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.