2 answers
Ashley
Student
Camarillo, California
3
Questions
Asked
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How can I be more involved or gain experience in different veterinary clinics while in undergrad (without going to RVT school, vet assistant programs, etc)?
I currently volunteer in a GP clinic, but cannot do anything really hands on and cannot apply anywhere without experience.
2nd year biology undergraduate. Pre vet
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2 answers
Dr H
Dr. H's Research
1325
Answers
Australia
Updated
Dr’s Answer
Oh hey, Ashley, future animal whisperer and soon-to-be! .
First off, Amelia’s got the right idea—ranches, shelters, and shadowing are the way to go. But you’re already in a GP clinic, and they’ve got you standing around like a glorified houseplant. Classic. Time to level up and actually do stuff.
Forget just asking, “Can I help?” because that gets you the polite “not right now” while they shuffle you to the corner. Instead, hit ‘em with the good stuff—“Hey, can I learn how to restrain properly?” (because half the job is keeping animals still, and once they see you can hold a squirmy chihuahua without turning into Swiss cheese, they’ll start using you). “Can I set up surgery packs or clean instruments?” Boring? A little. Gets you closer to the action? Absolutely. “Mind if I shadow during dentals/surgeries and take notes?” Sounds responsible, makes you look serious, and boom—you just got yourself invited to the cool stuff.
Also, become besties with the techs because they are the keepers of all vet clinic secrets and the ones who will actually teach you things. Just casually drop, “I’d love to learn how to do that if you ever have time!” and suddenly, you’re running fecals, doing ear swabs, and setting up bloodwork instead of just standing there like an NPC.
But if your GP clinic is still treating you like an unpaid statue, it’s time for an experience heist. Keep the clinic for the hours, but branch out. ER or specialty clinics move fast, deal with way cooler cases, and actually need extra hands, so they’re way more likely to let you assist. Shelters and spay/neuter programs are desperate for help, which means they’ll actually let you do things like vaccines, exams, and recovery care. Large animal vets, equine barns, and even exotics clinics? Goldmine. Vet schools eat up variety, so even if you’re set on small animals, nothing flexes harder than “Yeah, I helped deliver a foal before my lunch break.”
And let’s talk bonus XP. Farms and ranches? Untapped vet experience jackpot. Find a dairy farm, cattle ranch, or equine stable and ask if they need help. You could be assisting with births or minor medical care instead of just observing a routine cat vaccine. Wildlife centers, zoos, and aquariums? They love volunteers. You could be feeding baby raccoons, assisting with medical care for a penguin, or just casually throwing around “Yeah, I helped with a bald eagle check-up” like it’s no big deal. Mobile vet clinics and low-cost spay/neuter programs are always short-staffed, which means they’ll probably let you actually do something instead of just watching.
And here’s a sneaky hack—research. Yeah, I know, sounds less exciting than wrestling a goat, but hear me out. Professors everywhere are doing animal-related studies, whether it’s genetics, disease research, or behavior. Find one, ask to help, and suddenly, you’ve got “research experience” on your resume, which makes you sound like an absolute genius. Some research gigs even pay (imagine that—money and resume points).
Networking is your secret weapon. Show up at vet conferences, career fairs, and workshops—even if you feel like a total imposter. Vets love helping students who actually care, and sometimes just showing up can get you a shadowing gig or internship. Also, pre-vet Facebook groups and LinkedIn circles? Goldmine. Clinics and vets randomly post assistant openings, and if you’re there first, you win.
And if you really want to flex on vet schools, get involved in community outreach. Vaccine clinics, TNR programs, spay/neuter drives—they rack up hours and make you look like a future vet who actually cares about public health, not just someone collecting hours like Pokémon cards. Bonus move? If nothing else is working, make your own opportunity. Start an animal welfare club, organize adoption events, or even volunteer at a wildlife hotline. Vet schools love students who take initiative.
Anyways Ashley, If your clinic won’t let you do much, think outside the clinic. 🤔 There are a million ways to rack up hours and get real experience—you just gotta grab ‘em. Now go forth, get covered in fur, and may your scrubs forever be stained with unidentifiable substances. 🤪 All the best and good luck, hit me up if you need anything else or further questions! 🤗
Start a vet-related social media account or blog. Hear me out—post about your experiences, cool cases (HIPAA-friendly, of course), animal care tips, or even just funny vet clinic moments. Vets, techs, and other pre-vet students might notice you, which = networking without awkward small talk. Plus, some vet schools love applicants who do outreach and education. And if it blows up? Instant credibility. Imagine getting into vet school with "content creator" on your app would just be iconic.
Learn to read medical records like a pro. Next time you're in the clinic, ask if you can peek at some old patient charts (with permission, of course) and start figuring out how vets write SOAP notes, treatment plans, and diagnoses. It’s like decoding a secret language, but once you get it, you’ll look way more legit. Plus, when you finally get to vet school, you won’t be the one panicking over what “BAR” or “PU/PD” means. Bonus points if you casually throw in, “Yeah, I was reviewing a case the other day…” Instant respect, like really😉.
One more things remember, Yeah, working with animals is great, but guess what? Half the job is dealing with their stressed-out humans. Start paying attention to how the vets and techs calm down panicked owners, explain bad news, and handle the classic “Google said it’s just a rash” cases. If you can learn how to keep your cool and talk people down from WebMD-induced hysteria, you’ll be a clinic MVP. Bonus: Vet schools love applicants with solid communication skills, so this secretly boosts your app too.
First off, Amelia’s got the right idea—ranches, shelters, and shadowing are the way to go. But you’re already in a GP clinic, and they’ve got you standing around like a glorified houseplant. Classic. Time to level up and actually do stuff.
Forget just asking, “Can I help?” because that gets you the polite “not right now” while they shuffle you to the corner. Instead, hit ‘em with the good stuff—“Hey, can I learn how to restrain properly?” (because half the job is keeping animals still, and once they see you can hold a squirmy chihuahua without turning into Swiss cheese, they’ll start using you). “Can I set up surgery packs or clean instruments?” Boring? A little. Gets you closer to the action? Absolutely. “Mind if I shadow during dentals/surgeries and take notes?” Sounds responsible, makes you look serious, and boom—you just got yourself invited to the cool stuff.
Also, become besties with the techs because they are the keepers of all vet clinic secrets and the ones who will actually teach you things. Just casually drop, “I’d love to learn how to do that if you ever have time!” and suddenly, you’re running fecals, doing ear swabs, and setting up bloodwork instead of just standing there like an NPC.
But if your GP clinic is still treating you like an unpaid statue, it’s time for an experience heist. Keep the clinic for the hours, but branch out. ER or specialty clinics move fast, deal with way cooler cases, and actually need extra hands, so they’re way more likely to let you assist. Shelters and spay/neuter programs are desperate for help, which means they’ll actually let you do things like vaccines, exams, and recovery care. Large animal vets, equine barns, and even exotics clinics? Goldmine. Vet schools eat up variety, so even if you’re set on small animals, nothing flexes harder than “Yeah, I helped deliver a foal before my lunch break.”
And let’s talk bonus XP. Farms and ranches? Untapped vet experience jackpot. Find a dairy farm, cattle ranch, or equine stable and ask if they need help. You could be assisting with births or minor medical care instead of just observing a routine cat vaccine. Wildlife centers, zoos, and aquariums? They love volunteers. You could be feeding baby raccoons, assisting with medical care for a penguin, or just casually throwing around “Yeah, I helped with a bald eagle check-up” like it’s no big deal. Mobile vet clinics and low-cost spay/neuter programs are always short-staffed, which means they’ll probably let you actually do something instead of just watching.
And here’s a sneaky hack—research. Yeah, I know, sounds less exciting than wrestling a goat, but hear me out. Professors everywhere are doing animal-related studies, whether it’s genetics, disease research, or behavior. Find one, ask to help, and suddenly, you’ve got “research experience” on your resume, which makes you sound like an absolute genius. Some research gigs even pay (imagine that—money and resume points).
Networking is your secret weapon. Show up at vet conferences, career fairs, and workshops—even if you feel like a total imposter. Vets love helping students who actually care, and sometimes just showing up can get you a shadowing gig or internship. Also, pre-vet Facebook groups and LinkedIn circles? Goldmine. Clinics and vets randomly post assistant openings, and if you’re there first, you win.
And if you really want to flex on vet schools, get involved in community outreach. Vaccine clinics, TNR programs, spay/neuter drives—they rack up hours and make you look like a future vet who actually cares about public health, not just someone collecting hours like Pokémon cards. Bonus move? If nothing else is working, make your own opportunity. Start an animal welfare club, organize adoption events, or even volunteer at a wildlife hotline. Vet schools love students who take initiative.
Anyways Ashley, If your clinic won’t let you do much, think outside the clinic. 🤔 There are a million ways to rack up hours and get real experience—you just gotta grab ‘em. Now go forth, get covered in fur, and may your scrubs forever be stained with unidentifiable substances. 🤪 All the best and good luck, hit me up if you need anything else or further questions! 🤗
Dr recommends the following next steps:
Thank you, Dr!
Amelia Reed
Licensed Veterinary Technicans
8
Answers
Kellogg, Idaho
Updated
Amelia’s Answer
First, contact local ranches to see if they need ranch hands and if they offer training. Next, look for opportunities in shelter medicine and be open about your goal to apply to vet school. Additionally, find clinics that allow hands-on experience for veterinary assistants. Shadowing at different clinics can help you understand how they use their assistants.