Posts by Roseann Kehoe | The Externship Project

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Highlights of my externship

Posted February 17, 2021

It is hard to believe my externship is over already. The four weeks just flew by. The most valuable part of my externship was the knowledge I learned when helping during patient cases. I thoroughly enjoy working with clients and their pets to ensure that each animal gets the best care possible.

This was the first time I had ownership over cases and was able to speak with clients as a veterinarian (with supervision of course). I learned a great deal about common conditions in companion animals such as otitis, inflammation of the external ear canal, and allergic skin disease and got to snuggle some adorable puppies and kittens for wellness examinations...

Not everything is as it seems

Posted February 10, 2021

Marbles, a 15-year-old tortoiseshell cat, presented at the clinic for a distended abdomen. She was eating and drinking normally with no other complaints. From a distance, she looked almost overweight. When palpating her abdomen, a large and firm mass was felt on her right side that seemed uncomfortable when touched. (Client consent was provided to include info and photos)

Upon completing a radiograph, a large, round structure was identified in her right abdomen with a soft tissue opacity. The right kidney could not be identified. An ultrasound was performed which identified the left kidney and a large, fluid filled mass in the right abdomen. Whenever you see a large mass in an older animal, cancer is something to keep on your list of differentials, a list of possible conditions or diseases that could be causing...

Practice makes perfect

Posted February 3, 2021

In the second week of my externship, I was assigned to perform spay surgeries on three cats from the local humane society. A spay surgery, also called ovariohysterectomy, is the removal of the ovaries and uterus of a female dog or cat.

It was great to put on my surgical cap (figuratively) and be able to perform surgery with a mentor to give me feedback. I was apprehensive about tackling three surgeries in one day as someone relatively new to surgery. At the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), we are taught and examined on all aspects of surgery including sterile technique, preparation of the...

Managing uremia in a cat

Posted January 27, 2021

It is hard to not feel like a kid playing dress up in a doctor uniform when walking into the first day of your externship. After years of working with animals, I have the knowledge and experience I need. Now, I am expected to think like a veterinarian, to decide what diagnostic tests to perform and what treatments to recommend for each case.

My first case to work up as part of my externship was an orange and white tabby named Max. (Client consent was provided to include info and photos.) He was brought in after being seen by an emergency veterinary clinic the previous...