After almost one year in the clinic doing different rotations, finally, it’s the time for community practice which is the school version of a general practice.
I can finally say I saw my very first puppy, who was so fresh and healthy and came in for vaccination! Because we see so many puppies and kittens on a daily basis, we get to learn lots about behavior. Puppies and kittens are in the process of exploring their world and the client may encounter some issues of inappropriate behavior. I saw puppies that love to bite everything, including our hands while we did the physical exam. At the beginning, I was a little frustrated but soon learned that this is the way that they explore and interact with the world. Food can distract them during the exam, which will allow you to finish the exam and also act as a stress-reliever for the puppy’s future veterinary visits.
I like that the community practice in my school sets a great example for how we should run a small animal clinic. In this rotation, we are exposed to every facet of small animal practice. We, students, are the doctors, the veterinary nurses, the kennel staff, and also the office personnel. It’s extremely helpful for us to get to know about the workflow of a clinic, such as how to schedule appointments wisely, and practice good client communication including confirmation of the appointment and call-back on the day following the appointment, etc.
Three more months to go and we will be working as real doctors!
