Meet Vicky
Vicky is one of our amazing Veterinary Nurses who works on the frontline, helping the most vulnerable and poorly pets in our care. The team provide immediate medical treatment for injured pets.
Go behind the scenes in Surgery with Vicky
What is your role at Woodgreen and what is involved?
There are many tasks involved as part of my role as a registered Veterinary Nurse. I might be monitoring the anesthesia in theatre one day, to caring for the animals on our ward the next including hand-feeding or administrating medication.
What impact does your role have on the pets who come into our care?
In some cases, I might be saving their lives. Some might only need to be neutered or have a dental procedure, but others might come in with a fractured limb. We might need to insert a pin or consider amputation if their injury is more severe, to give them the best chance of survival.
“It can be quite an emotional job at times, especially when there are animals who come in who are too badly injured. Despite our best efforts, sadly not all manage to survive. That’s always going to be the hardest part for me.”
Is there a particular pet you cared for at Woodgreen who you’ll always remember?
I remember a wonderful little dog called Clara who came to Woodgreen when I was a trainee Veterinary Nurse about thirteen years ago. The poor girl was found beside a railway line with severe leg injuries. We took her in for an x-ray and she was so well behaved, we couldn’t believe it when we found out that she had been shot multiple times by an airgun. We were even more surprised to discover that she only had a broken toe.
Why did Clara have such an impact on you?
Clara always sticks in my mind because she was so poorly and was with us for many weeks and needed intensive nursing. Her bandages had to be changed daily so staff formed a bond with her and we watched as she healed from her injuries. Despite the trauma, she was the most loving and forgiving dog you could ever imagine. Watching her go home with a new family was the best feeling ever and shows what a difference we can make.
