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STUDENT DIARY
Antonia Matthews
, South East London
Second year veterinary student, Royal Veterinary College
About me
I am a veterinary student in between my
second and third years at the Royal
Veterinary College, I am currently finishing
a year out to do a degree in Global
Health at King's College London. I grew
up mostly in South East London spending
every moment I could further south east
in Kent, working on farms and stable
yards. Having escaped living in London
I now enjoy the fresh air of Hertfordshire
with the husband, dogs, cats, small furries,
reptiles, horses and my own small herd
of dairy goats.
The joys of dogs, cats, horses,
goats, dissertations and exams
Since my last column I have finished my iBSc in Global Health, and
faced the joys of exams and dissertation deadlines.
In true form for a vet student my dissertation
focused on fluffy animals with the very
uncatchy title ‘A review of policy surrounding
the use of companion animals for palliative
care in the United States and any reasons for
inequities’. Although a policy review might not
excite everyone, the numerous health
benefits of interaction with companion
animals from lower blood pressures and
better nights’ sleeps (I would debate this when
the cats are charging up and down the stairs
at 3am) to greater emotional well-being
(again I would argue with this due to the
emotional turmoil I feel every time I look at
the chewed items of furniture throughout my
house thanks to Algernon, the Irish Wolfhound)
is a fairly good excuse for welcoming more
animals into one’s life (in particular two of the
kittens of a feral yard cat that may be arriving
at mine on Saturday).
Exams were faced as usual; refusing to
acknowledge their existence until the latest
possible moment, with the highlight being the
confusion of turning up to an exam and being
greeted by the start of Comicon (if you are
unaware of this unusual event I suggest
Googling it just for the costumes). My
excitement of the ‘vetty’ essay question on
food security linked with the environment
appearing in one of the exams was so
great even sled dogs and donkeys received
a mention.
Other excitement has included my cob,
Rosie, foaling over Easter. She was
accidentally bought in-foal leading to more
stress than desired. In true fashion the one
night she wasn’t checked over more than a
month’s period she had her not so little filly,
Diamond. Trying to get my thoroughbred,
Princess, in-foal has also not quite gone to
plan with us having to resort to using
Regumate and Prostaglandins as well buying
our own stallion, reminding me that animals
don’t read textbooks.
The other horses are being kept busy
competing at county shows or just getting to
enjoy the grass as it comes through. Milking
the goats has also begun again with the
usual confusion of a lack of kids to cause the
lactations but at least the cats get to enjoy it!
My Labrador, Earnest, is also about to enjoy
life more as he starts his life as a stud dog.
A recent lecture at RVC given by Aimee
Llewellyn, Geneticist at the Kennel Club
helped to confirm the importance of the eye
tests and hip and elbow scoring Earnest
has received as well as the importance of
avoiding inbreeding and of ensuring
breeding for a show ring conformation
doesn’t negatively affect health, an important
lesson for all species.
The dogs when they aren’t particularly reducing
stress levels
Diamond, the new arrival
Hopefully a successful match...
Peach (sponsored by Nature’s
Menu) providing a well needed
break from exams competing at
Herts County
SUMMER 2014 ISSUE
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
26