Free pet check-up numbers ‘impressive’

Southland veterinary students gained valuable experience in the public giving more than 150 free pet health checks.

Southern Institute of Technology held another successful two-day free animal health clinic on October 17-18 with nine graduate students performing health checks on 182 animals including dogs, cats and rabbits

Veterinary nursing tutor Mel Shuttleworth said the students were able to test their clinical skills on animal clients.

She said the clinic played an important role in giving students the opportunity to engage with the community with real-life animal encounters.

“When students are on placement, they are not exposed to clinical experience, they are usually behind the house involved in monitoring the animals and have no direct contact with the public.

“Because they got a taste of it, it gives them more confidence moving into actual clinical practice.”

Ms Shuttleworth said the clinic was an opportunity for the students to see veterinary nurses for the first time and it was something they would have to do when they entered the workforce.

She said that the students had set a goal of seeing at least 150 animals, which they exceeded, and microchipping 40 – which they got very close with 36 microchipped animals.

“We set achievable targets, but we significantly exceeded them, and those were pretty impressive numbers.”

Another goal the students had was to raise $400 for the Southland SPCA by holding raffles and they were thrilled to have raised $625, Ms. Shuttleworth said.

Mrs Shuttleworth was delighted to see an increase in the number of cat consultations compared to previous years.

“Consultation bookings were just chocka for the two days.

“We’re doing our best not to turn anyone away.”

All clinic services were free, apart from a discounted fee of $15 for microchipping which covered the cost of the animal being charged to the national registry.