or not so great) experiences in obtaining veterinary/animal experiences.

If you are seeking small animal veterinary experience, my best advice is to print out a copy of your CV and make a list of veterinarians in your area who you might want to shadow.  Go to each clinic, drop off your CV, and ask to speak with someone about shadowing opportunities.  Remember, networking is key. Many veterinarians still keep in contact with their classmates who might be working in a field that particularly interests you. Keep your mind open as you gain experience.

Research Experience: 

Research is a great addition to any veterinary school application.  My best advice is to have a mentor look over your CV and then pick a field at your University that you are interested in.  Look at the faculty page and click on each faculty’s lab website and read about the research they are doing.  If it interests you in the slightest, send them an e-mail stating you want to obtain research experience, why their lab would be a good fit for you, what interests you most about their research, and attach your CV.  Often it will take 20 emails to receive a response and set up an interview.  Try to do this for course credit or if you are in the Honor’s College at your school, you can use it towards a Capstone Project (I am not sure if this is just at the University of Georgia, but it is something to keep in mind).

Opportunities in Georgia:

• Exotics:
  • Zoo Atlanta Internship, Atlanta, GA: Intern at Zoo Atlanta
  • AWARE Wildlife Rehabilitation, Lithonia, GA: Volunteer at AWARE
    • There are also internship opportunities available.
  • The Georgia Aquarium Internship, Atlanta, GA: Intern at the GA Aquarium
• Large Animal:
  • Sweet Olive Farm, Athens, GA: Volunteer at Sweet Olive Farm

Opportunities in the United States:

• Exotics:
  • *Carpinteria Seal Watch, Carpinteria, CA: Volunteer at Seal Watch
  • * Channel Islands Marine Wildlife Institute (CIMWI), Gaviota, CA: Volunteer at CIMWI
  • The Center for Birds of Prey, Charleston, SC: Intern at The Center for Birds and Prey
• Equine:
  • Fox Run Equine Center, Apollo, Pennsylvania: Extern at Fox Run

International Opportunities:

• Exotics:
  • *Wildtracks Belize, Sarteneja, Belize: http://www.wildtracksusa.org/
    • Click here to read more about my time in Belize!
• Small Animal/Shelter Medicine:
  • Darwin Animal Doctors, Galapagos: Volunteer with Darwin Animal Doctors
  • Floating Doctors: https://floatingdoctors.com/programs/veterinary-program/
  • World Vets: https://worldvets.org/

Opportunities for Current Veterinary Students:

• Exotics:
  • Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians, United States
    • Click here to see a map of internship and externship opportunities in the United States
  • Association of Reptile and Amphibian Vets, United States
    • Internship and Externship List: https://arav.org/students/
• Small Animal:
  • Southern Veterinary Partners, Southern United States
    • Offers PAID month-long internships with housing. SVP also has externship opportunities.
    • https://southernvetpartnersllc.com/on-campus-recruiting.html
  • VetCor
  • Banfield
  • VCA
  • NVA