My Life as an Intern

During the last year and a half of veterinary school, I was on
clinical rotations through different services in the hospital at two week
intervals. That was just enough time to settle in and start my own routine
before having to move on and start a new service.

On the large animal rotations I would see roughly one or two
horses per day. We take a case in, work it up (which involved getting a
detailed history, physical exam, and perform diagnostic tests), make a
diagnosis, treat the animal as needed, and then I would finish the mountain
of paperwork that is required by the University's teaching hospital.

The unfortunate side of being just a student (and those darn
licensing standards for doctors) is not being able to perform the more
involved diagnostic or treatment procedures (i.e. practicing without a
license). Another major downside is rotating off the service so quickly
that often times I was unable to see the end result of a case or interact
with the owners beyond initial consults.

As a licensed veterinarian working at Merritt & Associates, we often see
up to 20 horses a day. Since this is a
performance horse practice, we perform a lameness exam, conduct any
necessary diagnostic tests (including radiographs, ultrasound, joint and
nerve blocks, etc), determine the working diagnosis, treat accordingly, and
then complete the necessary paperwork.

As a newly licensed veterinarian and intern, I work alongside one doctor each day assisting him/her with appointments. I perform many of the diagnostic and treatment procedures on each horse.
One of the many highlights is being
able to easily follow up on each case and work closely with our clients. I
recheck appointments and can see the results of our work. It is very rewarding to work a case from start to finish
(even if that means getting kicked,
stepped on, bitten, snotted on, or attacked by a vicious barn cat).

Transitions

My recent transition from veterinary school to equine private practice is one of ups and downs, as just about any major change will have, but overall, I see my career choice as the right one for me. One of my favorite things about Merritt & Associates is the wide variety of horses that we see and treat. The cornucopia of equine talent present in the area is impressive and makes each day fun. From the reiners, to the jumpers, hunters, dressage horses and Saddlebreds, watching a talented horse and working to keep them at their best is a rewarding occupation.
I must admit that one of my favorites is watching the Hackney ponies under harness. The amount of energy and motion from such a small package is impressive. It doesn’t hurt that they are some of the smaller patients that we work on, and holding up their limbs for flexion tests is much less work than a 1400 lb Warmblood who likes to see how much weight you really can hold up. However, one still must be cognizant of dangers, as the ponies can be very light with their limbs, and no one wants to get kicked. One of my co-workers refers to them as “ninjas”, a correlation I find amusing but quite accurate.
Another part of my job that I particularly enjoy is seeing horses improve under our care. Recently we saw a horse for a re-evaluation after initial treatment, whose improvement was outstanding. Had I just seen a short clip of his gait before and after his treatment, I would have thought he was a different horse. The suspension and energy in his gait compared to the very flat, lackluster movement initially present, made my day. It’s extraordinarily rewarding to see such a noticeable difference in a patient due to treatment. I look forward to continued learning and more rewarding moments throughout my journey here.