If you love animals and are happy when you are managing animals, especially when it comes to their health, then perhaps you should study veterinary medicine at Auburn University veterinary school. Would you like the opportunity to earn decent compensation while treating animals for their diseases? Well, you just might be able to do that too if you study veterinary medicine at this university.
What is so Special About Studying at Auburn University?
You should choose Auburn University to study for your veterinary medicine degree because its College of Veterinary Medicine is affiliated with two teaching hospitals. These are the J.T. Vaughan Large Animal Teaching Hospital and the Wilford and Kate Bailey Small Animal Teaching Hospital.
At the same time, Auburn University has its own veterinary practice dubbed The Auburn University Veterinary Clinic. These three facilities are on the university campus itself in Alabama.
A Brief History of Auburn University
The school, now known as Auburn University, was established in Auburn, Alabama, in 1960. Over 250,000 students have graduated from this university. But the College of Veterinary Medicine itself was already in operation beginning in 1907 when the school was still known by a different name.
Location of the University
The university campus is based within the city limits of Lee County, which forms part of the state of Alabama in the United States of America. The school is known as the second-biggest university in Alabama. It is also renowned for its focus on veterinary medicine, education, and research.
How Many Students Are Accepted Per Year at the College of Veterinary Medicine?
There is no fixed number of students accepted annually into this field at Auburn University. However, one estimate places the annual entrance numbers at 130 students. Out of that, about 41 freshmen reside within Alabama, while 38 are actually contract students who originate from the state of Kentucky (as part of the Southern Regional Education Board contract). There are also 51 other students who do not fit into the other categories stated above.
Auburn University has been able to graduate a total of 7,020 doctors of veterinary medicine since 1909.
Admission Criteria for US Students and Foreign Students
At the moment, Auburn University only accepts applications from US students for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. No foreign students are allowed to apply yet. This means if you are a US citizen, you may apply to this veterinary school. A permanent resident may also apply. For more details about the Admissions process, you may send a letter of inquiry to: admissions@vetmed.auburn.edu.
To enter the university’s veterinary science program, every applicant is required to pass through the VMCAS or Veterinary Medical College Application Service. This means filling out and submitting an electronic application form on the aavmc.org site. Each applicant has to display an excellent level of academic proficiency with previous experience in animal care.
The applicant should also display an apparent inclination to take care of and treat animals in a variety of areas. For example, some applicants may want to care for companion animals only (namely dogs and cats predominantly). Others may want to deal with agriculture-based animals meaning they may eventually practice in an agricultural setting. It varies according to interest.
This means all applicants should already have some experience assisting real veterinarians in a real-life setting. This is mandatory to be accepted into the school of Veterinary Medicine. The school will only accept those with at least 500 hours of participation in this field of study with licensed veterinarians.
Educational Opportunities
To qualify for entrance to the DVM degree at Auburn University, you need to be willing to commit to 36 hours as your weekly average of attendance in a classroom or laboratory setting. This is equivalent to 20 to 26 hours per term in credit hours. You must also have already completed the mandated pre-requisite courses before you apply to this veterinary school.
You would also need to enroll in at least one elective subject every semester – this begins when you move on to the second semester of your studies. Here is a list of the electives offered:
- Applied Anatomy
- Equine Lameness
- Small Oceanarium Environment
- Financial Management
- Diagnostic Ultrasound
- Advanced Reproductive Techniques
- Wildlife Diseases
- Disaster Medicine
In addition, be prepared to study surgical training conducted through humane, ethical, and validated training techniques. This is undertaken through the affiliated teaching hospitals mentioned and with supervision by more experienced veterinarians.
Additional Information About the Affiliated Teaching Hospitals
The veterinary teaching hospital of Auburn University aims to provide legitimate and caring health care to both large and small animals brought in by their owners for treatment. The services of this Auburn University veterinary hospital are divided into care for large animals and care for small animals.
The large animals are brought to the J.T. Vaughan Large Animal Teaching Hospital. Small animals are sent to The Wilford and Kate Bailey Small Animal Teaching Hospital instead. Both licensed and competent faculty members and veterinary students care for the patients along with other staff members.
The J.T. Vaughan Large Animal Teaching Hospital takes care of livestock or farm animals in general and horses. The specialty services of this large animal treatment facility are composed mainly of:
- Theriogenology
- Farm Animal Medicine and Surgery
- Equine Services
The Wilford and Kate Bailey Small Animal Teaching Hospital engage in several specialty services offered to the public. These are:
- Theriogenology
- Soft Tissue Surgery
- Physical Rehabilitation
- Orthopedics
- Ophthalmology
- Oncology
- Neurology/Neurosurgery
- Internal Medicine
- Emergency and Critical Care
- Radiology
- Anesthesia
- Dermatology
- Cardiology
This small animal teaching hospital also maintains a Clinical Pathology Department and its own centralized pharmacy. It accepts domestic or companion animals in general, and dogs and cats in particular, for treatment.
Furthermore, there is the university veterinary clinic named the Auburn University Veterinary Clinic. This facility is housed within The Wilford and Kate Bailey Small Animal Teaching Hospital. It focuses on the wellness needs of companion animals and the prevention of disease.
Senior year veterinary students get their exposure to general practice situations in the vet clinic. Should there be a need for more intensive health care, the owners of animal patients are referred to the small animal teaching hospital instead.
The Veterinary Clinic also maintains the Avian and Exotic Service geared towards the health needs of exotic companion animals. Here is the list of exotic animals generally permitted to be treated via the Avian and Exotic Service:
- Non-venomous reptiles such as snakes, lizards, and geckos.
- Companion birds
- Turtles or tortoises
- Poultry
- Permitted Raptors
- Exotic mammals (including Sugar Gliders, rabbits, hedgehogs, hamsters, gerbils, ferrets, and chinchillas)
There is usually just a handful of types of exotic companion animals that are accepted for treatment. But it is still possible for owners of any exotic animals to get the necessary treatment for their unique companion animals. Owners of exotic animals are encouraged to call first before bringing in their animals for treatment.
All three facilities (the large animal hospital, the small animal hospital, and the veterinary clinic) operate round-the-clock all days of the week. This allows them to accept emergency cases immediately and refer them to specialists on call for more intensive health care treatment and even critical care services, when necessary.
Research About Health Treatments For Dogs and Cats
Scott-Ritchey Research Center
The College of Veterinary Medicine also maintains its own research facility named the Scott-Ritchey Research Center. This research facility has been operating for more than 40 years now. It is funded by private donors and grants. Members of the public may also give their own donations.
The research regarding dog and cat health of this interdisciplinary and interdepartmental facility is shared with scientific and clinical organizations. Occasionally, their research findings have implications for the treatment of humans as well (as with the case of GM1 gangliosidosis).
AURIC
The Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine is also home to the Auburn University Research Initiative in Cancer (or AURIC). Though much of the research in the AURIC department is geared towards finding cures for cancer in humans, the findings of AURIC may also apply to animal science as well.
Project ALIAS
In addition, the university also offers the services of its Auburn Laboratory for Imaging Animal Systems (otherwise simply called Project ALIAS) to its university researchers. Project ALIAS provides small animal imaging so that researchers can address complicated issues regarding biology.
Of particular interest to researchers is the progression of four specific diseases, which are:
- Cancer
- Infectious Diseases
- Diabetes
- Atherosclerosis
To do this kind of research, Project ALIAS allows researchers to rely on fluorescence, bioluminescence, and radiologic imaging. In turn, researchers then check if the treatment options prescribed for such illnesses are effective or not.
There are six pieces of equipment at work for this kind of research. They are:
- Fujifilm FLA-5100 Scanner
- Inspira Ventilator
- TS420 Meter
- Nikon AZ100
- IVIS Lumina XRMS
- MSOT inVision 256-TF
The university is now considering ways to maintain such systems while promoting further research. This is being done in collaboration with AURIC. For now, those who would like to use these machines are advised to bring along the following disposable items:
- Isoflurane
- Black artisan page
- Disinfectant wipes
- Lab absorbent chucks
- Gloves.
Departments of the College of Veterinary Medicine
There are three central departments that fall under the aegis of this school of Veterinary Medicine. These are:
- Department of Anatomy Physiology & Pharmacology
- Department of Clinical Sciences
- Department of Pathobiology
Department of Anatomy Physiology & Pharmacology
Vet students rely on their training in the Department of Anatomy Physiology & Pharmacology to form a strong foundation in the following areas:
- Physiology
- Cellular and Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
- Histology
- Anatomy
- Toxicology
- Neuroscience
This allows them to look forward to clinical practice where this basic knowledge will prove invaluable.
Department of Clinical Sciences
For the Department of Clinical Sciences, veterinary students can immerse themselves in classroom and laboratory studies as well as clinical exposure in the Auburn University veterinary hospital. They also study the following during their immersion in the small animal hospital:
- Orthopedics
- Anesthesia
- Physical Rehabilitation
- Shelter Medicine
- Theriogenology
- Avian & Exotic Service
- Surgery
- Radiology
- Cardiology
- Pharmacy
- Dermatology
- Opthalmology
- Emergency & Critical Care
- Oncology
- Internal Medicine
- Neurology & Neurosurgery
Students are also encouraged to get exposure to the diagnosis and treatment of Farm Animals which involves the following areas of expertise:
- Dairy Service
- Farm Theriogenology
- Food and Fiber Animal
- Farm Animal Ambulatory
They will also experience Equine Care involving these:
- Equine Emergency and Critical Care
- Equine Ambulatory
- Equine Theriogenology
- Equine Internal Medicine
- Equine Sports Medicine and Surgery
- Large Animal Anesthesia
Department of Pathobiology
Department of Pathobiology is another area of learning that the vet students need to focus on. In this area, they research how to diagnose and treat animal patients within the context of the human and animal community. Research in this department will involve the following:
- Basics of biomedical science
- Details of comparative medicine
- Application of knowledge regarding diseases of animals
At the same time, this department benefits from the input of pathology residents and graduate students who belong to the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program.
During their rounds in the animal hospital, vet students get valuable insights into animal patient care. They may do their rounds in the small animal hospital and in the large animal hospital, and within the veterinary clinic. They are expected to gain knowledge and experience that will help them after graduation.
What to Expect After Earning a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree
The great aspect of studying at the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine is that graduates have gotten excellent pass rates after taking the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (or NAVLE). In the years 2016 to 2020, graduates have successfully harvested pass rates in the upper 90th percentile. Perhaps in 2021, the graduates will perform equally well in the exam.
Suppose your GWA is high enough, and you feel confident about your knowledge and skills. In that case, you may check out the Auburn University Office of Human Resources to see if you could qualify for a vacancy in the faculty roster. There are also some non-faculty career options, should you be so inclined. Visit this link to explore further.
If you feel like looking beyond the borders of Auburn University, the university maintains a Job Board at this link. You will have to create your personal account before you can start browsing. This is a convenient way to find reputable employers that may be a perfect fit for a veterinarian like yourself.
Continuing Education for Graduates of Veterinary Medicine
Graduates of the DVM degree have the option of pursuing continuing education through the Auburn University Veterinary Academy. This privilege is offered to veterinarians who want to expand their knowledge base about veterinary medicine while still practicing their profession.
In return, they are guaranteed to receive 44 hours of continuing education via seminars provided at set times during the year. Due to the ongoing pandemic in 2021, the school maintains anti-covid health protocols such as the mandatory wearing of face masks and social distancing.
The continuing education program makes it possible for veterinarians to network with others in the same profession. At the same time, members of the Academy can also absorb new learnings that may prove useful for their regular clinical practice and other related activities. A certificate is provided to each member after the sessions are completed.
Interested in Donating to Auburn University?
If you have substantial resources and would like to make a difference in the Auburn, Alabama community, one route open to you is to donate to Auburn University. Yes, donations are one way to support the work of the university within its community. There are also other means to provide support, such as:
- Give money using your card (specifically DISCOVER, American Express, MasterCard, or Visa, as it applies). This donation option may be made in the name of someone you wish to recognize, such as a family member or close friend. You can choose to donate to a certain area of need. You can also select an area where the greatest needs are felt and would be appreciated the most. Go to this link to find out how.
- Give money by sending a check. This needs to be sent to this address: Annual Fund, Attn: Gift Processing, 317 S. College St. Auburn, AL 36849. Be sure to specify to which area of support you are donating.
- You may rely on the Electronic Funds Transfer option if you are interested in providing continuous and regular support for Auburn University. This means you would be sending monthly bank drafts. Do call (334) 8441427 to make arrangements for the monthly bank drafts. You may also simply send an email to: augiving@auburn.edu.
- Include Auburn University in your Estate Planning via the Office of Gift Planning. Call them at this number (334) 8447375 or send an email to: plannedgiving@auburn.edu.
- Make a stock gift to the university by calling (334) 8441445 or emailing augiving@auburn.edu. This benefits you, too, since there may be tax implications if you give stocks and other similar gifts.
- Ask your employer if they may match any gift you make to Auburn University. This can be coordinated with the Human Resources Department of your employer.
- Give real estate, rather than a financial donation, to Auburn University. This can take the form of farms, commercial properties, and even undeveloped land, as it applies in your case. You can arrange for this as an immediate donation or a planned donation—call (334) 8448700 or email vjw0002@auburn.edu to determine the steps to take for this generous gift.
- Set up an endowment to benefit Auburn University. The minimum amount needed to create an endowment is $25,000. The endowment can be set up either in your name or the name of someone you truly value. You can call (334) 8442100 or send an email to endowments@auburn.edu.
- Let your company or foundation develop a philanthropic relationship with the university. Contact the Corporate and Foundation Relations staff via (334) 8448765 or email them at this address: havard@auburn.edu.
- Offer gifts in kind to the school. You may bring this up with the university staff via (334) 8448725 or email them through rondablythe@auburn.edu.
Take note that you may be saving the lives of well-loved animals by giving to the university and supporting veterinary students’ dream to further pursue their education at Auburn University. You, your company, or a nonprofit organization may also qualify for some incentives if you give a sizable donation in cash or in kind. So it’s a mutually beneficial relationship.
Summary
Many young people seek out a career in Veterinary Medicine because they feel that they would like to care for animals as a profession. However, you now know that inclination is only the tip of the iceberg when studying DVM. Yes, there are so many subjects that you have to master before you can graduate. So a student should try to get as much veterinary experience as possible before applying to the university.
The good news is that Auburn University ranks among the best veterinary universities in the United States of America. It has been educating potential veterinarians for a long time plus it has invested in the facilities much needed by both faculty and students in the field of DVM. The research efforts of the school are also substantial and invite more research inquiries in Veterinary Medicine. Clearly, education at this Alabama vet school will help you become the best veterinarian you could possibly be.
So that means you now have a great option when trying to choose which one of the best veterinary universities in the world you could study in. Just surf for the name Auburn University and start your veterinary education journey today.