Description

Veterinary Externship Program Overview
Small Animal & Exotics | Privately Owned Practice

Location
Minnesota Lakes Country - Perham, MN

Program Length & Schedule
Duration: 2 weeks
Total Hours: 40 hours per week (80 hours total)

Typical Schedule:
 - 4–5 days per week
 - 8–10 hour shifts (scheduled in advance)
 - No weekends, no holidays, no on-call
 Exact daily schedules may vary slightly based on case load, surgeries, and learning opportunities.

What You’ll Experience
This externship is designed for veterinary undergraduates / pre-vet students seeking hands-on exposure in a supportive, teaching-focused environment.

You will:

 - Rotate through multiple veterinarians
 - Gain exposure to small animal and exotic medicine
 - Participate in both observation and guided hands-on learning
 - Learn how real-world veterinary practices function day to day

Mentorship & Teaching Model
 - Work alongside 4 experienced DVMs with 70+ years of combined experience
 - Daily mentorship and case discussion
 - Exposure to different medical approaches and workflows
 - Support from experienced CVTs, VAs, and CSRs

This is a teaching externship, not a shadow-only experience.

Learning Focus Areas
Over the two weeks, you will be exposed to:

 - Wellness exams and preventive care
 - Diagnostic work-ups and lab interpretation
 - Surgery and dentistry (observation and assistance as appropriate)
 - Exotic animal medicine
 - Client communication and case presentation
 - Team-based veterinary care
 - The realities of private practice medicine
 - Hands-On Experience
 - Hands-on opportunities are supervised and appropriate to your training level, and may include:

Physical exam components
 - Safe animal handling and restraint
 - Lab sample preparation and in-house testing
 - Surgical prep and instrument identification
 - Dental charting basics

 Who This Externship Is For
 - Veterinary undergraduates / pre-vet students
 - Students seeking realistic exposure to clinical practice
 - Individuals interested in small animal, exotics, or mixed exposure
 - Students considering private practice or future employment opportunities

What Makes This Externship Unique
 - Privately owned, family-centered practice
 - Multiple mentors—not just one supervising doctor
 - Strong emphasis on learning, not productivity
 - Long-tenured support staff and positive clinic culture
 - A balanced schedule that reflects sustainable veterinary medicine