Home > International Internships > Veterinary Science
VETERINARY
INTERNSHIPS
IN LATIN AMERICA
As an aspiring veterinarian, life is about helping innocent animals live a longer, healthier life; and it is also about educating people on how they can make life better for all animals. Meanwhile, the approach to animal health and welfare in Latin America is significantly different, and animals are often poorly treated due to limited resources and cultural misconceptions.
International veterinary internships in Latin America, provide direct exposure to the challenges of professional animal healthcare in developing countries and the systems and practices that are in effect today. Internship placements are with veterinary doctors, small clinics, rescue centers, and zoos.
Veterinary interns assist with primary animal care including examinations, assessing different injuries and illnesses, and assisting with diagnoses. Interns may also help prep animal patients for surgery, monitor animals in post op recovery, collect data, and update patient records. Veterinary interns get to know a large variety of animals and their owners in the local community—giving you the opportunity to educate and directly advise owners about proper care, nutrition, and training. As an international intern you also gain experience with medical terminology in Spanish and improve your ability to communicate with Spanish-speaking pet owners. During your internship, you build your overall foundation as globally-minded practitioner of veterinary medicine.
Maximo Nivel’s international internships are designed to be unique opportunities that contribute to your academic and professional goals. Our in-country team is available 24/7 to ensure a safe and secure internship experience, so you can focus fully on expanding your skill set and in-field knowledge.
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Why I Maximo Nivel
I love the program. The staff members are helpful in every way possible making my transition comfortable and successful. I received one on one Spanish class and it was great. I like the fact that there is a final presentation. It was a bit challenging, but this way I got to share with the Maximo audience about how great the placement was, explain my work, and elaborate future ideas in how to help where I completed my internship.
VETERINARY INTERNSHIPS
IN COSTA RICA
Costa Rica is one of the most progressive countries in the world when it comes to wildlife conservation. However, up until very recently there was no serious legislation that protected animals. The Animal Welfare Bill, updated in June 2017, now includes punishment for violence against both domestic animals and wildlife. Clearly, the country is making significant advancements in animal welfare and this makes it a great place for veterinary internships.
Getting involved in a veterinary internship in Costa Rica exposes you to the ethical and safe treatment for injured, ill, and mistreated animals. As an international intern, you work alongside a professional veterinarian and get involved in assisting with feeding, cleaning and grooming, administering medication, and working with pet owners.
The perfect candidates for this unique internship are passionate, dedicated, and currently studying veterinary medicine or animal care. Basic-Intermediate Spanish language skills are required to communicate effectively during your internship. A veterinary internship is a great starting point for you to gain hands-on experience and develop your skills.
VETERINARY INTERNSHIPS
IN GUATEMALA
60% of Guatemala’s population lives below poverty line, which means pets and other domestic animals suffer many hardships, due to the lack of financial resources to properly care for them. Culturally, dogs are used mostly for protection and this means are often bound by leashes and are underfed. Veterinary care is very expensive for the average family, so when a pet falls ill, it is easier to abandon the animal than to seek proper treatment.
In February 2017, Guatemala enacted a comprehensive anti-cruelty law put in place to protect wildlife, companion animals, animals used for research, and circus animals. This was a major breakthrough for the country, but there is still much work to be done. Veterinary clinics in Guatemala, oftentimes, lack the manpower and resources needed to provide adequate care. As a veterinary intern, you assist professional veterinarians on all fronts to help serve as many animals as possible, including physical examinations, diagnosis, and surgery. You also interact directly with pet owners and help to educate locals on how to properly care for their animals.
VETERINARY INTERNSHIPS
IN PERU
Peru only recently approved an Animal Protection and Welfare Act in November 2015. Although classifying animals as sentient beings and taking legal action against those found guilty of animal cruelty is a move in the right direction, Peru still has a long way to go to guarantee the welfare and rights of domestic animals and wildlife, and specifically to manage the country’s stray and abandoned animal population.
With very low financial resources and understaffed clinics most animals go without proper care. Enrolling in a veterinary internship will gives you hands-on experience and the opportunity to contribute to a local community. As an international intern, you look after stray animals, assist with rehabilitation, and work alongside a veterinarian while getting in-depth insight and training on veterinary medicine.
WHY INTERN WITH MAXIMO NIVEL?
Maximo Nivel is a local organization based in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Peru. Our role is to bring structure, organization, and quality service to your internship program.
- New internships start every Monday year-round
- Academic credit available
- Dedicated internship advisor
- Internships available for 4 to 24 weeks
- All-inclusive—Private accommodations, meals, & Spanish classes
- 24/7 in-country support
- Program fees from $1,595
Your internship is personalized from the beginning, and we match you with the very best placement based on your professional and academic goals. Schedule a call with a program advisor today!
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