VTMED 6624 - Community Practice Service Surgery

Fall, spring, summer. 2 credits. Letter grades only.

Prerequisite: VTMED 5510. Enrollment limited to: third- and fourth-year veterinary students.

J. Harvey, staff.

A hands on course in anesthetic and surgical techniques using elective sterilization procedures (surgical castration and ovariohysterectomy “spay”) on dogs and cats from area shelters to provide supervised experience in soft tissue surgery. Small groups (4-5) take responsibility for these animals and practice physical examination techniques, medical record writing, anesthetic planning, surgical preparation and performance, and recovery with discharge back to the shelters for adoption. A faculty veterinarian supervises the rotaion at all times. Learning sterile surgical technique, proper use of surgical instruments, operative anesthetic maintenance and post operative analgesia, and post operative care are major objectives. Rounds with faculty will focus on case management, dealing with complications, and discussion of the role of veterinarians working with animal shelters and pet over population.