So What HAVE I Been Doing...

To take up all of my time this year? You all know I've been studying Vet Tech for the past year, so let me tell you what that entails. Aside from being President of the Vet Tech Club...

Vet Techs can do everything but four things that only Veterinarians can do:
1) We cannot do surgeries.
2) We cannot prescribe medication. We can fill prescriptions, but not prescribe anything.
3) We cannot give Prognosis or Diagnosis to our clients about our patients... which includes reassuring that their animal is going to be alright...
4) We cannot instigate treatment without the doctor giving us permission to do so.

I've come to realize that somehow I always wind up in the lion's den....
Literally...

My first week, we did a Cattle lab in Animal Handling and Restraint. I'm somewhat afraid of cattle, but thought I could manage. We were gathering up the cattle and fencing them off so that we could drive them into the chute. I was just trying to follow the herd of students when suddenly I find myself in the corral with four other student and the two teachers. Here I was, tiny little me, staring at our seven head of very large, fat cattle, who looked just as scared as I felt. We drove our four into the chute... with very little help from me... ^_^' and proceeded with our lab.

The second time I was caught in the lion's den, was during Wildlife Management. Again, I was just trying to absorb as much as possible while following the group. We were doing the Bear lab, and trying to anesthetist our year old cub. Keep in mind that this 'little' bear cub was at least 230 lbs and when it stood on its hind legs it was at least my hight, about 5'5". So we were in the cage and the Vet says that only one of us can be in there. So I turn to leave and find the door closing behind me with all of my Vet Tech comrades waiting outside of the cage.

So our cub finally goes down after about 30 min and A LOT of tranquilizer and the Vet and DOW guys start dragging him towards the tub, so that we can work on getting his tags in and implanting a microchip under his skin, and he wakes up! Of course he starts charging my way, and I ran out of the way and let him run back into his Faux Den. About 20 min later he's finally out cold and we got to go forward with our procedures. 

This year I also saved the lives of six kittens and successfully drew blood out of the jugular on a goat... On the first try even!