Veterinary Internship
Program Overview
It is our goal to allow our interns to grow in the direction of their interests and work towards their long-term goals. Will be expected to shadow veterinary staff and assist with the daily running of the center. We require that applicants are studying or have graduated from a veterinary-related field and have clinical experience.
Common Experiences:
Interns for one month:
Feeding neonate and juvenile animals
Assisting and observing animal emergencies and triage
Observing surgeries
Observing and learning about necropsies (may be qualified to perform necropsies)
Loading syringes and administering medications to animals
Assisting with animal husbandry
Preparing diet and nutritional needs
Record keeping
Collecting browse and leaves for the animals
Taking part in educational lectures/workshops
Interns more than a month also:
Completing independent necropsies, depending on the animals we receive
Assisting and observing animal surgeries
Honing critical care skills like bandaging techniques, inserting catheters for an IV, and fluid therapy
Practicing and learning about different suturing techniques
Practicing wild animal medicine and pharmacology
Assisting with physiotherapy
Ready to dive deeper into this program?
Jump to the full breakdown of dates, costs, eligibility, and more.
Program Highlights
What's Included
Quick Details
- Summer
- Winter
- Short Term
- Spring
- 1-3 Months
- 3-6 Months
- Fall
- Zoology & Wildlife Sciences
Updated Mar 30, 2026
Program Details
Learn all the nitty gritty details you need to know
Locations
- Dominical, Costa Rica
Eligible Nationalities
- All Nationalities
- This Program is also open to Solo
Education Levels & Language
- Language
- Spanish
- English
- Education
- University Freshman (1st Year)
- University Sophomore (2nd Year)
- University Junior (3rd Year)
- University Senior (4th Year)
- University 5th Year or More
- Doctorate degree
- Professional degree
- Master’s degree
- Bachelor’s degree
- Associate degree
- Trade/technical/vocational training
Accommodation Options
- Apartment/Flat
- Group living
- Independent living
Application Procedures
- Phone/Video Interview
- Online Application
Age Requirement
18+
Duration
- Summer
- Winter
- Short Term
- Spring
- 1-3 Months
- 3-6 Months
- Fall
Starts At
Salary & Compensation
No Salary
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FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to all the most common questions about Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary.
Do I have to speak Spanish in order to be considered?
While Spanish language skills are a definite plus, applicants must be fluent in English in order to qualify.
How many surgeries can interns participate in?
Because it is impossible to predict how many emergencies requiring surgery will occur over the course of your time with AWS, we can’t make any promises as to how many surgeries you will be able to assist with or witness. In order to qualify for assisting with surgery, we will look at how many years of study you have completed, the status of your degree, the complexity of the surgery and your level of competence.
Are there opportunities to help outside the clinic?
While the veterinary internship’s primary duties revolve around the clinic, vet interns will be expected to assist throughout the rehabilitation center and sanctuary.
How many participants are accepted at once?
Because of the size of our clinic and the typical workload, we do not accept more than two vet interns at any given time.
Do interns assist with night shifts for sick or orphaned animals?
While this depends on the animals we will be treating during your visit, it is likely that vet interns will be asked to feed or medicate sick/orphaned animals throughout the night once a week.
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