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

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.