Externships at Sugar River Animal Hospital in Grantham, NH
At Sugar River Animal Hospital (SRAH) we love to teach and find it valuable to invest into future generations of veterinarians and veterinary technicians. Since teaching is so important to SRAH, we offer externships to students enrolled in an accredited veterinary school or veterinary technician program.
Externships for Veterinary Students
Veterinary students that extern with us are typically in their fourth year of veterinary school. At the start of your externship we will set goals on what you want to accomplish while you are with us. We check in daily and adjust goals as needed.
Typical Week 1
- Shadow doctors in appointments with progression to leading exams with support
- Rounding on cases
- Depending on the week, getting to observe the boarded surgeon and internist that comes to the practice
- Scrubbing into surgery and assisting
- Observing dentals
- Reading and interpreting radiographs
- Reviewing bloodwork
- Working on hard skills like intubation, IV catheter placement, etc.
Typical Week 2
- Leading appointments with supervision
- Assisting and leading surgeries with supervision
- Coming up with treatment plans
- Reviewing bloodwork and going over it with the owner
We’re happy to do longer than two weeks. Just ask!
We have successfully hosted externs from Tufts, Cornell, Oklahoma State University, University of Georgia, Atlantic Veterinary College, and Ross University.
Externships for Veterinary Technician Students
Students enrolled in certified technician programs often spend 120 or more hours with us completing their skills needed for their program. These externships are usually guided by what the individual’s school requires. Students usually learn the following skills:
- How to run appointments
- Intaking and discharging surgery patients
- How to draw blood
- How to process lab samples
- How to read certain lab samples
- How to place IV catheters
- How to intubate
- How to extubate
- How set-up and breakdown surgery
- How to pressure check anesthesia machines
- How to position for x-rays
- Dentistry
Mentorship You Can Count On
At Sugar River Animal Hospital, we’re proud to be part of the Grantham, NH veterinary community, and that includes investing in future veterinarians.
You won’t just observe—you’ll be supported by a team that enjoys teaching and wants to see you succeed.
- One-on-one time with experienced veterinarians
- A collaborative, team-oriented environment
- Real-time feedback to help you grow
- Exposure to a wide variety of cases in general practice
A Day in the Life
Life in a general practice veterinary hospital means no two days are the same. During your time with us, you may experience:
- Wellness and sick pet exams
- Surgical and dental procedures
- Daytime emergency cases including surgery
- Diagnostic imaging and lab work
- Client education and communication
- Team discussions and case collaboration
Who We’re Looking For
We welcome veterinary students who are excited to learn and interested in gaining hands-on experience in a general practice setting.
Our ideal extern is:
- Curious, motivated, and eager to get involved
- Compassionate with both patients and clients
- A strong team player
- Open to feedback and new experiences
Start Your Externship Journey in Grantham
If you're exploring veterinary externships in Grantham, NH and want an experience that is both supportive and hands-on, we’d love to connect with you.
At Sugar River Animal Hospital we’re proud to serve pets and people throughout Grantham and nearby areas like Newport, New London, Sunapee, the Upper Valley, and Lake Sunapee region and we’re just as passionate about supporting the next generation of veterinarians.
👉 Apply today or reach out to learn more about our externship opportunities.
Apply Now!
Sophia shares her externship experience with us at Sugar River Animal Hospital
Kira shares her externship experience with us -
I spent three weeks doing an externship at Sugar River Animal Hospital during my fourth year at vet school and it was an experience I found invaluable. I was given the opportunity to practice many skills needed to become an excellent veterinarian including basic surgeries, cytology, interpreting blood work, and client communication. The entire staff was welcoming and incredibly kind, treating me like I had worked there for years. The veterinarians at SRAH are highly educated and dedicated to providing the best care for both pets and owners. They helped me focus on areas of general practice that I wanted to learn more about and were always willing to discuss interesting cases that came in. Through this externship, I gained experience and built relationships that will last throughout my career