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When he started studying veterinary medicine in Utrecht, he had no idea that he would one day head the only intensive care unit for foals in the Netherlands. Mathijs Theelen talks about his special work as an equine internist, lecturer and researcher at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

You don't have an everyday job, how did you come to this career?

‘We used to have a hobby farm at home with all kinds of animals. Even then I knew I wanted to become a vet. The image I had was of me working in a village practicing with all kinds of animals. However, during my studies, I discovered that much more depth was possible. I wanted to keep challenging myself and went for a specialisation in equine internal medicine. Hard work, for sure. But also incredibly fun and informative!’

What makes your work in the equine clinic so special?

‘One of the special aspects of my work is that, together with my colleague Esther Siegers, I am coordinator of the Foal Brigade. This is the only intensive care unit for foals in the Netherlands. We work together with specialists and students to provide foals with the best possible care 24/7. Because of our unique position, beautiful collaborations sometimes arise. For example, a few years ago we came into contact with doctors from the ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ Medical Centre who wanted to test a new diagnostic technique for application in babies with blood poisoning, or sepsis. Foals also often have sepsis so we applied and further developed this new technique on our patients first. It’s nice to see how we can help each other to advance medical care for humans and animals.’

Horses, of course, cannot tell you what they are feeling, so you have to solve the puzzle based on their signals and information from the owner.

What attracts you most in your work as an internist?

‘The puzzling remains the most challenging for me. As an internist, you get to deal with a variety of disease states. Horses, of course, cannot tell you what they are feeling, so you have to solve the puzzle based on their signals and information from the owner. Is it about the heart, lungs, liver or something else? I map out the complete picture. The animal hospital in Utrecht is the only centre in the country where all the different specialists in equine medicine work together in one place and also has the most advanced equipment. As a result, we also receive the most complex cases. Even after 15 years, I still come across things I have never seen before.’

Besides your clinical work, you also teach. What satisfaction do you derive from that?

‘Training students is an important part of my work. In the master phase, I work with small groups, taking them through the thought process at each diagnostic step and in treatment. We discuss together what is going on and what possible next steps are. It is very valuable to see students grow, and it is very satisfying when you teach them something they can later apply in practice themselves.’

You combine all this with research. What does your research contribute to?

‘My research focuses on the gut microbiome of horses and the influence of antibiotics on it. Bacteria in the gut are essential for a horse's health, but antibiotics can upset that balance. We are trying to understand exactly how that works and we are investigating the impact of antibiotics on the development and spread of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance does not only occur in bacteria derived from animals. The same resistant bacteria are also found in humans and in human and animal habitats. This makes it a real One Health issue. Recently, I received a research grant. That motivates me to take my research to the next level!’