Mangaia Vet Trek II
Day 2- Earning our keep
The team awakened this morning refreshed, ready and raring to go. It’s amazing how good an uninterrupted night’s rest feels, when barking dogs have been plaguing your sleep for the past week … but then such are the joys of living on-site at a veterinary clinic.
Ignoring the dismal weather, we made our way bright and early to the local meeting hall where to our surprise we found animals and helpers already waiting for us … at 8am!! This must truly be a record in outer island life. Setting up our surgical ‘theatre’ took no time at all, and before you could blink twice the operations were underway.
Working in the outer islands is an experience all of its own … it’s an improvised, rapid fire, spectator sport. With three vets participating in this Vet Trek, things are even more hectic than usual. I’m sure that at times our makeshift hospital bore a distinct resemblance to a war time MASH unit … patients strewn (carefully) all over the ground; surgeons working speedily on a discarded office desk, local residents drafted into duty- scrubbing instruments and watching over recovering patients. It’s slightly chaotic, but very productive … as proven by our lunch time surgical count of 16.
In the afternoon the team split up- Jo and Olivia continued operations in the surgical suite, while Gregg and I headed out into the wilds to treat some more livestock. Braving the elements, Gregg showed true chivalry joining the locals in the back of the pick-up, leaving the (slightly drier) front seat to me. Returning from de-worming two goats in the Ivirua Swamp (a surprisingly scenic locale) the muddy incline of the track conspired against us, setting the wheels of the pick-up spinning. Multiple attempts and a bit of man-power later, we eventually topped the hill … as it turns out, actually engaging the four-wheel drive helps tremendously …
Packing up the clinic at the end of the day, we were pleased with our efforts and satisfied that today at least, we had justified our trip here. As for justifying all the donated donuts we’ve eaten … well that might take a little more work!
Day 2 tally-
5 female cats, 5 male cats, 5 female dogs, 8 male dogs all de-sexed
1 pig, 4 goats, 3 cats and 5 dogs treated for worms and fleas (in addition to the surgical cases)
One consult to check a dog’s lump, and one euthanasia for a cat with in-operable cancer
Michelle Gray
The team awakened this morning refreshed, ready and raring to go. It’s amazing how good an uninterrupted night’s rest feels, when barking dogs have been plaguing your sleep for the past week … but then such are the joys of living on-site at a veterinary clinic.
Ignoring the dismal weather, we made our way bright and early to the local meeting hall where to our surprise we found animals and helpers already waiting for us … at 8am!! This must truly be a record in outer island life. Setting up our surgical ‘theatre’ took no time at all, and before you could blink twice the operations were underway. Working in the outer islands is an experience all of its own … it’s an improvised, rapid fire, spectator sport. With three vets participating in this Vet Trek, things are even more hectic than usual. I’m sure that at times our makeshift hospital bore a distinct resemblance to a war time MASH unit … patients strewn (carefully) all over the ground; surgeons working speedily on a discarded office desk, local residents drafted into duty- scrubbing instruments and watching over recovering patients. It’s slightly chaotic, but very productive … as proven by our lunch time surgical count of 16.
In the afternoon the team split up- Jo and Olivia continued operations in the surgical suite, while Gregg and I headed out into the wilds to treat some more livestock. Braving the elements, Gregg showed true chivalry joining the locals in the back of the pick-up, leaving the (slightly drier) front seat to me. Returning from de-worming two goats in the Ivirua Swamp (a surprisingly scenic locale) the muddy incline of the track conspired against us, setting the wheels of the pick-up spinning. Multiple attempts and a bit of man-power later, we eventually topped the hill … as it turns out, actually engaging the four-wheel drive helps tremendously …Packing up the clinic at the end of the day, we were pleased with our efforts and satisfied that today at least, we had justified our trip here. As for justifying all the donated donuts we’ve eaten … well that might take a little more work!
Day 2 tally-
5 female cats, 5 male cats, 5 female dogs, 8 male dogs all de-sexed
1 pig, 4 goats, 3 cats and 5 dogs treated for worms and fleas (in addition to the surgical cases)
One consult to check a dog’s lump, and one euthanasia for a cat with in-operable cancer
Michelle Gray
posted by tumbleweed at
2:28 AM
