Finally - the moment I have been waiting for all summer long. I have begun my externship at last. This is the very thing every vet student dreams about since starting their journey in vet school, the time when they can at last put their clinical skills to the test and begin to develop their education “in the field” so to speak. There is a huge learning curve from learning from books to actually applying that knowledge to real life cases and that is what the externship is all about!

My first day flew by like a whirlwind, and then the first week, and now the second week! I’ve barely had a moment to sit down and breathe and take it all in. I’ve met so many incredible people and have already begun developing my hands-on skills in restraint, physical examinations, blood collection, anesthetic monitoring, and so much more! Paris Veterinary Clinic is a very busy clinic, there have been no less than 4 to 5 surgeries each morning every day! The surgeries aren’t all this clinic has to offer either - I’ve also experienced innumerable small animal appointments, as well as farm calls! Everything from corneal ulcers caused by a piece of stick stuck underneath the eyelids of a swollen eye, to a cystotomy (surgery on the urinary bladder) to remove the most bladder stones I’ve ever seen in my life, to a broken femur (thigh) bone that is healing wonderfully! Seeing the veterinarians in action and assisting them where appropriate is a great way to develop skills in client communication, as well as medical knowledge.

I can also say I have drastically fallen in love with the city of Paris. If you’ve never been, I highly recommend visiting this small town with big charm. One of my favourite experiences thus far has been simply driving the country roads, being quizzed on the types of crops growing in the fields (yes, it’s important veterinarians know their crop science as well). I’ve already learned so much in these two weeks, and I can’t wait to see what the next 6 weeks have to offer! Stay tuned!