“Wildlife Veterinary Medicine Panama” was designed by Dr. Chloe Buiting, The Jungle Doctor, for students looking to gain clinical experience in wildlife medicine. Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a sloth vet? Or treat some of the world’s most endangered wildlife? The Panama Pre-Vet Clinical Wildlife Medicine Program might be for you – now open for enrollment for Summer 2023!

This Panama Pre-Vet Clinical Wildlife Medicine program is based at a veterinary clinic serving wildlife, exotics, and small animals, and also takes you to a busy wildlife rehabilitation facility, which has an emphasis on the rehabilitation and release of sloths.

Join your instructor, experienced veterinarian Dr. Julio Reyes, in Panama to learn about the medicine and treatment of Panamanian wildlife. Dr. Reyes is the Medical Director of Centro Veterinario Panamá in Panama City, which sees and treats a range of animals – from companion pets to exotic animals and wildlife. 

Dr. Reyes is also the consulting veterinarian for APPC Panama, the Pan-American Conservation Association, which is Panama’s leading wildlife rescue organization. Since 2005, the APPC has rescued, rehabilitated and released more than 5,000 wild animals – including kinkajous, jaguars, porcupines, margays, toucans, monkeys, anteaters, and sloths. With deforestation, over-development, poaching, and the illegal pet trade being some of the biggest threats to wildlife in Panama, the APPC is dedicated to saving the region’s most vulnerable species.

By joining us in this Panama Pre-Vet Clinical Wildlife Medicine program, you’ll get the chance to learn about the treatment of Central America wildlife – including clinical examinations, handling, restraint, common diseases, and medical therapies. You will also learn about the rehabilitation process and have the opportunity to shadow any surgeries, rescues, or releases during your time!

This Panama Pre-Vet Wildlife Veterinary Medicine a two-week program is based between Centro Veterinario Panamá and the APPC, both of which are located in Panama City. In addition to learning about the animals of Latin America and their conservation and care, you’ll also get a chance to explore some of the best of what Panama has to offer – including ziplining through the beautiful Gamboa rainforest, exploring tropical waterfalls, and relaxing on stunning and tropical San Blas Islands! Who It’s For

This Panama Pre-Vet Clinical Wildlife Medicine program is designed for university-aged students who are interested in working professionally with animals. Participants must be at least 18 years old. Most are 18 to 25, but we also accept full-time undergraduates over 25.

All undergraduate and pre-veterinary students are welcome. You do not need to be currently enrolled in school to attend. Individuals of any nationality may apply.

Each group will have a maximum of 12 students to ensure your ability to learn in the clinic. All programming is in English – no Spanish skills are required (but if you have them, you’ll definitely use them!)
 

• Perform a complete physical exam on a sloth
• Perform veterinary labs such as wildlife necropsies, coprological exams, suturing techniques and more
• Learn about the rescue, rehabilitation, and release process, including: what makes an animal fit for release back into the wild, and the behavior and welfare of wildlife in care
• Radiology and ultrasonography of wildlife and exotic species
• Join daily rounds in the clinic to discuss current hospital in-patients and cases
• Surgical shadowing opportunities

• The care of sloths, anteaters, toucans, cats, kinkajous, monkeys, and other Central American wildlife
• Dedicated workshops to learn a [Baby sloths clinging on a twigs inside a blue basket] bout and practice in the handling and restraint of small mammals, reptiles, and birds (including birds of prey)
• Chemical restraint and anesthesia of wildlife
• Types of injuries sustained by wildlife and their treatment
• The advanced medical care of wildlife, including physiotherapy, laser therapy and orthopaedic surgeries (and get involved with any cases treated during your time!)