This week we introduce our team vet - Alex!
We sat down to have an interesting and entertaining conversation about everything from why he became a vet, to joining the Vetrition team and the future. Not to mention what he gets up to outside work and even some of his best stories. Make sure you've got your popcorn and drink ready as you won't want to miss this one!
Here are the questions we asked:
What made you want to become a vet?
How long have you been a qualified vet and what experience do you have?
How long have you been a qualified vet and what experience do you have?
What does day to day life look like?
What is the best vet story you can share?
What is the worst thing about being a vet?
What has been the proudest moment you can think of?
Where has your career has taken you?
What are you most passionate about animals?
What are your hobbies or passions outside work?
Do you have any pets at home? Or with family?
Tell us a bit more about how you got into riding?
If you could do anything else, what would you do?
Why did you choose to team up with Vetrition?
What made you want to become a vet?
To me, it was always an obvious choice, I knew from quite an early age. We actually had a horse that got bitten by an adder, although it sounds extreme, its not uncommon in Lincolnshire! The vet treated it impeccably and not only alleviated the suffering of the horse but also us as owners, having felt so helpless. That’s what it’s all about, being able to help animals when others might not be able.
I’ve come from a very rural and agricultural background so always been surrounded by a variety of animals from household pets to farm livestock and even exotic animals. Being able to go home each day and say you’ve saved, helped, or improved multiple lives is not only something I am very passionate and motivated by but it is also hugely rewarding.
The variety and opportunity are second to none, the people I’ve met the places I’ve seen and the experiences I’ve gained have been life changing. But also, the knowledge and insight into the scope and breath of what can be achieved by science is astounding and pretty inspirational.
How long have you been a qualified vet and what experience do you have?
I graduated in 2015 from the University of Nottingham so I have been qualified almost 7 years. Currently I am doing my advanced practitioner certificate in spinal surgery. I’ve worked for a variety of practises and charities as well as teaching both in the UK and abroad and now I am a veterinary surgeon in the British army.
We are always gaining experience and making sure we are at the cutting edge of technology both with our skills and understanding. I do this mostly by going to universities and doing surgery (affiliation with specific ones and what do you do).
How do you become a vet? What career steps did you take?
Firstly, and perhaps needless to say it is fiercely competitive. The first hurdle is getting the grades and by the time I am interviewing it’s all about the bigger picture. A variety of experiences is crucial not only to have at vet practices but also farm, equine and even an abattoir.
It’s also useful to show extracurricular activities and an all-rounded personality. Studying veterinary isn’t just about gaining the knowledge its also about having the commitment to study for a long, and sometimes challenging number of years. Therefore, showing that your character could engage and add to an environment can be a deciding factor. I remember my parents making me study to grade 7 on the recorder and cello as well as taking part in all the Duke of Edinburgh awards.
However, the majority of preparation should be focused on putting in hours developing the experience, hands on with a variety of animals.
What does day to day life look like?
I’d normally wake up at about, 6am and then fit in an hour of training, often running, or cycling to work. Then the day starts off with any in patients and normally some consults, it can be a variety of anything, from eating foreign bodies to feeling unwell. Then usually I begin surgery, that's definitely my favourite thing, it's usually well described, and it can be very intense for example, operating on a tumour or orthopaedics for a broken leg, you also have routine procedures like castrations and neutering. Then its lunch where I usually try and swim, so its pretty rare that I get a lunch off!
In the afternoon we try not to do operations or X rays as those patients need an aesthetic and just like humans it can make them sleepy when we want them to be able to go home the same day. So, in the afternoon I have consultations and often lots of administrative work, especially now with Brexit!
Later in the day we tend to find accidents are more frequent so animals and colliding with traffic is unfortunately not uncommon. Then my workday is finished unless I am on call and I try and get to the gym followed by an attempt at cooking! That's a pretty average day, unless there are horses that need to be treated in which case I drive to various stables and yards.
What is the best vet story you can share?
It’s safe to say I have a fair few!
In one of my early jobs, I was in a true mixed practice known as James Herriot. I'd go and do a cow caesarean, followed by a dog with one ear, then I’d go and see ‘Margaret's cat’ then say a horse with a broken leg! You are exposed to it all which is great. On my second day I had a full-grown boa constrictor to X ray which is a great example of a new graduate being thrown in the deep end!
Recently I had a patient that presented because the owner said the dog had been sick a few times, wasn’t being himself and hadn’t pooed in a few days. We did a few tests but for a young dog it was unusual behaviour. We found that he had swallowed an entire blanket and it was going all the way through his intestines, it was quite shocking! To surgically remove something like that is challenging because if you've got a linear foreign body, an object that is strung out through the gut, you can’t just make a hole and pull it out as you could tear the intestines so you have to be very delicate, thankfully he recovered well!
In terms of other foreign bodies, some of the best include the removal of a pair of women's leopard print, the saucy kind! After the surgery the owners were interested in knowing what was found and so we showed them and the wife says, ‘they’re not mine’ queue massive explosive argument! And it was apparent the dog had grassed his Dad up!
I think the most shocking of all that I have seen was a dog that had eaten a kitchen knife. I would never have believed it if I hadn’t seen the Xray. Miraculously the dog didn’t die but they do some incredibly silly things – they never fail to amaze me! The best advice I can give if you dog is a repeat offender, or you are worried is get a basket muzzle. They still let the dog breathe easily but give you piece of mind on a walk or when left alone.
What is the worst thing about being a vet?
The worst times are probably always going to involve an animal being put down or, animal cruelty. Unlike in most human health care where there is almost unlimited money, sometimes the owners don't always have the money to perform a procedure, and especially with orthopaedics, I'd like to repair something properly. In charity practise this can be a reoccurring challenge which leads to having to do an amputation or alternative surgery to save money and that's always very, very sad because as a vet, I want to do the very best for every animal. In some practises we put some of our salary aside for charity cases. I think the saddest moment I had was having to put down an animal which had a very strong emotion tie. It was the daughter’s dog that had sadly passed away and for the parents to lose the last remaining living memory of their daughter was hard to say the least, those moments never get easier.
What has been the proudest moment you can think of?
My proudest or most satisfying moment was when I noticed a rather large mass on the chest of a cat, only in passing. With lumps and bumps there’s a lot of tests and a variety of potential outcomes as if it’s a nasty lump you want to make sure you approach it in the correct way. These owners didn’t have the funds for the referral which was around £7000. So, after discussing with a foetal cardiologist (a doctor who has a specific understanding of a baby’s heart) and the purchasing of some specific equipment it was agreed that we would take the risk performing a thoracostomy, where I opened up the chest cavity and remove the lung mass.
Fortunately, it went really, it's the only time I've ever been pleased that it’s been a horrible tumour. It was what’s known as a sarcoma, which is and the type that is aggressive and can cause real problems. So that that felt really good because as the owners couldn’t afford the procedure, we then took a leap of faith without being able to do all the required checks and for that to pay off and then save a life by removing a serious mass in a risky operation was satisfying.
Where has your career has taken you?
I have worked all over the United Kingdom in various practices and referral hospitals as well as teaching in numerous Universities. I have also been fortunate to be able to work abroad with charities like the Blue Cross and the Army as well.
In Sri Lanka I did a lot of teaching and operating, it was an incredible experience as there were hundreds and hundreds of patients daily. It was interesting teaching new and old vets different surgical techniques and informing them of new advancements. As well as helping general members of the public and sharing advice on how best to look after their animals.
I have also been to Cyprus with the Army and there was a lot of operating there too. Recently I was undertaking surgery on horses with very limited equipment which is challenging but a great experience.
Even when I go on holiday, I've always ended up doing various bits of work! In Romania I was mountaineering with a fellow veterinary friend and ended up doing some work which again is interesting to experience the differences that just the colder climate can influence.
Not only have I had the opportunity to travel to various countries but also the opportunity to explore my different interests and abilities. I was fortunate to be a full time Modern Pentathlete in Bath through the Army. Competing and traveling for training camps was amazing, travelling is relatively easy as a vet as most places are looking for support so I am in a privileged position.
What are you most passionate about animals?
I am most passionate about animal welfare, I obviously love animals, I don’t think I’d make for a very good vet if I didn’t! But animals can't speak, often can't defend themselves and a lot of the time it’s our fault for the situations they are in. It’s very rare that I will get angry in life but one thing that does rile me is if someone is deliberately cruel to an animal. If I can improve an animal or even a person’s life I'm always desperate to try, that’s my overarching priority. I want to make sure they're comfortable and that’s why I became a vet to alleviate suffering and promote their welfare.
I generally love dogs, cats and horses, they are part of my life and no matter how bad your day, they are always there to love you unconditionally and give you a perfect reason to smile.
What are your hobbies or passions outside work?
I am really into sports; I was very fortunate to be a professional athlete for two years. Sadly, I had a big knee injury about a year ago and had to have surgery so I'm recovering from that but looking forward to getting back into running again more. I am generally a big sports fan having just come back from a week’s skiing, I love trying to turn my hand to anything active or adventurous.
I’ve also recently built a lean-to wooden shed with a slate roof on the side of my house, so DIY is something I enjoy doing but can’t say I’m too good at! Cooking is another passion but perhaps not skill, I enjoy ay challenge and always up for having a good time!
Do you have any pets at home? Or with family?
We've got horses and I still try and ride when I can, there's also about 1000 sheep opposite and next door there’s a large beef farm with a lot of cows. My parents have got two dogs and a cat. I currently haven’t got any pets, but I'd love to rehome one of the army dogs at some point.
Tell us a bit more about how you got into riding?
I started riding when I was about 16 which is quite late. I was a member of the Pony Club not that I told anyone, because for a teenage boy, I didn’t think it was a very cool claim to make! Although the Pony Club allowed me to compete, travel and experience so much. I even went to Australia for the World Tetrathlon Championships and managed to win!
It also really helped me see more into the equine world and further solidified my aspirations to become a vet.
If you could do anything else, what would you do?
Although I really do love what I do, if I had to do something else, I have always quite liked the idea of being a ski medic or doctor on the piste. They seem like they have the dream job – being able to ski all day and they have an important and fulfilling role too!
Why did you choose to team up with Vetrition?
I am teaming up with Vetrition, because first and foremost we share the same values. I feel the passion in the brand and both parties share a true desire to help pets lead happier, healthier lives. Together we can do more, and I am therefore hoping we can reach a greater number of pets and support their lives. We are driven to improve and add time to animals lives so everyone can enjoy more times together. It is fundamental to me to put the welfare and ethics first.