Amazing experience

I went to Thailand with Loop Abroad for a Highschool Veterinary Program to learn about and experience Elephants, and cats and dogs.I was able to spend a week with elephants at the Elephant Nature Park about an hour outside of Chiang Mai and another week taking care of dogs at the Animal Rescue Kingdom in Chiang Mai.

While I was at ENP, I learned about the daily responsibilities the elephant caretakers had as well as wound management. Many elephants in their care have foot injuries from stepping on landmines as they were crossing the Burma-Thailand border. I had the opportunity to treat one of the elephants who stepped on a landmine, her name is Thai Koon. Even though she has received treatment for her injury for over three years she still has a large hole in her foot. I cleaned it out with multiple q-tips to remove the dirt then I wash it out with an iodine solution, and lastly I applied a purple antiseptic spray. At ENP they have over 450 dogs and around 300 cats, during our down time we were able to help the veterinarians deworm them by making treats with the medicine inside. I made about a hundred treat balls which included rice, beef, fish, chicken, and wet food and then estimated each of their weights and gave them the treat with the appropriate dosage.

The last week in Thailand I went through a veterinarian workbook with 6 other girls guided by our veterinarian, Dr. D (DVM). We learned skills such as how to restrain animals, how to draw blood, how to give the three types of injections, as well as other skills needed in surgery. I had the opportunity to be on the anesthetic and surgical team for dog and cat neutering surgeries. Going to Thailand and learning these basic Veterinary skills while bonding with all the amazing people who were in the program and the very supportive staff was a once in a lifetime experience. I would recommend this program to anyone who is considering being a veterinarian, working in this field and to anyone who loves animals.