SA Vets

I just spent 4 days at a small animal vets locally.

The general layout of the day was; morning = surgery/ actions and afternoon = consults.



20th July

Surgery:

• Cat Spay
• Mammary Tumour Removal in a bitch (I asked about the importance of removing both the nipples and it was explained to me that they shared a blood vessel and so the tumour could easily spread.
• Cat Groom
• Dog Castrate
• Cat TSE (Cleaning of teeth and extraction)

Consultations:

• Dog Vaccinations ( Vaccinations against Distemper, Hepatitis, Canine Para influenza, Leptospirosis and increasingly Kennel Cough)
• Rabbit with myxomatosis - the rabbit was displaying the normal signs of eye discharge and eye / nose swellings - Prognosis was poor and the rabbit was euthanized. This reinforced the importance of a correct vaccination programme.
• Dog with a heart murmur. I was able to compare the sounds I heard from this dog and the sound I heard from a healthy dog; there was a distinct difference - A swishing sound is heard on the dog with a heart mummer.
• Dog with inflamed and itchy skin - diagnosis was flea problem and skin sensitivity. The dog was given a steroid injection and flea treatment was advised.
• Labrador with a incision on its paw. The wound was cleaned out and bandaged and antibiotics were given.
• Nail cut for a dog... Complaint that the dog had bumped its eye previously, dye was inserted to check for scratches but no problems were found.

21st July:

Surgery:

• Rabbit castration (I saw how this is more difficult for the vet to perform just due to the size of the animals!)
• Dog Spay
• Dog Castrate
• Lump removal on Westie - previously cells from the lump were looked at and they were suspicious and so the lump was to be removed. Another lump about 10 cm away was also removed although it was likely to be just a wart.

Afternoon:

• Kennel Cough in a Rottweiler
• Dog Vaccinations
• Cat Vaccinations (Recommend vaccinations for a cat are FIE, Cat Flu, FeLV , Feline chlamydophilosis, Feline Calcivirus and Feline Chlamydia. However these vary between practices)
• Alopecia in a dog on its rump also arthritis. Steroid injection given and flea treatment recommend.
• Cat which had a sore leg- possible hairline fracture. The cat presented a swollen leg which wasn't weight bearing. To be brought back if no improvement.

22nd July:

Surgery:

• Cat spay
• Early evening an un-spayed bitch was brought in presenting symptoms of increased drinking but not eating and not being its usual self. A scan of the uterus was done and Pyometra was diagnosed. Emergency surgery was undertaken - it was a typical spay op - but the uterus is much bigger and easier to find! The vet showed me how the uterus was full of pus by injecting into it and withdrawing pus... This is yet another reason for spaying ones animals.

Consults:

• Cat Vaccinations
• Dog with grass seed injury on paw - the grass seed had come out but the dog had continued to lick the injury and it had remained open and bleeding. It was bandaged and to be left on for approx 5 days.
• Post Op Check up
• Itching of back end and scooting along the floor were the symptoms presented by a dog - this suggested that the anal glands may be full - they were emptied and the dog was also treated for fleas.
• Vaccination against kennel cough - which isn't injected it goes through the nose

23rd July

Surgery:

• TSE dog (shows need for dental hygiene)
• TSE Cat
• Cat Spay
• Pregnancy scan of a King Charles at 6 weeks.

Consults:

• Dog Vaccinations
• Cat Vaccinations
• Post op Checkup

Vetsim 2009

Unfortunatley I couldnt attend the event due to suspected swine flu which is a real shame as I really enjoyed the VetMedlink Conference :( But hopefully will be doing the 2010 VetSim!

VLA

I undertook work experience on the 26th and 27th May at the VLA lab in Bury St Edmund's.
The work experience I undertook here was very different to what I was used to and was successful in showing me a completely different side to the veterinary profession but obviously hugely important part of it.

I watched diagnostic tests done in the lab and was lucky enough to undertake some of these myself. I was able to use Agar plates and broth solutions to grow bacteria from a supplied sample and to see if any problems were present; E-Coli, Respiratory Issues and Mastitis were all found.

I was also able to watch a Ewe and Lamb post mortem from a very close proximity - enough to smell everything anyway! I watched the way that the ewe was dissected and how each piece of information provided the investigator with a way of finding out how the ewe died. The initial conclusion was asphyxiation. The lamb was suspected of dieing from lack of colostrum which it was explained to me is essential as it contains energy, protein, antibodies, minerals, vitamins and water. I was able to make slides from the ewes organs that would be used in further tests to confirm the cause of death of the ewe.

I spent a little time in the administration part of the VLA and was able to see how vital effective communication is between clients and the lab aswell as between labs. This is mirrored in how good communication is a vital part of being a vet.

I really enjoyed my time at the VLA and this has opened up a part of the proffesion I didn't know much about and spured me on into learning and finding out all about the different things I saw while at the VLA.