Veterinary Extern - General Practice

Houston Cat Hospital; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 11,000 - 22,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stipend up to $2,000

Mentorship program

Cat-only practice experience

Job summary

Houston Cat Hospital in Houston, TX offers a veterinary externship focused on feline medicine. Students gain hands-on clinical experience under DVM mentorship in a cat-only hospital setting.

Geared toward 3rd and 4th year veterinary students, the program provides a hands-on schedule ranging from two to four weeks, with a travel/living stipend up to $2,000 to support participation and learning outcomes.

Qualifications

• Open to 3rd and 4th year veterinary students in clinical rotations.

Responsibilities

• Performing feline-focused physical exams and patient assessments
• Creating diagnostic and treatment plans tailored to feline patients
• Assisting with and observing soft tissue surgeries and dental procedures
• Participating in case management, imaging, lab work, and hospitalization
• Communicating effectively with clients and team members
• Learning about feline behavior, stress reduction, and handling techniques

Skills

Feline medicine interest

Education

3rd/4th year veterinary student in clinical rotations

Job description

Veterinary Externship — Houston Cat Hospital (Houston, TX)

Feline-Focused Medicine | Mentorship-Driven | Up to $2,000 Travel/Living Stipend

About the Clinic:

If you love cats, you'll love us. Houston Cat Hospital is a feline-exclusive practice dedicated to providing the highest standard of care in a calm, cat-friendly environment. As part of the NVA network, we offer veterinary students the chance to gain hands‑on clinical experience in a setting that is uniquely focused on feline medicine and behavior.

Our team is passionate about mentoring future veterinarians and helping students grow their confidence and skills—whether you're interested in general practice, feline specialty care, or simply gaining deeper experience with a species‑specific caseload.

Externship Experience:

Veterinary externs will work closely with our experienced DVM team and gain meaningful experience in:

• Performing feline-focused physical exams and patient assessments
• Creating diagnostic and treatment plans tailored to feline patients
• Assisting with and observing soft tissue surgeries and dental procedures
• Participating in case management, imaging, lab work, and hospitalization
• Communicating effectively with clients and team members
• Learning about feline behavior, stress reduction, and handling techniques

You'll be fully immersed in the day-to-day life of a busy cat-exclusive hospital, with direct mentorship and opportunities to sharpen both your clinical and client communication skills.

Program Details:

• Location: Houston, TX
• Duration: minimum 2 weeks, up to 4 weeks, based on student and clinic availability
• Open to: 3rd and 4th year veterinary students in clinical rotations
• Stipend: Up to $2,000 for students in clinical year

Why Choose Houston Cat Hospital?

• One-of-a-kind experience in feline-only medicine
• Supportive team with a strong passion for teaching
• Focus on fear-free, low-stress handling techniques
• Ideal for students exploring small animal or feline-exclusive practice
• Located in the heart of Houston, with easy access to the city’s amenities

National Veterinary Associates (NVA) is a leading North American pet health care company with nearly 1,300 locations spanning general practice veterinary hospitals, Ethos emergency and specialty hospitals, and pet resorts and equine veterinary care. With approximately 40,000 team members, we care for pets and support pet families in communities across the United States and Canada. Our purpose is to give pets and the people who love them more quality years together, and our mission is to make care more personal, easy and accessible while advancing medicine and care across every stage of life. Across NVA, we support our teams with the resources, expertise and opportunities they need to deliver exceptional care and help shape the future of veterinary and pet care.

Purpose

Give pets and the people who love them more quality years together

Mission

Transform the pet family experience to be personal, easy and accessible, while advancing medicine and care across every stage of life.

Values

Care Deeply, Do What’s Right, One Team, Own It, Shape What’s Next

One NVA: Bringing General Practice & Ethos Together

NVA is built to make care personal, easy and accessible, while advancing medicine across every stage of a pet’s life.

At National Veterinary Associates, we want to make sure your experience connecting with us is seamless and straightforward. Here's what to expect when interacting with us:

• We'll always reach out via verified LinkedIn profiles or emails ending in @nva.com
• We may also contact you via text message from an identified NVA representative for recruiting-related communication
• All job opportunities and applications are hosted on our official careers site: careers.nva.com
• There is no cost or confidential information required to apply or be considered for a position

If you have any doubts about a communication, feel free to visit our careers page to verify authenticity or email us at [e-mail]. Thank you for exploring opportunities at NVA!

NVA offers a comprehensive benefits program including medical, dental, vision, a 401k with employer match, and paid time off (including sick time) for all eligible employees. The team can provide more information about compensation and benefits for your specific location during the process. For positions based in Colorado, NVA provides eligible employees with paid sick and safe leave and public health emergency leave in accordance with the requirements of Colorado's Healthy Families and Workplaces Act.

NVA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and any other state or local hiring regulations, we will consider for employment any qualified applicant, including those with arrest and conviction records, in a manner consistent with the applicable regulation.