VTMED 6623

Clinical Rotation in Shelter Medicine: Principles and Practice

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2017-2018.

Shelter medicine is a relatively new discipline within the practice of veterinary medicine and requires the application of herd health principles within a small animal setting.  This clinical rotation will expose students to the principles and practice of veterinary medicine in a shelter setting.  While much time will be spent providing direct veterinary medical care to individual shelter animals, there will be a directed focus on introducing students to population-level principles.  Topics include but are not limited to infectious disease diagnosis, treatment, and management; shelter wellness protocols; high-quality, high-volume spay-neuter; shelter data management; sanitation and disinfection; and population and capacity planning.  Other aspects will be covered depending on shelter activities and needs at the time.  The daily schedule will include clinical work, daily shelter rounds, and daily topic rounds Topics include but are not limited to infectious disease diagnosis, treatment, and management; shelter wellness protocols; high-quality, high-volume spay-neuter; sanitation and disinfection; and population and capacity planning. Other aspects will be covered depending on the shelter activities and needs at the time. While spay/neuter is part of shelter medicine, this is NOT a surgical intensive rotation.  Course may be repeated for credit.

When Offered Fall, spring.

Permission Note Enrollment limited to: third- and fourth-year veterinary students who have completed Foundation Course V.

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