First real day with the vets

Re: First real day with the vets

Mac Feather — Tue, 26 May 2009 15:11:04 GMT

Glad you are enjoying it.

I have to say I am very guilty of focussing on negative comments that I hear, doesnt do me any good and for me its a continual game of trying to turn the negatives into positives.

Its amazing how you can hear a whole list of positive stuff and one eeny weeny tiny negative thing and thats the pesky thing you hear rattling round your head at 3.am!

Re: First real day with the vets

Katy — Tue, 26 May 2009 15:10:34 GMT

Sounds like you are gaining a very valuable experience!

Jealous! I'd love to go round on visits with equine vets !

Re: First real day with the vets

Caro Laithwaite VN — Tue, 26 May 2009 15:07:41 GMT

Not nice watching horses being shot. Long story but l held a pony's head in my lap while the vet shot it.... again.

Think the drunken f**ker realided l would probably shoot him if he told me to move. Was many years ago as a child.

Re: First real day with the vets

Karen S — Tue, 26 May 2009 14:59:43 GMT

Thanks for the replies guys. Today was my second day there and all the vets seem quite happy to have me around. I have asked if i can go there two / three times per week and they all seem fine with that. So i was thinking of going there Mon, Wed, Fri and hopefully make myself a part of the furniture in a way. I know its unpaid / voluntary, but i fiqure that what i am learning by being there far out weighs what i would earn, seeing that i am a complete newbie to this.

I make sure to stay out the way yet learn at the same time - eg, in surgery. They allowed me to go into surgery with a horse today and one of the vets warned me and said "you will probably get a bollocking from the surgeon, he will tell you to get the hell out the way", so i went in there and made darn sure to stay OUT the way.... which i acheived well and did not get moaned at. I stood at the back and made sure i didnt go near the instrument table so hopefully they will start seeing me as someone who is not interfering, but someone who wants to see as much as possible.

The vet who got up my nose yesterday toned it down today and i have no complaints about her today. Perhaps it was Monday morning blues, i dont know, or perhaps it was because i was not out in the car with her as i stayed at the clinic today. Either way, i assisted her with a few things and when they had to euthanase a horse, she asked me to assist her with the post mortem - which i gladly did. She even took the time to explain how the liver is attached etc, after cutting the liver out.

So i have survived my first dead horse (never seen a dead one before), heard it being shot (we shoot them here, we dont inject) even though i chickened out and stood behind the hut as i couldnt bring myself to watch. Once it was down the vet said "he's gone, you can come now" so i came back out from my hiding spot and watched this horses body slowly die. Then i helped her cut him open all the way down his belly and up his side as it was a colic case so we had to inspect the intestines. And hey, i was ok during the entire thing... so if anything today, i have learned i CAN cope with a horse being put down.This is why i am doing horses - with dogs i crack up and become a blubbering mess.

All in all, a good day today and i really really enjoyed it. Now just to learn to rise above any negative comments... i think that will be the hardest part.

Re: First real day with the vets

Mac Feather — Mon, 25 May 2009 17:36:42 GMT

I think some times folk say 'do you know what youre letting yourself in for' without thinking, infact I might even have said it as a bit of a daft/lighthearted thing to say.

Glad you had a good day and hit it off with the boss man.

Re: First real day with the vets

Maisy — Mon, 25 May 2009 17:34:25 GMT

To be honest, lots of people in practice (esp nurses/vets) may ask prospective students if they know what they're letting themselves in for! It's not to be negative, but rather for the student to think about all aspects of the job and what it entails: long hours, low pay when training, lots of cleaning, study etc. This is especially important to consider if you are leaving a better paid job and have responsibilities such as a mortgage or children.

Many prospective students do come into the profession with a different view on how life will be in practice and may decide its not for them. In fairness, they may not have undergone work experience etc beforehand so at least you will have this experience.

Don't take any of this as negative experience as if you can rise above what they tell you is bad about the job, if you do decide this is the career for you, you won't have a problem with it.