We’ve definitely started off the first week in Belize with a bang. On Sunday before classes began we visited Xunantunich, a Mayan site built around 600AD. We got to climb to the top of the one of the buildings. The building is unbelievably tall when you consider that they had no work animals or iron tools to use and on average they were 5 feet tall. At the top of this building religious sacrifices were made. It is believed the Mayans thought they were pleasing their deceased ancestors by giving them the souls of the sacrificed.
On our first day of classes we learned how to suture up wounds a few different ways. Then, we watched Dr. T,, a veterinarian and our leader, spay a cat. Stray dogs and cats are a big problem in Belize. Paws Veterinary Clinic, owned by Dr. T., spays and neuters many cats and dogs to help cut down on this problem. After he was done, we got to suture up the incision.
On the second day of classes we visited Whistling Duck Farms. The owner has rescued many dogs and horses. We worked with the horses and learned how to give a physical exam. My partner and I evaluated a horse named Black Mamba. Then, with the guidance of the veterinarian, I got to castrate a horse. This is something I would never be able to do in the US until around my 3rd year of veterinary school.
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