Shadowing an exotic animal vet!!

[satomi325]

lmao what do you guys use it for?

On a side note does anyone else use their temp gun for non reptile related stuff? Like sometimes i just use it to check the temps of stuff i drink or like anything i guess lol... I consider that a household item!

I use my stethoscope for a number of things. I'm a pre-vet student and work in a laboratory/vet clinics. It's actually really helpful to keep around the house too.

I've only used my temp gun for reptiles and to measure the wall...Sometimes I check my skin temp too. haha....

[rebelrachel13]

So, I just got home!

It was a long day, but much was learned and a lot of fun was had. My mind is blown with how much more I learned there than I would have at school.

It wasn't nearly as awkward/confusing as expected. I didn't collide with anyone in the hallway and nothing was dropped. Although, I messed up both of the math problems the doctor gave me as he was writing prescriptions. I aced all the questions he asked me about snakes though, and I think he really liked and appreciated my help. I asked questions when they popped up as well. Overall, I think that most people weren't too annoyed with me and the doctor was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and a very good teacher.

Everyone was really surprised to hear that I was only 17 years old and still in high school. Apparently, most people don't start shadowing until college or even vet school. I thought that was really odd because from what I've heard, shadowing is a normal and recommended activity for high school students. So, I guess that gives me an advantage and a really good preview of what I might be watching, studying, and possibly performing in future years.

As far as what happened, I saw LOTS of interesting procedures/appointments of various animals, including but not at all limited to:
-A post-op male great dane (spleen removed), I assisted performing an EKG
-A canine neuter (not interesting at all actually, hehe, but I was glad to see)
-A bearded dragon loaded with parasites (coccidia and a few others)
-Juvenile iguana with abscess or tumor causing massive swelling in its eye and mouth
-Large cockatoo getting its extremely overgrown nails and wings clipped; heavy plucker
-Border collie with suspected copperhead bites, had fever and infection
-A male cat with a morbidly distended abdomen, filled with fluid, unknown cause
-An elderly dachshund with horrible teeth, the worst most of the employees had seen
-Probably a dozen fecals... not interesting, but didn't gross me out one bit
-Two rabbits; one getting a checkup and the other with dental problems
-The resident Sulcatas grazing in their own dedicated outdoor yard
-A senior vet school student on a 2 month internship



Thanks to everyone for the advice and wishes!! I think it paid off and I hope to go back again soon. To anyone considering shadowing, or who has the opportunity to do so, I absolutely recommend it. I'm sure you'll enjoy it and it will learn a lot.

[Steve-J]

Congrats! Sounds like you really got to see a good variety of stuff! Thanks for the update!

[Mike41793]

Thats awesome and sound like alot of fun. Definetly more learned there in one day than probably a week in highschool! If I had the drive to go to 8+ years of school i would defiently go to veterinary school. Unforntunately i hate school and dont love all animals equally so that would not work out well lmao. But my friend is going to UConn for that and absolutely loves it. Hes been working alot with farm animals since UConn has like a whole farm and it always smells like horse crap when i go to visit, yuck lol. Are you planning on going to school to be a vet rachel?

[rebelrachel13]

Are you planning on going to school to be a vet rachel?

Currently that is the plan.