Life and Living the Dream!

Greetings from Vet school :)

Apologies for not updating sooner but life doesn't always go as planned.

I moved out to Iowa the first week of August with the help of my Dad. He drove the U-haul and planned to stay an additional 2 days to work on unloading and minor assembly/repair projects around the trailer. His 3rd night here he had a stroke in the middle of the night and I took him to the emergency room when I got up the following morning and had realized what happened. Long story short he got transferred to Mayo where they discovered he had a heavily calcified mitral valve & annulus. A few small bits of calcification had broken off and hit 3 separate spots in his brain- which had the cumulative effect of a minor stroke and about 12+ hours of memory loss. He was able to be discharged just in time to come for my white coat ceremony, then last Friday he had his open-heart surgery to repair/scrape the annulus and replace the mitral valve with a new mechanical one. I am happy to say it went well and he and my mother finally made it back home today.

Needless to say it was a rough start to my first days in veterinary school. Things are starting to settle down for me now in terms of stress but I'm feeling a little behind from all the personal chaos.

I was also a little hesitant to post here because during orientation it was heavily drilled into me that posting any details online pertaining to school was basically... strictly forbidden. So I will be carefully censoring any information I share on here in the future- my further apologies. But fear not! I will still share plenty!

Orientation was 3 very longs days of every minute scheduled with lectures and activities from 8-5. Mostly people talking at me with useless information and MANY MANY team-buildingesque activites. Surprisingly little helpful information. Or not so surprisingly.

Class schedules are pre-determined. I have: Cell/Molecular biology, Histology, Anatomy, Nutrition, Clinical Foundations, Case Studies I, Radiology (Clinical Imaging), Veterinarians in Society, Freshman Seminar Series, and accompanying labs to Histo, Anatomy,  & ClinicFndtns.

A lot of the material is fairly review-based in nature. Anatomy is A LOT & FAST. Clinical Foundations just throws you in with little to no real instruction.

I am coming up to my first exam which will be in Anatomy on Thursday.

It's a little daunting. The lecture and lab are combined for the exam and over the cat and dog- muscles and bones. I mean complete and total knowledge of the muscles, bones, joints/joint capsules, tendons, and ligaments-also the insertions, attachments, and functions- of the cat and the dog in just 3 weeks. (Get what I mean by a lot and fast?) The difficulty is in how much information is thrown at you and how quickly you are expected to know it and move on to new material (pretty much one day from forelimb bones to muscles to hindlimb bones, & so forth...).

I'll plan to start discussing clubs/organizations next post- if I survive this week! ;)

If it's curled- cut it!

I'm not terribly involved with grooming at the doggy daycare I work at anymore, when I first started I assisted the very pregnant groomer quite a bit and eventually took over what I could (things that didn't involve any actual grooming skills) when she was put on bedrest. Ever since then I'm pretty hands off except for the occasional hotel dog that needs a bath or a nail trim. None of the other staffers here presently do nail trims except for me and the groomer so if the groomer is o-u-t then it falls to me if I'm around.

We had a particularly bad dog in yesterday for a fullgroom and the groomer needed a second person to help restrain her during the nail trimming. Her nails were terrible! Several were curled under and starting to dig into her feet. COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE!

I was too busy restraining to get a picture of this particular dog but I've got a couple of examples from the past year:

This pair of trimmed nails came from a smallbreed dog- this is just the portion we removed- the nails were still pretty long after they were cut (due to the quicks being rather lengthy). You can imagine they were curled under pretty well. One of them had pierced into a pad!

Another example shows how long toenails have a great affect on the dog's ability to walk/stand in general. It causes the toes to remain bent at an angle to try to accommodate the nails. This puts added stress on the bones/joints in the foot and can lead to them walking with a limp or some other awkward gait that will also add stress to the body (not to mention being uncomfortable).

I have seen them so bad that they have curled back into the foot and worked their way into the pads causing bleeding wounds many times- which might I add are also incredibly difficult to cut at that point! This goes without saying that it carries a high risk of infection and severe discomfort for the dog.

If you are uncomfortable trimming your own dog's nails- then PLEASE take it to see your groomer or vet because it's a quick, cheap fix and prevents your dog from some pretty miserable discomfort!

Pre-Exposure Rabies Immunization

Yesterday morning I got my first of three pre-exposure immunization shots for Rabies. This is required of veterinary schools before attending. ISU gave the option of getting them on your own and showing proof of immunization prior to July 30th or to sign up for a rabies clinic that will be held on campus in the Fall- and take you on your good word for going that route. I opted to get them ahead of time as it worked out cheaper that way ($789 through ISU or approximately $600 my way).

In order to get it done on my own I had to have a doctor's appointment and request it be ordered. The order was then sent to our local community health establishment where I would receive it from them. I also had to pay in full upfront before the center could order it in. This whole process was rather interesting since I live in a fairly small town ( <15,000), people aren't accustomed to dealing with the vaccine. My doctor wasn't even entirely sure which of the two available vaccines to order for me. There are two types of rabies vaccines that are licensed for pre-exposure in the US; both are equally safe and produce an antibody response against the rabies virus. The available vaccines are as follows: Human Diploid Cell Vaccine (HDCV), and Purified Chick Embryo Cell vaccine (PCEC). I ended up with the HDCV, called "Imovax"

The process of getting the immunization takes about a month. You get your first shot whenever (Day 0) but then the second shot has to be exactly 7 days after the first, and the third (and final) shot is given sometime during 21-28 days after the first (although some places say either ON day 21 or 28). Each shot contains a killed rabies virus vaccine; the link to Imovax above will go into detail about how the virus was killed, harvested, and so forth if you are interested in learning more about it. I am getting it rather late in the summer, but by the time I got it ordered and it had arrived I was going to be out of town on vacation for over a week so I couldn't get the first shot until after I had returned thanks to the timing of the series. [I was at a lovely cabin/vacation home "Wearing Waters" in northern Minnesota at the end of the Gunflint Trail and at the edge of the Boundary Waters- pictures will probably follow in a later post]

The vaccine itself is very pretty. It is mixed immediately before administering it, and turns a bright shade of fuchsia. Despite hearing all of the horror stories of the old vaccination (which was given in the abdomen and was very unpleasant to put it mildly) the present-day one is given intramuscularly in the upper arm. And surprisingly, I didn't feel any tingling or other discomfort when it was actually being given! Just a little prick and that was all. I was relieved that it was actually the most comfortable vaccination I have ever received! However, I have noticed some yucky side-effects: queasiness, achy, flu-like symptoms. But that's pretty common and to be expected.

And just to be clear- getting pre-exposure immunization does not mean that you are fully protected against rabies. Getting Pre-EP immunized means that you will need fewer doses if exposed: 2 doses versus 4 doses + antirabies serum.

Not entirely sure what the rabies virus is or what harm it causes? Rabies is a viral disease of mammals that attacks the nervous system, it is considered fatal even with pre- or post-ep immunization. One website I referenced put it best:

THE FIRST LEVEL OF PREVENTION IS TO AVOID RABIES EXPOSURE.
Pre-exposure vaccination is the second level of prevention.

And pretty much the third level, or more appropriately- Your Last Chance -is the post-ep treatment. Once a person begins to exhibit signs of the disease (it can take weeks to years, but generally 1-3 months for symptoms to surface), survival is rare. To date less than 10 documented cases of human survival from clinical rabies have been reported and only two have not had a history of pre- or postexposure prophylaxis. Moral of the story? DON'T GET BIT!
For more detail on the virus it self- go here or for more information on the disease- go here.

Rabies has always fascinated me, and it has quite a history of being misunderstood- for example, the myth that it causes hydrophobia (fear of water) is false, but this belief came in to being because those infected reach a point when they can no longer drink/swallow. I made a History Channel-esque documentary on it with a friend of mine when we were taking our course in Diseases in History. I wish I could load it up since it was actually quite humorous (yet factual!)- but it's rather long and I don't have the original file for it... It is very interesting to research if you ever feel compelled to do so, but I realize not everyone is as nerdy as I am!

1 down, 2 to go!!!

  

I hope that's a piece of string...?

Sorry for the continued lack of regular postings but between finishing requirements for ISU, packing, and working at the Doggy Daycare I haven't had much spare time- or interesting things to write about.

I opened at the Doggy Daycare yesterday, and noticed a bright whitish, smooth string-like thing sticking out of one of the dog's morning... defecations. It is very common to see string, carpet fibers, bits of toys or other chewed up debris in dog waste here, but this just seemed a little too clean and smooth looking. A moment later I noticed it wriggling.

A WORM!

After my initial moment of  "eww... I guess I won't be finishing my breakfast after this" at the site of a worm in poo at 7:00am, I was really excited! Why? Because I LOVE parasites! (Albeit, not as much as I love microbes) I especially love and excel at the microscopic identification of them (parasitic egg identification is way... FUN! Some even look like footballs!). This being a case of macroscopic discovery, I am not as well practiced in that and isolated the dog until we could be sure if it could be potentially spreadable to the other boarded dogs.

Unfortunately, I couldn't really keep a sample because it was already mixed up with the waste of several other dogs in the scooper, and I didn't particularly want to dig out the worm at 7 in the morning... What I saw was roughly 1/2" long, yellowish in color that turned to white when it stretched out, fairly round and smooth. Any guesses on what it was? Something like this:

After a quick call to the dog's vet and a description of the worm, she was certain it was TAPEWORMS! [Did you guess right?] We picked up 2 pills for the dog and that's that! Easy peezy...

Fun fact: A dog with tapeworms at a boarding facility poses no risk of spreading infestation to the other dogs! Why is that? Part of the reason I find parasites so fascinating! Parasites tend to have rather finicky life cycles; one in a primary (intermediate) host, and another cycle in the final secondary host. For tapeworms, dogs are a "dead end" if ingested at the adult or larval stages and simply die in their digestive track. In order for a dog to become infested it has to ingest the tapeworm while it is in it's primary "intermediate" host. The primary is infected by ingesting the eggs of the tapeworm- this host can be a small mammal (rat, rabbit, mouse, etc.) or a flea. *Note there are other varieties of tapeworms that have different hosts that a dog can be susceptible to, such as sheep.* A dog would then pass eggs back to primary hosts to become infested. Same goes for human infestations. Cool h'uh? To illustrate:

 The adult tapeworm is usually not seen to diagnose it, in this case I noticed some larvae squirming around, but you can also see the proglottids- or egg filled segments of the adult- that break off and are released into the feces.

Just another day at the Doggy Daycare! If you want to know a little more about the topic here is a website that has a nice little summary of tapeworm infection in dogs:   Dog Health Doc: Tapeworm Infection


And as a final parting personal complaint- It is NOT my fault that we are booked out 9 weeks for grooming. Why don't you go complain to the other 2 groomers in town that are no longer accepting new clients? At least we are trying to accommodate the town's grooming needs. Take your bitchy 'tude elsewhere, thanks! :)

After Acceptance...

After getting my acceptance to ISU I still have a lot of things to handle before starting in the Fall. First off was to make sure any required classes I was taking this Spring were a C or better-turns out I didn't need any of my Spring classes for ISU so that's a check. Next -though not technically necessary was graduate- check! I graduated yesterday (yay!). Next I needed to start planning for my move/transition to Iowa. I realized I drove a puddle hopping death trap of a 24yr old van- must upgrade wheels-check. I ordered myself a Dodge Journey (partially paid for as a graduation gift from my wonderful parents). Next I will need rabies vaccinations- doctor's appointment made to order some to be sent for me to receive-check. Next, a place to live. That brings me to my long drive today which got me to Ames, IA. I have a good 7 trailer appointments over the next 2 days to check out. Hoping to find something nice in my price range, and preferably as close to the vet campus as possible. Oh the fun never ends trying to get into and preparing for vet school! Look forward to more frequent updates again this summer. :)

It's official! And my non-functioning wrist...

I finally got my $500 deposit and acceptance forms sent off in the mail last week, so my acceptance into ISU is official! :)

Still hasn't sunk in, I keep thinking that I'm mistaken and living in a delusion where my psyche couldn't handle the rejection and convinced myself that that last email from Iowa said I was accepted. Even as I look up at the acceptance card they sent me in the mail I still second-guess myself! haha It just can't be real >.<

Haven't updated my blog in a month because a few weeks ago I had Spring Break (yay!) and the second evening of break I used pliers to tear apart upholstery tacks to use the cap-tops for belly dance costuming and royally flared up my carpal tunnel (not yay!). Worst flare-up to date, doctor's orders to keep off the computer and out of working at the doggy daycare- today was my first day allowed back! Next Friday I will have the pleasure (from what I've heard) of getting an EMG done. Woohoo!

I also got a pretty devastating case of the stomach bug (because there is no such thing as a stomach "flu"!) which has kept me home from classes most of the last week and cost me a chance to see Jim Gaffigan.

Needless to say I've had better months... But I'm starting to prep for graduation and the move to Iowa! Did some stocking up on minor kitchen items and other misc. at the thrift stores last weekend, got a day reserved for my Senior Art Show Open House & guest list made up for it, and started looking into housing in Iowa. The senioritis is getting worse every day...

I've also got a belly dance troupe performance to pull together for a Medieval Feast next Saturday, and to get some more artwork made up for my Senior show since my wrist kept me from doing anything over spring break like I had planned.

Always Busy!

It Only Takes One!

I GOT ACCEPTED TO THE COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE AT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY!!!!

-After 6 flat-out rejections, I got in with my final hope for this cycle! I fell in love with ISU when I interviewed there so I am ecstatic to go there (even if it wasn't technically my first choice lol)! I am honored, lucky, proud, and blessed to have gotten accepted- especially on my first attempt to apply. 

*w00t!*

Busy Month!!!

I've got a bit of a hectic schedule this month with things getting into full swing next week:

Next week is the first week of exams of the semester- it always seems that every class's exams fall on the same week for exam I until enough time has passed and they stagger out a bit. My Statistics exam is Monday, Economics & Intro to Theater back-to-back on Tuesday, Immunology & Physics II back-to-back on Thursday. YIKES!

I have 2 plays to attend for my Intro to Theater class- "Belles" and "The Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged)" and a 5-10 minute play to start writing.

My braces finally come off on the 6th- can't wait! I should hear whether I'm accepted, waitlisted or rejected from Iowa on the 15th. (I got a rejection from Oregon a few days ago)

The Spring Gallery Opener is this month- which I MC, contribute artwork to, have to finish arranging, and give a presentation on Painting beforehand for. An art club meeting the next day, and an art club campus pottery event the following Friday.

I will be modeling traditional belly dance attire at the International Student Organization's International Fashion Show at the end of the month, and additionally doing a choreographed dance with a few other troupe members at the ISO dance that follows.

A few fun things- A "Jazz Knights" dance the weekend after all of my exams (great timing!) and this month's "Artful Happy Hour" at the Arts Center falls on valentine's day and involves making something with chocolate and beer- should be fun!

In summary- BUSY BUSY BUSY!

I wanted to share a few pictures of Lucy- a German Shorthair Pointer that spent just over a month with us at the doggy daycare. She was pretty anxious the first week but then she found this brown blanket that became her "Safey-Safe" She constantly carried it around with her in her mouth. Pretty cute; I got a few pictures of her standing around with it draped up over her nose while she held it. :)

The tragedy of Vucko

To those of you who have not yet seen or heard of Vucko- he was a German Shepherd in Bosnia who had most of his face blown-off by a firecracker thanks to two very cruel, drunken teenage boys.

I will not put an uncensored photo of him up on this blog- you can easily find photos on Google if you wish to see. There is also a short video of the veterinary examination done on him- here is the link for it but i warn you- it is EXTREMELY GRAPHIC.
Vucko's Exam

Apparently his mouth was taped shut with the firecracker inside by the boys and the dog was left to wander for 5 days in unimaginable pain, unable to eat or drink until authorities finally brought him in for veterinary attention. They were obviously unable to reconstruct his face and he was euthanized. It's amazing, and also quite disheartening, that he survived the explosion in the first place- especially that he lived for that long before finally being given peace.

It serves as a reminder that there is still a lot of animal cruelty out there- so please support organizations like the ASPCA, Humane Societies and others that seek to prevent cruelty and care for those that have been abused. 

It was only just a dream...

I got an acceptance letter! Unfortunately, it was only in my dream last night... very vivid, I was sure if I just looked hard enough for it this morning it would be around here somewhere! haha

No word yet from Iowa or Oregon. Should be in about a month *fingers crossed*

I have plenty to keep me busy until then- maxed out credit load! Statistics, Physics II Lecture & Lab, Immunology Lecture & Lab, Principles of Economics, Intro to Theatre, Senior Art Seminar, and my online Animal Nutrition course. YIKES! And physics II is kicking my butt already...

Not much else going on for me right now. My cat is going through a rough patch- he's 17 1/2 years old so it's not a surprise. He developed thyroid problems last March and since then he'll have "bad nights" where he's up all night vomiting and having diarrhea, it takes him some time to recover from these bad nights but he's having a particularly rough time bouncing back from the one he had at the start of the week. Starting to think it'll be time to put him down sometime this year. I've pretty much spent the entire year since March being prepared for it so at this point it will almost be more of a relief to me. Love him to pieces, he's my little old man.

Keep you all posted on any news! Busy with preparing for the Spring Gallery Opening next month, teaching belly dance classes every Friday and keeping the Art Club active. :)

Semester II begins! Boggled as ever...

Sorry for the delay in posting- I was on a family vacation to Disney World the first week of January. We go there every Christmas break for the last 6 years or so, and this was probably the worst trip to date- most of were sick for part or most of the trip.

I got two more letters of rejection while I was on vacay- an email from Minnesota and a letter from Washington :( That leaves just 2 more replies! I have yet to hear anything from Oregon and I won't hear back from Iowa about my interview until mid-Feb. I sent off my Fall transcripts to each of them on Monday. *fingers crossed*

I have begun the second and possibly final semester of my undergrad career. I say possibly because I have no idea what I'm doing... Not just not knowing if I'm going to get into veterinary school this cycle but I am also completely second-guessing my Plan B. I am unsure whether I should continue with my Clinical Laboratory Science degree next year if I don't get accepted this time around to vet school. I am already accepted into the CLS program and will get my clinical site assignment mid-Feb as well. I'm just not sure that's what I want to do anymore. If I go that route I don't graduate yet, I do a summer session at an affiliate university in ND then I do a 9-month clinical training/internship session and then finally graduate from undergrad next spring and would then take my licensing exam.

Originally I figured it would allow me to boost my GPA, show I could do well in a medical/professional program, give me the opportunity to get a decent paying job that would allow me to work just about anywhere, it would max my income for the few hours I will have available to work in vet school and there are shifts available day or night so it would be flexible- and not to mention just give me something to do haha

But now I'm thinking it really won't have that great of an effect on my GPA other than maybe the last 45 calculation, it is difficult to find a job opening for this right now because labs are cutting back to the bare number of staff needed and most of the people in the field are not old enough to be retiring yet so there is not a fast turn-over rate, I would be trained in to work at the clinical site but I wouldn't be staying there so I'd have to get retrained wherever I went, it's not what I want to do- as much as i LOVE the information and the lab work!, and it wouldn't leave me much time to increase my vet experience hours - which is a very weak point of mine that I CAN do something about.

I am beginning to think I might be better off graduating this Spring with just my Art major and spending next year trying to do some internships to expand on the variety of my animal experience and to increase my veterinary experience hours- I think maybe actively trying to improve my credentials it probably the better use of my time in the long run.

I just don't know-- I'm torn. I just wish I knew from Iowa and Oregon already so I knew if I needed to revamp my Plan B or not for sure!! Does anyone have any helpful suggestions/advice?