Last student knees-up for new vets

They have braved dog poos, dodged sheep semen, and been covered in cow poo – now it's time for Massey University vet students to enter the real world.

After five long years of studying, Massey's graduating class of veterinary students celebrated their last exam ever with a goodbye hoedown yesterday.

After completing final laboratory sessions in early November, students were allowed a week off to study before sitting their eight final exams over a week and a half.

As bottles of home-brew were carted in, student Arina Nussberger, 27, said it would be great just to have a normal life again.

"It's a lot of work volume, and a lot expected from us I guess ... this feels awesome."

She would miss her classmates, but not some of the lectures – including one lesson in sheep electro-ejaculation, in which she got sheep semen flicked in her eye. "It really stung."

She was hoping to land a job in Australia, specialising in equine or small animal work.

Fellow student Sarah Fowler, 36, said while the last five years had not been intellectually overwhelming, the amount of information a vet needed to remember was.

"Think about how hard people think medical school is – well, they only have one animal. We have dogs, cats, cows, sheep, horses, and also have to know about deer, goats, alpaca, pigs, small mammals and pet birds. It's insane."

She would be looking for a job in Auckland along with her husband, also a vet. "[Palmerston North] wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but I'm ready to go somewhere else. I miss a good beach."

Aaron Begg, 26, was off to Auckland's West Coast for a job as a small animal vet.

"I'm looking forward to actually having a weekend off, and some money to do something with."

The party was gaining steam as the Standard left.

Mrs Fowler was sure the class would do its part to keep up the age-old tradition of vet student nakedness. "There's always a few in the class who will get their clothes off at the smallest possible provocation."

- © Fairfax NZ News