Lambing (March 2010)

I was helping out with the lambing the seasons at John's farm, which is just down the road from me.

This was an AMAZING experience, and I can honestly say this is the BEST work experience I have done so far.

Lambs in the field in front of my house.

I did 3 weekends and a few days after school.

I spent the whole day at the farm, and they day began with filling up all the water buckets in the barn, and giving out the feed the cade lambs. I made up the lamb's milk with formula and hot water, and took a big bucket of it down to the barn along with two baby bottles. The lambs were adorable, I'd have some fighting at me to get to the bottle and others that couldn't get through, so I had to make sure every one had been fed. It surprised me how they all had different personalities, despite being such herd animals.

Once everyone had been fed I walked round all the fields to check whether any of the ewes were behaving strangely, and if so which ones so that I could let John know that a ewe was lambing. If I found any that had lambed overnight we took the quad bike and trailer round to herd them up and take them into the barn. (at this farm the ewes lived out until they had lambs, rather than just staying in once it was lambing season)

If a ewe was having trouble, then the fun began. I put me hand inside the sheep (I won't go into detail as you wither know or don't want to what this is like), and pulled the lambs out. This was easily the most satisfying part of the job, as I felt so proud when I saw the lambs that I'D delivered have their first drink or take their first steps.

Only twice did a see dead lambs, one that had died overnight, and one that had been dead a while in the womb and came out rotten. The rotten lamb was heartbreaking, as the poor ewe kept baaing around it, waiting for it to get up, and as it was rotten we couldn't replace it with a lamb from a triplet.

When the amount of lambs being born started to slow down, in the gaps we sorted potatoes.

I got homemade pudding every day at the farmhouse, which was delicious.

At the end of the day I got on my bike and went home.

Lambs aged approx. 6 weeks

Being at the farm is another experience that has made me even more certain that I would not be satisfied being in a small animal practice. I can't wait to go back next spring!

Twycross Zoo Vet Days (17 Sep, 14 Oct & 12 Nov 2010)

I completed 3 days at Twycross Zoo as part of their 'So You Want To Be A Vet?' scheme.

Day  1 was Husbandry, and we learned all about the way the animals are provided for , such as the way the enclosures are made.

As part of our tasks we got to handle a Leopard Gecko called Spotty, a Mexican Red-Kneed Tarantula Called Lucy, as well as a Homefields Tortoise and a domestic Guinea Pig.

Lucy the Tarantula

Spotty the Gecko

The Tortoise

We weighed them, and took their temperature, as well as using a thermal imaging camera to look at their body heat - this was very cool!

Spotty was so cold that unless she was put on someone who was very warm, we couldn't find her on the camera, and the tortoise didn't show up at all on the camera because of his shell!

We then were given symptoms for some animals, and were asked to diagnose - this was very hard, as what was obvious after an explanation, we did not think of for ourselves. For example, a Bonobo with blood an a large swelling, we immediately assume a fight had occurred, only to find out that in fact, she was just in season.

Training

In the afternoon we watched the elephant training, which was so interesting! Even baby Ganesh joined it. The training looked like tricks for the audience, but actually it was so the keepers could examine the elephants, with them willing. For example, they picked up their feet to have their toes checked!

Day 2 was all about nutrition. We spent some time learning all about the animal's various dietary needs, and ways of feeding.

For example, we handled animals such as a corn snake, a chinchilla an an bearded dragon.

Bearded Dragon

The bearded dragon was particularly interesting, and we fed him some waxworms. The diet he is given is waxworms, and some other worms and insects, an he is fed twice a week. As in the wild they are fed live feed and have a wide variety, the lack of diversity in captivity can be a problem, as they may become mineral deficient.

Giraffe

After that we had to make diet plans for a wooly monkey, a gorilla, an elephant and a giraffe.

The giraffe was very interesting as the diet was almost the same as is given to a horse! (Hay, maize, oats and pony nuts.)

This is because there is less suitable vegetation available in this country.

Day 3, Reproduction.

Baby Ganesh

We had a talk on captive breeding programs. This was very interesting, as their baby Ganesh was created by artificial insemination.

It takes about 3 months for the elephant to be ready for breeding, as they have to get used to loud noises, strangers, standing on steps, having someone underneath them as well as other things. The elephant also has to be willing, due to the position of the vulva, and they move their whole reproductive tract up inside their body when not in use. AI is doubly difficult as the timing must be perfect - they can check this by monitoring hormone levels.

Then our task was to try and sex  animals.

After much consideration, we decided:

Gerald, White Tree Frog - MALE
Because he croaks a lot.

            

Giant Madagascan Hissing Cockroach - FEMALE
Because of shorter antennae

Amber (or maybe Jade), domestic rabbit - FEMALE

During our lunchtime task, we had to find 8 animals, and state their scientific name, and conservation status.

My favourites were two of the Black Capped / Pileated Gibbons. (hylobates lar pileatus, endangered.)

Contraception was discussed, and I was amazed to find out that the normal human Pill could be used on the larger Great Apes!

Overall these 3 days were a great experience, and I am very glad that I got to take part. After this scheme, I am seriously considering specialising as a Zoo Vet, mainly due to the amazingly wide variety!