EMS FOR VETERINARY STUDENTS
Day one skills are essential, but unfortunately very few newly qualified vets feel confident performing a castrate and less a spay. On qualifying we have a vast amount of knowledge, however very limited surgical exposure, many veterinary students excited to start their surgical rota, only to be disappointed on what surgeries they are allowed to perform and some even describe the 10 minute rule, where they are allowed to operate for the first 10 minutes and then someone takes over.
Due to health reasons Dr Wayne Hockenhull has now left the programme and it is now run by Dr Pieters
Students perform the surgery start to finish and assistance is given when or if needed, many students have taken part in for example a bitch spay, however have done the essential difficult parts. This unfortunately can give a false sense of security, we concentrate on making sure that students.
- Can incise safely into the abdomen
- Able to find the uterus, especially in preseason dogs
- Can exteriorise the ovary safely, and are confident in breaking the suspensory ligament, we teach differing methods of doing this , but often students find the easy way the best.
- Good tight ligatures, easier said than done sometimes, this is essential, learn to use the Miller's surgical knot, especially in the obese spays
You perform the surgery from the start, we closely watch, nudge and guide in a relaxed atmosphere, with no ticking clock.
As well as surgical experience, you will be placing catheters, inducing, monitoring and also probably giving some encouragement to your colleague operating. We pair students up, one anaesthetist, the other surgeon and then alternate, we tend to find this works well, as it gives you a rest between surgeries
As well as performing neuters, there tends to be a high number of rescued dogs and cats which require dentals. This gives students the opportunity to perform surgical extractions of canines and molar teeth.
Other additional surgeries can be performed, as needed by the refugios, this can include stitch ups, cherry eyes, mammary tumour removal, entropions and even GDVs