Ambulatory is amazing. It makes me fall in love with veterinary medicine all over again.
The ambulatory rotation consists of 5 students, one clinician, and in our case, one resident, who all pile into one extended cab truck for 10 fun-filled days on the road. The service is responsible for pre-made appointments, from lameness evaluations and joint injections, to stallion castrations and routine herd healthcare. Ambulatory is also responsible for any afterhours emergency farm calls within 35 miles of the veterinary school. Each weekday, the students on the rotation are responsible for one primary job. The positions include Primary Care (doctor), Recorder (responsible for medical records), Pharmacy (responsible for any meds used), Equipment (head technician), and Orderly (low man on the totem pole/ general "go-fer"). Each student is also responsible for being "on-call" for after-hours emergencies on weekday nights and weekends. All in all, I think everyone will have had either 8 or 9 on-call shifts throughout the entire two week rotation.
We had some wonderful experiences with our cases, met some incredible clients, and were pretty much spoiled by our clinicians and residents (thanks for all the late mornings, brownies and long lunches!).
We saw life, death, lameness and soundness. There were horses, cattle, goats, farm dogs, barn cats, donkeys, miniatures of all sorts (including Zebus!), and even a Tarpan. Bonus points if you can tell me what that is.
There are too many stories to tell all in one sitting, from funny to fabulous, sweet to scary. So, instead, I’ve decided to share with y'all a few pearls of wisdom gained during our many road trips through rural Lee (and surrounding) County, as well as some pics I snapped along the way. *All patient photos were taken and posted with the permission of the clients. J
Chinese Firedrills may be required at 8 am. Practice these as necessary.
Emasculators: Always position them nut-to-nut.
Good fences make great neighbors…and keep your dog at your own house!
Pedestals are for falling off of.
On dealing with crazy first-calf-heifers: Drop the lead rope, turn into a ball, and when possible, do a sweet cartwheel-vaulting-combo over the fence.
Everyone should experience a double cheeseburger from the gas station X-press Café on Shelton Mill Rd & Hwy 280.
Everyone should also experience the fried food extravaganza that is Ezell’s Catfish Cabin on S. College St.
And in keeping with “greasy-food-on-the-go” theme…
Life is a party! And then you throw up.
One more day of fresh air (and then a weekend of emergency backup duty) before I head into the small animal hospital for Neurology. It's a good thing I'm taking Ambulatory twice - I'm definitely going to miss this.
War Eagle,
Jess
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