A Mixed Animal Option is one of four species specific tracks VM4 students can take in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Students take a required block of courses which are multi-species oriented and exist in all types of clinical practice including radiology, primary care, anesthesiology, intensive care/emergency medicine, surgery (both small animal and food animal), and necropsy and clinical pathology. In addition, student rotations include instruction in small animal medicine, food animal medicine and equine medicine.
In addition, students in the Mixed Animal Option are required to take courses in dermatology, ophthalmology and clinical microbiology. Additional rotation choices are available and students may repeat some rotations. Fourth-year students also may use external experiences for credit including preceptorships in small animal, equine and food animal medicine as well as a preceptorship at the Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines, Iowa.
Detailed information on courses in the Mixed Animal Option
Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine facilities and affiliated facilities that VM4 students will utilize in the Mixed Animal Option include:
- Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital - located on the College of Veterinary Medicine main campus
- Large Animal Hospital - located on the College of Veterinary Medicine main campus
- Iowa Veterinary Specialties - College of Veterinary Medicine satellite emergency and specialties hospital in Des Moines
- Swine Medicine Education Center - College of Veterinary Medicine affiliate education center in Audubon, Iowa
- Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center - affiliated with the College of Veterinary Medicine in Clay Center, Nebraska
- ISU Dairy Farm - College of Agriculture and Life Sciences facility located just south of Ames, Iowa
- Blank Park Zoo - located in Des Moines
