World Vets

What’s NOT included:

International airfare, optional excursions, travellers insurance, health insurance, World Vets membership fee, lunch on non-work days, dinner and snacks, required travel documentation to enter/exit Ecuador (i.e. a passport that does not expire for at least 6 months from your initial date of travel, visa if applicable), incidentals and anything not specifically outlined as included.

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What will I be doing?

This is a small animal veterinary field project. For this particular project, World Vets veterinary team will execute a spay neuter campaign targeting both owned and unowned animals. Volunteers can expect 75+ sterilizations to be performed each day. We may also see health consultations, perform other types of surgeries and/or treat injuries on a case by case basis.

Veterinarians

As a veterinarian, you primarily will be performing sterilization surgeries for dogs and cats. You may also be involved in the following:

• Medical diagnosis and treatment and/or in providing health consultations
• Performing other surgeries that may be deemed necessary on a case by case basis (based on your comfort level and/or ability)
• Providing surgical instruction and guidance to veterinary students in performing sterilizations (if interested)

The veterinarian volunteer category may be filled by a licensed DVM who is both competent and comfortable in performing routine spay/neuter surgery. PLEASE NOTE: We will require additional documentation for veterinarians volunteering on this project. See below under “A Few Special Notes” for more information

Veterinary Technicians (Licensed and Non-Licensed)

As a veterinary technician, you will lead and/or be involved in running the pre-med/induction station to induce anesthesia and prepare patients for surgery.  This includes:

• Administering, monitoring and managing the pre-medication given to surgical patients
• Administering, monitoring and managing the anesthesia given to surgical patients
• Assisting with surgical prep and patient monitoring

You may also be involved with providing instruction and guidance to students in performing the clinical tasks mentioned above.

The “Tech” (LVT/RVT) volunteer category may only be filled by a veterinary technician that is either certified, licensed and/or registered. Please note, proficiency in IV catheter placement is essential in this position. For veterinary technicians who are not licensed, they should register under the “Tech/Student” category.

Students

As a veterinary student, pre-veterinary student and/or veterinary technician student, you may be involved in any of the following activities:

• Pre med/Induction (All students): Assisting with prepping patients for surgery  (i.e. animal handling/restraint, expressing bladders, assisting with catheter placement, shaving and sterilizing surgical field, positioning patient for the surgeon).
• Surgery (Veterinary students):  Assisting a veterinarian in surgery, cleaning up surgical area for the next patient and/or observing surgery. Note: As part of this project, veterinary students may expect to perform a few sterilizations under the direct guidance and instruction of a veterinarian.
• Recovery (All students):  Monitoring patients after surgery, administering appropriate post-op medications per protocol chart and grooming.

The student volunteer category may be filled by veterinary students, pre–veterinary students, and/or veterinary technology students. When registering, select the “Tech/Student” category and further classify your position on the registration form to reflect the student type that you are filling. 

Assistants

The assistant volunteer category is open to anyone who loves animals and wants to help. Our assistant position requires no prior experience, just a willingness to learn! Assistants often help in the post operation recovery area and in a variety of miscellaneous duties (based on your skills, experience and comfort level).

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A few special notes:

• Veterinarians will be required to submit the following additional documentation per country requirements for this project: Copy of your active/current veterinary license. This can be scanned/emailed to trips@worldvets.org and/or fax to 1 877 688 8387. Please submit this documentation no later than January 14th, 2020.
• The gloves provided on World Vets projects are made with latex. Volunteers who have a latex allergy will need to provide their own gloves for this project.
• Caps and masks are required to be worn by all surgeons as well as those assisting within the sterile field of the surgical patient. World Vets provides disposable caps and masks on field service projects, however, volunteers have the option of using their own surgical cap.
• World Vets is not able to provide medical advice. Volunteers are encouraged to consult with their family physician, nearest travel clinic and/or center for disease control regarding recommended immunizations and/or health precautions prior to the trip. It is recommended that volunteers be vaccinated for rabies, though is not a requirement for this particular project.
• We understand that sometimes unexpected things can happen to stop a volunteer being able to participate in a project. For that reason, we highly recommend that you obtain some form of insurance for your trip. Global Rescue provides medical evacuation & advisory services as well as general travellers/trip cancellation insurance. You must read the policy wording to ensure the policy is a fit for your needs. The policy must be purchased within 20 days of your initial registration in order to qualify for trip cancellation coverage.
• Volunteers must be at least 18 years old to sign up and participate on this project
• Please read and make sure you understand World Vets Terms & Conditions

Day 3 (March 16): Community Outreach | Clinic Set up

Following breakfast the team will provide a community outreach clinic. Volunteers will be involved in assisting with health consultations and administering vaccines and preventative health medicines to a variety of animal species. This will be a half day activity.

In the afternoon the field service veterinarian and a few team members will go to the clinic site with local partners to get orientated and set up for clinic work.Tonight the team will meet up to go over details and plans for the following clinic days.

*Breakfast provided