Pre-Vet Club prides itself on giving invaluable animal and veterinary experience to our members. Our wonderful programs coordinators organize various programs and wet labs with U of I veterinarians.
Requirements of Program Participation:
- They must attend at least TWO (2) meetings a semester with the Pre-Vet Club.
- They must perform at least FIVE (5) hours of fundraising a semester with the Pre-Vet Club.
- With many applicants, members with the most membership points will receive priority.
- They must fill out any pertinent documentation for both the U of I Vet School and the Pre-Vet Club.
- They must attend all relevant training sessions as given by the U of I College of Veterinary Medicine and outlined below.
- They must attend ALL scheduled shifts, unless there is an emergency (i.e. illness, family emergency, etc). If this is the case, the participant is required to find a replacement (the back-up scheduled for that shift) and contact the Programs Coordinator immediately. Any unexcused absences are grounds for being removed from the program.
Our programs include: Large Animal Intensive Care Unit, Small Animal Emergency Critical Care, Oncology, and Champaign County Humane Society Surgery Observation.
The large animal intensive care unit program (LAICU) allows students to assist in 7pm-12am shifts at the large animal clinic. Students attend daily lectures and labs given by the interns or resident. Lecture examples include basic physical exams, colic, field emergencies, etc. Labs include catheter placement, fracture bandaging lab, Nasogastric Tube, Rectal and ultrasound lab. Participants will work with horses, cows, sheep, goats, alpaca, and other farm animals.
The small animal emergency critical care program (SAECC) allows students to assist in the 7pm-9pm or 9pm-12pm shifts at the small animal ER and ICU. Students will assist in handling during emergency situations, radiographs, and hourly exams in the ICU. Participants will work with small animals, such as cats, dogs, exotics, and wildlife.
The oncology program allows students to shadow afternoon shifts in the oncology department at Vet Med. Shifts are two hours long from 10-4pm. Participants will observe diagnostic testing, general procedures, and discussing results/treatment options with owners. This program will be offered next year.
The Champaign County Humane Society (CCHS) Surgery Observation program allows students to observe Dr. Weedon and vet students perform various surgeries during the fall semester. Typical surgeries include spays and neuters on cats, dogs, and rabbits. Once a week, the shelter has a low-cost spay/neuter clinic. Other possible surgeries may include tumor excision, leg amputations, or cruciate ligament repair.
Wet Labs
Each year, we offer a different variety of wet lab opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience and learn more about the application of veterinary medicine.