Veterinary Medicine – My Passion For Animal Welfare
In this era of ever-advancing medicine, it is important to move forward with an open-minded approach to issues in the medical field. Trialling Rimcazole to treat lymphoma in dogs and treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy by gene editing are advances that have fascinated me. This not only aids the veterinary field, but it could also be used to treat humans. This highlights the need for One Medicine, which I first became aware of after reading “Zoobiquity” and I believe understanding biology and anatomy on a broader, comparative scale will result in further advancements.
Studying Veterinary Medicine will allow me to use my passion for animal welfare to test my biological knowledge in a challenging but immensely rewarding career. Studying chemistry and mathematics at A-level enabled me to approach problems rationally and analytically. I knew biology would provide a strong foundation for my studies at university. As I excelled in the subject I mentored six of my peers in my final year. I was able to accommodate each mentee and present complex ideas in a manner that can be understood easily. This is a valuable skill required by a vet as each client requires a unique approach catered towards them and their needs. I did various work experience placements, each giving a different insight into the veterinary profession.
I began at Lockwood Animal Hospital where I observed various consultations. The interpersonal skills I developed by mentoring were essential during consults as creating a good relationship with the client is vital. At St Georges Vets, my tasks were to care for patients in kennels and observe surgeries, such as a gastrotomy and emergency surgery on a dog with pyometra. Using aseptic techniques was paramount, and it was pleasing to see clinical skills such as how to scrub up correctly that I learnt at the Royal Veterinary College’s summer school applied in practice. One of the main concerns was the maladaptive effects of overbreeding such as brachycephaly in bulldogs. Therefore, it is pleasing to hear that there will be updated animal welfare regulations, preventing breeding that would be detrimental to the dog’s health, or the wellbeing of the offspring. As of last year I became a fosterer to neonatal kittens, raising and socialising them for adoptions. Each kitten has unique needs, which requires dedication to their care, to aid their development. I take this attitude to the Rosedene rescue centre where I walk the dogs in their care.
“The Truth About Cats and Dogs” is a MOOC by the University of Edinburgh that I apply to my time there, and to my work experience at Pawpounders day care. My responsibilities were to exercise and keep up to seventy dogs stimulated throughout the day whilst ensuring their individual needs such as varying diets and giving any medication was provided. Additionally, “Dairy Production and Management” by Penn State University enabled me to understand how cattle is cared for during work experience at Forge Mill Farm. My main responsibility was to aid in lambing which gave me hands on experience and observe the need for veterinary care during this season as complications such as miscarriage and prolapses were observed. As a keen rock climber, I have had to persevere through injury to get back to performing how I once did as I am dedicated to achieving not just my academic goals. I am currently learning sign language and I hope to continue this even at university. I played in various orchestras during my secondary education as a music scholar whilst playing violin. I was able to train my dexterity and my ability to work as part of a team which I also used as part of various sports teams such as rounders and netball.
With the broad area of subjects studied in veterinary medicine and the opportunity to continue to learn past my university education, I am hopeful that my caring, open- minded and hardworking attitude will allow me to thrive at university and the veterinary field in the future.
