Sticks, stones and broken bones

Posted August 11, 2017

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...

The true mixed animal experience: All in a day’s work

Posted August 9, 2017

When it came to moving across the country for the summer, not exactly sure where I would be living or who I would meet, it is fair to say that even being the open-minded and adventure seeking person I am, I was definitely a bit nervous. That all melted away quickly. As soon as I arrived, I knew I had made the right choice. Within the first day at my externship, I already made a few great friends, who I was lucky enough to call co-workers, and continued to meet client after client who was friendly and excited...

Emergencies, emergencies, emergencies, Oh My!

Posted August 9, 2017

Veterinary medicine is exciting because you never know what will come through that door. A seemingly routine day can become hectic in a flash and it’s up to the vet team to be ready for anything. I’ve been learning plenty about emergency medicine this past week: From cystotomies to dog attacks to caesarians and more, it’s never a quiet day at MRVH!

This little pup in particular was enjoying a walk with her owners, when as they were passing by a house in their neighbourhood...

The big and the small

Posted August 8, 2017

It’s really hard to believe that I am starting my third week of my externship at New Hamburg Veterinary clinic! I thought I would start this blog off by telling you a bit more about myself before getting into some of the experiences I’ve had in the next few blog posts.

For those of you who don’t know me personally, I am a Phase 4 veterinary student mainly interested in small animal medicine. That means I am primarily interested in treating dogs and cats, but occasionally we can end up seeing other...

When things don’t go according to plan

Posted July 20, 2017

I’ve been very fortunate to have excellent veterinary mentorship during my weeks at Milverton-Wellesley. When I’m on farm service, I get to perform almost every procedure we do on our cattle calls, and this has been a huge boost to my competency and confidence. This is all due to excellent teachers who are ever so patient, and of course wonderful farmers who are...

Veterinary Medicine: A small profession where we are all connected

Posted July 18, 2017

On her cross-country travels to Vancouver Island, externship blogger Roxana visited a number of veterinary practices from Ontario to B.C.  Here’s who she met along the way…

First stop, the Northwestern Veterinary Hospital in Thunder Bay. Dr. Calli Thompson graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in...

Stray kitten finds a happy home

Posted July 17, 2017

Hi everyone -  this week we had a very cute patient in our care. A good samaritan brought us a stray kitten that they witnessed get hit by a truck. After seeing the kitten tumble to the side of the road they quickly rushed her to the clinic. Her physical exam showed significant road rash but no other injuries were sustained. Once the patient was confirmed stable an ear cytology...

Choosing your externship 101:

Posted July 14, 2017

After completing third year, students at OVC must complete a two-month placement at a clinic with both large and small animal patients.  For most students, it is our first experience at taking what we have learned in the past three years, and applying it in “the real world”.  It is also the first time that we get to take charge of our own learning.

Finding the right externship is no easy task!  There are tons of factors to consider; are you interested primarily...

Pets come in many forms

Posted July 12, 2017

I can't believe it's already the end of my third week! I guess the expression “time flies when you are having fun” is very true. The days are filled with amazing cases, cute puppies, wild horses! And then, my favourite, emergency calls!!

At some point during the week, close to 6 p.m. an owner called. She was very concerned that her pet “Teresa” was having difficulty breathing; but Teresa is not just any pet, it's a special pet: it's a chicken! I was very excited about an emergency coming in; but after I heard what type of pet it was I...

Looking forward to sharing my externship experience with you

Posted July 7, 2017

Hey guys, my name is Caitlin and I am getting ready to start my 4th year here at the Ontario Veterinary College. I have been a student at the University of Guelph since 2009 when I started my B.Sc (Hons) in Animal Biology and ended up completing a minor in Psychology: Brain and Cognition before applying and getting into OVC. I am originally from Brampton Ontario and have wanted to be a veterinarian since I was around 8...