We had an awesome time on our trip. I have learned so much on this trip, I can’t wait to share it with my fellow classmates. As previously mentioned, my trip detoured to Norway. The country is absolutely beautiful. I was able to see the famous Norwegian ships that travel all around the world. The locals say it is rare for the ships to ever be seen. Other than lots of ocean and islands mixed between the mountains (called fjords), there is farm life everywhere. I had the opportunity to learn more about large animal care. For example, in the summer all the farmers will drive their sheep and goats to the top of the mountains and leave them there for two to three months to graze on the greens. When summer is over, the farmers will go on a search to find their herds. This may sound difficult, but they have proper tags and most of them will eventually come back home before summers end. Even the farmers are amazed at how they can find their way back home. The cattle do something similar, but they are not placed high in the mountains.

I also had the chance to see and pet a Norwegian horse. Its breed name is “fjording”. It is a little smaller than a quarter horse and only found in Norway. I have enclosed a picture. Norway does not have a problem with animal population. For the most part, everyone takes care of their pet as their a part of the family. I have also noticed that pets tend to listen better to their owners. Most of them walk off a leash even though it is prohibited. This is because, along with Denmark, behavior training is implemented more than in the States.

Unlike us, their tech schools have more than one class in animal behavior. I think the States should implement this in our colleges not only in tech programs, but in Veterinarian studies as well. Most of our animals are in shelters because of behavior issues. Our society is uneducated on proper behavior and training of dogs. I believe we can save more dog homes by learning more and teaching more. Seems to be working for Scandinavia.

With much information that was learned, it was a great opportunity and experience that more students should have embarked on. It has opened up my horizons to a different view of the Veterinary field. I now only hope, as well for others, to have more opportunities like this to help me become a more well-rounded Veterinary “Nurse”.

P.S. Here is a little history of the mountain photo… Lake Bondhus (Bondhusvatnet)

The road leading to Bondhus is locally known as the “Ice Road”. It was constructed in 1860 in order to transport blocks of ice from the glacier you can see on the top of the mountain, at the far end. The ice was exported to various parts of Europe for cooling fish and for general use in large households and hotels. Before the road, people had to carry these on their backs. The glacial fall at the time came almost down to the shore of the lake. Due to global warming, you can see how much the glacier “leg” has melted since then. It is barely recognizable. This picture is a sad portrait of where our earth is progressing to.

While my other two fellow Veterinary Tech students moved on to another part of Denmark, I flew to Norway to see what the Veterinary world is like up here. The view from the plane was beautiful mountain and ocean scenery. I landed in a small town named Haugesund yesterday, as well as, this morning and afternoon we worked at my host students Veterinary Clinic. Some of the laws are different here than in Denmark. Although, it is both illegal to declaw, dock tails and crop ears in both counties, Norway does not allow any spay or neuters to be preformed unless it is a medical need. The country does not have an over population of pets like the states do. They do not have any shelters. However, there are a few private houses that take in animals of needed, but the need is not likely. Humans are very responsible in this country when it comes it pet care. Most Norwegians treat there pets here like they are part of the family. The clinics here are very clean and sterile. Norway is also one of the very few countries that does not have rabies. Unless the pet is traveling to Sweden or Denmark, rabies vaccines are not given. They also do not have Leptospirosis, a disease that has a high mortality rate to both human and pet if contracted in the states. After a full day of work, we went hiking up a mountain with a couple other vet techs and their dogs. It was a good hard workout, but such a beautiful view once you make it to the top. It was a great day!

Hello, America!!! Greetings from Denmark. We are having an awesome time here learning and seeing new things. Yesterday, we worked with Sabrina at her Animal clinic. Her hospital is huge and they are starting to rebuild. The clinic calls their Veterinary Technicians, Animal Nurses, which I think is more appropriate and recognizable of our profession. For the most part, the way they practice is very similar to ours here in the States. After her clinic we took a short ride to a farm full of horses and a few sheep, steers, turkey and rabbits. This farm works as a lab that collects blood from the animals to make culture plates. These plates are then used by us for our patients to check for bacteria from urine or other sources.  It is very interesting to see how the process starts when we use the product so often in our clinics. The animals here, especially the horses, are very friendly.