In late 2004, the Kennel Club agreed to sponsor the Veterinary Nursing team at Edinburgh’s Telford College.  Their generous gift has supported us in providing a high standard of veterinary nurse training, both for our full-time courses, run jointly with the University of Glasgow’s faculty of Veterinary Medicine, and for our block-release courses for students already in employment.  The veterinary nurse programmes involve a large amount of theoretical and practical training.  Many of the practical skills required by veterinary nurses are taught initially in College.  The students then have the opportunity to practice, improve and develop their skills whilst on placement, or in employment in their veterinary practices.

For welfare reasons, staff are unable to use live animals for the majority of practical classes, and have had to rely on very basic animal models and cuddly toys to use as teaching aids. Whilst being better than nothing at all, these teaching aids have obvious limitations, as they are not particularly realistic.

With the donation from The Kennel Club’s Charitable Trust, we purchased ‘Terry’ from the U.S.A.  He is a ‘high tech’, very realistic, model dog who allows staff to demonstrate, and students to practice, invasive procedures and other skills.  Among these procedures are:

• Placing of endotracheal tubes prior to anaesthesia<
• Introducing intravenous cannulae for fluid therapy
• Introducing nasogastric tubing for assisted feeding
• Obtaining intravenous blood samples
• Bandaging techniques.

• Positioning of animals for radiography
• Injections
• Physiotherapy
• Handling and restraint
• Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation

‘Terry’ has been a great success with staff and students alike, and is helping us prepare our students for their Veterinary Nursing examinations and future career as a veterinary nurse.  In the recent winter examinations, students from Edinburgh’s Telford College attained a pass rate of 89% (27% higher than the UK average), gained 30% of the passes with distinction awarded nationally, and one of our students attained the highest mark nationwide.

All of us at Edinburgh’s Telford College, staff and students, would like to thank the Kennel Club for their support.

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