After gaining valuable experience working with cows at Cates Farms, I had the opportunity to accompany another bovine veterinarian, Dr. Paul, to a small dairy farm located in Hagerstown. This particular farm offered a diverse array of activities that provided me with an in-depth glimpse into veterinary practice. During our visit, we conducted vaccinations, performed extra teat removals, carried out a few pregnancy checks, and faced the difficult task of euthanizing a Doberman. I was particularly thrilled to administer vaccinations myself, an experience that filled me with joy and excitement as I gained hands-on skills that are critical in veterinary medicine.
At one point, I watched Dr. Paul carefully cut off three extra teats from a cow’s udders without administering any pain medication. I had imagined that such a procedure would likely cause significant discomfort, even if it was just a quick snip. It was intriguing to observe how both the veterinarian and the animal handled the situation, highlighting the unique aspects of veterinary practice where one must balance animal welfare with necessary medical procedures.
There were a few pregnancy checks, but I had grown accustomed to witnessing those from my previous experiences, making them less captivating this time around. Additionally, from my vantage point, I couldn't see much of the procedure, which lessened my engagement.
The final procedure of the day was the euthanization of the Doberman, a moment that weighed heavily on my heart. While it wasn't my first experience observing such a procedure with Dr. Paul, it was certainly the first time I saw one up close involving a dog. This was undoubtedly difficult to process; however, I found some solace in recognizing that the dog's quality of life had diminished significantly, as he was experiencing more bad days than good and had also stopped eating. This realization helped me understand the compassionate side of veterinary medicine and the tough decisions that veterinarians often have to make for the well-being of their animal patients.