VN July 2023

Vetnuus | July 2023 14 where I was able to educate a farmer and provide him with guidance and knowledge, no matter how basic it might be, but for them it’s like receiving a wealth of knowledge with great appreciation. There are many other cases that I could share, besnoitia in calves, trypanosomiasis, complications related to lumpy skin disease, septic arthritis in calves, fractures in small stock, heartwater, tetanus outbreak in a flock of sheep and goats and thelaziosis in cattle, hernia repair in a calf, snare removals in cattle and goats, caesareans, dystocias and cervical prolapses. We also had some interesting small animal cases like leptospirosis in a greyhound bitch that aborted, bite wounds, Ehrlichia and babesia, parvo and amputations. In all these cases, we had to use resources wisely, but in the end, we managed and ensured the animals were cared for. I must admit, though, maintaining your positive attitude and mental shift for the year might not always be as easy as it sounds; the last two months for me were especially tiring as you start applying for a new job after Commserv and knowing that your working environment will be changing and you just want to finish your Commserv. There will be times that you will blame yourself when things go wrong, but don’t! Easier said than done; consider it as a learning opportunity and not as discouragement, take the good and not the bad and remember we all have and will make mistakes. I am also extremely grateful to have been part of the SAVA mentorship program; our mentors, Nicolene van der Berg and Tzaneen Dierekliniek, were very welcoming and supportive throughout the year. The mentorship program is not just about having a mentor; in our case, we got involved with various wildlife projects and local animal welfare organisations and volunteered regularly over weekends. I would strongly recommend the new grads and other vets to join this program! I was also fortunate enough to have a great Commserv group in Limpopo; we enjoyed every single moment of our spay campaigns, we would share interesting cases and above all supported each other in our struggles. Friends, your classmates - your OP family, will be doing their Commserv with you; you will experience struggles and challenges together and understand what each of you is dealing with like no one else can. Don’t be hesitant to ask each other for advice; motivate each other to perform your first attempt at a complicated surgery or medically manage a medicine case with limited resources. Article