Every once in awhile, there are cases that no one can seem to help. With every remedy comes additional complications until we are reminded with the stunning reminder that every one of the multitudes of living creatures on this Earth are decidedly mortal. All the medications in the world can't save an animal whose time it is. But sometimes, just sometimes, we're lucky enough to witness an event that renews our hopes that we can beat death yet. Or maybe not really beat death, but to deliver a sense of justice to the force that takes away what should be ours. This is the case with Jessie. She was a relatively young Dachshund that came in as an ADR (Ain't Doing Right). Her owner had noticed a few out of characteristic behaviors that pointed to something not being right. But Jessie was bright eyed and a real friendly girl. There was no fever and subsequent radiographs, and in house bloodwork showed nothing that pointed to any sort of real cause. Thus being the tried and true method of administering some fluids and monitoring her was applied.
The next morning we received a frantic call from her owner that simply stated that she was coming in with Jessie. All of us wondered what could of possibly happened, as most of us agreed that the little dog seemed fine the night before. Jessie came paralyzed in her hind legs and yet her tail was still wagging, and she was trying in vain to get around. The main doctor went in and talked long and hard with the owner. She gave her estimates for back surgery and gave her time to think about it. Coming back in to see the decision, the owner knew that she could not afford to give Jessie the surgery to correct her back injury and tearily explained that she would opt to put Jessie to sleep. At that point the doctor closed the door behind her, protesting that there was no reason to do that just yet. Subsequently it was decided that Jessie would be staying with us over the holidays and would be under the vigilant care of the nurses and kennel staff on a plethora of steriods and medications to try and remedy her situation.
For the first week she was with us, there seemed to be no improvement and in fact there seemed to be more of a degregation in her status. It seems that she could not urinate on her own, a complication to the paralysis. The muscles that allowed her to urinate could not be told to relax and therefore we could not even force the urine out of her on palpation. So she was placed on Prazosin to allow her to urinate. Even still, she was a happy little girl, and never was seen sleeping or hiding from us. She wanted to be held and would paw at the cage when we came over. At our lunch breaks or when things were slow we would hold her while doing menial tasks.
At the beginning of this week, it was announced that the doctors had spoken with Jessie's mother and if there was no improvement she would be humanely euthanized on this coming Monday. All of us protested this, and yet understood that for a dog, being this handicapped was not a good quality of life. We looked into alternative methods, such as the carts that have helped dogs with amputated limbs. But these carts were rather expensive, and since we knew Jessie's mom didn't have the money for a surgery, the chances that she could afford a cart were slim to none. All of us were thinking that it was rather shameful since she was such a little trooper and was still bright-eyed and happy.
On Tuesday she began to kind of walk.
On Wednesday she could walk with some difficulty. And she continues to improve.
I want to be a vet because I believe in miracles.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
Reason No. 5: Discovering good in the bad
Monday's can be hellish in the right circumstances. There's usually surgeries, as well as only two doctors. So while one doctor is doing surgeries, the other is basically going room to room to room. It stresses everyone out, and usually, everyone is rather irritated by the smallest things. Needless to say, when everyone is stressed out, overworked and under appreciated we can get rather irritated over the slightest things. Usually this is about our clients. Rarely it's about the patients. Anyways, this woman came in, and after a relatively steady afternoon wanted vaccinations for her dogs. We hadn't seen these two sweet dogs in over a year so I calmly explained every shot they were due for, as well as the fact that we couldn't give them a shot without having a doctor examine them.
After a three ring circus, she agrees to the exams and 1 shot per dog. We've all run around like mad people, shaking our heads, giving empathy for having to deal with this woman and in general being annoyed at the whole fiasco. Finally I'm able to grab a doctor, and I go into the room to get the dogs up on the lift. Anyways, we start talking, because its awkward not to talk to the client while waiting for the doctors. Most of them share a little about their dogs or their lives. It's idle chatter but good nonetheless. She asks about school. I explain that I'm done with my undergrad but applying to vet school. She asks the standard questions: How long does it take? Where did I apply? Have I heard anything yet? I give her the answers and she sits back, eyeing me beneath a thin line of fake eyebrow. You're smart to do that. Study while you're young and then you can have whatever you want. The honesty and the sheer confidence in me from a stranger was heartening. I suppose it's because I don't often hear things like that from the people around me. Yes they are supportive, but out-of-the-blue encouraging is rare and far between. Anyways, I suppose the moral of this little story is that even the most frustrating of people in this world have something to offer. Even the most annoying woman can make your day a little bit brighter with just a few words of encouragement.
I want to be a vet because sometimes there is a lot of good in the bad.
After a three ring circus, she agrees to the exams and 1 shot per dog. We've all run around like mad people, shaking our heads, giving empathy for having to deal with this woman and in general being annoyed at the whole fiasco. Finally I'm able to grab a doctor, and I go into the room to get the dogs up on the lift. Anyways, we start talking, because its awkward not to talk to the client while waiting for the doctors. Most of them share a little about their dogs or their lives. It's idle chatter but good nonetheless. She asks about school. I explain that I'm done with my undergrad but applying to vet school. She asks the standard questions: How long does it take? Where did I apply? Have I heard anything yet? I give her the answers and she sits back, eyeing me beneath a thin line of fake eyebrow. You're smart to do that. Study while you're young and then you can have whatever you want. The honesty and the sheer confidence in me from a stranger was heartening. I suppose it's because I don't often hear things like that from the people around me. Yes they are supportive, but out-of-the-blue encouraging is rare and far between. Anyways, I suppose the moral of this little story is that even the most frustrating of people in this world have something to offer. Even the most annoying woman can make your day a little bit brighter with just a few words of encouragement.
I want to be a vet because sometimes there is a lot of good in the bad.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Reason No. 4: Witnessing the good
Euthanasia is unfortunately a very big part of what veterinarian's do. It's something they have to do, and sometimes, encourage people to do. We don't like to see an animal suffering. We don't like them to slowly waste away at home. The death we can give with a shot of euthasol is more peaceful and quicker than anything they would have at home. Nevertheless it's not something that anyone of the people I've ever met get used to. And they might not show it in the room with you, but that doesn't mean that they don't get back, and leave a hand on the animal before we bag it, or listen for a heartbeat multiply times before they're satisfied.
I have helped out on a few 'put to sleeps' while working at my vet clinic. The first one I did, well it nearly broke my heart but I wanted to talk about a different one. The woman came in, knowing that the quality of life was not good and knowing that she did not have the finances to cover the cost in helping out her dog. She had had him for the entirety of his life. He had been there through her marriage and the birth of her children. But he was getting old. He wasn't moving around as well, he was having trouble controlling his bowels, he wasn't hearing or seeing as well as he used to. And so with a heavy heart she brought him to us to put to sleep. She wanted to be there with him, she wanted to reassure him that everything was okay in his final moments. She was trusting us to help deliver her most trusted, and loved friend to heaven.
And I was okay with that, I helped make up a bed for him. I held him while we got the catheter into his leg. I was there to help hold him while the doctor first gave him propofol which gets them sleepy. And then I was there when the doctor gave him euthasol. The woman held her dog's head on her lap, she stroked his head reassuring him that it would be all right, tears running down her face unashamed. It was this raw emotion, this openess that got to me the most. I was a part of the last memory she'll ever have of her dog. And I was honored to be there, to witness this love she had for an animal who could not speak for himself. I was there as she leaned into him, whispering into his ear, "You go take care of my mom for me."
I want to be a veterinarian to witness the good in people.
I have helped out on a few 'put to sleeps' while working at my vet clinic. The first one I did, well it nearly broke my heart but I wanted to talk about a different one. The woman came in, knowing that the quality of life was not good and knowing that she did not have the finances to cover the cost in helping out her dog. She had had him for the entirety of his life. He had been there through her marriage and the birth of her children. But he was getting old. He wasn't moving around as well, he was having trouble controlling his bowels, he wasn't hearing or seeing as well as he used to. And so with a heavy heart she brought him to us to put to sleep. She wanted to be there with him, she wanted to reassure him that everything was okay in his final moments. She was trusting us to help deliver her most trusted, and loved friend to heaven.
And I was okay with that, I helped make up a bed for him. I held him while we got the catheter into his leg. I was there to help hold him while the doctor first gave him propofol which gets them sleepy. And then I was there when the doctor gave him euthasol. The woman held her dog's head on her lap, she stroked his head reassuring him that it would be all right, tears running down her face unashamed. It was this raw emotion, this openess that got to me the most. I was a part of the last memory she'll ever have of her dog. And I was honored to be there, to witness this love she had for an animal who could not speak for himself. I was there as she leaned into him, whispering into his ear, "You go take care of my mom for me."
I want to be a veterinarian to witness the good in people.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Reason No. 3: I think this is cool
Over the course of me working at my vet clinic and my previous job on the farm, I have seen quite a few interesting case studies. Granted, at the time, there were serious problems that needed to be solved to ensure the survival and comfort of the animal in question: but afterwards, when the animal is stable and the crisis has passed, I can't help but to be amazed that I was a part of this. Therefore, for your entertainment and/or disgust, I will give you three case studies.
No. 1-- More Tapeworm than Puppy
We get a lot of animals from pet stores, breeders, and the occasional puppy mill. Usually they have some sort of worm. But on this particular day, there was a room that most of the nurses and techs wanted nothing to do with. So because I am the newest member of the team, I had to take it. And this is not a problem for me. Oddly enough, there is very little that grosses me out. I walk in, and there is this puppy who I could probably fit in two hands easily. Bright eyed but not fancy free, it was clear that this puppy who we'll call Red was not feeling all that great. A conversation with Mom produced two things: a standard fecal sample, and a zip lock back of tapeworms. I take a temperature, a weight, ask a few more questions and quickly take the goodies to the back where it is shown off to the doctors and nurses alike. It was a like a war had just broke out and I got the spoils. Immediately everyone was interested in my case. The doctor took the case, examined Red and prescribed an enema to help Red pass the rest of the worms inevitably in his intestinal tract. As we took the puppy to the back, Kate (one of the younger nurses who also is applying to vet school) immediately helped me give this puppy a soapy enema. What came next was more worms than we thought could possibly be in this poor pup's tract. After spending the afternoon with us, Red seemed to feel more comfortable, and was done expelling most of the worms. Fun fact: the breeder and the breeder's vet determined that this puppy was worm free the week before.
No. 2--Choke by Nevil
At a farm, there is a certain structure, an outline or a framework for the work that needed to be done that particular day. And all of it surrounds feedings. In the morning, it's the first thing we do, and in the afternoon it's the last thing that gets done. During feedings there's certain things you look for depending on the season. In the fall, you look for pasture quality, you make sure the animals weaned are eating well. In the winter, you look for the place with the least wind, and make sure that the automatic waterer's aren't frozen. In the spring, you start looking for babies. And in the early summer you're looking to maintain all of that. It was late spring when this happened. I was working with a girl who has an affinity with sheep that I will never have. But we made a good pair, because I was the girl with the affinity for horses. Anyways, we went into Pasture 2, often used as the paddock for mares and their newborn foals. Most of the foals were on the ground at this point, and the mares were being supplemented with hay cubes to help maintain their body weight and to make sure the foals were getting enough nutrition. Anyways, we feed up, and I notice that one of the foals was having a green discharge from nose and mouth. It was either severe nasal discharge or something else was very very wrong. Immediately I alerted the girl I was working with, and we observed the colt for a moment, instantly becoming worried when Nevil did something I've never seen a horse do: look like he was going to vomit. Now the thing is, horses aren't anatomically built for throwing up. We called our bosses, got a halter and led Nevil and his mother to the barn to wait for the vet. Prognosis? Nevil was choking on something that he ate--most likely a hay cube. The discharge was saliva that he couldn't swallow because when horses choke, whatever they are choking on is lodged in their esophagus, not in the trachea as it is in humans. So before I was told to leave, I was able to help tube Nevil, and start the slow dissolving process of the object. Long story short, after several hours of work, and two vet visits, Nevil recovered fully, able to swallow and subsequently nurse.
No. 3--Abscessed about X-rays
We see several older dogs and unfortunately if we see them, there tends to be something drastically wrong. With Kal, it was something intestinal, as well as something on his paw. Therefore, we took X-rays to see if it was a foreign body, or something else. What we saw on the radiographs was inconclusive but what was important was that the nurses were in charge of cleaning and soaking his paw. There was a sore on it, something that seemed to make him very leery of walking on such a foot. We scrubbed it with chlorohexidine, apparently the choice for it's abilities to clean and not burn. But as we scrubbed, we noticed that it was scabbed over, a sign that Kal had been bothering it for some time now. Kate immediately went to pick it off while I held Kal. I watched as massive amounts of puss, fluid and blood came out of the poor paw. We had released the abscess which in a healthy dog meant that getting back to normal was very soon.
In conclusion, these are the stories that keep me going. These are the stories that let me know that I will never be bored at my job. I will constantly be challenged and stimulated. I also recieved my first e-mail saying that I was selected for an interview at a University outside of the United States. My excitement cannot be diminished.
I want to be a vet because I think this stuff is cool.
No. 1-- More Tapeworm than Puppy
We get a lot of animals from pet stores, breeders, and the occasional puppy mill. Usually they have some sort of worm. But on this particular day, there was a room that most of the nurses and techs wanted nothing to do with. So because I am the newest member of the team, I had to take it. And this is not a problem for me. Oddly enough, there is very little that grosses me out. I walk in, and there is this puppy who I could probably fit in two hands easily. Bright eyed but not fancy free, it was clear that this puppy who we'll call Red was not feeling all that great. A conversation with Mom produced two things: a standard fecal sample, and a zip lock back of tapeworms. I take a temperature, a weight, ask a few more questions and quickly take the goodies to the back where it is shown off to the doctors and nurses alike. It was a like a war had just broke out and I got the spoils. Immediately everyone was interested in my case. The doctor took the case, examined Red and prescribed an enema to help Red pass the rest of the worms inevitably in his intestinal tract. As we took the puppy to the back, Kate (one of the younger nurses who also is applying to vet school) immediately helped me give this puppy a soapy enema. What came next was more worms than we thought could possibly be in this poor pup's tract. After spending the afternoon with us, Red seemed to feel more comfortable, and was done expelling most of the worms. Fun fact: the breeder and the breeder's vet determined that this puppy was worm free the week before.
No. 2--Choke by Nevil
At a farm, there is a certain structure, an outline or a framework for the work that needed to be done that particular day. And all of it surrounds feedings. In the morning, it's the first thing we do, and in the afternoon it's the last thing that gets done. During feedings there's certain things you look for depending on the season. In the fall, you look for pasture quality, you make sure the animals weaned are eating well. In the winter, you look for the place with the least wind, and make sure that the automatic waterer's aren't frozen. In the spring, you start looking for babies. And in the early summer you're looking to maintain all of that. It was late spring when this happened. I was working with a girl who has an affinity with sheep that I will never have. But we made a good pair, because I was the girl with the affinity for horses. Anyways, we went into Pasture 2, often used as the paddock for mares and their newborn foals. Most of the foals were on the ground at this point, and the mares were being supplemented with hay cubes to help maintain their body weight and to make sure the foals were getting enough nutrition. Anyways, we feed up, and I notice that one of the foals was having a green discharge from nose and mouth. It was either severe nasal discharge or something else was very very wrong. Immediately I alerted the girl I was working with, and we observed the colt for a moment, instantly becoming worried when Nevil did something I've never seen a horse do: look like he was going to vomit. Now the thing is, horses aren't anatomically built for throwing up. We called our bosses, got a halter and led Nevil and his mother to the barn to wait for the vet. Prognosis? Nevil was choking on something that he ate--most likely a hay cube. The discharge was saliva that he couldn't swallow because when horses choke, whatever they are choking on is lodged in their esophagus, not in the trachea as it is in humans. So before I was told to leave, I was able to help tube Nevil, and start the slow dissolving process of the object. Long story short, after several hours of work, and two vet visits, Nevil recovered fully, able to swallow and subsequently nurse.
No. 3--Abscessed about X-rays
We see several older dogs and unfortunately if we see them, there tends to be something drastically wrong. With Kal, it was something intestinal, as well as something on his paw. Therefore, we took X-rays to see if it was a foreign body, or something else. What we saw on the radiographs was inconclusive but what was important was that the nurses were in charge of cleaning and soaking his paw. There was a sore on it, something that seemed to make him very leery of walking on such a foot. We scrubbed it with chlorohexidine, apparently the choice for it's abilities to clean and not burn. But as we scrubbed, we noticed that it was scabbed over, a sign that Kal had been bothering it for some time now. Kate immediately went to pick it off while I held Kal. I watched as massive amounts of puss, fluid and blood came out of the poor paw. We had released the abscess which in a healthy dog meant that getting back to normal was very soon.
In conclusion, these are the stories that keep me going. These are the stories that let me know that I will never be bored at my job. I will constantly be challenged and stimulated. I also recieved my first e-mail saying that I was selected for an interview at a University outside of the United States. My excitement cannot be diminished.
I want to be a vet because I think this stuff is cool.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Reason No. 2: Inspiration and Trust
I was going to write more about the fun case studies I've been a part of over the past weeks but instead I think I'm going to focus on something I've read recently. It's in an old magazine that my parents get to change the way their thinking or something. Either way, it's Positive Thinking (May/Jun 2007 pg. 48-51). I want to share an excerpt with you:
"The owner pulled the door open. A full-size horse came flying out, snorting, chest heaving, eyes rolling. His skinny chestnut-brown body was crisscrossed with long scars. He shook his black mane, and chunks of dried mud and manure fell to the ground. He stomped his feet and looked at me. 'That horse will kill you,' the owner muttered. Then those big brown eyes locked on mind and I saw a different story. 'I've had such a terrible life of pain and abuse. I'm scared,' his eyes seemed to say. 'Won't you give me a chance?'...I looked down at the fallen horse and saw what he could become if only someone helped him. 'Get up,' I whispered....He rose and faced me, then lowered his head, waiting for me to make the next move." (p.50-51)
It's stories like this that constantly amaze me. In this crazy, messed up world I'm often one to think that human beings do more harm than good on a regular basis. That we can be compared to a swarm of locusts that demolish a crop at such an alarming rate that there is little to be saved at the end of it. But it is animals like the horse in this story that constantly amaze me. Animals that have been abused all their lives and with patience, a quiet word and a lot of love you can turn the meanest animal around. I've always said that no animal is mean. They're usually scared, angry or very sick. The only creature I've ever encountered that could be outright mean for the hell of it are humans.
I want to be a vet, because I want inspire trust in animals that don't trust.
"The owner pulled the door open. A full-size horse came flying out, snorting, chest heaving, eyes rolling. His skinny chestnut-brown body was crisscrossed with long scars. He shook his black mane, and chunks of dried mud and manure fell to the ground. He stomped his feet and looked at me. 'That horse will kill you,' the owner muttered. Then those big brown eyes locked on mind and I saw a different story. 'I've had such a terrible life of pain and abuse. I'm scared,' his eyes seemed to say. 'Won't you give me a chance?'...I looked down at the fallen horse and saw what he could become if only someone helped him. 'Get up,' I whispered....He rose and faced me, then lowered his head, waiting for me to make the next move." (p.50-51)
It's stories like this that constantly amaze me. In this crazy, messed up world I'm often one to think that human beings do more harm than good on a regular basis. That we can be compared to a swarm of locusts that demolish a crop at such an alarming rate that there is little to be saved at the end of it. But it is animals like the horse in this story that constantly amaze me. Animals that have been abused all their lives and with patience, a quiet word and a lot of love you can turn the meanest animal around. I've always said that no animal is mean. They're usually scared, angry or very sick. The only creature I've ever encountered that could be outright mean for the hell of it are humans.
I want to be a vet, because I want inspire trust in animals that don't trust.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Reason No. 1: A way with animals
Let's be honest and 100% in the open here: I prefer large animals to small animals. That being said, I currently work in a small animal hospital, and I have had a lot of trouble adjusting to the mentality and my co-workers.
The morning started off as any other morning did. I made up vaccinations and filled prescriptions that either didn't get done until later that day or were from messages left on the voicemail of the hospital. Usually, I'm left perfectly alone in that precious hour. It is glorious as I am not totally awake yet, and the jobs are simple. Either way, that morning went by rather tediously with room after room, and a few disparaging comments from my boss in the area of my abilities to hold animals or something along those lines. Anyways, I took the next room up and it happened to be a cat. The kitty was huge, a New Forest variety.
Basically this woman wants to make sure that her new cat is healthy, and after asking her the standard questions she takes a hard look at me. And she goes, "Are you going to go to vet school?"
Surprised, and slightly taken aback I stumble over my own response. "Well, uh...actually I applied for next year but I'm really hoping that I can get in somewhere."
She picks up the cat, stroking his long multi-colored fur and looks up at me. "Well you should do it. Because you have a way with animals, I can tell these things."
I didn't question it because I wanted to believe it. Instead I sputtered, got embarrassed and I think I managed to say thank you. So from that moment on, I trust this strangers words of encouragement.
I will be a vet because I have a way with animals.
The morning started off as any other morning did. I made up vaccinations and filled prescriptions that either didn't get done until later that day or were from messages left on the voicemail of the hospital. Usually, I'm left perfectly alone in that precious hour. It is glorious as I am not totally awake yet, and the jobs are simple. Either way, that morning went by rather tediously with room after room, and a few disparaging comments from my boss in the area of my abilities to hold animals or something along those lines. Anyways, I took the next room up and it happened to be a cat. The kitty was huge, a New Forest variety.
Basically this woman wants to make sure that her new cat is healthy, and after asking her the standard questions she takes a hard look at me. And she goes, "Are you going to go to vet school?"
Surprised, and slightly taken aback I stumble over my own response. "Well, uh...actually I applied for next year but I'm really hoping that I can get in somewhere."
She picks up the cat, stroking his long multi-colored fur and looks up at me. "Well you should do it. Because you have a way with animals, I can tell these things."
I didn't question it because I wanted to believe it. Instead I sputtered, got embarrassed and I think I managed to say thank you. So from that moment on, I trust this strangers words of encouragement.
I will be a vet because I have a way with animals.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Reason 0: An Introduction
All the best books I have ever read had some sort of introduction. Sometimes it was just a foreword from the author, or other times it was setting the scene with background on the era the book takes place. This is my introduction.
I have wanted to be a veterinarian since I was a small child, and while this seems to be a common theme in the whole veterinarian pursuit for some people, it is such a critical part of who I have always been. As a child I practiced being observant on my own pets, from my fish to my cocker spaniel. This developed when I got accepted in college as an Animal Science Pre-Veterinary Medicine major. Although there was a time that I allowed myself to be discouraged by those who told me I could not do it, after exploring several other options and being pointed to vet school over and over again, I've decided that I'm going to apply and hope that someone gives me a chance.
This is my list of reasons why I believe I should go, why I can go, and remind me about what I love about this field that will keep me going.
I have wanted to be a veterinarian since I was a small child, and while this seems to be a common theme in the whole veterinarian pursuit for some people, it is such a critical part of who I have always been. As a child I practiced being observant on my own pets, from my fish to my cocker spaniel. This developed when I got accepted in college as an Animal Science Pre-Veterinary Medicine major. Although there was a time that I allowed myself to be discouraged by those who told me I could not do it, after exploring several other options and being pointed to vet school over and over again, I've decided that I'm going to apply and hope that someone gives me a chance.
This is my list of reasons why I believe I should go, why I can go, and remind me about what I love about this field that will keep me going.
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