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Veterinary Science Project
What is it All About?
A natural compassion for animals and an interest in science is what leads most veterinarians into their field. Learn the role a veterinarian plays in practicing animal and public health while participating in many hands-on activities. These activities will help you learn about the different equipment used by veterinarians, diseases and health problems, and career opportunities as a veterinarian or volunteer. You do not have to own an animal to be in this project!
Grow in Your Project
Beginner
- Recognize major breeds of different species of animals
- Identify basic needs of animals
- Investigate the different roles of animals
- Describe different stages of an animals’ life
- Discover body systems and organs
Intermediate
- Complete health records on an animal
- Learn how to recognize and reduce animal stress
- Investigate how the immune system works
- Recognize how disease can spread among animals
- Learn how parasites affect animal health
Advanced
- Discover the bond between humans and animals
- Investigate the mammalian reproductive system
- Learn about breeding and genetics
- Recognize the importance of zoonotic diseases
Click Here for Veterinary Science Project Member Resources
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Click Here for Veterinary Sciences Project Leaders Resources
Project Leader Resources
Take Your Project Further!
- Job shadow a veterinarian, or pet store employee to learn more about how to care for animals
- Research normal heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperatures of different animals
- Read Jane Goodall’s work about chimpanzee behavior
- Visit a pharmacist to talk about dispensing of medicine
- Learn how a complete blood count is performed
- Attend a youth quality assurance class
- Look into artificial insemination, embryo transfer, and cloning
- Interview a professional animal trainer
- Talk with someone who has contracted a zoonotic disease and interview them on their experience
- Visits the University of Wisconsin Animal Science Department and the University of Wisconsin Vet Lab
Applying Project Skills to Life
Enhance Your Communication Skills
- Write a story to share with others from an animal’s point of view about its role
- Create a play about animals and have your club perform it for a local group
- Give a demonstration about reading medical labels
Get Involved in Citizenship and Service
- Volunteer at the humane society
- Organize a vaccine clinic for dogs, cats, or horses
- Take your pets to a local nursing home
- Volunteer to watch someone’s pet
Learn about Leadership
- Arrange for a local veterinarian or other person who works with animals to come and talk to your project group or club
- Teach others about Punnet Squares and basic genetics
- Sponsor a veterinarian skill-a-thon for your club or community
Showing What You’ve Learned
- A notebook on a breed of animal
- A display of different types of housing for animals
- A diorama of the stages of life of an animal
- A pet food comparisons
- Create a safety report about an animal’s environment
- A poster identifying tools used by a veterinarian
- A video library with reviews about movies with animals
- A chart comparing different animals normal heart rate, body temperature, and respiration rates
- A poster about a disease
- A poster about the importance of colostrum
- Display a life cycle of a parasite
- A display about a specialty veterinarian
- A poster on the reproductive tract and cycle of an animal
- A display of animal cells and their function
Adapted with permission from Wyoming State 4-H, Project Information Sheet, Vet Science. Retrieved from: https://www.uwyo.edu/4-h/projects/animal-science/vet-science.html.
*Resources available at your local Extension office or shop4-H.org.
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