nicoleincelabelize-blog

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So im finally back home in New Jersey and I miss Belize so much. I made so many friends and memories that are gonna last me a life time. I gained so much veterinary experience but i learned some life lessons too. I learned how to open up to new experiences and sometimes being scared to do things is a part of the experience and overcoming that fear helps you grow. I will never forget about all the amazing things I did in Belize and I will never forget the family our group became. I would do this trip again in a heartbeat.

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Belize Day 12- Today we worked with beef cattle and gave them dewormer vitamins and a rabies vaccine. We had to climb up on a wooden gate in order to inject the cattle since they are unpredictable and could try to kick at us at any time. Like most of the things we've done on this trip I had very little to no experience working with beef cattle so it was a little frightening to go up onto the wood and just stab the cow with the needle. I was not used to going so fast while still being cautious, so that skill is definitely something I will need to practice throughout my future years towards and in vet school. I was surprised how good the cattle were. Normally I expect beef cattle to be extremely nervous and constantly kicking and trying to buck but these were pretty good at standing in place and not kicking. I was expecting them to be a lot more aggressive so it was relieving that they cooperated so well.

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Belize Day 11- Today we worked with pigs, something I have never done. I knew it was going to be loud and smell but those pigs went over my expectations. I got to assist in the first castration of the big adult males and he constantly kept trying to get up and the anesthesia was not keeping him down. It was a lot different than the horse castration in that sense that the pig was trying to move the whole time. It was actually kind of scary to be standing near the back of the pig since his legs were so close to me and at any moment during the castration he could have kicked me in the face. Then we got to see a young pig be castrated and it was so much easier since you just pick it up and castrate it that way. I definitely think castrating male animals at a younger age is a better option and a lot safer. We then got to wrangle pigs to vaccinate them and this was probably the most fun part of the day. Once six of us starting working together to inject the pigs and hold them down we turned into a machine and operated so well and we finished the injections pretty quickly. We got pretty dirty and smelly but it was a good experience learning how to handle pigs since Ive never done it and Ill be working with pigs at school this semester.

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Belize Day 6- Today we went to a dairy farm to milk cows and feed some baby calves. At first we milked by machine which was very convenient and hassle free. We just attach the suctions and sit back and watch to make sure it works properly. Then we later got the chance to hand milk a cow and the difference in efficiency is incredible. I think by hand it would take me an hour to milk one cow, while by machine in an hour we could milk 12 cows or more. So I definitely see why the farmer invested in the machinery, it just makes it so much easier and makes more use out of time. I also liked how the cows just waited in line and knew when to go up and would just stand there. Its amazing how they associate milking with positive things and look like they enjoy it. We also got to palpate cows which was one of the most amazing things I ever experienced. At first its very weird and feels like nothing but once I went to the second cow, which was pregnant I could feel the difference between a pregnant and non pregnant cow and how their cervixes differ. Its amazing to me how the technique can give so much information about a cow if your experienced enough. I know some vets can actually age a fetus just by palpation and I think that is amazing and I hope I can be that good one day. When I palpated my second cow I could actually feel the fetus which at first I didn't know it was the fetus I was feeling but you could physically feel the baby calf inside the mother and it was an amazing experience. I have a fascination with animal reproduction and think it has so many cool aspects. Not just birthing and babies but artificial inseminations, dystocia, how nutrition changes in pregnant animals, are just some examples of interesting reproductive topics, which is probably why I enjoyed the dairy farm so much. Later today we also had an emergency at a sheep and goat farm which ended up being worm issues. I learned at Rutgers, a lot about how bedding and how ruminants eat has to do a lot with how they get worms, so seeing the same principles being applied on real farms was fun to see. Although its not fun that the animals had worms, I remembered learning that when one animal has worms and it poops in the pasture all the animals graze on its easier for the animals to pick up parasites faster. So seeing the exact idea occur on a farm because the ram was not dewormed was good experience for me to remember to rotate pasture and always deworm animals before they come in.

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Belize Day 5- Today we learned how to do physical exams on horses. It was extremely windy so it was very hard to hear the heartbeat or respirations. But overall it was cool learning how to find vitals on such a large animal, and how its basically the same steps as you do in a dog or cat. I personally haven't worked with such a large animal prior to today so it was a little scary just stepping up to it and working with it but with some practice I got a little more confidence in working with larger animals. I have not had much experience with large animal veterinary care but from what I have seen the physical exam is basically the same except here in Belize we did not look at the horses hooves. Although it is a little dangerous especially for us students with minimal horse experience, it would be interesting to know if during regular exams do vets look at the hooves regularly or only when problems develop.

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Belize Day 3- Today we got to learn how to suture and observe and participate in a spay or neuter! I got to watch a spay which was so cool since ive seen castrations but not a spay so seeing the doctor go in and try to find the uterus among the intestines and other organs was so amazing. But surgery here in belize is so different than in the US. First theres no monitors checking the dogs heart rate or respirations, and to do anesthesia and reverse anesthesia they do subcutaneous injections which is weird to me since in the US we do IVs since its faster. It was definitely an experience that I’ll remember since it was just so shocking to see them just put the dog on the table and cut into the skin without any type of monitor attached.

We also went to the steak house where they actually buy sheep meat from Dr.Tesecum’s brother Ruben which was pretty cool. At the steakhouse they have a cat that walks around and it was super friendly and super cute so naturally I had to pick her up. Tomorrow we go to lecture in the morning and then go to the lab after that so its gonna be an exciting day!

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Belize Day 1- I had to wake up bright and early at 3am since my flight was at 630 and with most flights you have to be there earlier just in case. So running on 3 hours of sleep I said goodbye to my parents, which although ill only be gone for 2 weeks it was a hard goodbye, Ive never really traveled alone and I was gonna miss my parents a lot. I boarded my first flight, that one was easy it was a very short flight. Then in North Carolina i met 3 other girls who are also in my program so it was a big relief to have people with me so if we were confused wed be confused together. The 2nd flight was a little longer, i actually slept most of the flight which was nice especially since i barely slept the night before. Towards the end of the flight it started to get a little bumpy because there were so many clouds. But once we got off the plane you quickly felt how hot and humid it was. Everyone in the program is super nice and it was easy to make friends with my fellow classmates. No one in my group is from Rutgers but I actually like that because I get to learn about how their college is different from mine. The food here is amazing and everything is reasonably priced so Im excited to buy cool souvenirs to bring home. The first day was amazing and I cant wait for the next 2 weeks!

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Tomorrow is the big day!

So I fly out to Belize tomorrow! Its crazy to think how fast freshman year went by and how Im leaving tomorrow. Im excited and nervous at the same time. Im excited for the experience and the amazing things im going to learn about. But im just a little nervous about being so far from home for a period of time. Im almost done packing just a few things to add into my suitcase but (hopefully) I have all my essentials. I think packing is definitely one of my least favorite things to do just because I get so stressed that Ill forget something important. But all in all Im super excited to study what I love in a foreign country for 2 weeks and have an experience of a lifetime not everyone gets to say they did. Plus who wouldnt be excited to work with animals everyday for 2 weeks?! My flight is in about 12 hours and I can wait!