Student Experiences: The Big Fix

Submitted by Lauren Bynum, Texas A&M University

One of the reasons I first became interested in veterinary medicine was because of the time I spent volunteering with SNIPSA, Spay Neuter Inject Protect San Antonio. SNIPSA is a group that rescues, fosters, and adopts dogs out of shelters and holds large scale low cost spay/neuter operations out of San Antonio. It’s also the rescue organization from which I adopted my own dog, a foster failure Great Pyrenees named Riley. In high school, I volunteered at SNIPSA adoption events where I loved on the animals as we helped them find forever homes, and I worked the check in desk at quarterly “Big Fix” events where 400+ animals were spayed or neutered in a single day. I enjoyed my time helping out at check in or at adoption events, but I always longed to be a part of the actual surgeries. 

Now that I am a veterinary student with several years of technician experience, I was given the opportunity to work as an anesthesia technician at the last Big Fix I attended. I will admit—the fifteen hour day was quite long. My sore feet at the end of the day can confirm this. But getting to be a part of the action after years of watching from the outside of the surgery room was so worth it. Assisting the veterinarians as they neutered faster than we could even prep the next pack was intimidating, but so inspiring. They put my five cat minute neuters on my shelter rotation to shame! It quickly became impossible to keep track of the number of patients I’d worked on as the hours passed. Being in charge of running anesthesia was also a huge confidence booster. Learning about anesthesia and running cases on a rotation, under supervision, is one thing. But having a veterinarian trust you to keep their patient asleep and pain free as they focused on solely the surgery was a whole new level of responsibility that truly made me feel prepared to be a veterinarian myself in not too long. 

The veterinarians volunteering at SNIPSA came from all over Texas, and some even from out of state. Some were shelter veterinarians, some private practice, some mixed animal, and an equine vet was even there helping out! The planning and organization required to put this event into motion, to staff it, and to keep the day running smoothly can’t be understated. Even lunch was meticulously planned, which all the doctors and technicians were grateful for—long days are much better when you have a near constant supply of fajitas and brownies available to you at all times. Despite the long hours, morale was high, as we all shared a common goal: to save the animals. Spaying and neutering pets to reduce shelter overcrowding is one way we as future veterinarians can have a direct impact on animal welfare. I plan to continue doing this through SNIPSA, and I cannot wait to graduate so that I can give back to the animals of San Antonio and to the organization that helped inspire my love of veterinary medicine.   

PDF Scholarship Experience: Zachary Schmauch

PDF Scholarship Experience: Zachary Schmauch

During my clinical year at Ohio State University I was able visit VCA University Animal Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii to complete my last externship before graduation. With the help of the PDF scholarship from the SAVMA board I was able to afford this opportunity. VCA university hospital is a very hands-on general practice. There were two doctors on shift at a time, with one doing surgeries while the other doctor would be seeing appointments and the occasional emergency. The entire team at VCA University Animal Hospital were all very welcoming and really loved to teach me while I was there. Even the technicians were constantly helping me with ways to improve my blood draws and catheter placements and encouraged me to keep trying if I was having trouble. Being able to see the different kinds of cases in Hawaii versus somewhere I am used to like Ohio was very interesting. While I was discussing cases and treatment options with the doctors, it made me realize I had to sit back and think of different options that they carry in hospital. For example, they do not have the tick that carries Lyme disease on the island, and so therefore prescribe their patients with different flea and tick preventatives. A few months ago I completed an externship at a specialty dental clinical in Florida. This VCA externship was very heavy on their dentistry and had procedures every day. It was perfect for me to apply the skills and knowledge I learned at my previous externship and really feel confident in that area. I had such an awesome experience during this externship and being able to travel and work in Hawaii for two weeks was the best ending to veterinary school I could have asked for.

Giraffes and Camels and Rhinos, Oh My!

Externship at the Abilene Zoo

Written by: Ellen Nasser, Oklahoma State University 

I did a 2 week externship at the Abilene Zoo in November. I have a huge admiration for zoo veterinarians. They have to know a ton about all kinds of species. However, it was neat being able to apply what we know from small and large animals to zoo med. One of their newborn baby giraffes was not nursing, leading to failure of passive transfer. The vet said we will treat her like a baby calf. We calculated how much plasma she would need and got a jugular catheter in. She is doing great now! Acclimating well in their giraffe herd. Amongst giraffes, I was able to treat a variety of birds, reptiles, and mammals. The vet was very hands on with the students. She let us draw blood, perform necropsies, read blood smears, and lots more. The vet also took us on a photo-op tour on my last day where I was able to feed various animals.  Surprisingly the camels were some of my favorites! They have a pair of sisters that have quite the personalities. This is one of my favorite externships for sure!

Externship: Greensboro Science Center

Greensboro Science Center Veterinary Externship

Laci Taylor, DVM Candidate ‘22

Over winter break, I had the privilege of externing at the Greensboro Science Center

(GSC), an aquarium, museum, zoo, and treetop adventure park located in Greensboro, North

Carolina. Unfamiliar with Greensboro, I learned about the Greensboro Science Center’s

externship through a Zoom meeting organized by the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians

(AAZV). The meeting was open to veterinary students interested in zoo, wildlife, and aquatic

externships and several representatives from a variety of AZA accredited institutions joined the

call. The discussion was focused on how these institutions have had to adapt their veterinary

externship programs amidst the current pandemic.

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COVID-Era Clinicals

Dermatology Externship
By: Amber White

Scratching, licking, and collar jingling. The things that keep us and our clients up at night, quite literally. As a proud dog mom to a very itchy and miserable Labrador retriever, I vowed to myself that I would do everything I could while in vet school to learn how to treat her and the numerous other pets that suffer from dermatological issues. I unfortunately did not receive much Veterinary Dermatology education while in pre-clinical years and was looking forward to studying under a Dermatologist during my clinical year. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to complete an externship in Atlanta, Georgia at the Veterinary Specialist of Atlanta-Dermatology specialty clinic. I was greeted with open arms and welcomed into the small but thriving dermatology practice ran by Dr. Mary Schick. Two licensed and dedicated veterinary technicians and a compassionate office manager helped make my experience at the clinic not only educational but also motivational. 

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