I have finished up my twelve weeks at the Cleveland Equine Clinic. The time simply flew by! I could not have asked for a better summer experience. All the staff, technicians, and veterinarians were so hardworking and knowledgeable it was truly impressive. I was able to see such a variety, from breeds of horses, to internal medicine disease, to wounds, and to routine care. Within the last few days, I assisted with a tongue laceration (the rostral 1/3 of the tongue was literally hanging on by less than a half inch), worked up a horse with a severe pelvic fracture (initially the appointment was for a suspected abscess), worked up various lameness cases, pin-fired a horse, and assisted in an entire day of tie-back and sacculectomy surgeries. I certainly feel that I am ready or at least more prepared for entering clinics this next spring. At the suggestion of one of the vets, I've compiled at list of commonly used drugs, dosages, with quick reference info that I plan on using for equine clinics. I also think that my horse handling skills have improved. Although I have always been a horse person, there is an art form to restraining a horse for an exam or a particular procedure. I definitely feel more confident at performing flexion tests, diagnosing subtle lameness, doing a routine physical exams, and performing leg, back, and neck palpations. This program has given me an excellent look into what it will be like to work in 'real-world' equine practice.
For anyone interested in this program, I cannot say enough good things about it. For my program in particular, I think as long as you are willing to work hard, learn quickly, and go with the changes, it can be an invaluable experience!
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