Work Experience

16th-20th, Feb, '15

For the past week I have been doing my weeks work placement in Vaughan's Vetinary Clinic in Gorey. For the rest of the school it was their mid-term break, it was the only time they could offer me to work there, but I was delighted to be doing it at all. On the first day I was just learning the ropes. I knew one of the vets because he lives close to me, so I mainly watched the operations he was doing. It was quite fun and I got to interact with some of the animals. At times I just had to wait around for things to pick up again. I got to see a few operations, only really spaying and neutering of cats and dogs. I was still quite shy around the staff aswel, but they were very welcoming and nice. When things were quiet in the morning I took some dogs for walks from the S.P.C.A next door, which was relaxing and fun.
The second day was a bit more eventful. I went on a call out to a farm to test cows for TB and take some bloods. I have never really been in a farm enviroment before so it was a bit of a change. I didn't get to do much of the hands on work, I mostly just had to watch and learn, which I was glad of because I don't think I would have been much good at it. It was quite cold ad tiring as there were so many cows to get through, but once we finished we were kindly given a full Sunday dinner by the farmers there. It was quite awkward because I didn't know the farmers at all and barely knew the vets I was working with, but it was very tasty. We went to another farm after that again but only for a few more minutes. I usually was there from 9a.m till 3.pm which went by quite fast.
On the third day I got to see a lamb being born which was very new. It was so adorable also. At the actual vets clinic from 2-3p.m, it is really busy, people come  in with their pets for consultations which I got to be present at. This was my favourite time of the day. It was mostly dogs and cats being brought in for vaccinations which was quite funny. I learnt that dogs are very like us humans when it comes to injections. Some of the don't even notice you've put a needle in them, and others bawl and whine and screech. I didn't realize they were like this.
On the fourth day I got to go to another farm, one of the farmers cows was sick, its stomach had turned and was causing it discomfort. I got to use a stethoscope while Brendan (the vet) tapped on the cows belly, it made a strange noise like it was a tin can being hit. Then after that, we were brought in to a shed full of calves. My heart just melted, they were so adorable. They were well taken care of and weren't too shy so they came up and licked my hands. This was a very rewarding experience and probably one of the highlights.
The last day was the usual at the clinic. Tidying up and watching the operations. There were so many types of medicines, I didn't know how they remembered all the names. I got to use the stethoscope again during the consultaions on a dog which had a murmur in its heart, it sounded like a bad radio signal at times, or like a microphone being blown into.
I was very sad when I had to leave because the time flew by and I really enjoyed it. I learned so much and it was very rewarding. It has been one of the best experiences in my life. I had always wanted to be a vet and going into it I was worried I might be put off the idea once I saw the blood and other stuff. But I want to be a vet even more now. I would love to go back there again and hep out. The staff were very nice and by the end I got along with them very well. It has shown me that I definatly want to be a vet, no matter what it takes. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
I'm am very sorry I don't have and photos because I didn't have the right opportunities to take any. I wish I could have but it was too busy.