Eligibility
Students must be in good academic standing at the time of application for any of the international opportunities. Refer to the Academic Standards document in VetZone for definition.
Academic Credits
Students can receive ISU credits for eligible international veterinary experiences. Study abroad credits count towards DVM degree elective requirements --- VM1-VM3 students are required to have 4 credits of electives.
- Small animal and equine related experiences should be approved by Dr. Jessica Ward (jward@iastate.edu) for VCS 496.
- Production animal and wildlife related experiences should be approved by Dr. Yuko Sato (ysato@iastate.edu) for VDPAM 496.
Please note, students can only take up to 9 credit hours of 490 level courses. Please discuss other credit options with the faculty approver if you are reaching this credit limit.
Opportunities
ARCAS - Wildlife Rescue - Guatemala
This program is pre-approved for ISU credits. Students will receive 2 credits of VDPAM 496 upon successful completion of this program and the course requirements.
On-site Veterinarian Dr. Morales program orientation presentation.
- Total hands-on experience on the program: 100+ hours
- Average number of cases seen per day: 6
- Species: primates, psittacines (birds), and reptiles
- Typical daily activities: patient monitoring, husbandry, capture, physical therapy, phyxial examination, case presentations, treatments, surgeries, and necropsies
Wildlife veterinary work/wildlife management
Species: Buffalo, giraffe, rhino, sable, roan antelope
Volunteer work/wildlife conservation
EcoLife Expeditions - South Africa
Vets in the wild expeditions: Sustainable resource utilization, Wildlife diseases, Animal rehabilitation, Game capture techniques and Veterinary care in rural areas
Wildlife conservation expeditions: Wildlife management techniques, Sustainable resource utilization, Ecosystems and biodiversity, Reserve and resort management and Wild animal capture and care technology
Spay/neuter campaign, veterinary care, animal welfare, wildlife
Veterinary clinic, field trip to local farms, spay/neuter, quarantine kennels, rehoming kennels and a cattery, rabies campaign
Sanctuary-based vet work, animal husbandry (cleaning, sanitation, feeding and enrichment), orphan care, vet clinic support, observations, integrations and reintroductions
Cleaning and maintenance of enclosures of wild animals, helping with animal health checks, preparing food for the animals, assisting with animal enrichment projects
Asian elephant medical care including diagnostics, treatments, and preventative medicine
Equine clinical rotations in medicine, surgery, reproduction and emergency and critical care
Equine and small animal internal medicine externship
Wildlife conservation
Spay/neuter clinic, animal welfare education