Vet stuff, Day 1
Sorry if this isn't as entertaining as it could be. This is mostly to remind myself later when I'm writing apps, but I thought I might as well share since I'm typing this out anyway. Also, I'm tired and sore so this won't be very detailed. You can poke me later if a particular incident interests you.
Got to South County Veterinary Service at 8 am. Helped water calves (very cute). Watched Dr. Troxel mix feed in giant machine, different for heifers/dry cows vs. milking/birthing cows (varying parts hay, straw, alfalfa, corn silage, protein supp/leftovers from ethanol, soybean and corn meal). Rode on tractor while Dr. Troxel distributed feed to heifers. Helped feed other cows.
Vet supplies set up in mobile truck. Drove around to other private farms (large companies have own vets). 1st case: bloated cow. Previous vet stuck a pin/hole type mechanism, punctures rumen and melds it to thoracic cavity to release gas. Bloating can be caused by too little protein in diet, too much grain in diet, clovers, alfalfa, rapid change in diet, etc. When bloat in rumen on left side, pushes intestines to right side. When bloat on both sides, pushes against diaphragm and cow suffocates. Allowed to hear cow breathing with stethoscope (regular, though not sure if actually heard what I was suppose to hear).
Keith's farm: Beef cattle (black angus) and calves, raised for show. Preg checked five cows (artificial insemination). Learned about donor/recipient program. De-horned one cow (applied anesthesia, tool to rip them out, close arteries by stretching them out and recoil, some gauze for the blood, then apply liquid to detract flies). Helped remove stitches for cosmetic de-horns (owner decides which to method to use; cosmetics are surgical and done to shape the cow's head into a pleasant shape). Show cows graded on shape and contours (straight back, robust flank, fur, etc.).
Jeff's farm: Vaccinate and de-worm calves. Learned how to use syringe to mix vaccinations. Helped with inter-nasal injections (pretty simple, nostrils are huge). Inter-nasal helps kick off immune system.
Jeff's neighbor's farm: THIS TOOK A LONG TIME. A lot of cows. Calves. One bull. Preg check and vaccinate the cows. Vaccinate the calves and de-horned a few. Helped mix vaccinations with syringe Helped pour de-wormer onto cows' backs (new medication absorbs through the skin). Cows were hard to herd. Used metal bars and boards to separate them into the shoot. Allowed to feel for calf in last cow, though personally couldn't feel it. Is very warm inside cow (reg. temp is 101 -102 F). Hand squeezed by peristalsis.
Family with the pug: Preg check a cow (very uncooperative and strong, pushed aside gate several times). Vaccinate a calf (administered inter-nasal injection).
Emergency: Cow with vagina sticking out (can be caused by lax uterine muscles such that uterus slides out of rear end, or uterus comes out with calf). Helped owner herd cow towards shoot. Helped prepare 5 cc's of lidocain(?). Lidocain injected in junction of vertebrate between tail and back to numb rear end. Vet washed exposed inverted vagina and entrance to cervix with soapy water and iodine, then coated in sugar to alter water concentrations. Check for pee in bladder with needle then expelled pee. Helped push vagina back inside cow (ended up with hand inside and not wearing full gloves, arm covered in grossness though didn't notice until after). Tissue inside was swollen. Vulva sewn mostly shut to keep inside. Felted around in rectum for calf; pulled out a lot of poop. Again, personally couldn't really feel anything, but vet obviously could.
Last call: 7 calves sick with pneumonia(?). Didn't get to see as it was getting dark and Dr. Troxel insisted I stay for dinner.
Also, at certain points of car ride: Discussed the legitimacy of global warming, faith and religion vs. science, the theory of evolution, morals vs. profit in veterinary science, change in farming industry, and if a small Asian girl can physically handle working with animals 5 to 10 times her body weight.
Total hours: 11 hrs.
Got to South County Veterinary Service at 8 am. Helped water calves (very cute). Watched Dr. Troxel mix feed in giant machine, different for heifers/dry cows vs. milking/birthing cows (varying parts hay, straw, alfalfa, corn silage, protein supp/leftovers from ethanol, soybean and corn meal). Rode on tractor while Dr. Troxel distributed feed to heifers. Helped feed other cows.
Vet supplies set up in mobile truck. Drove around to other private farms (large companies have own vets). 1st case: bloated cow. Previous vet stuck a pin/hole type mechanism, punctures rumen and melds it to thoracic cavity to release gas. Bloating can be caused by too little protein in diet, too much grain in diet, clovers, alfalfa, rapid change in diet, etc. When bloat in rumen on left side, pushes intestines to right side. When bloat on both sides, pushes against diaphragm and cow suffocates. Allowed to hear cow breathing with stethoscope (regular, though not sure if actually heard what I was suppose to hear).
Keith's farm: Beef cattle (black angus) and calves, raised for show. Preg checked five cows (artificial insemination). Learned about donor/recipient program. De-horned one cow (applied anesthesia, tool to rip them out, close arteries by stretching them out and recoil, some gauze for the blood, then apply liquid to detract flies). Helped remove stitches for cosmetic de-horns (owner decides which to method to use; cosmetics are surgical and done to shape the cow's head into a pleasant shape). Show cows graded on shape and contours (straight back, robust flank, fur, etc.).
Jeff's farm: Vaccinate and de-worm calves. Learned how to use syringe to mix vaccinations. Helped with inter-nasal injections (pretty simple, nostrils are huge). Inter-nasal helps kick off immune system.
Jeff's neighbor's farm: THIS TOOK A LONG TIME. A lot of cows. Calves. One bull. Preg check and vaccinate the cows. Vaccinate the calves and de-horned a few. Helped mix vaccinations with syringe Helped pour de-wormer onto cows' backs (new medication absorbs through the skin). Cows were hard to herd. Used metal bars and boards to separate them into the shoot. Allowed to feel for calf in last cow, though personally couldn't feel it. Is very warm inside cow (reg. temp is 101 -102 F). Hand squeezed by peristalsis.
Family with the pug: Preg check a cow (very uncooperative and strong, pushed aside gate several times). Vaccinate a calf (administered inter-nasal injection).
Emergency: Cow with vagina sticking out (can be caused by lax uterine muscles such that uterus slides out of rear end, or uterus comes out with calf). Helped owner herd cow towards shoot. Helped prepare 5 cc's of lidocain(?). Lidocain injected in junction of vertebrate between tail and back to numb rear end. Vet washed exposed inverted vagina and entrance to cervix with soapy water and iodine, then coated in sugar to alter water concentrations. Check for pee in bladder with needle then expelled pee. Helped push vagina back inside cow (ended up with hand inside and not wearing full gloves, arm covered in grossness though didn't notice until after). Tissue inside was swollen. Vulva sewn mostly shut to keep inside. Felted around in rectum for calf; pulled out a lot of poop. Again, personally couldn't really feel anything, but vet obviously could.
Last call: 7 calves sick with pneumonia(?). Didn't get to see as it was getting dark and Dr. Troxel insisted I stay for dinner.
Also, at certain points of car ride: Discussed the legitimacy of global warming, faith and religion vs. science, the theory of evolution, morals vs. profit in veterinary science, change in farming industry, and if a small Asian girl can physically handle working with animals 5 to 10 times her body weight.
Total hours: 11 hrs.