Hii friends - currently willing myself to sit through four hours worth of lectures on suturing. Basically which knots to tie and when. Kinda dull ngl, would much rather be learning about the surgeries themselves but I know every single bit of knowledge is a step in the right direction so I’ve got my bubble tea and i’m trying to pay close attention!
Also my driving instructor said I did good today hehehe. Next on the agenda after these lectures: draft my essay and edit a yt video on how I study!
Drop me any asks you have or comment or message me about how your day is going! I love speaking to all of you :D
HAI friends it me again, posting what I love posting, a handwriting closeup :D this is from our very first surgical lecture so it made me really happy to make them, I’m starting to feel like a real vet..
I’m working on yet another youtube video (omg they are so much FUN to make let me tell you) but if you want to check out my last one where I talk about vet school, link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7C7dWX_hvs
as usual, I love hearing from you guys so feel free to send me asks or messages or coomments or whatever it is the kids do these days about how you’re doing and how your weeks are going <3 also I’m headed to a cat cafe later might spam everyone with cat pics sorry not sorry kbyeloveyou
hi friends i made a youtube video uwu please check it out and send me asks on what you’d like me to talk about next? If u feel like it? Send me messages and asks and leave comments about how ur day went <3
much love from a vet student away from vet school who just wants to hold an animal
You can probably think of several changes that would improve your quality of life. Maybe working fewer hours, spending more time outdoors or winning the lottery so you can buy that new car. It’s a very personal list.
For many people their dog’s quality of life is as important as any other family member’s. Many difficult veterinary decisions are made on the basis of quality of life judgements but the obvious challenge is that dogs can’t speak.
Doctors treating babies or adults with dementia face the same problem, so they ask someone who knows the patient well to complete a rigorously designed questionnaire on their behalf.
They hope their recommendations will help owners and vets assess canine quality of life with greater accuracy and confidence, making difficult decisions a little easier.
Thinking of setting up your own blood donation programme in your practice?
These are the factors you need to consider when accepting cats and dogs into the programme!
Th ideal blood donor should be in good health, in good body condition and on the large size (but not obese) so that a decent amount of blood can be taken! They must be up to date with their vaccinations to ensure they are not harbouring any infectious diseases that could be passed on to the recipient. No travel outside of the country is essential for the same reason. Cats ideally should be from single cat households and live indoors only - this reduces the risk of FeLV and FIV being a concern.
It is essential that any donor on the programme has never had a blood transfusion.
These patients will require iv catheter placements and prolonged restraint for bleeding, they must be placid, easily handled and not highly strung. They should not find the process of donating blood scary and stressful.
Pre-blood donation checks: PCV + TP/TS + General health/recent illnesses + blood pressure + the last time they donated blood.
Always attempt to rule out underlying heart disease in cat before accepting them onto a donation programme - donating blood can kill cats that have heart disease,
Definition: An abnormal increase in the amount Haemoglobin in the circulatory system either due to loss of plasma volume or increased numbers of erythrocytes.
THE THREE TYPES:
Relative - In this type of Polycythemia the actual number of RBC’s within the circulatory system is not abnormal, however due to dehydration there is a loss of plasma volume increasing the haemoglobin concentration.
Transient - This is more common in horses and is caused by splenic contraction where concentrated RBC’s are ejected into the circulatory system from the spleen. Splenic contraction occurs in response to Epinephrine release which is a hormone response to anger, stress and fear.
Absolute - This is caused when the Bone marrow produces increases amounts of RBC’s. It is separated into primary and secondary.
Primary - Known as Polycythemia rubra vera. This is a myeloproliferative disorder and caused the bone marrow to produce an uncontrolled number of RBC’s.
Secondary - Secondary polycythemia occurs in response to either an overproduction of EPO i.e. due to kidney cysts or overactive adrenals or in response to a physiologically appropriate release of EPO i.e. due to hypoxaemia.
CLINICAL SIGNS:
Polycythemia is asymptomatic but with an increase PCV/haemaglobin concentration comes an increase in blood viscosity. This can cause weakness, lethargy and dyspnea, in addition splenomegaly and heptamegaly is common. Oxygen saturation should also be checked. Lastly patients with this condition can be at risk of thrombus and symptoms associated with this should closely monitored for.
DIAGNOSIS
Through blood work should be carried out to establish the patients PCV, and to allow for underlying causes such as Liver disease to be found. Diagnostic imaging such as radiography and ultrasound are recommended again to establish any underlying disease.
TREATMENT
The aim is to treat the disease which is causing the polycythemia. For example if there is a 100% accurate diagnosis of primary absolute then Myelosuppressive therapy is recommended. However in many patients ‘blood letting’ the removal of blood every few days is enough to control the condition.
PROGNOSIS
A shortened life expectancy is common in these patients. But most live a good quality of life with regular phlebotomy and regular PCV checks.
Biochemistry blood test measures the levels of chemical substances carried in the blood. This type of test allows us to evaluate the how well the liver and kidneys are working and how much fat and sugar is circulating in the bloodstream.
Blood Glucose
When carbohydrates are eaten they are broken down and stored in the Liver as Glycogen until the animal needs energy where it is then converted to glucose and transported around the body. We use blood glucose as a monitor of metabolism and physiology.
Normal BG (Canine) - 5.6 to 13.9mmol/L
Normal BG (Feline) - 5.6 to 16.7mmol/L
INCREASED BG - Diabetes Mellitus is indicated however it is recommended that the urine is also checked for Glucose as if present this means the kidneys have reached their threshold and Diabetes is very likely. Note that cats can have stress induced hyperglycemia and so a diagnosis of diabetes should not be made on a single BG reading.
DECREASED BG - Patients that are sick and deliberated often have hypoglycemia. but puppies who have been starved for procedures can also suffer from a low BG. In addition to this hunting breeds that have been working hard for a prolonged time can also suffer from a low BG.
Bun Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
BUN is the by product produced when Proteins are broken down and used within the body. This by-product is excreted by the Kidneys in the urine.
INCREASED BUN - This would mean the kidneys are not working sufficiently and could be an indicator of kidney disease or kidney obstruction that is preventing urine reaching the bladder and therefore build up in the Kidney. Heart disease causing poor circulation to the kidneys could also be a cause of increased BUN.
DECREASED BUN - As the liver breaks down Protein a lower level of BUN could indicate that the liver is not working as well as it should and isn’t breaking down protein as well as it should.
Creatinine (CREA)
Creatinine is solely filtered out of the blood by the kidneys.
INCREASED CREA - Impaired Kidney function
Calcium (CAL)
Calcium is a mineral that is found at a consistent level within the blood. It’s needed for muscle and nerve function and without it death can occur.
INCREASED CAL - Some types of cancers and medications can cause an increase in Calcium.
DECREASED CAL - Some animals can experience low calcium levels during pregnancy, post partum and during lactation. This condition is called Eclampsia.
Total Protein (TP)
The measurement of two blood protein molecules: Albumin and Globulins. Albumin is produced by the Liver and levels are often decreased when the animal is going through a period of poor nutrition. Chronic infectious disease will also cause low Albumin levels.
Globulins include immunoglobulins which are used by the body to fight infection. Certain diseases such as FIP can cause an increase in this.
Bilirubin (BIL)
Haemoglobin is found inside red blood cells, it carries oxygen to tissues around the body. When RBC’s die or are destroyed and the haemoglobin is broken down, bilirubin is a by product of this process which is then excreted by the Liver.
INCREASED BIL - An increase can be seen when the Liver is diseased and is can’t clear the bilirubin efficiently. A liver or bile duct obstruction can cause bilirubin to build up thus resulting in high levels in the blood so this should also be considered.
Alkaline Phophatese (ALKP)
This is an enzyme used to assist with various chemical reactions within the body. The normal levels vary from animal to animal but in dogs, an increase could indicate some forms of cancer or Liver disease.
Atanine Amino Transferase (ALT)
This is an important enzyme for adequate Liver function. An increase in this enzyme would indicate that Liver cells are breaking down, this could be because of cancer, cirrhosis, or liver congestion due to heart failure.
Cholesterol (CHOL)
INCREASE CHOL - Inadequate Thyroid function
DECREASE CHOL - The animal has been through a period of starvation or is not having their nutritional requirements met.
SODIUM: POTASSIUM RATIO
These levels are almost always interpreted together. Their levels can be affected if there is a disease of the adrenal glands, heart, or kidneys.
In a galaxy far, far away an intergalactic superweapon is halted in metaphase II of meiosis amid a surge in Luteinizing Hormone.
2. Jabba the Corpus Albicans
“makingsa lee ka bok pateesa… beeska chata wnow kong bantha poodoo”
(translation) “you may have been a good friend..but now you are bantha fodder”
The corpus albicans is a structure in the ovary that is formed when the corpus luteum regresses.
3. Tusken Raider in the Liver
Despite what you see here, Tusken Raiders are not native to the human liver. If you think that, then you are making a wookie mistake.
The image is actually a portal triad and demonstrates the major structures that enter and leave the liver: hepatic artery, hepatic portal vein and bile duct.
4. The Empire Strikes Back (at the Liver)
Liver histology is definitely where it’s At-At!
A region of connective tissue among the hepatocytes in the liver.
CBC results just threw you a curveball? Now what?!
Score yourself a FREE e-book on “The Pathologist Review of Peripheral Blood,” thanks to the expert #veterinary #clinpath #vetspecialists at Scopio Labs ScopioVet pathologists have authored a comprehensive guide on the role of the peripheral blood smear at the point of care, and how digital cytology is changing the game for hematology. Allowing you to get more diagnostic input in-house and right away, so you can treat your #feline #canine #veterinary patients with confidence! https://scopiolabs.com/vet-pbs-ebook/ https://www.instagram.com/p/COLnOV2lfr6/?igshid=15e8hx2wsd1q6
No, we’re not putting domesticated animals on the spot. Handsome DogsandGorgeous Cats are two wonderful theme blogs run by samathuhhh, a veterinary assistant who uses them to show her love of animals.
Here is our conversation about wild animals, dogs and cats, blogging and learning.
11 Questions: So, tell me a little about Handsome Dogs. How did you start this blog? What was your initial inspiration?
HANDSOME DOGS: I started Tumblr, as most do, just following other blogs. I followed a lot of dog blogs, and even joined a few and started contributing pictures. What I began to notice about most dog blogs out there, is that the tags would just say “dog” or “animals.”
I wanted to create a blog where you can look at a picture of a dog, and know what that dog is by reading the tag. Very simple. So Handsomedogs was created.
I only wanted to post good quality, breed specific photographs, and have them be “handsome” as opposed to adorable (although all of them are adorable). I didn’t start adding mixed breeds until a few months into the blog, and I didn’t start sharing my dog facts until long after that.
Now you can find all sorts of dog information on my blog, it is very interactive, and I post 9 pictures a day, which include followers’ submissions.
2: How did you come to know so much about dogs?
HD: I started off by reading books. I have read dozens of dog books. Then of course watching shows like Dogs 101, Dog Whisperer, It’s Me or the Dog, etc. Then I began working with dogs, first just at a pet store, then at an animal shelter, then as a dog bather, and now as a veterinary assistant. So I know a large variety of fun facts from training to breeds, medical to historical.
3: What kind of work do you do as a veterinary assistant?
HD: I work at an emergency veterinary clinic, so it isn’t the same as a regular clinic. I deal with all sorts of animals who need anywhere from basic to critical care. A typical day is filled with drawing blood, taking xrays, placing IV catheters, giving injections, taking care of hospitalized patients, and educating pet parents. We do preform emergency surgeries which are fun to assist with, whether its a small laceration repair or a major abdominal surgery.
4: How did you decide to become a veterinary assistant?
HD: Actually I never wanted to do anything medical with dogs, or dogs in general. I wanted to rescue wild animals, I still do. But around here there isn’t much experience you can get with wild animals, so I began working with dogs.
I didn’t want to get into the medical field because I didn’t like needles, blood, guts, trauma, or sad animals - which is ironic because that is all I deal with now. But I love it. Its strange to admit, but I love the seriousness of my job and how instead of preventative care, we are saving lives. It totally changed my perspective on my career path. Although I still don’t think I could handle being an actual veterinarian, I would be more inclined to pursue a medical job with wild animals.
5: What’s the most rewarding part of working as a veterinary assistant? If someone is considering doing it, what would you tell them?
HD: Saving animals from life threatening illnesses. Parvo puppies, dogs with bloat, pyometras, foreign bodies… But if someone is considering going into the veterinary field, they cannot be sensitive to the pain of animals. I deal with multiple euthanasias a day. Puppies that have parvo seem to always be the cutest, but also expensive to treat, so I have had to put a handful of puppies to sleep that were only weeks old. It is very sad, but you have to be able to put one animal to sleep then go right into the next room and give someone else bad news and still continue with your day. It is all worth it to better educate pet parents and save lives.
6: Tell me a little about Gorgeous Cats. Did you start it after Handsome Dogs?
HD: Yes. Whenever I go looking for dog pictures, I always run into wonderful cat photos. But all I had was a dog blog. So I created Gorgeouscats simply to share images. It isn’t as frequently updated as Handsomedogs because, well, dogs rule…But I try my best to keep it up.
7: How much time do you spend updating Handsome Dogs/Gorgeous Cats?
HD: Maybe an hour every other day. I queue them up for 2-3 days so I don’t have to update until a few days later. When I’m not busy at work, I can sit on Tumblr and update.
8: What are your favorite dog and cat breeds?
HD: My favorite dog breed is the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. I adore bully breeds and I love how short staffy bulls are.
My favorite is the Bengal cat because they’re big and most love to swim. It would be awesome to have one.
Gremlin or Mogwai? by Mr. Flibble, via Gorgeous cats.
9: You mentioned that you’d like to work with wild animals. Why wild animals? What first drew you to that?
HD: I think it would be a wonderful experience to rescue seals off the coast, or help clean up animals from an oil spill, foster baby animals like tigers or bears who have lost their mothers, or even just work as a veterinary assistant at a zoo. I am drawn to wild animals because they need just as much help as dogs and cats do. But there are more people readily available to help dogs and cats. Although, nothing would be more rewarding than owning a dog rescue.
10: If you couldn’t work with animals, what would do you think you would do for a living?
HD: Well, I always wanted to be a Wildlife Photographer… but that has to do with animals too… That’s a tough one. Maybe work with little kids? They’re close to animals, lol. I have a 3 year old daughter, so working with kids would probably be the alternative.
11:What advice would you give to other bloggers on Tumblr, who want to make their own blogs as good as possible?
HD: Persistence is key. You have to make sure you post every day, because sometimes not everyone like what you think they’ll like. Sometimes I post a picture that I think is the most stunning, and it will only get like, 80 notes, while an image I almost didn’t post ends up getting a thousand. If you know you can’t get to a computer for a day or two, use the queue. And if all else fails, post Corgis.
Today could not be a more stereotypical Friday the 13th of it tried.
Surgeon an hour late. Only 3 people in spay/neuter. Severely dehydrated, severely anemic, dyspneic kitten emergency that we placed an intraosseous catheter in and I had my husband bring in my cat to act as a blood donor (kitten went neuro, was euthanized before transfusion). 9 year old dystocia chihuahua, evil, bred by her brother, puppy presented breech yesterday and was gross and elongated and it took a ton of effort to pull it out because we couldn’t get it to go back in. Dehydrated neuro kitten II, currently on iv fluids. 2 hours of surgery time and we’ve done a whopping 6 surgeries with 20 left to go….
Day only half over….
Halp
Yikes. Feels like you had my week but condensed into 1 day. (I’m in a general practice.) We had several scheduled surgeries, 2 emergency surgeries (a GI foreign body obstruction & a nasty pyometra), and a very dehydrated old lady cat with horrible dental issues (her surgery’s scheduled for next week). Today we had a lab with dystocia (5 pups on x-ray). Is it still dystocia if she should have gone into labor 4 days ago but never did? When my shift let off they were inducing her and prepping for a C-section just in case.
The course is a full day’s session held in several locations around the UK, usually with 20-30 delegates. The course fee is £90 - and includes 3 lectures, 3 practical sessions, Medic handbook, Medic ID Card, your first year’s supporter’s fee & insurance. Run by British Divers Marine Life Rescue.
‼️If you choose to breed your dog, or if your dog gets pregnant and you knowingly choose to continue with the pregnancy, you need to have the money to cover for the possibility of a csection‼️
This could be a few thousand £$ in some places❗️
Some insurance policies will not cover csections ‼️ Check your policy and cover VERY CAREFULLY ❗️
All breeds can experience problems during birth or pregnancy ‼️ Dont assume your large breed dog or terrier, for example, will be fine ❗️
Your dog could need intense veterinary care if she experiences problems in pregnancy ‼️ This can often be fatal for mother and puppies ❗️
Do your research ❗️ Altered nutrition, signs of labour, additional veterinary treatment the bitch may need, timelines, how to hand rear puppies from newborn, weaning, post-whelping care ❗️
This is a reminder that we need a current physical on your animals to be able to prescribe meds for fireworks. So please don’t wait until July 3rd to call us and then get mad when we have no appointments available. We legally cannot prescribe medications for an animal without an up to date physical exam. No, we cannot make exceptions. So if you have an animal that needs meds for fireworks, call your vet first thing Monday morning and get on the schedule. If you’re lucky you can still get in on time.
Left photo: trachea of a “normal” dog Right photo: trachea of a brachycephalic dog
Sad, isn’t it?
Please think about this before you buy one of those “cute”, trendy breeds like pugs or Boston terriers or french bulldogs. Those grunting, wheezing sounds you hear them make sometimes? - it means they can’t get enough air and are struggling to breathe.
As a follow up to the last post (didn’t want to hijack from disabled people making a critical point):
In veterinary medicine, where we do have to touch service dogs for the dog’s health, I simply ask the owner how they want me to proceed and handle their dog. Some are fine with being separated temporarily and telling the dog it can relax. Others stay with the dog the whole time and keep them in working mode for some or most of the appointment. I never touch the dog until the owner has given me explicit permission and I don’t coo over the dog or give it a treat unless the owner has told the dog it can relax.
Service dogs are incredibly important for their handlers, and insisting on getting to pet the dog, talk to the person about their dog as it’s working, or trying to talk to the dog is ableist at best, critically and dangerously distracting at worst. If you see a service dog working, LEAVE IT ALONE and don’t harangue its handler about “he’s so cute” or “wow she’s so smart!” It’s not. For. You.
For that matter, “emotional support animals” that have been deemed to be that way just so they can fit on an airplane — and have undergone no training whatsoever — are an insult to real working dogs, and have made it harder for them. I’ve seen a service dog getting lunged at by dogs people insisted on bringing inside to restaurants, and that situation’s danger is only magnified on a plane. There definitely are many animals that do emotionally help their owners, absolutely — but if they are going to be in cramped public spaces they MUST be trained, instead of the trembling, growling, or hyper dogs I so often see people try to claim as ESAs.
If the dog is at the vet(unless its justbq checkup.) it shoulsnt be working at that moment , should it?!?i dony know.
The handler is still there with them and may still need assistance getting into the vet clinic, having tasks performed or having the dog help them remain calm in public. Just because the dog is at the vet doesn’t mean the owner stops being blind, stops having blood sugar issues or suddenly no longer has PTSD. The service dogs I’ve worked with are working until it’s time for me to physically lay hands on them (about 1-2 minutes of exam time if there are no problems to address) or time for the technicians to perform something for the dog (ie a blood test or vaccines, which may take another 5 minutes or so). But as soon as we are done needing to physically touch them, the dogs go back to work for their handlers.
Veterinary staff are a beautiful mixture of factual-thinking and intense superstition.
Don’t ever remark on how smoothly the anaesthetic’s going, don’t ever assume the “just a booster” appointment will take 10 minutes, and for the love of God don’t even think about saying the Q-word.
Tumblr deactivated my account for my post showing the snake heart. Apparently it had been flagged as “human mutilation”
So unfortunately I’ll have to be more careful about what I post which is frustrating. Seems like Pillowfort may be the best Tumblr alternative if it ever gets out of beta. Until then, I’ll stick around.
This is really great news! Cats have very few options for pain relief and this one will be a game changer. Four days of analgesia that doesn’t involve pills or the owner doing anything at all.
“Warmed wet food can help to promote food consumption in aging cats, especially those that have lost interest in eating or do not consume enough product to maintain a healthy body weight.”
I’ve always advised owners try this so it’s nice to see proof that it works. This is not a substitute for proper veterinary care and diagnostics, this is a tool to use after a diagnosis. Don’t ever wait to see the vet if your cat isn’t eating because they can develop fatty liver disease very quickly and this can be fatal.
Unfortunately my Easter Monday has already had a few lily toxicity cases. I really wish lilies came with a warning label that they cause fatal toxicity in cats. Every part of the lily including the pollen causes renal failure in cats. There is no safe amount- any exposure at all requires an immediate vet visit.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to get your cat to the vet as soon as you know they’ve been exposed. If we can start treating your cat immediately sometimes we can reduce the severity of kidney disease. One of my cases today chewed a leaf on Saturday and the owners knew it was toxic, but thought since the cat vomited it could wait. Today the cat already has signs of kidney failure and it’s too late to help much.
Oddly, lilies only cause GI upset in dogs and not kidney disease. I still don’t advise anyone with pets ever have lilies in their home.
“The overwork and short staffing of the pandemic has affected veterinarians as much as it has other doctors and nurses, and dealing with the constant moral dilemmas and emotional output is driving many to burn out. At the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ veterinary hospital in San Francisco, so many vets and technicians have left that the clinic has had to cut back its hours, says veterinarian Kathy Gervais.”
“Doc, before we go further I need to make sure you know about ducks. What breed is he?”
“He looks like a Pekin to me.”
“No. He’s a Cayuga. Your receptionist said you know about ducks.”
“I see lots of ducks and am knowledgeable about them. Cayugas are black with an iridescent green sheen. Quackery is white and-“
“Wrong. Cayuga’s can be white. I’ll give you another chance. What’s wrong with him?”
“Cayugas can turn grayish as they age but Quackery is only 1. His breed doesn’t matter too much right now. Let’s do an exam and see what we find. So, based on him being kept on concrete and the way this swelling looks he probably has pododermatitis or bumble foot. First thing we need to do is change his environment or this won’t ever get better.”
“I’ve kept ducks all my life and I’ve never had this problem. As long as they have some water they don’t get bumble foot. I think this is cancer. I’ll just go back to Tractor Supply where they know ducks. I’ve got a guy there that used to be a vet tech.”
Meowmeow is a very well behaved cat, most cats aren’t this easy but the information is helpful. If you can’t pill your pet tell your veterinarian! We can often get medicine made into easier to give forms like liquids, gel, transdermal, or tiny pills that melt in the tongue. Not all medication can be made into different forms but we can always find out. Also keep in mind that getting meds compounded does increase the cost a bit but often it’s worth it.
