On my first day of this week, I observed a foreign body surgery on a dog.
This week has been another full week of opportunities to learn and observe different aspects of running a veterinary practice. On Monday, a dog who had eaten a foreign object came in and I was able to sit in on the surgery performed on her. As I watched and listened, I learned about the canine stomach and intestines and got an up-close look at the anatomy of a dog. I did my best to get the most out of my experience as well as stay out of the doctor and vet tech's way to allow them to best do their jobs. Over the course of my past two weeks in my internship, I have found that the most challenging part is to walk the line of being as helpful as possible while not interfering with what the professionals need to get done. The staff at PMAH and Backstretch have been very kind and open to teaching me, so I do my best to not be a burden and complete the tasks given to me with extra care.
The management style at Powder Mill is very professional and formal. In order to run an effective business in medicine, each aspect of the job must be completed to the best of everyone's ability. With that being said, the environment is still very bright and friendly. PMAH walks the line of being professional and kind very well.
My experience with both an office and ambulatory veterinary practice has exposed me to just how different the two can be. Being a small animal veterinarian in an office allows for relatively better and more predictable hours while being an ambulatory equine vet brings you outside to explore different places. Both have aspects to consider as I pursue a degree in veterinary medicine and decide what kind of vet I want to be.
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