Vet Times

Tag: pig

  • The camelid conundrum

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    Despite expecting a purely equine placement, I’ve had a bit of a crash course in camelids over the past two weeks. As alpacas and llamas continue to increase in popularity throughout the UK, more and more first opinion vets are having to apply their knowledge from other species to these slightly odd creatures. Having had…

  • Why does the ‘P’ word send shivers down a vet’s neck?

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    Having a pig farm in the family gives me a bit of a distorted view on the world. For example, I’m a complete pork snob and would rather go without then eat crap sausages. However, I find it bizarre vets start panicking and fervently flicking through dusty textbooks on the practice shelf before going out…

  • Clinical EMS 101

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    At vet school, you learn some basic clinical skills and are taught how to conduct a general clinical examination to prepare you for EMS placements in veterinary surgeries. What they don’t prepare you for is making a complete idiot out of yourself. Before my first clinical placement I told the vets I would be working…

  • Vitamin C supplementation in guinea pigs

    Vitamin C supplementation in guinea pigs

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    The average guinea pig needs between 10 and 30 mg/kg daily, while young, pregnant, ill and deficient guinea pigs need up to 50 mg/kg daily. Beware: extremely high doses of ascorbic acid can cause poor growth and can precipitate scurvy if the amount is dramatically reduced, even to doses considered adequate for a normal cavy.…

  • Should I be a vegetarian?

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    Vegetarianism can be quite the controversial topic, with many people choosing not to eat meat or particular types of meat for varying reasons – be that moral, financial or simply down to taste and preference. But how should I stand on the matter, from the point of view of a vet student? While on EMS,…

  • Three little pigs

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    One little piggy’s in a farrowing crate, one little piggy gets his tail docked and one little piggy is left alone. I know I’ve already mentioned pigs, but something came up again this week that seriously rattled me. Using an online programme, an example came up in which a sow had given birth to her…

  • Welfare inside out

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    As vet students, welfare is always being rammed down our throats – and rightly so (even after only two weeks of first year). As future veterinary professionals it will be part of our job to ensure the welfare of the animals entrusted to our care. Deciding what is “the right thing” to do can often…

  • In the beginning…

    In the beginning…

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    I think it’s fair to say I have a less than conventional pre-veterinary school story. In early 2011, after years of working hard at school, gathering experience at different animal establishments and doing regular work experience at a nearby practice, I finally received an offer for veterinary school. All I had to do was get the…