Gain Clinic Experience And Support Animal Rescue…From Anywhere On Earth

Veterinary Orthopedics: Exotics Surgical Techniques, Fracture Management, and Physical Therapy Internship (Online)

Earn 40 exotic virtual vet hours in 4 weeks!

Program Highlights

• 100% live online through Zoom and Google Classroom
• Earn 40 exotic veterinary hours for VMCAS vet school applications
• Join a wildlife veterinarian up close and in real-time for physical and orthopedic examinations (may include raptors, coatis, lizards, snakes, rats, rabbits, frogs and more!)
• Receive a goniometer via mail to practice orthopedic assessments live with your veterinarian mentor
• Earn a “Veterinary Goniometric Assessment” training certificate for your resume  
• Support exotics rescue, rehabilitation, and research in Belize

Lead Mentor: Jorge Luis Mercado Ortega, DVM

Supporting Mentor: Sarah Mann, Founder – Belize Raptor Center

Students in the Veterinary Orthopedics Internship (Online) will learn and practice the fundamentals of orthopedic surgical techniques, fracture management, and physical therapy through live demonstration and vet-taught case studies on avian and small exotics species — at a local wildlife clinic in Belize. 

Interns will learn to:

• Understand the musculoskeletal system of small exotics
• Properly restrain exotics
• Apply radiology principles to orthopedics
• Perform physical and orthopedic examinations
• Reduce, stabilize, and repair fractures
• Care for wounds
• Utilize complimentary diagnostic tools to assess orthopedic ailments (blood sampling, blood smear reading, red and white blood cell counts, fluorescein, parasitological)
• Select drugs in orthopedic treatment
• Recognize metabolic problems associated with orthopedics
• Perform physical therapy (use of a goniometer)
• Use newly acquired knowledge to interpret real-time cases
• Make highly informed diagnosis decisions
• Provide clinical care, rehabilitation, and release for exotic species  

Reviews of the last virtual internship with the Belize Raptor Center

“This experience GREATLY exceeded my expectations. I had so much fun learning about everything in this course. I instantly fell in love!”

“This far outweighed my expectations – which is saying something since I know Loop programs are always amazing! This was a once in a lifetime experience.” 

“The whole raptor team was so helpful, accommodating, and they KNEW their stuff! I loved learning from them every session!”

“Both Dr. Jorge and Sarah were so helpful and always were so open to answering all questions. They were both extremely passionate about what they do, making the internship and learning more enjoyable.”

Real-time cases will screen exotics for: 

Luxation / dislocations
Joint injuries
Degenerative joint diseases
Traumatic injuries
Fractures

…and SO much more! 

Interns will participate in physical and orthopedic examinations, screenings, and diagnostic workups of exotics, with a focus on avian medicine. Other small exotics may include lizards, rats, snakes, rabbits, coatis, frogs, squirrels, or any other patients to the clinic during the internship period. This internship takes place at a real, working Belizean clinic!

During the final session, student’s knowledge will be assessed through a final examination and skills demonstration. Interns who pass the final exam (which you will be prepared to do if you have attended all sessions) and successfully demonstrate their skills will be certified in their successful completion of the “Veterinary Goniometric Assessment” training by Loop Abroad.

Each student will receive a goniometer by mail to practice for their certification assessment.