4 weeks Prior to Lab

• Check Supply Stock Levels in the Therio Repro Lab Cabinets
• Move over any supplies from Tan Metal Cabinet (UMEC)
• Order any supplies needed
• Supply List: 3yr Palpation Lab (tab)

1-2 weeks PRior to Lab

Stock the Main Supply Cart

 

1- week Prior to Lab

• Secure 3 carts for ultrasounds (u/s)
• Set-up time with Max to help you move stocks
  • Time depends on hospital use of the Therio Collection Room
  • Coordinate w/ Max’s schedule
• Check for Blank Record Sheets
  • In the Blue Binder on the Supply cart
  • Used For:
    • Recorded in during lab
    • Allow to look back on sedation history in lab
    • DVMs make cycle notes on mares for future reference
    • Make notes about any abnormal findings like:
      • abnormal anatomy
      • Blood on rectal sleeve = time off for mare
    • Transfer to Official horse record books at end of lab

 

2-3 Days Prior to Lab

• Plug in U/S in UMEC Therio Repro Lab area (counter w/ multi-strip)
• Final Check: Carts /Supplies  (Hospital borrows things)
• Draw up Drugs: (sometimes draw up a week in advance)
  • Draw up drugs in separate syringes
  • Use rubber syringe caps
  • Pre-printed Labels – make sure expiration date is on label
  • Use clear tape to hold label on
  • Draw up only enough for a lab or two
  • Make sure Sedation and Oxytocin are kept separate
  • Oxytocin is LIGHT SENSITIVE – keep in small brown ziploc bag

 

1-2 Days Prior To Lab

Note: Possibly done AM of lab depending of room usage

• Set-up Stocks for Lab: (see picture at end of chapter)
  • move into place
  • crank up all 4 wheels & make sure stock floors are on the ground/balanced on each set of stocks
  • Cross Ties are on appropriate end for horse’s head
  • Tail ropes are on each of the stocks opposite the head end
• Grey Buckets:
  • Can set these up in Therio lab by Sink
  • Make sure there is not a stallion collection
• Set-up Room: If room is not being used you can set-up Supply Carts

 

1.5hours before Lab

Set-up Therio Jump Room

• Bring in Main Supply Cart: place in front of half wall (near collection dummy)
• Set-up 3 Ultrasounds on their respective carts
  • Blued towel covering top of cart
  • 1 U/S per cart w/ probe coiled up nicely
  • U/S Carts:
    • place behind the Jump Dummy
    • Move after horses are in stocks (keeps them safe)
•  Hook up Extra Grey Hose in Rm 162 (storage) to Sink & put just inside the Jump Room
• Prepare Grey Butt Wash Buckets: (while Students Start Palpating)
  • place small garbage bag in each bucket
  • Fill 1/4-1/3 of way with pieces of roll cotton
  • Fill Grey Buckets (with bag & cotton) with Hot water
  • Place buckets near the Therio double doors – H2O will cool and be warm at end of lab
  • ***NOTE: if this is AI Pipette or Vaginoscopy lab:
    • Need 6 buckets – one per horse
    • Complete BEFORE Lab – will need them at beginning of lab

 

15min before Lab

Bring in Horses

• Max will help with this if he is on campus
• Bringing in Horses:
  • Will take longer with one Person – Start earlier
  • Can bring in 2 horses at a time if you are comfortable
    • Horses must be from same paddock & willing
    • Handler must be comfortable navigating doors with 2 horses
  • DoNOT leave horses in stocks UNATTENDED or with only students in room
  • Every horse can have bad days NO ASSUMPTIONS that they will be fine
  • DO NOT Assume students will know what to do in a crisis 
    • DVM & Technician work together to navigate based on experience & knowledge of resources
    • DVM makes decisions about animal care and is ultimately in charge
    • Get students and others safe & give them a task
    • Make a plan & don’t assume students know hospital or where to find help
    • Seek out students that were student techs or know hospital
    • Send Max to get help if needed

Start of Lab

• DVM will do an intro for the students depending on what lab it is (in-depth or brief)
• Pass out Drugs – oxytocin & sedation
• Students MUST be observed (Tech or DVM) for ALL injections
  • Remind them what size needle for IM – 1.5″ (due to being new at this I usually have them use a 1″ for IV injection)
  • Remind them to Double CHECK the drug, drug amount, route BEFORE poke the animal
  • ONLY poke with needle off of Syringe – visualize
    • NOT Arterial Blood
    • Blood flow slows down when stop holding off vein
• Record Keeping – Post Injections
  • Use UNOFFICIAL sheets in Blue Binder
  • Record 5 rights:
    • Drug
    • Amount in Mg
    • Route
    • Location (R or L Jug – R or L Neck)
    • Time
  • Recording Notes:
    • Rectal Palpation: note on record – amount not needed
    • Transrectal Ultrasound: note on record – amount not needed
    • Vaginoscopy: note on record & how many times
    • AI Pipette: note on record & how many times
    • Uterine Culture: note on record, why was done, how many times
  • Student Start Palpating/Ultrasounding
    • Some may need help with tying tail up
    • Some may need help with assessing horses behavior (i.e. recommend more lube)
    • refer to DVM if have procedural questions

During Lab

Tech Responsibilities

• Assess horse sedation levels & communicate with DVM (there call to re-sedate)
• Lifeguard for Safety:
  • Observe horse behavior
  • Observe student behavior
  • Step in to keep both safe

End of First Lab Section Procedures

• Students are responsible for cleaning up horses prior to stocks departure
• Students make sure any blood from injections is cleaned
• Dump Manure Buckets in Spreader
• U/S: cleaned w/ damp towel & placed on their cart behind the jump dummy
• Move any obstacles away from stocks before unloading animals
• Remind Students: NO HORSES UNLOAD FROM STOCKS UNTIL DVM instructs to

Removing Horses from Stocks

*Students help with this

• 1. Unload Horses 1 at a time (prevent costly collisions/Injuries)
  2. Make sure Cross Ties are unclipped & Lead Rope untied, attached to horse & in control PRIOR to removing butt bar
  3. Open Butt Bar without standing directly behind it
  4. Do not stand behind a backing horse
  5. If a horse rushes out doNOT try to stop them, guide them
  6. Once out horses will move into hallway
  7. Make sure a horse is visible to those still in the stocks as horses are unloaded so they don’t feel left behind
  8. Typically Max will lead the group with a horse or two and Melissa will take up Rear without a horse

Starting the Second Lab Section

• Early Students along with Max & Melissa will get Second batch of horses
• Load horses 1 at a time
• 1 horse in Therio lab at a time is usually best for students
• Make sure that load horses in a way that if they back out suddenly they won’t run another horse/human over

End of Second Lab Section (End of Day) Procedures

• Clean-up Meeting in first lab
• Students Clean up horses & ultra sounds
• Move all carts to Therio Lab Room
• Students unload horses
• 1/2 Take horses out
• 1/2 Stay and clean up room
  • Stocks on Rubber: crank up above the wheels (so they can swivel)
  • Stocks NOT on Rubber (near window): crank up just high enough to spray under
  • Spray off stocks on rubber first
  • If needed move stocks on rubber outside (if have stallion collection)
  • Spray floor, other stocks, poop bins & buckets.
  • Clean drains & put any buckets/bins upside down to dry near wall
  • Dirty Towels in laundry basket just outside of Jump Room – Melissa washes
  • Wrap up  Therio room hose neatly on Floor
  • Detach & Hang up small grey hose on wall in Jump room by big double doors

Clean-up

After Students Leave

• Hydrofoam the Jump Room Rubber Floor & don’t rinse (protocol dictated when floor was replaced years ago)
• Put carts away neatly in corner of Therio Lab
• Restock Carts for next lab
• Plug in ultrasounds on the counter in Therio Lab
• Every other week as needed spray down empty Therio Colletion Room
  • Deep clean spray back
  • Hydrofoam Soak

Record Keeping

• Take a picture of daily records in Blue Binder on Supply Cart
• Use info to record in Equine record books (see section below for materials on how to do that)

Closing/Securing Dudley Barn (Leaving for Day)

• Paddocks:
  • Check all Horses (quick visual – awake, mobile, not injured/colicky from gate)
  • Paddock Gates Closed & locked with chain
  • Paddock Electric Line Hooked (spiral gate line – only touch yellow handle)
• Barn:
  • Inner & Outer Garage Doors Shut
  • Inner People Door Shut
  • Outer People Door pulled shut tight so it locks
  • Shut and Latch the outer perimeter fence (chain link) gate