I went to wales on a lambing course and to help out on the farm either side of the course.
At the farm they had over 100 sheep, a few cows and pigs, as well as a variety of poultry.
My daily jobs included feeding; the ewes (pre-lambing), ewes (post-lambing), the sows, boar and weaners, the rams and the calf. Other jobs included cleaning out the animals, refilling waters and general maintenance and care of the farm animals. The lambing course was extremely useful.
On the Monday I learnt how to tube feed lambs and witnessed an injection into the eyelid of lamb.
In addition, I watched an assisted birth of a Texal ewe where the lamb had its head out and one front leg out and the other tucked up. I watched a lamb being fostered from one ewe to another after the birth mother ewe rejected it - it was a shearling. I learnt about the fostering techniques such as skinning and using a bag.
I used an artificial ewe where I practised assisting births where the head was back and learnt the normal position for a lamb in the womb. I placed lambing ropes onto the head and 2 front feet. I also used the artificial ewe for the delivery of twins where 1 was in the posterior position using lambing ropes.
We had a talk from a local vet who talked about common problems associated with sheep such as ORF, hypo/ hyperthermia, foot rot, twin lamb disease, calcium deficiency, listeria etc and the importance of vaccinations. In addition, a nutritionist came to give information on livestock feed- and levels of different nutrients in the feed.
I was educated on dealing with prolapses and the advantages and disadvantages of treatment methods such as a prolapse spoon and/or stitching. I took part in worming, delousing and numbering lambs and ewes ready for release into the field. For me to be able to do this I learnt how to turn over many sheep including the large texal sheep and clip their tails and feet. I checked the teeth of the ewes and condition scored them. I discovered that the back teeth are very important and that swelling from bad back teeth can appear as liver flux.
I had to help with modifying the horn shape on rams where the horn had grown into the eye.
At night, I took turns being on shift in the lambing shed with the 2 farm owners. Some nights I done over a 24 hour shift at the farm and this allowed me to see just how much I could do when pushed through the exhaustion barrier.
As I had been able to spend so much time watching the ewes normal behaviour I was able to see the signs of imminent birthing and difficult births (crouching etc) I was able to conduct an initial examination of 2 ewes to check that the lambs were in the correct position after the ewes appeared to be straining more than usual at birth.
Sunday 5 April 2009
A week at a small animal practice...
Small Animal Practice:
After a short introduction and health and safety briefing I assisted the ward nurse. I carried out observations with the veterinary nurse and noted things such as temperature, pulse, respiration, capillary refill time, demeanour and water intake. This allowed me to see behind the scenes of the job of the veterinary nurse and how important co-operation is between the veterinary nurses and veterinary surgeons. This was shown in greater depth when I sat in on a vet meeting and ward round where the information on each patient was shared.
Today a dog was admitted with suspected canine parvovirus. It had severe diarrhea that was dark, vomiting, dehydration, lack of energy and a fever. As parvo is a highly contagious disease, the dog was put in isolation on a separate ward and contact was only made when necessary to minimise the risk of parvo to the other dogs on the wards.
I witnessed routine spays in theatre where I learnt all about sterilisation and surgical kits. As well as the use of drapes (different colours) and anaesthetic gases. I learnt that an induction agent is needed for every procedure as well and an anaesthetic circuit and surgical kit. I packed surgical kits of different sizes and learnt about the use of bowie dick tape. The pulse oximeter was explained to me and as well as the use of a capnography in surgery. I was taught about the use of a premed injection that contains a sedative, a drug to dry up saliva and a drug to keep them sleepy. This practise normally uses ACP, Atropine and Pethaline and Vorocane. The premed injection prevents stress and the need for excess anaesthetic.
On the wards there was a fitting dog who was admitted. The ward was made dark so that the dog felt safe and secure. After being left for a few hours like this with observations the dog recovered well.
Throughout the week, I observed more theatre operations including spays and a hip arthroplasty. The need for this operation was caused by arthritis in the bone of a older Westie male who had become slightly lame on one leg. I was also able to sit in on some vet consultations where I witnessed routine vaccinations of dogs, cats and rabbits as well as different problems seen in dogs and cats such as an abscess, a wound on the pad of a cat where the skin had been completely torn off. I saw how the cat had been when it was 1st brought in to how it was after 6 weeks of treatment. There are a remarkable difference.
I was lucky enough to be able to witness work in the lab at the practise and see how blood tests where carried out as well as view and identify different parasites under the microscope. Throughout the week I saw more operations in theatre- more dog castration, abscess removal and also the insertion of a feeding tube for an anorexic cat. I helped out in the office of the practise and this allowed me to see how a practise operates and communicates with their clients as well as being able to see the general running of the practice and administration side of it. I was able to witness a cat being scanned after blood tests showed no reason for her lethargy.
My time at this practice was extremely useful and interesting and I have been told I will be able to return next year for more work experience.
After a short introduction and health and safety briefing I assisted the ward nurse. I carried out observations with the veterinary nurse and noted things such as temperature, pulse, respiration, capillary refill time, demeanour and water intake. This allowed me to see behind the scenes of the job of the veterinary nurse and how important co-operation is between the veterinary nurses and veterinary surgeons. This was shown in greater depth when I sat in on a vet meeting and ward round where the information on each patient was shared.
Today a dog was admitted with suspected canine parvovirus. It had severe diarrhea that was dark, vomiting, dehydration, lack of energy and a fever. As parvo is a highly contagious disease, the dog was put in isolation on a separate ward and contact was only made when necessary to minimise the risk of parvo to the other dogs on the wards.
I witnessed routine spays in theatre where I learnt all about sterilisation and surgical kits. As well as the use of drapes (different colours) and anaesthetic gases. I learnt that an induction agent is needed for every procedure as well and an anaesthetic circuit and surgical kit. I packed surgical kits of different sizes and learnt about the use of bowie dick tape. The pulse oximeter was explained to me and as well as the use of a capnography in surgery. I was taught about the use of a premed injection that contains a sedative, a drug to dry up saliva and a drug to keep them sleepy. This practise normally uses ACP, Atropine and Pethaline and Vorocane. The premed injection prevents stress and the need for excess anaesthetic.
On the wards there was a fitting dog who was admitted. The ward was made dark so that the dog felt safe and secure. After being left for a few hours like this with observations the dog recovered well.
Throughout the week, I observed more theatre operations including spays and a hip arthroplasty. The need for this operation was caused by arthritis in the bone of a older Westie male who had become slightly lame on one leg. I was also able to sit in on some vet consultations where I witnessed routine vaccinations of dogs, cats and rabbits as well as different problems seen in dogs and cats such as an abscess, a wound on the pad of a cat where the skin had been completely torn off. I saw how the cat had been when it was 1st brought in to how it was after 6 weeks of treatment. There are a remarkable difference.
I was lucky enough to be able to witness work in the lab at the practise and see how blood tests where carried out as well as view and identify different parasites under the microscope. Throughout the week I saw more operations in theatre- more dog castration, abscess removal and also the insertion of a feeding tube for an anorexic cat. I helped out in the office of the practise and this allowed me to see how a practise operates and communicates with their clients as well as being able to see the general running of the practice and administration side of it. I was able to witness a cat being scanned after blood tests showed no reason for her lethargy.
My time at this practice was extremely useful and interesting and I have been told I will be able to return next year for more work experience.
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