Kanawha Valley Animal Emergency Hospital is a busy after-hours companion animal emergency hospital located just outside Charleston, WV. Our veterinarianas manage a wide variety of medical and surgical cases, see referrals from local primary care veterinarians, and collaborate with local rescue groups to manage care for unwell sheltered animals. We primarily treat dogs and cats, but occasionally have exotic and wildlife patients as well.
Our caseload frequently includes trauma (HBC, BDLD or other bite wounds, GSW), abdominal surgeries (GDV, C-section, splenectomy, cystotomy, gastrotomy/enterotomy), an assortment of toxicities, and infectious diseases such as parvo, panleuk, and pneumonia. We work up more cases of ADR and gastroenteritis than we want to think about.
KV Animal Emergency Hospital boasts an exceptional support staff including 6 RVTs, 2 VTs, and multiple veterinary assistants with 10 or more years of experience. We typically operate with a 5 or 6:1 staff to doctor ratio. Student externs will have access to our awesome staff members as well as our video endoscope, digital radiography system, new ultrasound, and full in-house IDEXX VetLab Station including chemistry, CBC, coags, blood gasses, and urinalysis. We will share our extensive library of textbooks, VIN, and JVECCS. Like any healthy emergency practice, we are also likely to share sarcasm and a slightly warped sense of humor. We are a paper-light practice running Cornerstone software.
Student externs will be expected to work an average of 40 hours per week, with shifts comprised of week nights and weekends. Students will be encouraged to participate in all aspects of emergency veterinary practice including physical examinations, client communication, assisting with surgery and procedures, composing treatment plans, composing estimates, and charting.
A licensed veterinarian will provide direct supervision during all scheduled hours of the externship. Students who take initiative will get excellent hands on experience in managing many of the common companion animal emergencies, as well as some less common cases.
Students will be able to practice AFAST and TFAST examinations, place IV catheters and perform venipuncture to their hearts' content. Provided the right patients come along, students may also have the opportunity to place NG or NE tubes, urinary catheters, thoracostomy tubes, closed-suction wound drains, bandages and splints, and to use TA and/or GIA staplers to perform intestinal surgeries, amongst other fun activities.
Student housing may be available on a case by case basis. Please contact for additional information.