ASPCA Externship

New York, New York

As I am channeling my inner Carrie Bradshaw writing from a cafe down the street from the place I am staying, I can't help but wonder if you ended up guessing that my next externship was in NYC! (The 92 Questions from Sex and The City) Helping out where I have always wanted to, I am doing an externship at the ASPCA.  The facility works differently than most animal clinics because it's an adoption center, emergency clinic, forensics center, and specialty practice all in one.  A wide variety of medical issues are seen; I have seen electrical cord burns on a tongue (the tongue sloughed off when we examined it), icteric pets (they were so icteric that their skin was yellow as well as the typical yellow serum presentation), multiple high rise syndrome cats, several hit-by-cars, several fractures and amputations, toxicities, several foreign bodies, malnourishment, urinary obstructions, and heart failure.
Check out all of their adoptable pets! Since spending time with a lot of them, I know they are great pets! I just wish I could take one home myself!

I am loving every moment in NYC.  Every day I take a different street to my externship (2 miles one way) in order to explore something new.  I have been to NY a few times before, but this time I can really immerse myself in it, after all this is the city that never sleeps.  Particularly, I love that everyone is happy to do their own thing; I saw many singles out to dinner alone or grabbing a drink alone.  I was delighted to be able to catch up with friends while here as well. So far on this trip I ventured to Dylan's Candy Bar, the 9/11 memorial, Le District, the Charging Bull, Katz's (where you can have what she's having), Eataly (this store needs to be near me), Times Square, the M&M shop, Baked by Melissa cupcakes, walked along Madison Avenue on the upper east side for the designer shops, Sprinkles, Serendipity, Uva, and a few other little street places.

Since we are summoning my inner Carrie Bradshaw these next two weeks, here are some of my favorite Sex and the City quotes:

-"Maybe some women aren't meant to be tamed. Maybe they need to run free until they find someone just as wild to run with" -Carrie

-"The most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself.  And if you find someone to love the you that you love, well that's just fabulous." -Carrie

-"I'm looking for love. Real love. Ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming, can't-live-without-each-other-love." -Carrie

-"I've been dating since I was fifteen, I'm exhausted! Where is he?" -Charlotte

-"Absofuckinlutely" -Mr Big

-"I'd like a cheeseburger, please, large fries, and a cosmopolitan" -Carrie

-"Single and fabulous, exclamation point." -Carrie

Colic

She Died Peacefully At Home

There was a spay day at animal control on Sunday that I was able to help with right before getting called in for a foal with chronic diarrhea.  This week I had a colic patient who underwent surgery on emergency and got transferred to me the next day.  She was suppose to go home since she was doing so well, but then started to shows signs of colic again. Our service saw a tooth root abscess surgery, ruptured tendon,  another arthroscope, and lots of colic. I was on call again on Wednesday and again got called in for a horse with colic with unfortunately ended up bring euthanized.

For those not as familiar with horses: The true term "colic" refers to generalized abdominal pain.  There is a variety of signs and causes of colic and finding out the cause is of course where the vet comes in.  There are several diagnostics including checking vitals, gut sounds, rectal palpation, nasogastric tube, abdominocentesis, radiographs, and ultrasound.  A nasogastric tube is a tube that is placed up the nose, down the esophagus, and into the stomach in order to relieve fluid or gas buildup as well as used to administer fluids and mineral oil. The treatment includes anaglesics (pain meds), fluids, laxatives, and sometimes surgery. Prevention comes from feeding a well rounded diet.

I've thoroughly enjoyed working with these powerful yet sensitive creatures.  I received several compliments from the intern, resident, and clinician that I worked with and I was even asked to think about working in equine medicine.  Hmm, this just makes my decision of what to do after school that much more difficult.

I will be traveling again this weekend for my next rotation and externship! Start spreading the news. Any guesses where to this time?

Equine Surgery Rotation

Back in LA and first stop was food of course!  One less food item (Muffaletta) off part of my 30 before 30 list!

For the next two weeks, I will be on my equine surgery rotation which means powerful, expensive creatures and 12 hour days. While on this rotation, we saw a mare with a laceration, a mare with a neck abscess (my patient) with a foal who had surgery for a patent urachus, chronic lameness which was very difficult to diagnosis what was causing the lameness, nasal discharge which turned out to be a tooth root abscess, which we removed, and a bilateral carpal arthroscopy (my patient).  The chronic lameness horse was the most frustrating because none of the diagnostic joint and nerve blocks that we performed seemed to help show us where the lameness was coming from.  The horse will have to have further diagnostic testing.

(I do actually do the second to last picture and lucky not the last yet)

Love this! It's so true! : The Husbandry And Feeding Of Veterinarians For New Owners

30 Before 30

Lake Shore Drive

Fourth of July weekend:

I been able to see all different types of birds during this externship, but my favorite one that came in was this one.  A Cooper's Hawk....yes I still most enjoy working with the raptors.

I have experienced more than most people have at my age, yet still where I am now isn't where I imagined I would be.  Blame it on my gypsy soul. So, I have decided that I want to make a list of 30 things I want to accomplish before I turn 30.  I have 8 months to complete this.  Keep up with what I've crossed off under the About Me tab on the right side of this blog.

My 30 before 30:

1) Get in my best shape
"The only bad workout is the one you didn't do"
I love to eat and have been fortunate to have a great metabolism, but since I haven't been as active during school, I want to get back into my ideal shape.
2) Heal your past and move on
"Just let go. Let go of how you thought your life should be, and embrace the life that is trying to work its way into your consciousness."
I praise myself for the strength I have developed from my past.  I would like to fully embrace the present and live in the moment even more.
3) Get a small tattoo or new piercing
My parents will just love this one!  Don't worry, I'm just talking about a henna tattoo.  After all, you don't put bumper stickers on a Ferrari.
4) Travel to a new country
"Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind.  And in return, life - and travel - leaves marks on you."
I have entire travel bucket list I need to fulfill. The travel impulse is mental and physical curiosity. It's a passion and I can't understand people who don't want to travel.  Travel is about the gorgeous feeling of teetering in the unknown.
5) Get better at yoga
"Namaste"
I have a few basic to go moves, but not nearly enough for where I want to be. Yoga isn't just about your body or self-improvement.  It's about self-acceptance.
6) Go a day with no electronics, including phone.
"There is no wifi in the forest, but I promise you there is better connection"
We rely on electronics way too much, and I know my phone will be the hardest one to go without.
7) Learn medical Spanish
"Su perro esta enfermo"
This has been a goal for a long time.  It's all about communication.
8) Go to a nice restaurant alone
Alone At A Bar
I have ate at restaurants alone before, but usually just on my way home for a quick bite. I would like to dress up specially just for going out with the best date there is...myself! 
9) Eat every food on the Louisiana Foods list
10) Pass the NAVLE in November!
11) Find a new regular drink
"Time to drink champagne and dance on the table"
First it was Dirty Shirley's (thanks Susie), then Dragonberry and Sprite. On the island, all I drank pineapple and Malibus. Margaritas have of course always been a favorite as well as wine, but let's see what else I can come up with.
12) Try one new recipe each month
"Eating is a necessity but cooking is an art"
With my schedule, it's hard to want to cook when I come home, so I prep meals on Sunday for the week, but it's usually the same few meals.
13) Attend a LSU football game
"Geaux Tigers"
I've heard all the rumors, but let's compare it to the VT games.
14) Get involved in a church I love
First, I need to find a church in my area that I enjoy going to.
15) Do something for 30 day
Not sure what that something will be just yet.
16) Take better care of my nails
"A woman is helpless only while her nail polish is drying."
My nails have always been brittle and I've tried just about everything to make them stronger.  I can always try again.
17) Read a self improvement book once a month
"There is no challenge more challenging than the challenge to improve yourself"
There is always room for improvement.
18) Attend a new cultural experience
"If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion, and avoid the people, you might better stay home."
I'm in a city with a rich and vibrant culture, so I might as well take more advantage of it.
19) Adopt a pet
"The best therapist has fur and four legs"
Another one my parents will love. I might not have the time, so it can be something that doesn't take a lot of responsibility, but I do need to have a critter in my life again.  It's not the same without one.
20) Figure out what I'm doing after I graduate.
"The future is exciting"
Internship? General practice? FDA? ASPCA?  Although I don't want to think about what can happen in a month, in a year, and want to just focus on the 24 hours in front of me, I would like a more generalized idea of what path I want to take. 
21) Go to a drive in movie
"Let's go to the movies"
What a fun throw back experience.
22) Donate blood
"Once you become fearless, life becomes limitless"
Ugh I hate needles and I get faint with blood, and frankly the entire thought scares me, but let's try it just this once. It's for a good cause right?
23) Get a psychic reading
New Orleans has readers on every corner, so why the heck not?  Let's see what they have to say.
24) Make your own pizza from scratch
"I ate salad for dinner.  Mostly crotons and tomatoes.  Really just one big round crouton covered with tomato sauce.  And cheese. Fine, it was pizza. I ate a pizza."
Because why not?!
25) Create a signature dish
"First we eat then we do everything else"
26) Finally get rid of the clothes that you don't wear/don't fit.
I still have clothes from high school in my closet....
27) Update my nectar list
"She designed a life she loved"
A nectar list is the opposite of a bucket list where you list everything you have done.  This way instead of seeing a list of things you need to accomplish, you can see a list of things you have already achieved. 
28) Learn a new prop for belly dance.
"Always say yes to dancing"
I still would like to learn the sword, fire, and cane.
29) Realize everything on this list: 100 Things 20 Something Year Olds Need To Realize
30) Create a 40 by 40 list
"Live your life and forget about your age"
I have to complete my bucket list somehow, so let's try breaking it up into pieces one year at a time.

Stress Almost Drove Me Out Of Vet Medicine

The Darker Side of Being A Doctor

America's Oldest Bald Eagle

My Kind Of Town

My Kind Of Town

US Landmarks In Rainbows Over Gay Marriage Ruling 

(Brief) Rant for the week: I adore that our country came together and decided this same-sex marriage ruling. What an amazing day/event to witness. I've always been a strong advocate of love and "same-sex love" is no exception.  Love is too beautiful to be hidden in a closet.  At least 260 species of animal have been noted exhibiting homosexual behavior but only one species of animal every, so far as we know, has exhibited homophobic behavior - and that's the human being.  Isn't it interesting that a county founded to allow freedom from religious persecution is now using religion to persecute freedoms? Isn't it nice that we can use the Bible to be against gay marriage, while simultaneously ignoring all the other parts that inconvenience us?   Brad Pitt quoted" "Equality. Absolutely. That's what defines us.  It's what makes us great. If it doesn't sit well with your religion, let your God sort it out in the end, but that's us. We're equal."  The fact is that this decision yesterday was a legal decision about the scope of our Constitutional rights as humans and US citizens. It was not about religion, religious beliefs or religious freedom.  It is about equal rights, just as the decision in this country to give women the vote and the decision to abolish slavery were about equal rights.  Any decision regarding the scope of a constitutional right is a legal decision, not one based in religion or morality. Love is a human experience, not a political statement.

Brookfield Zoo

Throwback:

This week's externship highlights include a moustache parakeet, cat with a tongue ulcer, bird with a swollen third eyelid, bird with a large mass in its abdomen, bird with a decaying egg in its abdomen, bird with goiter, and a cystotomy on a dog.  Fun fact for the day:  African Grey's will bleed tears when they are excited/stressed. I saw an old elementary school friend at the clinic! So good to see you Laura!

My very own taste of Chicago:

I have Friday and Saturday off of my externship to visit my family for the weekend.  I hope everyone has a great 4th!

Sweet Home Chicago

Sweet Home Chicago

I do believe it's time for another adventure, this time for an externship back to my hometown, Chicago, at the Niles Animal Clinic and Bird Medical Center.

I have so far seen a wide variety of birds and other exotics including conures, amazons, budigees, lovebirds, macaws, sparrows, starlings, african greys, pigeon, cockatiels, cockatoos, guinea pigs, rabbits, a prairie dog.
I was able to see a guinea pig mass removal removal, a rabbit spay, as well as do a dog neuter and guinea pig closure after a necropsy.  I took home a baby bird, that came into the clinic, to feed overnight before the wildlife center could come and take care of it.  I cannot wait to see what the upcoming weeks have in store!

Disco the parakeet

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!