🐑 What to Expect from Lambing Work Experience: A Guide for Vet School Applicants- Part 2

Part 2- The Lambing Process

Signs of Lambing: What to Look For During Your Lambing Work Experience

If you’ve never seen a ewe lamb before, spotting the signs that she is about to start lambing can be tricky, but it’s an essential skill during your lambing work experience. Understanding these early signs will help you provide better care and support to the flock and assist in lambing interventions if necessary.

1. Separation from the Flock:
   One of the first signs is that the ewe will often take herself away from the rest of the flock. She may start to stargaze—a behavior where she lies on the floor, extends her neck, and gazes upwards at the sky. This is her way of preparing for the birth.

2. Nesting:
   Another common sign is nesting, where the ewe scratches at the ground to create a comfortable space for lambing. This behavior is typical as the ewe looks for a quiet, secure area to give birth.

3. Water Bag:
   If the ewe is further along in the process, you may see a water bag. While this can be alarming, it’s important to note that it’s completely normal for ewes to have the water bag hanging out while still calmly eating hay or walking around. DON’T PANIC—this is a common occurrence and doesn’t usually indicate an immediate problem.

4. Final Stages - Straining:
   As the ewe moves into the final stages of lambing, she will lie down and begin straining. Straining can last anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes, so it’s important to give her time and space to attempt to lamb naturally. Only intervene if necessary, as premature assistance can cause stress to both the ewe and the lamb.

Being able to recognize these signs is a crucial part of pre vet work experience. Understanding lambing behaviour and knowing when and how to assist during lambing is often a topic discussed in vet school interviews. You may be asked about your ability to recognize and manage lambing complications as part of your overall farm experience for vet applicants.

Lambing: Key Points Every Vet Applicant Should Know

Lambing can be an intense and rewarding experience, and there’s a lot to learn. In fact, you could write an entire blog on lambing alone! However, here are a few essential points every vet student should know, especially if you’re gaining lambing work experience as part of your pre vet work experience.

Meconium Staining: What Does It Mean?

Meconium staining refers to the brown or yellow staining seen on the lamb when it becomes stressed during the lambing process. This occurs because the lamb passes its first feces, called meconium, due to stress during the birth. If you notice yellow/brown discharge coming from the ewe or a part of a lamb with meconium staining, it’s a sign that the lamb has experienced stress, and immediate intervention may be necessary. In such cases, you should assist the ewe right away to prevent any further complications.

Malpresentation: What to Do When a Lamb is Delivered Backwards?

Ideally, a lamb should be delivered with its two front legs forward and its head snugly positioned between those legs. However, malpresentation—where the lamb is not positioned properly—can occur. One common form of malpresentation is when a lamb is delivered backwards (hind legs first).

When delivering a lamb backwards, the lamb will usually come halfway out of the ewe. At this point, it’s essential to check that the umbilical cord is still intact and providing oxygen to the lamb. As long as the umbilical cord remains connected, you can wait for the next contraction, and with proper care, help pull the rest of the lamb out. However, if the umbilical cord has been severed, the lamb should be removed immediately to avoid oxygen deprivation and other risks.

There are many variations of malpresentation that may require different interventions. It’s essential to learn about these variations as part of your farm experience for vet applicants, and there are plenty of resources online to help you deepen your knowledge.

Knowing how to manage lambing complications and malpresentation will not only enhance your lambing work experience, but it will also prepare you for answering vet school interview questions related to animal welfare, birth complications, and clinical intervention.

Post-Lambing Care: Key Points for Vet Applicants

The post-lambing period is just as critical as the lambing process itself. As part of your lambing work experience, you’ll need to understand how to provide post-lambing care to ensure the health and well-being of the lambs. Here are some essential tasks to keep in mind during your pre vet work experience, which will help you in vet school interviews when discussing lambing interventions and animal welfare:

Clearing the Lamb’s Airways

It may seem obvious, but ensuring the lamb’s airways are clear immediately after birth is vital. Often, lambs can have raspy breathing due to amniotic fluid being inhaled during the lambing process. Clear any fluid from the lamb’s nose and around its mouth, and gently rub the chest to stimulate coughing. Clearing the airways quickly is key to helping the lamb breathe easily.

Applying Iodine to the Naval

Once the lamb is born, you must immediately apply iodine to the naval. The naval is a direct connection between the lamb’s body and the outside environment, making it a potential entry point for harmful bacteria. Iodine helps dry the naval, preventing infection, and also kills any bacteria present. Failure to apply iodine can lead to joint ill, a disease where lambs develop swollen, painful joints.

Ensuring the Lamb Suckles

The most important thing for a lamb after birth is to suckle from the ewe. The first milk, known as colostrum, is packed with immunoglobulins to protect the lamb against disease, fats to provide essential energy, and warmth to prevent hypothermia. If the lamb is not suckling or the ewe has insufficient milk, you should step in and provide powdered colostrum via a bottle or stomach tube. Ensuring that the lamb gets this critical first milk is essential for its survival and health.

Wasting Disease in Sheep: A Case Study for Vet Applicants

Wasting Disease in Sheep: A Case Study for Vet Applicants

A farmer has brought a 3-year-old female mule ewe to the practice because she has been wasting away. The ewe has shown signs of lethargy and has had bouts of pneumonia throughout autumn. The farmer has noticed similar symptoms in other ewes and wants to get to the bottom of the issue. This is a common scenario that veterinary students and applicants may encounter during pre vet work experience. Understanding how to approach these types of cases is essential for vet school interviews.

Clinical Signs Reported by the Farmer

The farmer describes several clinical signs that need to be evaluated:

• Wasting: What does the farmer mean by wasting? Is it muscle loss? Weight loss? Or both?

• Pneumonia: What type of pneumonia is the farmer referring to? Is it characterized by nasal and ocular discharge, coughing, a raspy throat, or difficulty breathing?

• Lethargy: Does the ewe seem lethargic? Is she separating herself from the flock or struggling to keep up? Is she failing to graze or stand?

These clinical signs point to a potential group problem rather than an individual issue, suggesting that multiple ewes in the flock could be affected.

Additional Information from the Farmer

• Regular faecal egg counting & worm treatment: This implies that endoparasites, such as worms or liver fluke, are less likely to be the cause.

• Heptivac P vaccination: This provides protection against clostridial diseases and pasturella pneumonia, suggesting that respiratory infections may not be the main cause.

Clinical Findings

• BCS of 1.5/5: The ewe is much thinner than expected, as a healthy mule ewe should have a BCS of 2.5-3 in autumn. A low BCS suggests malnutrition or underlying illness.

• Increased respiratory rate: This could indicate respiratory distress and requires further examination.

• Abnormal respiratory auscultation: A crackling sound in the lungs suggests that the ewe may have pulmonary disease, such as Ovine Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma (OPA) or other respiratory issues.

Next Steps: Diagnostic Testing

The vet suggests performing a thoracic ultrasound scan to look for OPA (Ovine Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma). In this case, the ewe is confirmed to have OPA. Other possible causes of these symptoms include Maedi Visna, pleural abscess, and pulmonary caseous lymphadenitis.

Ethical Dilemma: The Wheelbarrow Test

The wheelbarrow test is a method sometimes used to diagnose OPA. In this test, the sheep's hind limbs are lifted, and if fluid (exudate) is seen coming from the nostrils, it indicates OPA. The fluid is a result of the tumors in the lungs producing exudate, which gives the lungs their crackling sound.

However, this test raises an ethical dilemma: Is it ethical to perform a test that may cause discomfort to the animal, especially if the result is already likely based on other symptoms and diagnostic testing?

EXAMPLE: Questions You Could Be Asked in a Vet School Interview
 
Questions you could be expected to answering during a vet school interview.

·     Is this an ethical test to perform? 

·     What are the pros and cons of performing this test? 

·     What is your opinion?

Example of a answer

1. Is the wheelbarrow test an ethical test to perform?

   • The ethics of the wheelbarrow test can be debated. While it provides a quick and direct diagnosis of OPA, it can cause distress to the ewe and may not always be necessary if other diagnostic methods, such as ultrasound, can confirm the diagnosis. The test could be considered unethical if it causes undue harm or discomfort to the animal when alternative, less invasive methods are available.

2. What are the pros and cons of performing the wheelbarrow test?

   Pros:

   • It is a fast and direct way to diagnose OPA, which can help in making immediate management decisions.

   • It provides clarity for the farmer, enabling informed decisions about flock management.

   Cons:

   • It can cause unnecessary distress to the sheep, as it is invasive and uncomfortable.

   • It may not be necessary if other diagnostic tests, such as ultrasound, can provide a more accurate diagnosis without causing stress.

   • There is a potential for misdiagnosis or false results if the sheep does not show exudate despite having OPA.

3. What is your opinion?

   In my opinion, I would lean towards using non-invasive diagnostic methods like ultrasound or laboratory tests first. These methods are more accurate, less stressful for the animal, and provide the necessary information to diagnose OPA without resorting to potentially painful or stressful procedures. The wheelbarrow test could be considered as a last resort if other diagnostic options are unavailable. Cost of diagnostics is an important factor to consider in this case; ultrasonography will be more expensive than the Wheelbarrow Test therefore may not viable in all farmers business models. It is important to acknowledge that farm animal medicine focuses on the health of the entire herd and short period of discomfort in a single individual with a long term benefit to the herd of the health may be preferable. In this case you may explore the use of culling and post mortem as a means of diagnosis as well.

Final Thoughts

This case study of wasting disease in sheep highlights several key diagnostic and ethical considerations that would be important in any pre vet work experience and vet school interview. Understanding animal welfare and being able to balance diagnostic accuracy with the ethical treatment of animals is critical in veterinary practice. If you're pursuing a career in veterinary medicine, reflecting on these ethical dilemmas and understanding the various diagnostic options will help you excel in your vet school interviews.

Pre Vet Course: Essential Farming Work Experience for Aspiring Vets. How it Started…

The Pre Vet Course was set up to help those who are struggling to find farming work experience. Before I (Becky) went to vet school, I found it incredibly difficult to find farmers willing to take me on for work experience. Not being from a farming background and living in South East England (where there are very few farms!), I became disheartened by the endless phone calls and unanswered messages. I left for vet school with limited farming work experience and felt like I was playing catch-up during the first year of my degree.

During the course of my degree, I had so many amazing opportunities and came to realize that production animal medicine was much more interesting than I initially thought. I met lots of farmers during my first few years of vet school and realized that most were happy to teach and share their knowledge. This made me curious as to why I had found it so difficult to gain experience before leaving for vet school. After spending a lot of time speaking with farmers across the country, I realized that their main concern was safety. Almost all the farmers I spoke to were worried about students getting hurt due to their lack of experience—whether it was from the animals (for those of you who haven’t been on the receiving end of a cow kick, it really hurts!) or from machinery.

This got me thinking about how we could solve this impossible problem: farmers are reluctant to have inexperienced students on their farms, but students can only gain experience by being on farms. That’s when the idea for the Pre Vet Course first formed.

After a year of planning and discussion, in my final year of university, we took the plunge and set up the course. The aim of the Pre Vet Course is to provide students aged 16+ with veterinary work experience that bridges the gap between inexperienced students and commercial farms. With veterinary medicine entry requirements becoming increasingly demanding, I feel it is essential that we give students from non-farming backgrounds an opportunity to learn key practical skills in a safe and relaxed environment. These skills will enable them to thrive during future farm animal placements and at university.

We have received fantastic feedback from this year’s course attendees, with all students leaving more confident and competent in handling farm animals and horses. Our main aim is to give those students struggling to find farming work experience an opportunity to learn, helping them on their way to achieving their dream of becoming a vet.

What to Expect from Inside a Horse’s Passport: A Guide for Vet School Applicants.

What to Expect from Inside a Horse's Passport: A Guide for Vet School Applicants

As an aspiring vet school applicant with an interest in equine care, understanding the ins and outs of a horse’s passport is vital. A horse's passport is more than just a travel document; it holds crucial details that ensure the health, safety, and traceability of the animal. Whether you’re working with horses at a stable, during your vet school interviews, or as part of your pre-vet experience, knowing what’s inside a horse’s passport is an essential skill for your veterinary journey.

So what does a passport look like?

The image to the left is a photo of the front cover of an equine passport. Passports vary in colour and size depending on the breed of the horse; this passport is for a Welsh Cob and has been issued by the Welsh Pony & Cob society.

Here’s a breakdown of the key components found in a horse’s passport:

1. Horse Identification

• Breed and Colour: The passport will typically list the horse’s breed, coat color, and markings. This helps with visual identification, ensuring the horse matches the description provided.

• Microchip Information: A microchip number will be recorded to offer a permanent identification method. This is crucial for both traceability and lost or stolen horses.

• Unique Markings: Horses often have distinctive markings or scars that help identify them. These are drawn or described within the passport.

2. Vaccination Records

• Equine Vaccinations: The horse's vaccination status is a critical piece of information in their passport. Common vaccinations include those for influenza, tetanus, and equine herpesvirus. Ensuring these vaccinations are up-to-date is essential for the horse's health and preventing the spread of diseases.

• Dates and Types: The passport will specify the date of each vaccination and the type of vaccine administered. This will be important for ensuring the horse remains compliant with travel regulations or event requirements.

3. Medical History

• Veterinary Care Records: A horse's passport often includes a log of medical treatments, surgeries, and other important health-related procedures. This is particularly helpful for tracking ongoing health conditions or treatments.

• Parasite Treatments: Records of deworming and parasite treatments are typically found here. This helps with understanding the horse’s health management and ensuring they’re free from parasites.

4. Ownership Details

• Registered Owner Information: The passport will contain details of the horse's registered owner(s) and may include a change of ownership history. This helps with ensuring clear legal ownership and traceability in the event of disputes or sale.

• Breeding Information: For horses that are bred, their passport will list the sire and dam, providing insight into their lineage.

5. Travel and Event Information

• Movement and Transport Records: The passport will include details about any travel the horse has undergone, especially across borders. This includes quarantine requirements, health checks, and any travel-specific vaccinations or treatments.

• Competition and Event History: For horses involved in competitive events, such as racing or show jumping, the passport may list their performance history and event participation.

How This Relates to Vet School Interviews

In vet school interviews, you may be asked to demonstrate your knowledge of animal documentation, including horse passports, and how they affect animal welfare and veterinary practices. Familiarity with this document will show your ability to consider not just the clinical aspects of care but also the broader regulatory and logistical issues that come with managing animal health.

By understanding what’s inside a horse’s passport, you'll be one step closer to demonstrating your expertise in equine medicine and animal welfare during your pre-vet work experience and in your vet school application.

Sketch of the markings

The photo above illustrates the specific markings of an individual horse

Colour: Black

Head markings: large star and extending blaze involving left nostril. Flesh mark on upper and lower lip

Forelegs and hooves:

Left / nearside: white too three quarter cannon & white hoof.

Right. offside: white to knee and white hoof

Hindlimb & hooves

Left/ nearside: white too three quarter cannot. White hoof

Right/ offside: white too three quarter cannot & white hoof

Body: white line under belly.

Vaccination record

The primary course of vaccinations consists of three vaccinations and then horses require a yearly booster. Recently, some horses have been having 6 monthly vaccination if they are travelling to shows/ competitions to reduce the risk of contacting equine influenza.

Top Tips for Students & Parents Applying to Veterinary Medicine

Advice for Students applying to Veterinary Medicine

1. Start at the Bottom and Work Your Way Up
Securing work experience at veterinary practices can be tough, but it's crucial. Begin by gaining basic animal husbandry skills in settings like catteries, kennels, stables, or farms. Learning how to handle animals and recognise what “normal” looks like is a great foundation. Once you have this experience, ask your supervisors if they can recommend local vets or write you a letter of recommendation. Getting a placement through recommendations is often much quicker than cold emailing unfamiliar practices.

2. Consider Both Sides of Every Argument
There are many controversial topics in Veterinary Medicine and Farm. For example, if an owner asks you to euthanise a healthy dog, your first instinct might be to say "no." However, it’s important to consider the situation carefully—sometimes animals are euthanised due to behavioral issues, changes in their environment, or because the owner can no longer afford them. Understanding the complexities of these situations will help you think critically, and prepare you for the ethical questions you may face in your vet school interviews.

3. Keep a Work Experience Diary
As you gain work experience, make sure to write down your observations and reflect on them. Keeping a detailed diary will help you remember what you’ve learned over time. Look up diagnoses and treatments you've seen during your shifts to deepen your understanding—this will make it easier to recall specific examples when you’re asked about them in interviews.

4. Writing a Personal Statement for Veterinary Medicine
Writing a personal statement can be daunting. Start by making a list of qualities that define a good vet—such as empathy, strong communication skills, and the ability to prioritize. Then, provide concrete examples from your work experience or day-to-day life that demonstrate these qualities. Avoid simply listing work experience—admissions officers will already have this information, so focus on how your experiences have shaped you into a strong candidate for veterinary school. For me support with this visit the we run online 1-1 sessions.

Advice for Parents of Veterinary Medicine Applicants

1. Keep Track of Deadlines
Students applying to veterinary medicine often juggle numerous responsibilities—work experience, homework, and application writing. Parents can help by ensuring that all deadlines are marked on the calendar. The UCAS application deadline for vet school is earlier than other programs, and missing this deadline could result in the application being dismissed. Other important dates included submission of work experience forms, supporting questionnaires and if applying to Cambridge university the admission tests application.

2. UCAS, UCAS, UCAS
UCAS is the portal for university applications in the UK. Students can apply to five courses through UCAS, but only four can be for veterinary medicine. The fifth application should be for a subject with lower entry requirements, allowing your child to have an alternative option if they don't achieve the required grades. If your child is only interested in veterinary medicine, some universities offer pre-vet courses that can count as the fifth application. These courses lead onto or provide an automatic interview for the veterinary medicine degree.

3. Visit the Universities
Different vet schools have their own unique strengths, environments, and teaching styles. It's important for both you and your child to visit potential universities before the interview process. This helps ensure that they’ll be comfortable with the location and people, and prevents surprises when the interview day arrives.

4. Seek Guidance When Needed
We are always happy to offer help and advice to both students and parents about the veterinary school application process. If you’d like assistance, don’t hesitate to get in touch via our contact page.

Additional Opportunities

If you’re looking to gain equine and farm animal veterinary work experience, consider our Pre-Vet Course running in August 2025. This course is designed to give students valuable hands-on experience in farm and equine veterinary care. Alternative consider our 1-1 online support sessions.

Good luck with your veterinary school applications!

🐑 What to Expect from Lambing Work Experience: A Guide for Vet School Applicants - Part 1

For some, the lambing season is already in full swing, while for others, preparations are well underway. If you're considering lambing work experience as part of your pre vet work experience, it’s crucial to understand the farmer’s goals before you visit. Are they aiming for early lambing to sell their lambs at a premium price in the Easter market? Or perhaps they’re lambing later in the season and raising lambs on fresh grass to produce a lower-input, more sustainable product? Do they sell store lambs or finished lambs? These are just a few examples of different farming approaches.

So, what should you know before embarking on your lambing placement? Understanding the farm's production goals will help you engage with the tasks, contribute meaningfully, and reflect on your experiences during vet school interviews. By gaining insight into lambing practices and agricultural methods, you’ll be better prepared for those vet school interview questions about animal welfare, farming systems, and the role of vets in livestock production.

So… What do you need to know before going on a lambing placement?

View from a hill farm.

What time of farm is it?

Understanding the type of sheep farm you’re visiting is essential for making the most of your lambing work experience. There are several types of farming systems, with the broad categories being hill, upland, and lowland farms. Each system requires ewes with specific traits, and knowing these differences will help you gain a deeper understanding of animal husbandry practices.

For example, hill flocks typically require ewes with a strong mothering instinct to protect their lambs from predators and harsh weather conditions. However, these ewes are generally less prolific, often producing a single lamb per birth. In contrast, lowland flocks are more focused on prolificacy, meaning the ewes are bred to produce twins or even triplets. These ewes are often lambed indoors earlier in the season to protect the lambs and ensure optimal growth.

Understanding the differences between these farming systems will allow you to engage more effectively during your pre vet work experience and discuss various lambing methods, production goals, and animal care practices during your vet school interview.

Indoor lambing with each ewe and her lamb/lambs in an individual pen.

Breed of Sheep

Understanding the breed of sheep you’ll be working with is crucial during your lambing work experience, especially as certain breeds are more prone to specific lambing complications. One of the most common challenges in sheep lambing is dystocia, which refers to difficulty during birth. Some breeds are more predisposed to dystocia than others, particularly those with larger body types or muscular builds.

Double-muscled breeds, such as Beltex and Texels, along with any other breeds that have large shoulders and rumps, are more likely to experience birthing difficulties. This is because the pelvic canal of the ewe may be too narrow to allow the lamb’s shoulders and hindquarters to pass through easily. In some cases, this can lead to the need for a caesarean section to assist with the delivery.

As part of your pre vet work experience, it’s essential to assess the ewe’s pelvic size and the shoulder/hindquarter width of the lambs before attempting to assist in the birth. This knowledge will be invaluable when discussing lambing techniques or veterinary intervention during your vet school interviews, particularly when it comes to animal welfare, breeding issues, and surgical procedures.

Vaccination Status of the Flock

During your lambing work experience, it’s crucial to understand the vaccination status of the flock, as this can significantly impact the occurrence of diseases during lambing. Two highly contagious diseases that are common in sheep flocks during lambing are toxoplasmosis and enzootic abortion. Both of these diseases can be prevented through vaccination, although the cost of the vaccines means that vaccination status can vary between farms.

• Toxoplasmosis is caused by a protozoan parasite. It can lead to a range of symptoms, but the two most common signs are:

  • Barren ewes at scanning (due to reabsorption of the fetus in early pregnancy), and

  • Lambing abnormalities, including mummified fetuses, weak lambs, and stillborn lambs.

• Enzootic abortion is a bacterial disease that causes premature lamb deaths. The two main clinical signs are:

  • Premature stillborn lambs, typically occurring two weeks before the due date, and

  • A red, thickened placenta.

If either disease is suspected, immediate action is needed. The ewe showing clinical signs should be isolated from the rest of the flock to prevent further spread. Any placental and fetal material should be carefully removed, and the foetus and placenta should be kept as clean as possible. It’s important to call a veterinary surgeon to take samples for testing and confirm the presence of the disease. Additionally, the area where the abortion occurred should be thoroughly disinfected to minimize the risk of further contamination.

This knowledge is vital for anyone pursuing pre vet work experience, as understanding disease management during lambing is a crucial topic in vet school interviews. You may be asked about your role in managing animal welfare and how you would respond to such situations.

If you are interested in sheep husbandry and handling and would like to come and learn more we will be running sheep courses all year round. Click below for more information.