Veterinary medicine uniquely combines a love of science, animals and people. I want to study this not only for my interest in the complex biological and physiological concepts underpinning the career, but primarily for the vocation of helping and working with both people and animals. My ambition has progressed from a concern for animal welfare to a scientific interest in the processes that drive health and disease and has developed further through my ten weeks of clinical and husbandry placements. The importance of learning the normal function of a system before being able to identify and treat the abnormal was evident as I observed many routine procedures and consultations. Operations from castrations and biopsies to an orthopedic TPLO provided an insight into the multiple processes in surgery and the vital role of veterinary nurses. General practice illustrated the necessity of various qualities; compassion, objectivity, confidence, professionalism and communication skills to name a few. For example, witnessing pets being euthanized …show more content…
TDDS lab opened my eyes to the key roles of vets in diagnostics and research, aiding the prevention and treatment of disease. Shadowing an abattoir vet highlighted their importance in controlling zoonosis such as TB, as well as upholding quality of welfare. Following research into the epidemiology of bovine TB, I based my extended project title on potential UK eradication comparing it to that of Rinderpest and bovine TB in Australia. Welfare again interested me during my week at a zoo, starting further reading on the surrounding controversial issues, including an online course in animal ethics. After I subsequently read “Zoobiquity” by Natterson Horowitz and Bowers which details the many crossovers between human and veterinary medicine, a concept that I found genuinely