Tuesday, May 21st, 2019
The past few days have gone by in the blink of an eye. I arrived in Corvallis, Montana this past Sunday afternoon. Most would think a Sunday would be quiet, but that would not be accurate. I had the opportunity to observe an emergency case at the Tammany Veterinary Clinic. The next day I was up bright and early to begin my internship. Since Monday, I have had the opportunity to learn a lot about horses specifically. Right now I am mostly in an observation position. I can do small things like help walking the horses and keeping them in place for x-rays. As the internship continues I will have more opportunities for hands on experiences. This is perfect because it allows me to see how various techniques are performed. For example, I have seen two of the veterinarians perform a float. Float is a term which refers to dental work in horses. The vet will use drills to help flatten the teeth and prevent any waves, points, or steps from forming. Overall, it has been an exciting few days at the clinic and I have met a lot of great people. I can't wait to see what all is in store for me! |
The picture on the left is of one of the veterinary technicians, Ashley, holding a newborn foal. This newborn is so small and definitely cute!
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Tuesday, May 28th, 2019
The past few days have been amazing. One may think weekends are not filled with work because most places are closed. However, this would not be the case here. This weekend it was a rush between enjoying Montana and going to emergency calls. One of the emergency calls was probably the most hands on I have been yet! It was just the veterinarian on call and myself. We went to check out a laceration on the foot of a horse not really knowing what to expect. While there, we found out that the laceration went to the tendon sheath. This is a very sensitive location for it is small and easily becomes infected once cut open. A lot of time was spent cleaning the wound. Then it was sutured some, but not completely. This helps prevent the formation of an abscess. What was open was filled with antibiotics and bandaged. An example of bandaging can be seen in the upper right corner of this paragraph. The one we did had a lot more layers, including an outer one of duct tape. Aside from work, I also got the opportunity to go horseback riding for the first time! One of the veterinary technicians, Katelynn, took me to her family ranch and taught me the proper techniques to riding. It starts out with a lot of ground work and creating a connection with the horse. In other words, it allows the rider and horse to form a bond of trust. Riding was absolutely amazing and the trail we took was gorgeous! I have to practice more before I can say I have it down, but it was a great start! |
Friday, May 31st, 2019
I cannot believe it has already been almost two weeks since I first came to Montana. It has been an incredible learning experience as I continue to do more hands on work here. One aspect of interning here, observing cultures, is reminding me a lot about the days in microbiology lab. Observing cultures in the lab is something that is equally as important as a check up. Depending on what is seen, one is able to narrow down what an infection can be based on several variables. These variables can include the following: where the bacteria came from on the body, ideas of possible bacterial infections based on the area of the body, knowledge on the growth pattern of bacteria (color, size, etc.), and knowledge on the types of medications used to treat the infection. To the left is an example of a culture recently done by Katelynn. Aside from the friendly reminders on how to run lab equipment, I had an amazing experience early this morning. I had the opportunity to help with a foaling. This was absolutely incredible as I got to see a new life enter this world. Once the process was done, we helped dry the foal off and began to help her stand. It was so exciting to see her walk on her own after a little bit of help! I have to say that this was probably one of my favorite moments thus far. To the lower left you can see a picture of the beautiful foal. After another great week, I'm looking forward to what is in store for me next week! |
Tuesday, June 4th, 2019
As the days go by, I am blown away by how much information there is to learn. One major component with large animals is watching to see how they are behaving. Some animals will hide pain better than others, but at some point it becomes noticed. The other day a mule was observed to determine the severity of lameness. Pictured to the right you can see Dr. Van de Motter performing a full hind limb flexion. This is only one portion of a lameness test. The test includes walking and trotting in circles on a flat concrete service. This can reveal where the most pain is inflicted and narrows down which legs to focus on. Then there are a series of stretches used to see if there is any impact on the animal's ability to trot afterwards. Each stretch in the series is done individually because it can narrow down if the pain is coming higher up in the leg or more towards the foot. Depending on severity, different techniques are used after the tests are performed. Some animals may just have a foot abscess which is identified by using hoof testers. Other animals require x-rays and special shoes to help ease pain which comes with old age (i.e. arthritis). Aside from the busy week days full of learning, I get to enjoy some recreational time during the weekends. This weekend I went boating with one of the veterinarian technicians, Ashley, and her family. This was such a blast and the views were gorgeous! We even pulled the boat close to land, off trailed it through the woods to find the walking trail, and went to the waterfall which was running into the lake. To the left are a few pictures from the trip. It was a lot of fun spending time talking and getting to know Ashley and her family. Can't wait to see what I learn in the next few days to come! |
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Friday, June 7th, 2019
The importance of knowing your animals is truly huge. Owners need to be able to tell whether or not their animals are behaving as they normally would or if there is something wrong. An example of when a horse may begin to change their behavior is if they are colicking. Colicking occurs when a horse is painful in the abdomen region due to a build up of gas or a blockage of some sort occurs. This type of pain leads to various changes in behavior including pawing the ground for longer lengths of time and more frequently, tilting of the head towards the stomach and attempting to nip at the site, thrashing, rolling or attempting to roll, etc. It is important to catch these changes as soon as possible for a horse that is colicking could have something seriously wrong such as a twisted colon. This type of situation would require surgery. Yet, not all colics are going to be this severe and some will resolve with time. The less severe colics will generally require palpation of the posterior region as well as tubing to reflux the anterior region. With all of this said, knowing an animal's behavior is not just about paying attention to when something is wrong. It is equally important to be able to read if an animal is hungry, thirsty, etc. The best part of learning more about an animal is discovering what they may enjoy. An example from the other day comes to mind. The owner learned very quickly that his bull enjoyed playing with a large blow up ball. We were lucky to have the chance to see the bull in action. To the left I have added a small clip of the bull. It was honestly both adorable and funny to watch this bull chasing a ball! On a side note, seeing the mountains during the sun set is beautiful! A group of us had the perfect opportunity to sit, talk, and enjoy the view during a power outage the other day. |
Tuesday, June 11th, 2019
Once again the weekend felt like it flew by! It was filled with both learning experiences and relaxing with friends. On Saturday, I had a great evening at Katelyn's house. She showed me her carriage which attaches to her miniature pony, Ranger, and even took me for a ride. It was a ton of fun to chat, listen to music, and enjoy the scenery while on the ride. We almost made it all the way to town! It was at this point we decided to try again another time and we would bring some cash for some ice cream. Then on Sunday, Dr. Kyle Kelly showed me how to use the ultrasound and determine where I was within the horse. I was actually able to use the ultrasound on my own which was really cool! I was able to feel, see, and understand where I was at within the mare. Of course I would need a lot of practice to be able to determine where I was, but this was a great start. Also, part of this was thanks to Katelyn allowing me to utilize a learning experience with her mare. |
Saturday, June 15th, 2019
This week was both fun and interesting. When thinking of cuts and scrapes for people we are often told to not scratch at the scab. Yet, in horses you actually want to debride scabs and dead skin of wounds. When debriding a wound you can use an iodine solution mixed with water and a surgical scrub brush. This method will most likely cause the wound to bleed, but this is good. Alongside bleeding, the tissues of the wound turn into a bright pink color. This is a good sign of healing. I have provided an example picture to the left. Depending on the size and location of a wound, antibiotics are applied topically and the wound is bandaged. Aside from the bandaging discussed in a previous post, there is also a spray on liquid bandage which can be used on injuries which are in places that are difficult to bandage (i.e. along the abdomen). Though this week was filled with more learning opportunities, I also had a day off to go enjoy a trail. Katelyn was also off and took me trail riding at the Fred Burr trail. We rode to a reservoir where we had lunch together and then made the trip back. I've added a picture from the trip here. |
Wednesday, June 19th, 2019
While here there have been many things which I have observed a few times. I have spoken of floats before and how the teeth are worked on to improve the horses ability to eat. Some dental work consists of extracting teeth as well. To the right is an image of an extracted tooth which was fractured. Depending on the angle of a fracture, it can impact the mouth of the horse by causing cuts or swelling. Once a tooth is extracted it should improve the ability of the horse to eat. However, it is important to pay attention to the location of the extraction. Sometime the horse may pack the space with grass hay/feed and it may cause a terrible smell to occur due to the lack of proper healing. In these cases, the horse is brought back in to have the grass hay removed and the space packed. This packing is to help prevent food building up in the location of the extracted tooth. Aside from learning more about teeth and how to properly care for them, I was given the opportunity to change my location slightly. Jackie Smith, a veterinarian technician, was kind enough to allow me to stay in her guest house. It is an incredible place and I have had a blast looking after the dogs, cats, and horses here. This past weekend was spent mostly relaxing and enjoying my time with the animals here. To the lower right is a picture of me with one of the dogs, Sage. |
Sunday, June 24th, 2019
Another week has come and gone in what feels like the blink of an eye. I was able to gain some incredible experience this week as well as enjoy trail riding with Katelyn. When looking at the amount of lab work done here, it reveals how crucial some of the tests are in determining what is wrong. A skin biopsy, for example, can be used to determine if a horse is having an allergic reaction to something in the environment. Things such as grass, pollen, and mosquitoes are all possible contributors to the hypersensitivity. This is something that can be treated with steroids, antihistamines, etc. However, if one just assumes they know what a biopsy causes they could miss out on underlying problems. For example, the skin biopsy could reveal that the horse has a melanoma. This usually occurs more often in horses with lighter colored parts of their body. These growths have to be treated carefully, for it is important to surgically remove them without leaving any part of the growth behind. If some cancerous cells remain then it tends to come back more aggressive than what it was prior to removal. Aside from learning more about the importance of lab work and when to utilize it, I got to spend the weekend enjoying some fun experiences. On Friday evening, I had the chance to go to my first rodeo with Katelyn. This was quite the experience and it was neat to gain a better understanding of the events which they have. I'll try to upload a video from the rodeo later this week. After a mostly quiet Saturday, Sunday came to test how much my riding ability has developed. Katelyn took me on one of the harder trails in the area which was thrilling and beautiful at the same time. This trail had areas scattered throughout which truly tested the trust between a horse and its owner. Understanding the increase in difficulty, I was not able to snag as many pictures from the ride as what I had before. With that said, here are a few images I was able to capture. |
Thursday, June 27th, 2019
I am so sad to see my time here coming to a close. I have learned so much and truly enjoyed each day here. I have come to learn a lot about how to care for large domestic animals. It is amazing to see how much work goes on as far as lab work, basic understanding of healthy animals, knowledge of possible infections, etc. One important thing to remember is that veterinarians, veterinarian technicians, and owners all play a role in providing the best care for an animal. Owners play a role both before and after the visit to the veterinarian. They provide important information on their animal as far as what is normal behavior versus abnormal for the specific animal. After the appointment, it is crucial that the owners pay close attention to the directions they are given so as to give the optimal chance of recovery for the animal. Veterinary technicians help gather information from the owners and animals, as well as help prepare and administer medications. Veterinarians narrow down the possible problems which could be occurring and provide treatment for the animals. Learning about the importance of each role and what each role entails is only a small piece of everything I have gained from here. With everything that has happened here, I am so glad that I had the opportunity to come to Montana. It's truly bittersweet knowing I have to leave soon, but my time here has been memorable and I hope to return one day.
I am so sad to see my time here coming to a close. I have learned so much and truly enjoyed each day here. I have come to learn a lot about how to care for large domestic animals. It is amazing to see how much work goes on as far as lab work, basic understanding of healthy animals, knowledge of possible infections, etc. One important thing to remember is that veterinarians, veterinarian technicians, and owners all play a role in providing the best care for an animal. Owners play a role both before and after the visit to the veterinarian. They provide important information on their animal as far as what is normal behavior versus abnormal for the specific animal. After the appointment, it is crucial that the owners pay close attention to the directions they are given so as to give the optimal chance of recovery for the animal. Veterinary technicians help gather information from the owners and animals, as well as help prepare and administer medications. Veterinarians narrow down the possible problems which could be occurring and provide treatment for the animals. Learning about the importance of each role and what each role entails is only a small piece of everything I have gained from here. With everything that has happened here, I am so glad that I had the opportunity to come to Montana. It's truly bittersweet knowing I have to leave soon, but my time here has been memorable and I hope to return one day.
Sunday, June 30th, 2019
Today was probably the hardest day of all. It finally came time to say goodbye to the town Corvallis and start the trip home. I have made some incredible friends and mentors while here. A part of my heart will always be in Corvallis, Montana and one day I hope to return. After today there will be one final post the day I return home. I apologize for how short these last two posts may become, but I will be sure to include more pictures of the journey. The pictures for today are from the Sweathouse Creek Trail and one from the drive to the first destination for the night.
Today was probably the hardest day of all. It finally came time to say goodbye to the town Corvallis and start the trip home. I have made some incredible friends and mentors while here. A part of my heart will always be in Corvallis, Montana and one day I hope to return. After today there will be one final post the day I return home. I apologize for how short these last two posts may become, but I will be sure to include more pictures of the journey. The pictures for today are from the Sweathouse Creek Trail and one from the drive to the first destination for the night.
Thursday, July 4th, 2019
After 4 days of travel I was able to make it back home last night. Of course, the trip home was filled with fun and great views. Yet, my journey home wouldn't have been possible if not for Ashton Ludwig taking time to travel to Montana and join me for the trip home. Monday was spent at Yellowstone going to various parts of the park including Old Faithful. Then Tuesday was filled with memories of Devil's Tower and The Badlands. I've shared some photos from the trip below. As much as I miss everyone in Montana, it was nice to be home just in time for the 4th of July so I could celebrate with my family. I hope everyone has had a great 4th of July celebrating with friends and family! Thank you all for following my journey!
After 4 days of travel I was able to make it back home last night. Of course, the trip home was filled with fun and great views. Yet, my journey home wouldn't have been possible if not for Ashton Ludwig taking time to travel to Montana and join me for the trip home. Monday was spent at Yellowstone going to various parts of the park including Old Faithful. Then Tuesday was filled with memories of Devil's Tower and The Badlands. I've shared some photos from the trip below. As much as I miss everyone in Montana, it was nice to be home just in time for the 4th of July so I could celebrate with my family. I hope everyone has had a great 4th of July celebrating with friends and family! Thank you all for following my journey!