Well, I got the job working at the local large animal hospital! I have been calling the clinic every month or so for the past year, and when I found out that they were hiring, I about fell out of my chair. Anyway, the thing that gets me the most pumped is that it is foaling season! We had a seminar last night about foaling where we learned all about how to test the mare's milk, deliver foals, and ensure that the little guys have a fighting chance at life. Up until this point, I have found it hard to believe my chemistry professor when he says that people actually use it in real life...
I am reading a book by James Herriot about his experiences as a rural veterinarian in 1932 England. I find it comical how he is always commenting on how farmers seem to always think they know more about animals and what ails them than the vet. This phenomena was beautifully illustrated for me the other day at work when a farmer from Cedar Fort (a.k.a. BFE Utah) brought his pregnant red heeler in because she was limping. Diagnosis: Fractured left femur.
A puzzled look fame onto the doc's face and he said, somewhat confused, "Isn't that where she broke her leg a few months ago and I pinned it back together?" The young man, obviously befuzzled, replied, "Yeah, but after about a week and a half, my dad thought that the leg was healed up so he took out the pins..." Immediately thoughts of a ruddy-faced farmer with his buck knife, cutting the pins out of that poor dog's leg flashed into my mind.
The doctor, mustering all of his horseman charm, told the boy that after his dog whelped, then they'd probably have to amputate the leg (followed by a long stream of cowboy-bred explatives after the boy had gone). Moral: Follow your vet's instructions and please, for the love, DON"T USE A BUCK KNIFE TO PERFORM SURGERY ON YOUR DOG!!!
(The picture above, which is used without permission, bears a striking resemblance to my grandpa. Miss you To To)
Thanks for reading!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Ger Er Did!
Posted by Matt Future Vet at 9:24 PM
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4 comments:
haha. you're full of good stories. thanks for dinner the other night. it was delicious!
Hi Matt
Thanks for stopping by and thanks for your comments. Our whole nation has wept all week, the loss of life, the destruction and the pure fear that so many experienced has affected every Australian. They estimate that we have lost over 1 million animals, our wildlife is so unique, we can`t afford to lose it.
Your dogs look great,is one part Australian shepherd? My daughter is undertaking her PhD, she is an environmental scientist and is studying our freshwater Turtles, the urban spread is impacting their habitats. If you ever get out to Australia, let me know I would love to show you things off the tourist track.
Rose
Matt, very good to have a new post from you. I always like to read what you write. You are very insightful and quite the writer!! Miss you guys.
I, too, have read those same books- and every single one of them is great! Congrats on the lg. animal hospital! I volunteer at a foal unit here at UF and is SOME EXPERIENCE!
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