RSPCA Friends of West Hatch Newsletter Summer 2018 | issue 14 | Page 5

A day in the life...
of the domestic
vet team
At 8.30am our dedicated veterinary nurses,
Juliet and Caroline arrive to admit animals
requiring surgery that day. They administer
a mild sedative to the patients and get them
settled into a quiet, warm, cosy room to
start getting sleepy... Zzzz
From 9am Sophie, the veterinarian arrives
to begin surgery. We castrate or spay almost
every animal that comes to the centre to
reduce the risk of certain diseases; such as
nasty infections and life-threatening cancers.
Up to 80% of unneutered female rabbits get
cancer of the uterus if they are not spayed!
This also eliminates the risk of breeding and
assists in resolving unwanted behavioural
problems. Another procedure we commonly
perform is dental treatment; mainly on
Sophie and Carolin
e in surgery
the older cats and dogs so that they have
healthy teeth and fresh breath ready for
finding a new home.
In the afternoon our resident animals
and fostered pets are given health checks,
treatments and vaccinations by our vet
with help from the animal care assistant
team. Unfortunately many of the animals
who come to us arrive with severe health
concerns, injuries and infections that need
urgent attention. Having a veterinary team
on site helps us to ensure the animals under
our care are seen as soon as possible to
assess their health and help alleviate any
pain and suffering they are experiencing.
Later on in the afternoon those recently
adopted animals that came back to us for
the day to be neutered are collected by
their new family, sporting a fetching new
buster collar to prevent them licking! They
are usually very excited to see their mum
(or dad of course) and slightly heavier
from all the treats we spoiled them with
after surgery!
At the end of the day we get prescriptions
ready, clean the surgery, sterilise equipment
and prepare for the following day’s patients.
Sophie and Juliet implanting a microchip
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