During my first week, I spent four days at Powder Mill Animal Hospital and one day with Backstretch Veterinary.
Powder Mill Animal Hospital is a small animal general veterinary practice that provides pet wellness exams, emergency services, X-Ray services, and surgical and dental procedures. This week, I sat in on many appointments for dogs and cats, listening and learning as the veterinarian made her exam and talked with the owner of the animal. I cleaned the exam room after each appointment so that it would be ready for the next patient, and also cleaned out holding cages in the back of the hospital. I helped with clipping a dog and running bloodwork. At the end of the week, I sat in on a presentation on animal CPR. The environment at PMAH is very friendly but professional, and I wear scrubs each day to work there.
Backstretch Veterinary provides equine medical services to barns all around the area. During the day I spent with them, I was present for a shockwave therapy session as well as a castration and ultrasound of a leg. I learned a lot from being able to watch these procedures and ask questions throughout. The work environment is very different from PMAH because instead of being in an office, the veterinarians at Backstretch are mobile throughout the day and traveling to different barns.
I have enjoyed working at both of these places very much, as it has exposed me to the different aspects of veterinary practices and how much one kind of animal medicine can differ from another. I look forward to my next four weeks of interning with both of these practices.