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Teen Vet Prep


FREE Monthly Pre-Vet Club!!

New classes frequently added!


- Thinking about becoming a veterinarian or vet tech?
- Curious about science or medicine?
- An animal lover?
- Wanting to learn about animal care?
- Looking to learn new hands-on skills?
- Interested in trying something new?

* Age exceptions may be made for 10 or 11 year olds on individual basis 


 

Are you 12-18 years old* and:

Then Vetward is for you!

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Testimonials

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“We are so excited to have found this opportunity and she cannot wait to take the next class!”

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“I really enjoyed this class, and will definitely sign up for another class.”

Vetward: Moving toward a veterinary life

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”

- H. Keller

Our Mission

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We offer an early start into veterinary science by providing a unique opportunity for those interested in veterinary medicine or animal care to engage in real-world, hands-on instruction and skill-building that they might typically be too young to experience. We start with beginning fundamental skills and build on that with each level teaching progressively more difficult skills.

Our Story

With many years of veterinary experience, owner Dr. Kelly Stern has met countless kids and teens who are very interested in veterinary medicine but have limited opportunities to get involved due to their age.
 
Several years ago, she began developing a unique idea to provide the opportunity for young people to get an early start in the veterinary field. When starting anything new, there is always the temptation to wait until everything is perfect to start, but the truth is that the perfect time will likely never come. Furthermore, her life experiences have shown that kids are usually capable of more than most people give them credit for; and that you should never let fear hold you back from doing hard things. So, in 2025, she decided to launch this venture in Upstate South Carolina.
 
She plans to consistently add material, content, and services with ambitious future expansion plans. The goal is to offer serious instruction and hands-on practice in real veterinary skills to young animal lovers with each level of classes teaching progressively more difficult skills. If this sounds like you, come give it a try!
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What Makes Us Special

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Hands-On

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Real Skills

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Small Classes

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Some examples of course material:

​- Proper animal restraint methods (how to safely hold an animal for different procedures)

- Assessing vital signs (heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, hydration)

- Basic use of stethoscope

- Bandaging techniques

- Administering medications including injectable medications

- Performing basic diagnostic tests

- Making and reading microscope samples (cytology)

- Wound care

- Positioning for radiographs (xrays)

- Suture techniques

- Venipuncture (drawing blood)

- Placing IV catheters

- Anatomy and dissection

- Pharmaceutical math (how to calculate medications)

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Current Courses

Beginning Fundamentals Course

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Skills Learned:

- How to approach animals safely

- Proper restraint (how to safely hold animals for procedures)

- Basic use of stethoscope

- How to assess vital signs

- Bandaging techniques

- Syringe handling

** All students must start with this course first **
** Must be 12-18 or contact for exception**

Level 2 Classes:

Level classes can be taken in any order up until the capstone class

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Diagnostic Tests Part 1 (Level 2)


- Blood glucose measurement
- Blood pressure monitoring
- Packed cell volume measurement
- Total protein measurement

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New Skills Learned:

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Diagnostic Tests Part 2 (Level 2)


- Urine dipstick testing
- Urine specific gravity measurement
- Fluorescein eye testing
- Schirmer tear testing 
- General eye exam/anatomy
- Blood antigen testing

New Skills Learned:

Suture Lab (Level 2)

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New Skills Learned:

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​- Intro to basic surgical equipment

- Holding instruments correctly​

- Opening and closing needle driver smoothly​

- Basic suturing techniques and do's/don'ts​

- Inserting and extracting needle smoothly

- How to follow suture pattern diagrams​

- Making square knot and surgeon's knot​

- Basic interrupted and continuous suture patterns​

All students get their own suture pad, basic suture instrument kit and practice suture to keep

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Hematology (Level 2)

- Making a blood smear slide
- Staining a microscope slide
- General microscope skills

- Practice reading blood smear slide on microscope
- Practice reading multiple microscopic specimens

New Skills Learned:

Microscopy (Level 2)

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New Skills Learned:

- General microscope skills

- Making an ear cytology slide

- Practice reading ear cytology on microscope

- Making a wet mount slide

- Practice reading urine sediment slide on microscope

- Practice identifying different parasites on microscope

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Upcoming Courses

Level 2 Capstone

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*Must have taken all Level 2 classes prior to taking this class*

New Skills Learned:

- Taking history

- Flow of typical vet appointment

- Reading and using veterinary records

- Presenting vet information​

Level 2 skills tested with mock cases:

Each student will have an individual mock case and will have to:​

- Take a history

- Use and record vet record

- Take vital signs and document

- Present case

- Restrain for exam

- Suggest diagnostic tests from past Level 2 classes

- Perform diagnostic tests

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**Performance in this class will indicate if the student is ready to move on to Level 3 classes**​​​

Level 3 Courses Coming Soon!!

**Must have passed Level 2 Capstone to take Level 3 classes**

Level classes can be taken in any order up until the capstone class

Injection Lab (Level 3)

New Skills Learned:

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- Locations for injections

- Reconstituting medication​

- Drawing up injectable medications

- Syringe measurement

- Basic drug math

- Practice giving injections using models

Blood Draw Lab (Level 3)

New Skills Learned:

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- Anatomical locations for IV blood draws

- Restraint for different locations

- Practice drawing simulated blood on models

- Using blood tubes

IV Catheter Lab (Level 3)

New Skills Learned:

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- Anatomical locations for IV catheters

- Restraint for different locations

- Preparing for placing IV catheter on small animals

- Practice placing IV catheters on models

Stay tuned - More to come!

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