For any vet student, the summer of third year is a critical time—it’s when everything starts to feel very real. You’ve spent the first couple of years hitting the books hard, cramming all that anatomy, physiology, and pathology into your brain, and the summer break is when you really get hands on with some clinical EMS. For me, this summer was all about diving headfirst into clinical EMS. I split my time between an equine placement at the vet school and working alongside a farm animal vet. Both were intense, exhausting, and incredibly rewarding.
Equine: Emergency colic
If there’s one thing that stands out from my equine night shifts, it’s the emergency cases that come in. Colic cases are always urgent and unpredictable, so every time the call came in, there was this jolt of adrenaline. Being able to assist firsthand in these emergencies made me feel like I was contributing in a meaningful way. The stakes are high, and you can really see the importance of working well under pressure—both with the animals and with the veterinary team.
Speaking of the team, working nights really underscored the importance of teamwork in veterinary medicine. Nights are unpredictable—things can go from calm to chaotic in minutes. I quickly learned how essential it is to communicate well and lean on others when things get busy. Everyone has their role and being part of that flow gave me a deeper appreciation for how much collaboration is needed to provide the best care.
Farm: Pregnancy checks, TB tests, and… a c-section on an alpaca?
Switching gears to my farm animal placement, the experience was no less impactful, but in a totally different way. Farm work is a mix of routine procedures and unexpected surprises. I tagged along on pregnancy detection visits, which really helped me improve my rectal palpation skills. Let’s just say the theory behind finding that uterine horn doesn’t fully prepare you for the real thing!
Another big part of the placement was TB testing, which is repetitive but so crucial for herd health. But the standout moment? Watching and assisting in a c-section on an alpaca. It was equal parts bizarre and amazing. Alpacas are such interesting creatures, and being involved in something that unique was a highlight for sure.
Finding the balance – work hard, travel harder
Now, as much as I loved all the new experiences that clincial EMS offered, third-year summer also taught me the importance of balancing hard work with some real downtime. After all, vet school can be overwhelming, and if you don’t take care of yourself, burnout is just around the corner.
So, after my placements, I made sure to take a break. I went back home to Indonesia, which was the perfect reset. I saw my family, ate way too much food (no regrets), and even travelled to parts of the country I hadn’t seen before. The work-life balance can be tricky to navigate in this profession, but I realised how important it is to step away, recharge, and come back stronger.
Wrapping it all up
Third-year summer wasn’t just about ticking off EMS hours; it was about growing as a future vet, learning to work under pressure, and figuring out what work-life balance really means. Between emergency colics, alpaca surgeries, pregnancy checks, and TB testing, I walked away with a whole new level of confidence and a clearer picture of where I want my career to head.
So, if you’re a vet student heading into third-year summer or just curious about what it’s like, my advice? Throw yourself into the placements, embrace the craziness, but don’t forget to take time for yourself. And hey, if you get the chance to see an alpaca c-section, definitely don’t pass that up!
