Monday
Dec092024
Experiences
Monday, December 9, 2024 at 12:06PM A Summer In PT
Submitted by Katrina Star Pope, University of Tennessee
This summer, I was able to work in the small animal rehabilitation clinic here at the University of Tennessee. I was able to work alongside the doctors, technicians, and clinical students to help a wide range of patients. We took care of everything from young, agility dogs to older, arthritic dogs. I even helped with a handful of feline patients! As one of the most well known small animal rehabilitation clinics in North America, we had access to equipment such as a pool, multiple underwater treadmills, a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, shockwave therapy machines, lasers, a land treadmill, and many other bits.
Most of our patients came in on a regular basis, and several of them had been coming for months or years. Working there for several months allowed me to get to know the owners and dogs very well, in ways I was unable to in the emergency setting I had worked in previously or even in a general practice clinic. Many of our appointments were over an hour long while running their animals through multiple therapeutic exercises. I enjoyed the positive relationships that I was able to build with both my patients and the clients. The dogs could recognize me in the lobby, and the owners would ask me about my own dog at home.
Additionally, I loved the medicinal aspect of my role. It allowed me to combine several of my passions, including behavior, nutrition, palliative care, and pain management. Every patient was recognized as a unique individual with different needs, goals, and abilities. Therapeutic exercises allow for much more flexibility and creativity than many other types of treatments. The patients can often feel better within days of starting, which can be rewarding for both the owner and the doctor, I think. The longer I was there, the more that I couldn’t get enough of what I was learning.
I have decided I want to specialize in rehabilitation, but I think no matter where I went, the skills I learned would be useful. I learned how to explain even small details to owners about exercises and diseases. I came to monitor my patients for even small changes in their behavior and abilities, using subtle changes in posture to figure out how to best help them. Finally, I was able to experience how important veterinarians are to the human animal bond, with many owners suffering alongside their pets. Even small changes in comfort can make a world of difference in both their lives, turning a senior dog from someone the family constantly worries about to a dog that is able to play once again.
As the summer came to an end, I knew I would miss my patients. However, I was even more sure about what I wanted in my future.
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