Depending on the specific cases and case load being see during the time of the clerkship, the amount of exposure to the following clinical and therapeutic skills may vary, but will include observation of the following:
- Identification and evaluation of evidence in zoological medicine
- Husbandry of diverse species
- Obtaining efficient, relevant, and complete patient histories from owners/caretakers
- Physical examination of diverse species
- Anesthesia and analgesia in diverse species
- Fluid therapy, including routes, catheter placement options, selection of fluids and dose estimation
- Sample collection and handling from diverse species
- Surgical approaches and procedures in diverse species
- Analysis and interpretation of clinical pathology results in diverse species
- Analysis and interpretation of diagnostic imaging results in diverse species
- Pharmacology and routes of administration of commonly used drugs in zoological medicine; Bandaging and wound care in diverse species
The UF Zoological Medicine service has a very large and diverse caseload, including small mammals and rodents, native and exotic birds, small amphibians and reptiles, as well as primates, large reptiles, large carnivores, and invertebrates, among others. The first week of each two week rotation involves seeing cases in-hospital, and the second week will include seeing both in-hospital cases and cases in the field. Our field service provides care for the collections at Santa Fe Teaching Zoo, Lubee Bat Conservancy, Central Florida Zoo, St. Augustine Alligator Farm. We work with the aquatic animal health department and on field weeks you will be able to travel to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Visiting students will work under the supervision of ACZM board-certified faculty members and residents. The level of patient case management is dependent upon individual student knowledge, clinical skills, and communication abilities.
Hours are M-F ~6:30 am until end of day procedures and inpatient treatments are complete. Rotating weekend days. Visiting students will work under the supervision of ACZM board-certified faculty members and residents, along with multiple service technicians. The level of patient case management is dependent upon individual student knowledge, clinical skills, and communication abilities.
We do not have a list of places to stay while at UF. However, we will send out your name and contact information to the UF College of Vet Med and many people will rent out rooms to visitors. If you would like us to do that, let us know what information you would like me to give out and we can do that for you, also what dates you will need. You will be CCed on that E-mail also. Other available options to look into are regular and extended stay hotels here in Gainesville or https://www.airbnb.com/.