OUR BLOG
Get Trained. Get Confident.
Special Announcement
We are very excited to include Animal Behaviour Specialist and World Leader in Veterinary Behaviour Dr Kersti Seksel as a supporting tutor to Dr Tracey Henderson and Tracy Bache in the November Safe Animal Behaviour and Handling Workshop in Adelaide, South Australia....
Behind the scenes with VetPrac
I wanted to take you behind the scenes of a VetPrac workshop, so I can give you an idea of what it’s really like!
Where the heck is Wagga?
It’s times like this that I reminisce fondly of the days where the warmest place can be at the back of a cattle stall assisting with a calving…
Workshops are great but why can’t they be closer?
Dear Colleagues, I regularly get asked when can we run a workshop in a particular city or town, somewhere close by that would make it easier to travel. I love hearing about all the places in Australia I've been invited to visit. And thank you for inviting me. While...
VetTips: Wound Management Workshop Tips
Tip 1: The integument is one of the largest body organs, comprising approximately 12% of an adult dog’s body weight. The viscoelastic properties of skin are determined by the combination of its fluid viscosity and the elastic properties of the dermal proteins;...
VetTips: Dental Radiology Part One
Tip 1: Dental X-Ray Machines You don't need a special machine! but you will need to work out a chart of settings. A starting point might be: kVp of 65 (small/toy breed dog and cats), 70 (15kg dog), 75 (25kg dog) and 85 (large breed dogs), mA of 100. Time depends on...
Meet Dr Penny Tisdall – VetPrac Education Leader
Dr Penny Tisdall Qualifications: BSc (Vet) BVSc MVetClinStuds FANZCVS Position/ Specialty: Specialist in Small Animal Surgery and Senior lecturer in Small Animal Surgery at University Of Adelaide Penny graduated in 1994 and spent 3 years in private practice before...
A Vet Student in India
As I write this I am sitting in an airport; I'm sleep deprived and craving the creature comforts of home that I've been missing... namely a warm shower - something I haven't had in over a month. This is because I've been In Tamil Nadu, India, developing my surgery...
Fear Free Clinics at the WVC and ACT
Dear Colleagues Have you heard of the WVC? It’s the largest most respected veterinary conference in world. It's held in Las Vegas every year in February, and this year the term that was buzzing around was the idea of "fear free clinics". You can hear one of the...
VetTips: External Fixation Fracture Repair
External Fixation has been used in Veterinary Practice since 1934 when Otto Stader described a full pin transfixation splint in which K-wires anchored into padded wooden splints. So Fracture fixation in veterinary anatomy is still quite young - less than 85yrs old!...
On the job training…..a good idea?
Less than two years into my veterinary career, I found myself the Practice Principal of a busy, sole charge practice. The experience was invaluable. I found myself managing a busy caseload and a small team of support staff when I was barely in my mid 20’s and I thrived on it. The downside was that while more senior veterinarians were just a phone call away, for the most part I as a relatively inexperienced recent graduate who was required to make clinical decisions and perform procedures with very little guidance. Being a keen surgeon even then, I had free rein to attempt any procedures I deemed within my skill set, while referring what I considered more complex procedures.
Hip Surgery Tips
Surgical conditions of the hip are common. Early intervention, along with good management can make the life of your patients healthier and less painful. Being sure you have the best technique to approach and operate in the coxofemoral joint is integral to good...
Meet Joshua Medical Plus VetPrac Prize Winner
Name: Joshua Gardner Qualifications: BVSc (hons) Position/Job?: Starting as an intern at VSS in 2015 What does winning the VetPrac Prize mean to you? I'm very honoured to have been awarded the Vetprac prize for diagnostic imaging, and to be given an award in an area,...
Meet IM3 VetPrac Prize Winner Georgina
Name: Georgina Cavanagh Qualifications: Bachelor of Science and doctor of veterinary medicine Position/Job?: New graduate vet at sea side vet Wallaroo south Australia What does winning the VetPrac Prize mean to you? It was a real honour to win a prize at my final...
Meet Jordana Massey University’s Norbrook award for Academic Merit
Full Name: Jordana Del La Varis Qualifications: Bachelor of Veterinary Science with Distinction Position/Job?: Equine Internship at Matamata Veterinary Services Jordana grew up on a small sheep and beef block, with a wide variety of pets. During high school she played...
Protect yourself
This week I suffered an excruciating injury to my hand. Luckily, it was my left hand. Unluckily it was my thumb. Luckily, I live in Sydney home to the Sydney Hand Hospital frequented by surgeons and musicians globally.
Meet VetPrac IM3 Prize Winner Marjorie Ting
Winning the VetPrac IM3 Prize means a lot to me since continuing education is really important to veterinarians and it will give me the opportunity to practice hands on skills such as abdominal ultrasound, practical ophthalmology. I am thankful that I have secured this opportunity to attend a VetPrac workshop next year thanks to VetPrac’s generous award and continuing support for 1st year new graduates.
Practical Bootcamp – A good idea…
I just got off the phone with my best friend, who told me she really wants to come to one of our workshops but she can't afford it. She's a locum and like most locums she makes $400-$700 (before tax) per day depending on her skill set. Of course she needs to cover...
I got 99 problems but my system ain’t one!
Dr Dave Nicol is a veterinary hospital owner based in Sydney, Australia. Dave has published five ebooks for vets and pet owners and is a feature writer for Veterinary Economics (US), Veterinary Team Brief (US) and The Veterinary Business Journal (UK). He is a popular...
Three things I learned about sutures
By Dr Anne Fawcett This post was originally published on Small Animal Talk November 7th 2014. My desk on the day. Combine this with a good tutor and this is my idea of a productive day off. Last week I attended a workshop on suturing. Suturing, you ask?...