SKILLS A VETERINARY EXTERN MAY LEARN AFTER BEING AT LEATHERSTOCKING VETERINARY SERVICES

This is a very incomplete list of things that you may encounter and do while externing at LVS.  Your ability to perform some of these tasks depends upon where you are in your education and our comfort level with your skills.  Not every extern will be taught the same skills or have the same experience in our clinic.  We will endeavor to enhance your education to the best of our abilities.

1. Bovine Skills

Do a complete physical exam and make a diagnosis of common cattle diseases

Palpate a non-pregnant uterus and ovaries

Palpate a late pregnant cow

Interpret a reproductive ultrasound

Give IV fluids, IM shot, draw blood from tail vein

Infuse a cow

Drench a cow

Give oral bolus/magnet

Be able to diagnose a DA

Block for a DA and suture it

Identify and treat foot abscess in cow

Block calves for dehorning

Dehorn calves (burn and also larger ones to cut)

Take a non contaminated sample for mastitis

Milk culture and identify common pathogens

Identify and assist with untwisting uterine torsion

Fetotomy

Epidural

Assist with calving

Necropsy with correct sampling

Assist with prolapsed uterus

    2. Medical Knowledge                                     

-Take a medical history                                  

-Estimate weight                                            

-Interpret a hemogram (CBC)                        

-Interpret a serum biochemical profile           

-Develop a vaccination strategy                     

-Recognize and treat pain                                                                   -

-Estimate degree of dehydration and develop an appropriate treatment plan 

     3. Techniques

-Administer medication PO (paste)

-Perform jugular venipuncture

-Demonstrate use of hoof teste

-Use a refractometer to determine total plasma protein concentration

 -Pass a nasogastric tube  

-Administer liquid medication with a nasogastric tube

-Administer a SC injection (medication and fluids)

-Administer an IM injection

-Administer an IV injection                                           

-Place and secure a catheter in the jugular vein

-Perform and interpret a test for measuring IgG concentration in foals

-Administer an enema

-Flush a nasolacrimal duct

-Perform a Gram stain

- Perform a quantitative fecal floatation        

      4. Examination                                                      

-Perform a physical examination on an adult horse                                                   

-Auscult and interpret respiratory sounds               -

-Perform fluorescein staining of the cornea   

-Auscult and interpret gastrointestinal sounds                                                           -

-Perform a post-foaling examination             

-Perform a skin scraping

-Aspirate a mass                                             

     5. Anesthesia

-Sedate an adult horse           

-Perform a line block for local anesthesia

-Examine the retina                                        

-Sedate a foal                                     

-Monitor the depth of anesthesia

     6. Reproduction

-Place a tail wrap on a mare

-Rectal palpation for late-stage

-Rectal palpation for mid-stage pregnancy

-Examine the cervix with a vaginal speculum

-Obtain a uterine sample for culture  

-Perform a caslick operation                 

     7. Husbandry Techniques

-Apply a halter

-Tie a quick release knot

-Restrain a foal

-Apply a tail tie

-Apply a lip twitch

-Approach, capture, and attach a halter and lead                                                    

-Elevate a hind limb

-Elevate a forelimb

     8. Surgery                                                       

-Apply a wound dressing                               

-Apply a bandage to a limb                            

-Apply a bandage to a foot                            

-Remove sutures and staples from a healed surgical wound                                     

-Clean and debride a wound                         

-Suture proficiently                        

-Perform hemostasis; isolate, clamp, and use hand and instrument ties to ligate a bleeding vessel       

-Demonstrate proper postoperative patient care including wound evaluation                

-Properly prepare and sterilize a surgical pack                                                           

-Place a drain into a soft tissue lesion (e.g. abscess)

-Identify and treat a foot abscess

     9. Client Education and Regulatory

-Complete a health certificate

-Explain proper healthy animal nutrition

-Write clear instructions in lay terminology                                       

-Explain gastrointestinal parasite identification, treatment and prevention

-Explain medical conditions to a client clearly and concisely in an understandable manner

     10. Dentistry                                                                   

-Perform a thorough oral exam

-Estimate age from dentition

-Float teeth with a Powerfloat                                               

-Remove wolf teeth