The UF Pre-Veterinary Program has many courses that uniquely prepare you for a career in veterinary medicine. You will learn many exciting facts about animal husbandry, life as a veterinarian and how to gain acceptance into veterinary school.

Courses:
EQST 133: Practical Animal Handling I
In this course, you will work with the University’s own horses and learn many of the techniques you will use in veterinary practice in equine medicine. Dr. Mike Kerns will teach you to use proper restraint, how to do a physical examination, and other procedures that veterinarians do in daily equine practice. You will learn the correct injection sites in the horse and actually get the chance to practice giving a vaccination and drawing blood. Do you know how to mouth a horse for age? You will after taking this course.    
                      
                      
                              A student auscultating the heart on her horse.

EQST 134: Practical Animal Handling II
Cows, calves, sows, pigs, goats, lambs, llamas and donkeys are some of the animals you will learn to handle, along with studying their behaviors in this class also taught by Dr. Mike Kerns at the University Pre-Veterinary Barn and local surrounding farms. Veterinarians must know how to restrain and work with these animals in veterinary practice as they range in weight from 2 pounds to more than 1,000 pounds. Techniques of physical restraint, medical examinations, injections, palpations and safety will be stressed. You will have a much deeper understanding of animal husbandry after this course.

                        
                                        Palpating cows is fun!!!

EQST 331: Introduction to Small Animal Medicine
Are you more interested in small animals such as dogs and cats? This course will enhance your small animal medical skills. Topics of discussion include the physical examination of the dog and cat, collection and interpretation of laboratory data and diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. You will also learn about common infectious diseases that affect the dog and cat, preventative medicine and pharmacology used in small animal medicine today.

                                            Taking a Study Break!  

PVET 110: Introduction to Veterinary Medicine I
Have questions that no one has answered about being a veterinarian? This course is for you. Dr. Linda Peck will give you a thorough look at modern veterinary practice. You will have a much better understanding of the admissions process and the criteria to enter professional school, the careers available today in veterinary medicine and types of veterinary practice available in today’s society. She will also discuss with you controversial issues in the profession as well as professional ethics and malpractice.                                  

                                              Dr. Peck with a patient.                   

PVET 310: Introduction to Veterinary Medicine II
Getting you ready to apply to professional school is crucial. This course, taught by Dr. Linda Peck, will assist you in taking that all-important step. You will discuss the admissions process in detail, the application, standardized testing, and deadlines. Interviewing is covered in great detail, right down to the clothes to wear! Finally the process of figuring out who should write those critical letters of recommendation are also discussed.