On the Spot

I am a few months in to my first year as a veterinarian.  Having obtained a pass to work with the Military Police in the Cuiaba Basin, I have settled in a rotuine of going to the battalion on a regular basis and the  duty sargeant has become a friend of mine.  I have always believed that you should respect local knowledge and get local people on your side, and Jorge has been great in helping me with issues and doubts.

He is a breath of fresh air and his knowdge and approachability is a pleasure.

Veterinary Aspects of Cuiabá's Secret Caiman, the Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman

Today I came across my first World record - I examined a Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman.

It has several alternative names, namely:

• the Musky Caiman
• the Dwaf Caiman
• Cuvier's Caiman
• Smooth-fronted Caiman
• Wedge-Head Caiman
• Paleosuchus palpebrosus
• Jacaré urbano
• Jacaré paguá
• Jacaré Ferro

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) classiefiedthe species as of Least Concern, and stable.

The one I examined today was just a juvenile.  They grow over a metre long.  This one had a head measuring 11.2 cm and body length of 68 cm.  It weighed one kilogramme 760 grammes.  Its cloacal temperature was 33.c, the heart rate was 52 beats per minute and the respiratory rate was eight movements per minute.  

I taped its jaws and took care of other physical containmnent procedures.  

There was nothing clinically wrong with the aninal, and it was taken to the Federal University of Mato Grosso.

A great photograph by my assistant.

New Veterinary Graduates' Personal Development - The Veterinarian's Mindset

Whilst upon leaving vets' school the Brazilian new grad will be armed with a certain set of veterinary skills 

• ability to change a dressing
• ability to set up a drip kit (there is a better word for this in English. In Portuguese you say 'equipo')
• venipuncture

there is something called 'mindset' that takes years to learn. 

It is possible to see the students who have the right attitude - the right mindset'.  Mindset is different to skill set.  

You have the knowledge and the skillset when you graduate from vets' school.  What many people don't have is the right mindset.

The biggest lesson I learned at vets' school was that veterinary medicine is not about animals but abput people.  I exaggerate, of course it is about animals.  But there is a paradigm to consider when faced with an emptional owner of a companion animal.  This paradigm is that you should consider the owner's needs first - because he or she pays the bills)  You should consider the animal's needs second.  Finally, you should conisder yours. Wise advice from a coaching video by Marco Antonio Gioso. 

Go into surgery with the attitude "I can do this".

I have a former classmate who, within three years of qualifiying, opened her own small animal clinic.  Since a large percentage of businesses fail, it will be interesting to see wheher she succeeds.  And success is all about mindset.

Suggested Year-One Skills for Newly-Qualified Brazilian Veterinary Surgeons

As a Briton who has graduated as a mature student in Brazil as a Veterinary Surgeon, thought I would point out some tips for you.

First of all, for Brazilian students, you leave vets' school thinking that you don't know much.  But did you know that, by the British standards that you admire so much, your learning is specific, measureable, achieveable, realistic and timely?  I am talking about SMART objectives.  It's worth your while researching what these are and how you may use them to your advantage.

And did you know that you can plan your evolution as a first-year veterinarian, that is, as a 'New Grad'?

British newly-qualified veterinary surgeons are actively engaged in learning on the job, and you should be, too.

So put the mobile 'phone down.

Leave 'Whatsapp' alone for a few hours.

Learn Venipuncture

Learn what is meant by 'changing a dressing'.

Learn physical contention of dogs and cats - not usually a problem.

Don't expect your colleagues to treat you like a 'proper vet'.

A bit 'chato', this advice, maybe, but I stand by it.

'Bye for now.

Raptors' and Owls' Weights

Beginning a gross physical examination of a Striped Owl, Ortuguese name: coruja orelhuda. Scientific name:Rhinoptynx clamator. 

Two weeks ago I decided to look for more opportunites to get involved in small animal surgery here in Cuiaba.  For several months I have been in Bairro Lixeira at the small animal clinic there.  Whilst impressed at their didacttic approach to helping undergraduates, I realised I was unhappy with the way things were going - mostly because there was hardly any surgery going on.

Today was my first day at a new surgery.  That of a former professor of mine.  It turned out to be thr right move.  Straightaway I was in to two surgical procedures, confirming to myself that I do love surgery whatever the species.

In another development I am now in daily dialogue with the state environmental department, advising them on bird of prey management.  We intend to start rehabilitating owls.

And on yet another front I got a message out of the blue to invite me to give a short course on falconry at a forthcoming conference in November.

Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Portuguese name: caburé.  Scientific name: Glaucidium brasilianum,

Note:  one thing that is important to mention to whoever is iterested in bird weights as they relate to falconry (or rehabilitation).  There is no standard weight for a bird, and to give such is miselading.  A bird's weight varies multifactorially.

Telling Blue-Fronted and Orange-Winged Amazon Parrots Apart

The Orange-Winged Parrot has orange eyes whilst the Blue-Fronted has scarlet.

The Orange-winged's neck is slimmer whilst the Blue-Fronted's is thicker.

These differences are only apparent when the two birds are together.

Work ups

The importance of weights has been staring me in the face.  Each time I look at a drugs formulary for sedation the details given go on the animal's weight, obviously not the species.  However, the WES vet needs to know the species as well.  So in my diagnostic work ups.I have to include both.

Identification is fun but takes time.

What takes  even longer is checking the literature for species sensitivity to certain drugs.