A Veterinary Journal by Claire Poole
February
Chapter 2 - Page 3
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Wednesday 11th February
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Wednesday 11th February
It is a peculiar fact of veterinary life that totally non-infectious conditions will sometimes appear in ‘runs’. Often with no logical reason - just a whim of fate. Thus we have ‘broken toe’ week and ‘heart failure’ week when several cases will come in one after another. This week is evidently ‘bird bottom’ week. Having had Donald on Saturday, I have just treated ‘Treacle’, a bantam with a decidedly raw rear - the result of an encounter with barbed wire. Luckily, judicious applications of antiseptic cream are all that should be necessary. I am looking forward to ringing friend Sue tonight and mentioning that a bird’s bottom reminded me of her.
I feel rather jaded today after our hectic day yesterday. Although I was spared the trip to Edinburgh, little Cassie required a fair bit of attention over the evening. It is very useful living next door to the surgery especially when a patient is hospitalised. Some require virtually constant supervision; others only need a friendly face from time to time. I regularly spent time with Cassie last night, talking to her, offering food and taking her for short walks in the garden to relieve herself. She is a strange, nervous dog who does not seem to appreciate company like most others do. Usually even the most stand-offish animals warm to our friendly overtures after being hospitalised for a day or so. However, some have short memories in this respect. Recently I was called to Clayfern one evening to rescue a young cat holed up under a car after being hit by another vehicle. Her injuries were not severe - some shock, superficial skin wounds and a fractured pelvis. Luckily, the broken bones had not displaced from their proper position so, after the initial painkillers and antibiotics, strict rest was the only treatment required. She remained in a kennel in the surgery for 2 weeks while we waited in vain for an owner to claim her. During this time, we all spent hours stroking her, playing with her and keeping her amused. Much to the dogs’ disgust, she sat on my knee in the house each evening. Eventually, a new home was found for Friday (so called as she appeared on a Friday) and we looked forward to a touching reunion when she returned to have her stitches removed. No chance. Friday rebuffed my delighted greeting with an imperious ‘Do I know you?’ stare before returning to her absorbing task of an all-over groom. So much for gratitude.
Wednesday is usually my morning off but a novelty is in store today. A pet nutrition company have invited several vets to take part in a Telesymposium - a unique event - for me at least. Over 350 vets are to be connected by phone to experts in the USA. The experts will each deliver short presentations then take questions. The connection is made to the branch surgery to avoid tying up the main phone line. Gillian has been grooming this morning and an excitable terrier is barking and rattling the kennel door. I wonder what the collective sounds of background noises from 350 surgeries will do for the experts’ presentations, but modern technology has the situation well under control. The speakers come over in splendid accoustic isolation, only the baleful howling of a post-op. patient in the background during a question gives any clues as to the veterinary audience. On the way home, a quick trip to the post office. The postmaster asks if my phone bill has come. I experience a tremor - does he know something I don’t? The nutrition company should be paying for the hour long transatlantic call. Luckily, the question is only to confirm what he already suspects. He has not had the usual billing day rush and now reckons that BT are sending their bills in staged lots. Strange coincidence though - life is full of them.
Copyright Claire Poole 2005
