At the end of my final year I completed a 3 week elective placement at the RSPCA's Stapely Grange centre that specialises in the treatment and rehabilitation of ill and injured wildlife. This gave me an excellent opportunity to develop my hands on skills. Cadaver sessions allowed me to practice intra-osseus catheters, leg and wing bandaging, air sac cannulation and air sac endoscopy.During this time I was given increasing responsibility and feel confident in the triage and treatment of common illness and injuries in many wildlife species, mammalian and avian. I also gained a large amount of experience with radiographic positioning and interpretation in birds and mammals as well as faecal sample analysis.

I have completed EMS placements at various establishments. I have used my weeks of free choice EMS to focus mainly on exotics and wildlife as well as companion animals. This has greatly improved my knowledge and confidence when handling and treating these species. I have also completed 4 weeks EMS in both farm animal and equine practice.I will have spent time at Wildlife Aid Foundation treating injured and orphaned wildlife, Twycross zoo, a referral veterinary clinic for exotic species and a small animal and exotic first opinion practice. Furthermore, I have completed a 2 week out of hours placement with VetsNow and gained a further 8 weeks EMS in first opinion small animal practice. Relevant skills gained:✔Confidence with jugular and cephalic blood sampling in cats and dogs as well as IV catheter placement, euthanasia, intubating and anaesthetic monitoring. ✔Intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM) and subcutaneous (SC) injections as well as SC and intra-osseus fluid therapy in birds. Experience with avian radiographic positioning and interpretation, wing clipping, wing bandaging and euthanasia. ✔IV injections, euthanasia, radiographic positioning and anaesthetic monitoring in reptiles. ✔Basic surgical skills; experience with routine neutering as well as, mass removals, wound debriding and suturing and feeding tube placement in a tortoise. ✔Competent consulting skills

My role involved walking, cleaning, feeding, medicating and grooming the animals that were boarding.

I worked on both the checkout desk and the shop floor, developing my ability to work as a large team to provide a high standard of customer service. My interpersonal skills were also strengthened greatly in this position as it involved handling customer queries and concerns on a daily basis.