Many Canadian veterinary schools specialize in bovine medicine because of Canada's cattle industry.
Students applying to veterinary colleges in Canada must complete two years of pre-veterinary courses at any higher-learning institution before being considered for enrollment. After completing a four-year graduate program of study, newly-minted veterinarians are eligible to work in both the U.S. and Canada under accreditation and licensing of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Deciding which veterinary college to attend may depend upon your intended area of specialization.
Atlantic Veterinary College
Affiliated with the University of Prince Edward Island, the Atlantic Veterinary College provides a four-year program of veterinary study emphasizing the form and function of healthy animals, disease processes and treatments, and small, large and aquatic animal medicine. Fourth-year students choose from more than 50 clinical rotations including large and small-animal surgery, aquaculture and cattle farming, and advanced studies in cardiology, acupuncture, wildlife and fish pathology. Graduates become eligible for licensure in the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom.
University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine
Located in the Canadian province of Alberta, the University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine collaborates with the university's human medicine program in a concept known as "Own Health." Students in the animal medical field receive a general veterinary education with hands-on practical work emphasizing equine and bovine production health, ecosystem and public health, and investigative medicine. Combined with biomedical research and comparative medicine, the program focuses on meeting the needs of society in areas related to food safety, wildlife and environmental health, and the human-animal health connection. Fourth year vet students engage in a one-year, off-campus practicum working in private and public practices, federal and provincial agencies, and the production animal industry.
Western College of Veterinary Medicine
The Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, located in Saskatoon, houses a teaching hospital, a provincial diagnostic laboratory and research facilities on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River. During the first two years of study, participants focus on the core basic animal science courses. Third-year students elect to take courses in their chosen fields of interest. Last-year students must complete two- or four-week rotations in hands-on practicums in a range of interest areas and disciplines. Recognized by the AVMA and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, graduates of the program can practice in Canada, the U.S., the United Kingdom and several other countries.
Ontario Veterinary College
The Ontario Veterinary College of the University of Guelph encompasses a teaching hospital and four departments geared toward providing its veterinary students a well-rounded education. The Biomedical Sciences Department teaches basic scientific concepts and research; the Pathobiology Department advances knowledge in veterinary infectious diseases, immunology and animal pathology. Students learn clinical veterinary medicine including cardiology, surgery, internal medicine and neurology under the Clinical Studies department, and food safety, environmental health and the prevention of zoonotic disease under the auspices of the Population Medicine Department. Because OVC is accredited by the AVMA, graduates of the four-year program may practice in Canada and the U.S.
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