Nearly every vet I work with is clever and crafty when it comes to getting jobs done. It can be difficult in this profession to have every instrument, tool, or material you need for a particular task at the moment it is required. Particularly in field situations, sometimes the best you can do is to creatively utilize the resources you have.
More often than not, duct tape comes in handy to save the day and make any job a little easier. I continue to learn that its uses are nearly endless, and I can guarantee that a roll is never far from my reach. Especially when I’m traveling or hiking, I make sure I pack my trusty duct tape friend.
Recently, we participated in an equine bandaging lab in school. We learned how to bandage legs and splint them in cases of suspect fractures. In nearly every potential situation, duct tape came to the rescue and helped to reinforce our splints and create impermeable seals for our bandages that would withstand many adverse environmental conditions.
We learned how to utilize Kimzey leg saver splints that help the horse to place its weight on the metal supports rather than an affected limb. Then we also used boards to brace the caudal and lateral aspects of the limbs and wrapped duct tape up the entire lengths of the legs to keep them stable.
As I gain more experience throughout vet school, my respect for veterinarians continues to grow, because they are constantly challenged to think outside the box and employ creative and cost-effective solutions for the problems they face. They never back down from a challenge, and I’ve learned that, in most cases, there’s not a sticky situation that can’t be improved with a little thought and a little duct tape.
