Babies!

Today was a pretty busy day since 2 of the vets were on different islands so there was only 1 vet doing calls so we bounced around quite a bit. First we went to go see a calf that wasn't doing so well. But when we got there the calf was flat out and even the farmer seemed surprised that it had gone downhill so quickly. We tried to find a Vein to get some steroids in it and eventually fluids but before we could even get some drugs in it it started trying to die. So then we decided that we should just euthanize it but even before we could inject some euthasol it died. That was a real shame, but it had gone from running away from the farmer in the morning to lying dead so quickly there really wasn't much we could have done. It was also really cold and pale so it was most likely in shock and just crashed. Then we went to go see about a bull that was lame. He was sort of walking a bit stuff but wasn't hopping lame, so it wasn't quite time for him to go down the road, so we have him some metacam and rest. Then we got a call about a calving waaaaay at the other end of Orkney. So we drove to go see her and she was just starting to calve  but was just dilated enough to get a hand through, but that was it. So we decided to let her wait for a wee while since it was too soon to do much about it yet. Then we headed back to the surgery for lunch. Then we got a call about some heifer coos that weren't thriving even though their calves were doing well. So we went to take bloods and faecal samples from them to test for any vitamin/mieral deficiencies, johnes, and worms. So we'll see how that pans out. It was a bit unusual. Then finally we got the call we had been waiting for and went back to calve that coo and we pulled a lovely healthy little heifer calf from her! So all in all it was a good day! And tomorrow is my last day here, so crazy that it's almost

Over!

Small Animal Day

Today was another mostly small animal day, but it was kid of windy outside today so maybe that wasn't such a terrible thing! I saw a bitch spay, a rabbit neuter, helped take some radiographs and then saw a cat spay. Pretty standard, though I had never seen a rabbit castrate before so that was interesting. After lunch a call came in that there was a coo that had tried to jump a fence and had cut her test so we went to go stitch it up which was cool! Other than that it was a pretty slow day, but trying to see some stuff before I leave since I only have a few days left here!

Slow day

Today was a pretty slow day. In the morning we went and took bloods from some sheep and then went to go look at a lame bull. The poor bull was 4/5 lame, and had been that way for 2 weeks, so we decided that he needed to be euthanized. Fortunately he was insured, so we called the insurance people to make sure that if we euthanized him the insurance would still pay, but they said try would, so that was good. Then we stayed at the surgery for most of the day. A lamb came in that the farmer thought had cerebral cortical necrosis, but it looked like more that he has some sort of brain abscess so with euthanized him as well. And then a kitten came in that someone found and we euthanized him as well. So when it rains it pours I guess. Then I sat in on part of a dental, but mostly read some books. Then at 5:25 (phones are off at 6) we got a call about toxic mastitis. So I went with the vet to that. I learned about how to give fluids to cows, so that was pretty cool! So even though it was late it was interesting, plus I got to see a dairy coo, which I haven't seen since being here! 

Cow tipping!

Today turned into a pretty full day which was nice! I started it out by doing some herd health plans, pretty standard, but they are always nice to hear. Then we came back to the practice for lunch and then I hopped on board with one of the vets to go see a bull. Before that we stopped at a farm and vaccinated a pony, but just a vaccine turned into look at my horse look at this thing and we ended up having to stay there for a while. Then we went to a farm to go look at a lame bull. We took the cow tipper with us, which is basically a crush that turns sideways so you can access all of the cows feet. It was pretty amazing and it seems like the easiest way to do it. We didn't really find anything, but it was good to look at foot trimming since I haven't seen that in a while. Then we stopped at a house to euthanize an old cat, which was sad, but he was pretty far gone at that point so it was a good thing. By the time we were done with everything it was 6! So it turned into quite a day!

Scapa scuba!

Today I faced my fears and went scuba diving!! Whej I saw it was something that I could do while I was here I thought that this seemed like a great opportunity to so something that I'm pretty terrified of. I got picked up at the cathedral and 9:30 and we headed out to the little bay where we were going. In true Orkney style it's in a sheep paddock, so a few times the sheep were a bit cheeky and came to see what was going on. When we got there we signed our lives away and started with our intro stuff. I was so nervous during the introduction I almost started crying, as much as I hate to admit it, so I wasn't holding out much hope that it was going to go smoothly. But when I came to be my turn I got suited up! So because we are so far north the water is obviously cold. So I was in a dry suit, something I also have never done. It was really weird getting into this full body with feet rubber suite thing with lube to get my hands out and it was like being born getting my head out of that thing. Basically i was stuck with my arms straight out in this thing, it was crazy. Then I hobbled down close to the water to put on my hood, gloves, weights, and tank. So dry suit diving is very different then being in a normal wet suit. It inflates and so does your backpack that has your tank also inflates so you float at the top and then need to be deflated for you to sink. Then I got my mask and went into the water to meet the instructor. He

Put my find on and then we did a little training session so make sure I knew how everything worked and everything was good. The only thing that I had a problem with was my mask so I got really good and clearing out the water from my mask since I think I have a weird face because masks never work on me. But ther than that it was really fun! I was able to equalize and I saw some sunken ship bits, crabs, a flat fish and little schools of fish! It turned into a really great day! There was sun, great people, I had a good time, sheep came out and it was really fun! They told me a few places off the west that have good diving so it's something I may try again! I'm really glad that I did it, though I did get a bit burned. Afterwards they dropped me back at the cathedral and I had lunch in town before heading back to the hostel to just chill. I'm totally knackered as it was a looong day, but great!

Herd health

Today was the most gorgeous day! It was so sunny and lovely it was amazing! It was a pretty slow day, we spent it going from farm to farm doing herd health plans, which can be a bit boring, it's basically paperwork, but I think they're interesting since I get to lean about common problems on the farms and various things that the farmers and the vets are looking for and keeping an eye on. Plus we usually get invited for tea and buscuits, so can't complain! It actually was kind of nice that we didn't need to put our water proofs on since it was so warm, and basically I got to drive around the countryside on a glorious day!

Then I decided that sitting around the hostel is getting quite boring, so I signed up for the gym across the street. It's actually quite nice, probably nicer than Glasgow! So that'll give me something to do after work from now on!

Crazy day!

Today was a busy day! It started out a little uneventful and there were so many people at the hostel I was ready to leave, so it started out a bit annoying. And then the only case that came through the other vet student pounced on, so I was a little bored sitting at the surgery. So I decided to make it a small animal day instead and bug all those vets. It was not the most interesting cases coming through, but not every case is. Then I got to head out to one of the coolest cases yet! So the car is a bit funny. This farm has been here for ages, and around 5 years ago they started having problems with scouring cows, but older cows not calves. Some of these cows die and some of them don't but never really get back to weight again, so they're effected for life basically. They've run every test and nothing has come back with a definite answer so they had someone from the lab come and do a PM had took samples of the whole cow and that still came back with nothing. The vet has done another PM and still nothing. They have Johnes on the farm but it doesn't really fit with the clinical picture since the coos scoring higher on the test aren't those that are having problems. So we got to the farm after picking up the woman from the lab from the ferry and we saw the coo in question. She was flat out and I thought she was dead. Well she wasn't and the vet took out his shotgun and shot her, so that was certainly somethig new. Then we proceeded so cut we up and sample pretty much everything. But still it was weird there wasn't anything glaringly obvious in there. Her abomasum was a little leathery and there was minor ulceration, so they were thinking maybe ostertagia, but really there wasn't anything glaringly obvious, so the plot thickens. I mostly helped with sampling stuff, and now my hands smell like cow poo. Then there was most small animal stuff, not much worth writing about particularly, but all in all it turned into a busy day! Now just chilling and watching the common wealth games!