Hitting The Ground Running

Everyone likes to ease into a semester, but unfortunately I do not have that privilege this semester.  My first week was incredibly busy and I'm sure it's not going to slow down from here.  I'm exhausted from just looking at my schedule.

I was up early for the gym on Monday in order to get into the routine right away and of course work off all the food I ate over the break.  I had Path (pathology 2) Lab from 8-9:30am, registered afterwards, ClinPath (clinical pathology) from 10-11, ran to the bank at 11am, Path lecture at 1pm, Epi (veterinary public health and epidemiology) at 2pm, and then Pharm (pharmacology 2) at 3pm.  A very long/busy day for the first day!

The professor I did chicken research with (Dr. Ketzis) at the beginning of the year wanted me to help her do it again this semester.  Since this semester is incredibly busy, she wanted to get started right away.  So, any free time I had from classes this week is filled with research. Tuesday marked the start of that research with set-up including weighing spray bottles, setting up the room, and other basic preparations for the chickens.  My class this day included ClinPath at 10am, MOD (Mechanisms of Disease) at 11am, Path at 1pm, Epi at 2pm, and Pharm at 3pm.

Wednesday was a very tiring long day.  I had research all morning measured and filled the spray bottles, got the room set up with a video camera, went to pick up the chicken, then did a vet check complete with weights, nail trims, and physical exams.  Then I had class all afternoon: Path 1pm, Epi at 2pm, Pharm at 3pm, ClinPath at 4pm.   I went to go check on the chickens again around 7:30 to make sure they had enough food and water.

I had to check the chickens again on Thursday morning.  I went to the gym afterwards instead of before since I really didn't want to get out of bed :)  I then had ClinPath at 10am and MOD at 11am.  During lunch, we had to wash three of the birds to get rid of any lice they had on them.   Another late afternoon with ClinPath lab from 3-5pm.  7pm and I was checking on the chicken again.

More research on Friday morning.   I also have essential Vet Skills: Ovine physical exam from 10-12pm, which should be interesting.  That afternoon, I then have Path at 1pm and Epi at 2pm.  I do still have to check on the chickens tonight though!

I don't even get a break this weekend!  I am doing research starting at 7am, then the first PAWS adoption day of the semester is on Saturday, and it's Mr RUSVM that evening. On Sunday, we have to do lice counts on the chickens at 8am and then I have to check on them again at 7pm.

Whew...what a way to jump right back into the new semester!

Chicken lice research

Monday was back into the swing of things after my LSU weekend.  I started the chicken research project.  So what we are testing is the repellent effect of a certain product against lice on poultry.  So today we measured out the product to make sure all the chickens are getting the same amount, randomized the chickens so the investigator (Dr. Jennifer Ketzis) doesn't know which chicken gets what, and then set up the room for the chickens.  At lunch there was a talk on avian clinical cases that I went to.
Tuesday, the school showed the recording of Kelli and Gavin's House Hunter's International.  They were very cute and very entertaining.  I then stayed on campus for a while to catch up on the lectures that I missed while at LSU.
On Wednesday, for the chicken research we set up the vitro trial (this is in order to see if the lice on a petri dish are actually staying away from the product or if it affects them at all).  The chicken arrived, so we did vet checks on all of them, weighed them, tagged them, harvested lice from one chicken and treated that one chicken. The treatment of the chicken consists of spraying them with the product, washing it off, then drying the chicken. We then set up the lice in the Petri dishes.  Every few hour we had to go check the chicken to see if there were any skin reactions from the product.

Thursday we treated two chickens (spray, wash, dry) and feed/water them and checked them for reactions.
On Friday night after volleyball, I will feed/water, check the temperature in the room, and check for skin reactions on the chickens.  Some friends are having a big party at their house, so I will hang out there for a little while.
Saturday is a long day for the research.  At 7am, we will check all the chickens, feed/water them, then do lice counts on each of them.  We will treat the last three chickens and check for the start of exposure.  We will then do lice counts every two hours.
Sunday - Happy Easter! Thanks for the Easter goodies mom!  A few of us are going to brunch at Carambola.  That evening, I will check the chickens, feed/water them, check the room temperature, and check for skin reactions. The chickens will then be euthanized on Monday for the anatomy lab.

Dog walk

PAWs Animal Welfare Walk:

Sunday consisted of studying and cleaning.

Physiology test was on Monday!
Tuesday wasn't too exciting other than classes, however that night I did attempt ceaser dressing and pasta with vodka-cream sauce.  It turned out pretty well! I was impressed!
On Wednesday I didn't have class until 9am, but I went to school at the usual time to get an early gym session in.  I ran to the bank and got my oil changed before afternoon classes.  I also bought my flight, registration, and hotel for the LSU student conference!  Yay so excited!
On Thursday, It was the last day of my photo challenge!  I cannot believe I kept up with it for one year!  It's time for something else though.
Friday, February 1st! It's seriously February already?  I have donkey research testing from 9-11am and then volleyball.

This weekend I have more donkey research  and I will probably spend some time at the beach or pool!