Shadow a Vet... Houston Vets?

[fefe6149]

Good Morning everyone...

Have anyone here shadowed a vet in Houston before? I am trying to find a vet to shadow but I would like to start by contacting vets that have done this previously so I may have a better chance of being seen. I am in the Houston area. Also, how did you ask to shadow? Did you call or show up in person? Do you need a resume or anything? I am nervous aout showing up randomly asking to shadow as I amsure they are extermly busy. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

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[thecatastrophist]

I've never been to Houston before, but my experience has been that many veterinarians are normally welcoming of shadows and volunteers. Keep in mind--they did this before as well. They know what you're going through.

As a general rule, I call or pull on contacts from my network. I called almost all the places I ended up shadowing for similar reasons to what concerns you--I understand that it's very busy, and I didn't want to take away from the veterinarian's time with clients. But. I can also see the benefit of coming in to ask. For one, it shows initiative and I feel like it's easier to establish your trustworthiness and enthusiasm in person than on the phone. One of the best experiences I got just so happened to be with a specialist who knows my boyfriend's family. When I called their office manager told me no because it was a liability issue, but then my boyfriend's parents asked the vet themselves when they took their dog in for a recheck. She said yes, and it was a great experience.

Just as a word of warning from personal experience and from what I've heard from others--not all veterinarians can take somebody on shadowing, whether it be for liability reasons or because their practice is too busy. I encountered a lot of that when I was looking for experience, and it's very disheartening. Don't lose home--just keep trying until something sticks. Plus, you might still get something cool out of it. I asked to shadow at a specialty/referral center and they couldn't take me on because they're busy with vet students doing internships there. But, they did have a really nice CVT give me a tour of their facility. Their equipment was absolutely state-of-the-art and even if I didn't get to shadow a veterinarian, it was still a wonderful experience.

 

[ameropean_chelsea]

Good Morning everyone...

Have anyone here shadowed a vet in Houston before? I am trying to find a vet to shadow but I would like to start by contacting vets that have done this previously so I may have a better chance of being seen. I am in the Houston area. Also, how did you ask to shadow? Did you call or show up in person? Do you need a resume or anything? I am nervous aout showing up randomly asking to shadow as I amsure they are extermly busy. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

I live in Houston and can make some recommendations depending on the area you're in. I've worked/shadowed for several different small and equine vets.

 

[fefe6149]

That would be great. I live on the North side of Houston but I am willing to travel to any side of Houston. Thanks

 

[neocia]

Something I've found helpful is to volunteer at a shelter with an attached clinic (check out cat rescues that have a clinic for fixing ferals or mobile clinics as part of a shelter). Once you volunteer with the rescued animals for a while and the staff get to know you're interested in vet med, you can often get the OK to shadow - or even work - in their clinic since they usually need all the extra hands they can get.

 

[fefe6149]

Something I've found helpful is to volunteer at a shelter with an attached clinic (check out cat rescues that have a clinic for fixing ferals or mobile clinics as part of a shelter). Once you volunteer with the rescued animals for a while and the staff get to know you're interested in vet med, you can often get the OK to shadow - or even work - in their clinic since they usually need all the extra hands they can get.

Thanks! I will def look into that. I would love to find a job with animals otherwise I would have to work, go to school full time all while trying to balance with getting animal experience and studying.

 

[amycb73]

I'm in the Houston area and I just started shadowing this semester. I went about it by emailing all the clinics addressing whom it may concern and that I was wondering about shadowing a vet voluntarily. I also told them about where I was in my schooling (currently a junior in undergrad) and that I was pursuing a Veterinary degree. I only got one response and that's where I'm at now. Before that, I also just asked the vet office my family normally goes too but that didn't work out. If you go in and ask and they say they can't help you, don't be afraid to ask if they know any other places that could help you. The clinic I'm at now referred me to an equine clinic since I'm interested in large animal. Don't forget to try to get some various experiences at different clinics. Even if you want to do small animal, it doesn't hurt your application or just personal experience to try for a large animal clinic.

 

[LyraGardenia]

Don't forget to try to get some various experiences at different clinics. Even if you want to do small animal, it doesn't hurt your application or just personal experience to try for a large animal clinic.

It more than doesn't hurt, it's highly suggested by most schools to get a wide variety of experience! Depth (i.e. hundreds or thousands of hours at one clinic) in the area you're most interested in is great, but in general the more experiences, the better. Even just shadowing at multiple small animal clinics allows you to see how different clinics operate.

 

[Crickietoosh]

Resurrecting this thread.... I'm having a hard time finding a large animal vet to shadow in or around the Houston area. I've called the Gulf Coast Large Animal Clinic in Alvin twice and sent my resume, they have yet to call me back. Would it be weird for me to show up in person next week? Any recommendations for large animal or equine places will be much appreciated!!!

 

[cheathac]

I think it's important to show up in person. I visited a clinic a few weeks ago wearing nice attire and brought a resume. After leaving I called them to follow up. I finally got in touch with them today since they were so busy. I start shadowing tomorrow! Be persistent just don't call every single day obviously. I called once a week for 2 weeks until they got into touch with me.

 

[Crickietoosh]

I think it's important to show up in person. I visited a clinic a few weeks ago wearing nice attire and brought a resume. After leaving I called them to follow up. I finally got in touch with them today since they were so busy. I start shadowing tomorrow! Be persistent just don't call every single day obviously. I called once a week for 2 weeks until they got into touch with me.

Yeah I called them once a week too. So I guess I'll show up next week and see what happens

 

[cheathac]

Yeah you can only do so much. If they say no, they say no. I wasn't able to volunteer or shadow often when I was in high school. They would just never respond to me even after stopping in. Just show you're interested and hope for the best. If they don't respond try finding another clinic. Hope this helps.

 

[rockthatscoober]

It's not super close (Navasota) but if you don't mind the drive, Brazos Valley Equine has a shadow program set up. They are super helpful and organized, and I had a great experience there last summer. Saw some really neat surgeries, went on some farm calls, bottle fed a baby zebra I would check them out!

 

[ameropean_chelsea]

Waller Equine is big on shadowing/volunteering!

 

[Crickietoosh]

Thank you @rockthatscoober and @ameropean_chelsea ! I will give them a call =D

 

[mcha0305]

Good Morning everyone...

Have anyone here shadowed a vet in Houston before? I am trying to find a vet to shadow but I would like to start by contacting vets that have done this previously so I may have a better chance of being seen. I am in the Houston area. Also, how did you ask to shadow? Did you call or show up in person? Do you need a resume or anything? I am nervous aout showing up randomly asking to shadow as I amsure they are extermly busy. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

Hello, I see this post was created in 2014. I am currently in the same boat of trying to look for shadowing/ volunteering opportunities in the Houston area and I am curious to see if you have any recommendations. That would be very helpful!

I am open to driving anywhere in Houston, I am hopeful for something that's flexible with my work schedule, I am open to shadowing in a small vet clinic or a clinic in a shelter, and my goal right now is mainly to get more experience so I can easily transfer to working there full time. Thanks!