Work Experience: Vet Practice

I was back at the vet's again on Friday. Apart from regular booster vaccinations, I saw a Cocker Spaniel with unusual symptoms. 

The Cocker Spaniel had been having tests for a number of weeks. He had an unexplained cough, he has had x-rays and echoes to try and find out what is wrong. Unfortunately the last test showed a slight enlargement of his heart. This could cause multiple problems such as coughing, swelling of the abdomen and (in worst cases) collapsing. At the moment the Cocker Spaniel has a cough, which has been persisting for around a month. The vet had to take a blood sample, which would be sent to a laboratory for testing. After taking the sample, from the jugular, Suzanne realised that if she sent the sample on Friday, it would get to the laboratory on Monday/Tuesday. Unfortunately this would be too late to take reliable tests. Therefore after speaking to the owner, and apologising profusely, an appointment was arranged to take another sample on Tuesday, so that it would get to the labs by Wednesday/Thursday. 

When Suzanne was trying to arrange what was going to happen to the blood sample I had the chance to talk to the owner. He asked me whether I was on work experience and whether I was certain this was the job area I would like to go into. We then went on to discuss why I want to be a vet. I told him that I love science and animals and would like to combine the two, also that I would like to be able to help animals and, indirectly, people. We also talked about how after an animal is euthanised, in Valley Vets; the staff send condolence cards to the owners. He told me that after his dog was putting down, this was a very touching, thoughtful idea, which he believed displayed the consideration and caring nature of the vet practice, to both the owners and the animals in their care. 

This experience made me realise how much the owners depend on a caring vet who can explain medical terms to them clearly. I have also found out that if something goes wrong and the vet admits to being in the wrong and offers ways in which the wrong doing can be corrected, the majority of owners will be responsibly understanding.