After last week being mostly introductions to university and getting used to the idea of being a vet student, this week felt like the point where I actually started learning veterinary medicine.
One of the biggest moments for me was our first horse practical. I was quite nervous around the horses to begin with, as I lack any experience with them. The first time I had to touch one, I was very aware of how enormous they are and how much muscle I could feel underneath my hand. Getting into the stable, putting on the headcollar and leading the horse out was something I was anxious to do.
That started to change once we actually got hands on. We learned how to put on rugs and bandages, fit a headcollar, pick out their feet and walk them out of the stable. The moment that really stood out to me was brushing my hand down the horse’s leg as we had been shown and then having its foot come up. I remember thinking that this is actually hands-on animal and veterinary experience. It felt like a small moment, but also like the first time I thought, I can actually do this.
The horse even pushed into my hand while I was stroking it, which definitely helped me become more comfortable. I think that is something I’m going to notice a lot throughout the course: things that feel completely new and intimidating now will hopefully become normal with practice.
We also started getting into some of the smaller practical things that are going to become a big part of the job. Looking at our hands under the UV light after washing them with the UV gel showed me that I was missing quite a lot around my palms and nail beds. It was a good reminder that something as simple as washing your hands properly can have a much bigger impact when it comes to infection control.
Knot tying was initially quite complicated, but getting to handle the surgical instruments was exciting. Holding the needle holder for the first time, knowing that this is what I’ll eventually use to put stitches in, made everything feel a little more real.
We also worked with the teaching dogs and learned about looking at their behaviour before approaching them. It was interesting seeing how much information you can get from an animal before you’ve even touched them, and how important that is when making a clinical judgement.
Professionalism has also been a big theme this week. It is something that keeps coming up, but I think I’m starting to understand why. The image of a vet is important because vets aren’t just trusted with people’s animals. They are also trusted as part of the wider community through the idea of One Health. That means how you behave and communicate matters just as much as what you know.
Outside of university, this week has been just as busy. On the previous Sunday I went to an archery taster session. I wasn’t particularly good at first, but I enjoyed it. I signed up for the beginners course and I went back for another session. They suggested I try shooting left-handed because of my eye dominance, and I was much better – hitting the centre of the target 80% of the time. I also happened to meet another vet student there – my new best friend – because we were put in the same lane, which was a pretty good coincidence.
After archery we went to Goose Fair, and I’ve started spending more time with the friends I’ve met since arriving at university. One of them was anxious about going on a ride because of her fear of heights, but after I accompanied her, she pushed through and loved it! She even went on it again with a different friend. We also had a pub quiz, where we came second and had free chips, which is definitely one of the better combinations.
Then today, my new best friend and I climbed Snowdon spontaneously. The conditions were not exactly ideal but we came (mostly) prepared. Our pace was slow, visibility was really poor and it was windy and wet. We ended up getting caught out in the dark on the way down, but we stuck together behind the torch and eventually made it back down.
It was exhausting, but really fulfilling. On the way up we saw lots of sheep and goats, as well as smelling the latter. One of the strangest parts was passing goats again in the dark, knowing they were there because of scent alone. Once it was dark, we kept seeing rocks that looked like sheep. Not quite the wildlife spotting I expected.
I’m still not completely sure how I’m going to keep track of everything I need to do. I understand the system a lot more now and have a better idea of where everything is, but organising the actual work is still probably my biggest worry.
If I had to pick what I’ll remember most from this week, it would probably be meeting my new friend by complete chance at archery and then climbing Snowdon together just a week later. It’s strange how quickly university has started turning into more than just lectures and practicals.
Two weeks in, I’ve now picked up a horse’s foot, started learning surgical knots, met new people and walked down a mountain in the dark.
It definitely feels like I’m starting to become a vet student now.