Students will participate in a one-week hands-on learning course at a small animal clinic and teaching facility learning about and practicing physical exams, basic anatomy and physiology, in-house diagnostics, diseases, preventative medicine and will assist in anesthesia and surgery of spay and neuter patients. Students will learn and practice aseptic technique and sterile gloving, anesthetic monitoring, catheter placement, drug dose calculations, and have several labs including suture patterns, heart necropsy, and more.
Students will also participate in a one-week volunteer experience at a world renowned elephant sanctuary, They will learn about the plight of the Asian elephant, participate in volunteer activities aimed at improving their welfare, shadow veterinarians as they treat and provide care to elephants and many other species at the facility (horses, water buffalo, dogs, cats, avian species, etc), and have lessons on anatomy, physiology, ethics, and veterinary care.
Each group of 8-12 students will have a designated veterinarian who teaches and works with them throughout the program. In addition to a veterinary group leader, there will be a designated tour guide, volunteer coordinator, and host organization staff. Students receive all necessary course materials (workbooks and course packs) and have access to an on-site resource library. Learning sessions take the form of lectures, discussions, hand-on labs, veterinary shadowing, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities.
Students are expected to fully participate in lectures, labs, volunteer work and other tasks. Days are usually full of learning and excitement. The program takes place over 2 weeks. The small animal week is Monday-Friday 9-5pm and the week at the elephant sanctuary is Monday-Saturday 8am-4pm. There are also nightly learning opportunities, lectures, and guest speakers that the students are expected to be present for.
Student housing is included in the Loop Abroad program cost.