School

Today I woke up and went running and then I got ready for my lab.  We went down to the dairy, and  waited in the barn.  We watched a kitten and mom cat play for a quarter hour, chasing eachother, and making good use out of the giant litter box, that was the barn. After many minutes of lecture about needles and what size you use, we went out to the alley, and Doctor showed us how to use a drenching hose.  So I took one hose and walked over to the cow, picked up the head in one hand, drenching tube in the other, and started pushing it down the throat. I wasn't sure if I was doing it correctly so luckily one of the TA'S came and at least watched and made sure I was doing it right. I got it down and the doctor told me he saw it in the right tube which was a relief, then I pulled it out, and said well cool.  Next I tried to draw blood, the jugular in a cow is the size of a hose, half that size in a sheep.  I was able to get it first shot with the sheep, and yet four times couldn't get it in the cow, eventually we got blood, with help.  Someone in passing said if you can't get the jugular the first time you fail at life, I guess I fail.  I need practice on that. Such an interesting class, they did a necropsy on a dairy cow, we have drawn blood from tail veins and rectal palpation in cows.  I'm getting so much experience so happy. I'm probably annoying because I want to do it right, and not cause dammage, so I'm very careful, and ask if I'm doing it right a lot. I was able to drench a cow however by myself and the help of a head lock, which is pretty cool.  I'm worried about being a girl and doing large animal vet work, you have to be strong, and I'm working on that. I just want to get all the experience I can and do it all while I have someone to help me. I'm pretty sure horses hate me, so I'm re-considering my equine specialisty choice, it may end badly, as horses like to buck me, kick me, and step on me. Small animals, large animals, or mixed practice it will be an adventure, and I can't wait.