Best Veterinary Courses Houston Near Me

4worldlovers:
All of our students and faculty share a passion for animals. It’s that unique blend of shared passion and shared goals that creates a family like atmosphere and creates the strong bonds of friendship.

Rachel Defoe, AAS, LVT is a graduate of VTI. Ms. Defoe has served as a kennel technician, veterinary assistant, and licensed veterinary technician with a variety of organizations including working with exotic animals for three years in a clinical setting. She enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, son, their two dogs, cat, bearded dragon, and ball python.


Valerie Lewis, AAS, LVT is a graduate of VTI with experience in general practice, emergency, and specialty settings. She moved back to Houston from Austin where she worked for four years expanding and honing her surgical and anesthesia skills. While in Austin, Valerie adopted a dog and two senior cats. Having always been a cat person first and foremost, she is excited about fostering cats and kittens! She spends most of her free time reading all sorts of books from mystery thrillers to science fiction to historical non-fiction if she doesn't have any DIY projects in the works.

Clarissa Martinez, AAS,BS, LVT, serves as Program Coordinator. She graduated from VTI and then worked in private practice for several years. While working in private practice, she earned a bachelor's degree in Environmental Science from the University of Phoenix. Although she enjoyed working in the clinic, she always knew she wanted to teach students about veterinary technology. She thus earned her certificate at Texas Teachers of Tomorrow and joined the VTI faculty, where she loves teaching Veterinary Technology. When not teaching, she enjoys spending time with Champ, her Lab/Border Collie mix, and Cleo, her Shih Tzu.

Alberto Mendoza, DVM, is a faculty member at the VTI Houston. He graduated from the University of Tamaulipas in Mexico and worked at the Houston Zoo for 17 years before joining VTI in 2008. He has taught every single cohort that has graduated from VTI Houston. Dr. Mendoza teaches several courses including Exotic Animals, Equine Clinical Management, Food Animal Clinical Management, and Large Animal Veterinary Technician. Dr. Mendoza is still active in wildlife conservation programs. During his tenure at the Houston Zoo, he was instrumental in the recovery program for amphibians in Central America and developed training programs for zoo staff in the Latin American region. Still an active member in the Tapir Specialist Group-IUCN, Dr. Mendoza helps to manage the captive population of the Central American Tapir around the world. He enjoys traveling with his wife and two daughters and is a huge Houston Texans football fan. Serveral years ago, he adopted a dog from VTI and named it Tex.

Kati Nelson, LVT, graduated from VTIH, worked in private practice, and completed a B.S. in Veterinary Technology from Tarleton State University. In private practice, she became the team lead in a fast-paced, referral surgery/neurology and ICU practice. She also developed a deep interest in patient care, neurology, and control of disease processes. Back at VTIH, she now teaches courses that include Laboratory Procedures and Canine and Feline Clinical Management. At home, she and her husband have "furry" children: a Catahoula mix named Bruce, and two cats named Olive and Meercat.

Amanda Rivera, LVT, graduated from VTI and then worked at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists. She spent most of her time in Medical Oncology but also helped out in the Critical Care and Emergency departments. She teaches a variety of courses that include Equine Clinical Management, Large Animal Clinical Management, and Medical Terminology. When not teaching, Amanda barrel races, enjoys trying new food, and travels with her husband. She also spends time with her many animals: horses, dogs, cats, snakes, and a pig.

4worldlovers: We look forward to taking care of all of your pet’s needs and developing a long term relationship with you and your pet. As our client, you will be an important part of your pet’s health care plan and will be given all of the available options for the treatment of your dog or cat. We offer vaccinations, spays and neuters, dental care, microchipping and many more services!


The threat of heartworm is growing. There have been 2777 cases reported in Harris County. This risk continues to pose a threat to any unprotected pet.

West U Veterinary Clinic is proud to offer a comprehensive range of services to address your pet’s specific veterinary needs.

4worldlovers:
Our Houston campus has been serving the greater Houston community since 2009. We moved our campus in 2019 and this new location provides even more educational opportunities for students with hands-on learning and labs that mirror real-world medical settings.

This campus offers six certificate programs and seven associate degree programs.

Our Houston campus is located on Equity Drive in the Westway One building directly off Beltway 8, using the Clay Road Exit to access the east frontage road to Westway Park.

In this program, students will learn how to work closely with a dental care team to ensure the best patient experience and assist in all phases of treatment, from oral care to administrative duties. Courses will focus on preparing patients for examination, taking X-rays, sterilizing equipment, preparing materials for impressions and much more.

In this program, students will learn the personal and professional skills needed to work as an entry-level healthcare administrative assistant. Courses will focus on how to work with medical insurance, triage appointments, assist with reporting and perform billing and coding tasks, among many other responsibilities. With these skills, you can serve as a key member of front-office medical team.

In this program, students will learn how to work closely with all members of a medical team, including doctors and nurses. Medical assistants perform a range of clinical and clerical duties and act as a liaison between patients and doctors. Courses will focus on anatomy, routine laboratory procedures and frequent patient care procedures. Pima Medical’s training prepares students to begin working in the field with confidence immediately upon graduation.

In this program, students will learn how to prepare and provide medications for patients. Courses will focus on preparing medication, compounding medications, interacting with those in the medical field such as doctors and nurses, operating automated dispensing equipment and much more. Students will receive professional and clinical training that prepares them for the daily responsibilities of a pharmacy technician.

In this program, students will learn how to assist patients with the collection of blood and other clinical specimens. Pima Medical’s hands-on courses focus on blood draws, putting patients at ease, correct labeling and identity verification and processing specimens for testing.

In this program, students will learn how to assist veterinarians with various responsibilities, including administrative and medical duties. Courses will focus on in-office procedures, animal nursing, laboratory testing, diagnostic imaging, surgical procedures and many other vital elements to a veterinary assistant’s role.

In this program, you will learn to work directly with patients and help them properly care for their oral health. Dental hygienists clean and polish teeth and take X-rays and molds. They also perform some administrative duties, such as recording patients’ dental histories and updating charts. Your coursework will utilize real-world labs that prepare you for the workforce.

In this program, you will learn to utilize specialized equipment to create sonograms, also known as ultrasound scans, and take a look inside the human body and aid in medical diagnosis. You will learn a mix of soft and hard skills, studying pathophysiology, scanning techniques, patient care, ethics and more. From the very first semester, you'll get hands-on experience.

In this program, you will learn how to provide treatments for those who need to learn how to function independently in their homes and during daily activities. You will take courses that focus on anatomy, growth and development, kinesiology, mental health and many other important areas of focus. Your coursework will utilize real-world labs that prepare you for the workforce.

In this program, learn how to help patients improve their mobility and movement following an injury or illness. Courses in this program focus on preparing you for a variety of tasks required on the job such as conducting exercise, performing massages, applying hot and cold packs and assisting in traction and other treatments. You will learn these skills in a truly hands-on experience at Pima Medical.

In this program, you will learn how to perform medical diagnostic imaging examinations. Courses will focus on anatomy, equipment protocols, radiation safety and other important areas of focus so you’re equipped with the skills needed to be successful in the field. Our real-world labs use the same equipment you’ll be working with in hospitals or clinics, so you don’t skip a beat on your first day on the job.

4worldlovers:
Washington Heights Veterinary Clinic will provide an unparalleled level of patient care in a compassionate and positive setting. We will strive to exceed the expectations of our clients and our staff by focusing on high quality medicine, attention to detail, and ultimate patient comfort.

4worldlovers: At Oak Forest Veterinary Hospital located in Houston, Texas, we believe that quality pet health care is reliant on the relationships we build between veterinarian, patient and client.

For that reason we aim to provide the best veterinary care by ensuring that we let you, the pet owner, in on every element of your beloved pet’s care. Our veterinarians and staff pride themselves on our commitment to communication and education between you, the patient and our veterinary team.

Our veterinary team understands that each pet is unique; they’re more than just their symptoms, more than their prescription, and certainly more than just a bill. Our pet hospital paints the whole picture of your precious pet’s health, and will never perform anything without walking through an appropriate treatment plan with you first.

That’s part of what makes us the preferred animal hospital of Houston’s Oak Forest, Timbergrove/Lazybrook, Greater Heights and Garden Oaks communities since 1964.

At Oak Forest Veterinary Hospital, we are committed to providing the most honest, excellent veterinary care possible to dogs and cats while educating pet owners about how best to care for their pets. We know that pet health care is a partnership: a family, and while you will spend the most time with your beloved pets over the expanse of their lives, we want to offer our veterinary services to help with all of the quirks and trials that may happen along the way.

At Oak Forest we understand that honesty is always the best policy. It’s about integrity. Our veterinarians and veterinary staff know that we need to be up front about everything, from minor mistakes to bigger problems, and you can always count on us being honest with you. Of course, this goes both ways… both with our employees and with our clients. We want Oak Forest to be a safe space for pet owners to be able to come to us about anything, including accidents and mistakes — at the end of the day, we can’t fix it if we don’t know it's broken. It’s always better for everyone if we’re all honest about what's actually going on. There’s no judgement, and that way we can get to work together, getting back to what we do best: giving your pet quality veterinary care.

Dr. Moore and her husband have two kids, but they’re parents of the 20 and 30 year olds they employ, too. And that family has only grown and extended in their time here, widening the scope to include the clients, too. We’ve seen many of you for so many years: we’ve cried with you over losses, and celebrated with you over moments and events of great joy... This community has really taken shape as part of what makes Oak Forest really so great. The veterinary medicine is of course a main priority, but seeing the way that people have stuck together through thick and thin has really been an inspiration and a main value for all involved at our animal hospital.

4worldlovers: Our animal hospital offers a wide range of services to keep your pet in optimal health. From routine checkups to emergency care, your pet is covered at Garden Oaks Veterinary Center.

Allergy Testing: A process to determine whether a pet is allergic to substances like pollen, dust, or food. This testing can help identify the root cause of a pet’s allergies and help develop an effective treatment plan to alleviate their symptoms.

Dental Care: We can evaluate and monitor the health of your pet’s teeth and gums. This involves regular checkups, cleaning, and treatments to prevent or treat dental diseases affecting your pet’s overall health.

Emergency & Urgent Care: If you have an emergency after hours, call our emergency line at (713) 659-0650. If we cannot get to your pet right away, we may refer you to a 24-hour Center.

Nutrition: We offer consultations and customized treatment plans that ensure your pet receives a well-balanced and nutritious diet. A balanced diet can help prevent illnesses, aid in illness recovery, and improve overall well-being.

Pet Health Certificates: Our doctors can write up documents that verify a pet’s good health and up-to-date vaccinations. These certificates are often required for travel or permanent relocation and ensure that pets are healthy and safe.

Prescription Diets: We recommend specialized diets to manage and/or treat specific health conditions in pets. These diets are formulated to provide critical nutrients for your pet to promote quicker recovery.

4worldlovers: Our passion derives from our love of animals and health care. Our doctors and staff are well accomplished in solving any issues your pet may have. We are proud to now provide services to Houston, Texas; Dallas/Fort Worth and surrounding communities.

Cy-Fair is a full service animal hospital that specializes in today’s leading veterinarian techniques. We accept both walk-ins and scheduled appointments. We invite you and your pets to come in and meet our veterinarians and staff.

With combined experience of over 22 years, our team of veterinarians understand that client education and preventative medicine is the basis of companion longevity thus furthering the human – animal bond.

Our facilities offer the latest techniques in animal healthcare, and a host of services ranging from surgery to boarding.