As a member of Ohio State’s PVMA (Pre-Veterinary Medical Association), I had the opportunity to volunteer in Ohio State’s Veterinary Clinic. I chose to work in the small animal ICU every Tuesday, from 9pm-10pm. I got to buy my first pair of scrubs (yay!) and went through training on what my job would entail, and the opportunities I would get. It was my job to keep the dogs and cats that were in the ICU company – to pet them, take them out, and calm them down when they were afraid. So, basically, cuddling dogs and cats for an hour every week. However, this volunteer opportunity became so much more than that.
One of the first dogs I got to work with, a very cuddly puppy named Zelda.
This volunteer job became an incredible learning experience as someone who hopes to be a veterinarian one day. Through this job, I was able to learn how to read both the treatment logs kept by the cages, and the charts that were kept about the animals that were staying there. The veterinary technicians were always very nice and helpful, always wanting to help me understand what was going on. I also got to watch what the job of a vet technician entailed – mostly flushing out lines and delivering medicine, but there was also the technicians that helped the veterinarians and fourth year vet students as they dealt with a particularly difficult case, which was something that happened, unfortunately, more often than I (or any other animal lover) would like. However, while those difficult cases were sad and heart breaking to read on the treatment logs, it was incredible and eye opening to see how veterinarians and their vet students could look at the chart or the heart rate monitor and immediately know what to do to at least help this animal get help.
A very curious little dog who wanted nothing more than to sit in my lap!
This opportunity taught me a few things about my future as a veterinarian. Definitely that I don’t have the emotional maturity yet of someone who can work all their shifts in the ICU – while it’s very different than a human ICU, it can be a really emotional place, where you see a lot of animals who are in really bad shape. But, that being said, it opened me up to the kinds of things I would potentially be seeing as I went through my own veterinary career in the Army Veterinary Corps, because a lot of the very serious cases were things like dog bites and fights between animals, which required a lot of great veterinarians who are good in a crisis. It also gave me a lot more animal experience with animals who aren’t always happy and feeling great, and to learn animal behavior when these animals are sick and hurt.
My 9pm to 10pm shift every Tuesday became my favorite hour of the entire week – because I was learning fascinating things, pushing myself to understand all the fancy veterinary jargon I haven’t had much experience with yet, and I got to cuddle up with some pretty adorable dogs and cats.
A very sweet pitbull who really just wanted to take a nap on my knee.