Last week we welcomed our first work experience student. Celine Berjot is currently studying biology in her preparatory year before begining a veterinary degree in Paris.She was able to participate in several aspects of clinic life and took an active role in helping to monitor and treat the hospitalised patients.
We were able to look at normal anatomy, putting into perspective what Celine had been reading about in her text books. She spent some time taking and recording pulse and respitation rates for animals under anaesthesia and becoming used to what normal physiological parameters look and feel like.
It was a busy week as we were even able to cover the basics of preparing patients for surgery, clipping, sterile prep, intubation and pre op injections.
Celine spent some long hours in the clinic but the highlight of her camp must be a case she was heavily involved in. At the start of the week a preganant and paralysed stray cat was brought in. She was spayed because she had no hope of being able to give birth. Celine was responsible for physiotherapy and massage of the hindlegs to help with any recovery. The decision was made to operate on the spine to try and relieve some pressure on the spinal cord. Celine was invited to scrub into the surgery and was allowed to help by irrigating the surgery site with saline.We hope we provided Celine with an idea of what to expect when she completes her veterinary studies and maybe we will see her in the future when she is qualified and ready to develop her surgical skills!
