Euthanasia

What we saw on emergency this week: an aggressive dog with hemoabdomen, dog attacked by another dog which resulted in a hip luxation, an eviscerated dog after an attack, several cats that were found on the side of the road, dog with hepatozoonosis infection, a cat with saddle thrombus, dog with GDV, puppy who ate rat bait, dog with a snake bite, and a dog who was hit by a car and resulted in just a femur fracture.

I have worked several days and nights longer than I was scheduled to because my patient needed me to be there.  I have seen and experienced unimaginable things that would haunt the average person.  Am I still loving this profession?  Every. Single. Second.

Rant for the week:
This rant is a sensitive subject and I understand it will probably upset a lot of people so full warning.  However this is my own opinion and I know I'm not the only one willing to express it.  I euthanized my first cat this weekend, even worse, it was a suffering kitten.  Obviously the veterinarian was present and I have euthanzied a wild bird before, but this was different.  This kitten was found on the side of the road and only us to comfort it as we ended it's suffering.  Unfortunately, shortly beforehand, a dog had to be euthanzied and the owner elected not to be there.  I understand that this can be an extremely hard decision to have to make, let alone be in the room when it happens, and that is completely your decision.  However, I encourage you to be present.  Now I may sound harsh, but I hope you stay because your pet is looking for you as they make this terrifying journey.  This isn't the time for you to be selfish because this pet has never been selfish when it has come to YOUR life.  This pet has been there for you through your successes and losses, why is it so far to return to favor? I'm not telling you it's going to be easy but the veterinary staff don't judge you if you start crying or get mad; we are mourning with you.  Don't get me wrong, your pet won't be alone; it will be me and my assistant comforting them to their new journey, but that isn't who they want. They want you there, they want you petting them and reassuring them that you are with them.  Now please don't feel guilty or mad if you haven't been present in the past; your pet is going to meet you at rainbow bridge no matter what, but please be present for the future.   It's a mercy that we are granted the ability to end suffering.  It is a moment we are given to decide to let go and give them a chance to go without suffering. Yet, it is the hardest thing we do.  To stay late at work, to stay with a friend and help let go of one of their own.  It is a mercy and a curse.

Traveling for my externship this weekend!

Small Animal Emergency Rotation

15 Words You'll Only Understand If You're From LA

Last Friday night fun:

Giant checkers

Giant Jenga

Pool day because I'm missing the island life: Things You Learn Living On An Island

First Snoball! Yum!

This week I started my emergency rotation where I work from 4:30pm to 12am every night, although a few nights ended around 3am.  I work again Sat and Sun from 8am - 5pm.

What has come in on emergency so far this week: UTI, puppy that was stepped on and suffered broken ribs, kitten that was attacked by dog, dog with pancreatitis, very agitated vomiting cat, puppy that was choking, dog that ate a peach seed, two neurologic dogs, dog with a large splenic mass, dog with a vaccine reaction, a 24 year old cat in kidney failure, dog who wasn't eating that ended up having a tumor near its stomach, puppy who ate chocolate, anemic dog, and even a dog who had a fish hook in its eye. And this is all just the first week!  I love being able to learn as I go and the excitement of not knowing what will come through the door.

How Not To Be A Dick At The Vet Hospital

Big Announcement/ What Is Sleep?

Happy Birthday Ryan!  Without you, I would be stuck making fun of the family alone and let's be honest, your jokes are better than mine.

In other news, huge congratulations are in order for Julia and my future brother-in-law James!  I'm bursting with happiness and excitement for the two of you! I wish I could have been there to celebrate with you both but I cannot wait to see what is in store for your future together!  It will be legendary!  ;)

Emergency rotation this week, so that means:

Monday started my emergency rotation and my week of no sleep and struggling to find time to study for my two upcoming exams.  There are 9 people on my rotation and you sign up for equal shifts during the week and weekend.  My first shift was Monday night in the ICU from 4:30pm to12am.  If you are on the ICU shift, you take care of the animals that are in the hospital overnight.  We only had one dog in the hospital for the night, so luckily I was able to get some studying in.

I was on call on Tuesday from 12am - 8am, fearing I would miss a call, I didn't sleep as well as I would have liked.  When you are on the on all shift, you just have to make sure you are by your phone because you will be called if an emergency comes into the hospital.  I had palpation that afternoon as well which, I hate to say, was a waste of two hours that I could have been studying.

On Wednesday, we had our Therio exam and I had my first OVH (Spay) that afternoon!  It went so well; we had so many compliments from the professors and technicians.  I was fortunate enough to have such a great team (Thanks Amanda, Becky, and Jillian!)  We finished our spay in very good time around 4pm, but then I had to run off to emergency grand rounds, and I was also on for SOAPing and then run back to finish up our surgery report and discharge instructions......triple booked myself.  We then had to check our spay at VTH at 7pm and 11pm.  A few of us went out to Sprat Nets in the meantime.  I was given the keys to the student drug lockbox by the professor, so I had to make sure everyone got their spay's pain meds at 11pm.

I was on call from 12-8am Thursday morning, so I didn't get a lot of sleep that night, again in fear that my phone would ring and I would miss the call.  We checked on our spay patient again in the morning and after class.  I went home to sleep a bit because I then had the ICU shift from 4:30-12am.  We had three animals in the clinic with two "emergencies." Luckily, I was able to get some studying in again.

Friday, I am on the back up shift from 4:30 -12am.  When you are on back up, you might be called in if there are too many animals in the hospital or if an animal comes in that needs to be placed in isolation.

It's the weekend!  Oh wait....
Saturday, I am on call from 8am-4pm and then on Sunday I'm in ICU from 12-8am and back up from 4-12am all while trying to find time to study for my upcoming exam.  It's been an exhausting week, but I've loved every moment of it! The best feeling in the world is knowing you took a step in the right direction.  A step towards the future where everything that you never though possible, is possible.

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together in a perfect unity."  Colossians 3:12-14 NIV