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Want to gain a unique career experience? Ready to travel internationally with both independence and support? Consider joining one of our incredible veterinary internships abroad!
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Our veterinary internships abroad offer a blend of career experience and travel, providing more flexibility than our study abroad programs. They are an excellent choice for students who want to gain valuable knowledge while still having the freedom to travel and explore independently. We simplify the logistics for you by handling the placement and housing, so you don’t have to navigate, find, and vet your own opportunity abroad. Like traditional internships, you will be placed with one of our partner projects, where you’ll spend approximately 35–40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, shadowing, observing, or assisting, as needed. This experience can be a valuable addition to your resume, and some colleges may even offer internship credit. However, please note that these internships differ from our standard programs—you won’t have a daily Loop Abroad staff member, a teaching vet, or pre-scheduled activities and transportation. Instead, you’ll have the independence to travel on your own, supported by your Loop Abroad and in-country coordinator.
This veterinary shadowing internship is designed to offer vet students and pre-vet students an exceptional opportunity to gain top-quality experience in their field. Through this shadowing experience, you will gain veterinary hours and develop and enhance your skills and understanding of animal care, preparing you for a successful career in veterinary sciences. As an intern, it is essential to have a genuine interest in veterinary sciences and a strong commitment to observing in a clinical setting. This internship is great for those pursuing a career as a Veterinarian, Veterinary Nurse, Veterinary Technician, or other veterinary-related field.
If you and a friend are applying together and would like to intern together and be housed together, please contact us at [email protected] to assist you.
Applicants must be 18+ and must have completed a minimum of one year of undergraduate study to apply.
This internship will be primarily a shadowing experience, but may also include experience working with exotics, wildlife, and/or companion animals.
From toucans and owls to gerbils and opossums, this busy clinic sees 
a wide variety of patients and has a LOT to teach its interns! This internship offers ethical veterinary shadowing opportunities that adhere to the guidelines set forth by the AAVMC (Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges). During the internship, you will have the unique opportunity to closely observe and work side-by-side with experienced veterinarians. The veterinary staff speaks both Spanish and English.
This program is hosted at a veterinary clinic in Panama City, Panama, that sees exotic pet patients (primarily parrots, rabbits, and other pocket pets, reptiles, and fish) as well as cats and dogs. The clinic occasionally sees wildlife patients as well, though this is not guaranteed, and also routinely treats dogs and cats.
Highlights include:
Internships start on a Sunday and end on a Saturday. 
You will plan to arrive in Panama City on a Sunday and transfer to your accommodation, which will begin on Sunday. The duration of the internship will be at least 2 weeks and a maximum of 4 weeks.
For accommodation – private room with double bed and private bathroom:
2-weeks $2,400
3-weeks $3,500
4-weeks $4,700
For accommodation – private room with twin bed (smaller room) and shared bathroom:
2-weeks $2,275
3-weeks $3,250
4-weeks $4,325
Included: Airport pick-up, housing, and local English-speaking coordinator.
Not included: Meals, travel expenses, airport drop-off, medical insurance, and entertainment expenses.
The Gilman Scholarship could fund $5000 of your tuition plus there is an additional STEM Supplemental Award of $1000 you an apply for. The next round of applications opens mid-August and the deadline is March 5, 2026, at 11:59pm Pacific Time.
If you are a US citizen receiving a Pell Grant and currently enrolled in college or university, we encourage you to apply for this scholarship! See the official website for the latest details and read about Loop Abroad students who have received this scholarship.
The accommodation provided is a fully furnished, private room with a private bathroom in a guest house. The guest house features a shared kitchen and common area, as well as access to Wi-Fi.
Meals are not included in your tuition. The housing has a shared kitchen.
You are responsible for your daily transportation between your housing and your internship. There is a public bus, which takes approximately 30 minutes and costs 50 cents. The walk to the bus stop from the housing is about 5 minutes. If the teaching veterinarian is able to have you join for rounds at the wildlife rescue center, the zoo, a bird rescue, or other locations where he offers veterinary services, you will be able to travel with him in his car. (Zoo rounds are only once every two weeks, and the wildlife center rounds are approximately once a week.)
You can receive one credit hour from Culver-Stockton College for every 40 internship hours for this program. (Optional. Additional fee applies.)
Panama City
Panama City has a lot to explore, from exploring the famous Casco Viejo neighborhood to trying trendy restaurants to checking out amazing museums. You can easily take a day trip to the San Blas islands, explore beautiful beaches, or get out into the jungle to see wildlife such as sloths, toucans, and more. Panama City has a vibrant foodie scene, fabulous street art, wonderful coffee, and lots to do. You’ll find affordable trips to beaches and waterfalls are a great way to fill the weekend outside of the city, but it’s just as easy to spend your weekends exploring what the city has to offer.
