Bulls, bulls, bulls

Hello!

I wanted to share my experience at a Local Simmental farm recently. I was invited by a friend to help test some young bulls before their December auction.

This farm runs a bull test every year in order to select their top bulls for their bull sale in December. The bull test consists of a feed trial and then a series of measurements (including ultrasound (US) to measure carcass traits) used for genetic and phenotypic evaluation of these bulls.

Measurements include:
- US of rump to measure fat cover of carcass (at site of bicep femoris inserts)
- US of ribeye size (latissimus dorsi over the 12th and 13th rib)
- US of marbling and fat cover over ribs (11th, 12th, 13th ribs)
- Hip height in cm
- Scrotal circumference in cm
- Weigh in lbs and kg
- Aesthetics - manliness, uniqueness, gait, etc.

There were about 30 bulls about 18 moa. Herded them into a head gait, US then into another shoot to weigh and measure. Then after they were all done, having them walk around a concrete pen with hay and just taking a look and comparing them.

:)

Getting good at measuring the scrotal circumference

US probe

I am pretty inexperienced with beef and ESPECIALLY bulls so this was a great learning experience. I also have very little experience with the US. It is definitely a learned skill that takes a long time to master.

We are looking at fat cover, marbling, and ribeye sizes because this is genetic and a good breeding bull should have complimenting genetics to their prospective cows.

This breed has a direct relationship between scrotal circumference and fertility. 35 cm is poor and 42 is excellent. The more you know!

There is such a thing as a "girly" looking bull. It takes a practiced eye to see but I did start to see what they were taking about. Similar to tom cats. They just look manly...

I encourage questions and comments.
I did see there was a request for more prevet school material. I will see what i can do!

Marketplace response

As i am sure most of you heard, CBC Marketplace did a "review" (I use this word loosely) of veterinary costs in Toronto last week and it got a LOT of people's hackles up, including me.

First, This is media. So of course is bias. Second, people have a right to their opinions about it.

I am sure if you read this blog, it is because you have an interest in veterinary medicine. So you probably found this show complete bullshit. But I am mostly worried for those viewers that do not have an interest in vet med; similar to the clients that rant and rave about an exam fee while holding a Starbucks latte and the new iPhone 5 and then leave in their BMW with their $1000 purebred animal. These are the people I fear will listen to marketplace.

Some people can straight up not afford vet med for their animal that they love dearly. I know that I get edgey when I have to take my reptiles in or my parent's animals. I am a student. I would much rather buy new shoes or go out for dinner, or buy beer with this money, but my animal needs it. I hate paying for meds and my car and gas, and all sorts of things, so TRUTHFULLY I get that the vet's office seems like a money grab. And the biggest thing that is lacking is communication. If I knew WHY gas prices went up the hour before I needed to fill up, or WHY the car needed to have a part replaced, maybe I would respect the cost more. I think that if clients knew WHY we heartworm test, WHY we vaccinate, what those disease treatments would cost and the amount of pain and suffering the animal would go through, they would be more willing to pay the bill.

Communication, communication, communication! Most important part of our job!

There was an article in the OVMA magazine a while back about getting clients to understand the VALUE of what you are doing. I really am on board with this. Show them what you are doing! Show them your clinic! Introduce them to your "behind the scenes" staff!

Anyway, there are enough ACTUAL vets posting their opinions online, and as upset as I was about the out of context bashing this woman did on vets, I would much rather offer you some things to read so you can formulate your own opinions.

First:
The episode if you have not seen it.
http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/episodes/2013-2014/barking-mad

And some Twitter responses! Definitely good to read for a chuckle!
https://twitter.com/SnarkyKellie

Second:
A vet from Quebec
http://www.montrealdogblog.com/18019/trustinyourvet/

Third:
A vet from Toronto
http://barkingmadatcbc.tumblr.com/?og=1

EDIT:
3 1/2:
A response from a client.
http://raynecanada.ca/the-value-of-the-veterinarian-the-cbc-marketplace-dilemma/

Fourth:
A blog about the darker side of vet med
http://hstdvm.wordpress.com/2012/07/02/the-thing-i-hate-about-being-a-veterinarian/

Fifth:
A blog from a silly vet
http://vetsbehavingbadly.blogspot.ca/

Ethics

Today we had an interesting lecture on ethics in AVM. It was interesting because it had us start to dissect right and wrong into sub categories. Why is this event wrong? Because it is illegal? Or because as a veterinarian, that is poor care/treatment? Or is it just not good for the societies view on vets?

Example:
Examining a horse, you forget your hoof testers. you decide to make a diagnosis without them. Turns out you were wrong and the testers would have helped you make a correct diagnosis. Horse misses a year of racing while recovering.

Technically, you did nothing illegal. This is bad business, in that the CVO can fine you, you could get fired, and/or the client finds a new clinic and you lose the client. But because we are still a semi-service industry, it is a "buyer beware" situation. The client should have questioned the absence of testers or found a more experienced vet.

I would have always considered this an un-moral (if that is a word) act, but professionalism, laws, and medicine have fine lines between them.

Another Example:
You admit a spay which has to stay overnight at the clinic, as per clinic policy. The dog eats it's stitches overnight and is a gross mess of infection in the morning. It now has to stay for a couple more days to be monitored on fluids and antibiotics. The client is charged for the extra hospitalization time. Owner wants you to take the extra time off saying that it is your fault for not having a cone of shame on the dog.

Again, nothing illegal. In fact, not poor care either. You did not know the dog was going to eat it's stitches, because 99% of the time when a spay stays overnight at the clinic, they do not! And this is how "most vets" do things. Second, informed consent should cover this. Properly worded, the owner signed a paper after a vet or tech explained that post-spay infections can occur as a risk of the procedure. So you are fully morally allowed to keep those charges.

Now, the PR on this sort of thing may cause some clinics to just eat some of the cost, but the "relationship" of the owner to the clinic is the only factor that would change this.

I do not have a lot of business background, so I find all this very interesting!

Pretty much the following is what counts as morally wrong on all fronts:

• Fraud – charging with no deliverables (no service provided or object obtained)
• Deception and Misrepresentation – lying about qualifications/deliverables (ex. saying you are board certified and you are not)
• Manipulating for financial gain at the expense of others
• Profit at the expense of society, be it individuals or the environment 

Do as you wish with this info. And remember, laws in Canada are different than other countries. But ethics, legality, professionalism, and morality have to all be taken into consideration in every case that we handle. 

Fun stuff.

Ending Summer - Looking Forward to Phase Three

As August chugs along here, colder than normal for Southern Ontario, I realize that school is fast approaching and I am NO WHERE near ready! Due to all the dogsitting I have done this summer, I have spent little time in my room/house so things are a little messy. When I say little, I mean a lot.

I have been thinking about the last two years of vet school and how disorganized I have been. I really am struggling with how best to study. Unfortunately, each course and professor is different so there is no set formula. Maybe I can explain myself better.

I am not worried about the cost of ink or paper, but I find printing notes before class not as useful as in undergrad. I much prefer writing notes on paper in class, but profs do not post them ahead of time with enough notice to print them out the night before. And if we get ahead (or behind) in a lecture, there is no set protocol. Some profs, just open the next lecture and keep going, some let us out early or ask questions, some will repost the next lectures slides with the changes (but this means I print slides a couple times, wasting a lot of ink). Then studying comes and I find it hard to read off the screen and memorize. I need to write down words to understand them. If the prof was organized, i could print before lecture, take notes, then read and write on the lecture slides again to study, but that is so rarely the case. I usually make a condensed version of the material as like a study package... But I never get to the very end of the covered material and go into the test not having reviewed a concept or two. This doesn't feel right. I know it is part procrastination of studying, but I get discouraged when I am flipping through pages and have no idea which order all of the lectures came in because I printed the same slides twice or even three times, plus extra slides he "forgot" and had us print as a separate pdf.

It is also hard to "find" a specific concept if it is written. Or even added as a sticky note to a pdf document for that matter. If I wanted to look up the premeds and induction drugs of a cow RIGHT NOW, it would take me 20 minutes and 50 files opened and I would probably just google it. How is this helpful? I had it memorized once, but summer is like a brain wash, it gets rid of the important stuff and just leaves sunny skies and glowing bottles of beer dancing in my brain. I should be able to just look it up in my notes, but I get discouraged when I think about how disorganized my notes are.

Labs are even worse. And it is partly my inability to participate in, let alone go to labs. This is a whole separate issue that I need to deal with. I really have poor attendance.

Some people I know use OneNote and I have considered that as an option. I think it also allows a better print option, but I am not sure. Also not available for Mac users. So I just downloaded the next best option (according to internet reviews) which is Circus Ponies Notebook. It is difficult to navigate so I need to spend some time with it. I hope it will provide a decent alternative as well as help me out a bit here.

All right, now that I have bummed my self out let's talk about something more exciting.

I visited the Fergus Highland Games this weekend. Had fun watching all the pipe bands, heavy event contestants, dancers, and folk bands perform. Got some fun souvenirs, felt proud to be of Scottish decent, drank some beer, and got some sun!

7 more shifts at the clinic and Friday I get to perform an immature cat neuter with supervision. Should be a good time!

Planned events include going to Wonderland (as the boyf has NEVER gone! wtf!?) and Ribfest.

Also hopefully get to the barn once more and play with the bow again.

Lookin good in those socks and burks!

Words to go by...

I was out this AM doing some herd health visits with a bovine vet from the clinic; preg checks, vaccines, ketone monitoring, drug drop off, etc. We pulled up to a Jersey farm and I introduced myself to the farmer and asked permission to palpate. The vet noticed a large truck pulling in behind and said, "is that feed or deadstock?" (the truck was a little different looking so it was hard to tell) and the farmer said, "I was told at a young age, if you have livestock, you also have deadstock". Then he looked at me and winked.

Good times.

Vet Humour

Visit:
https://www.facebook.com/VeterinaryHumor

A sample:

Experience Day

Got a chance to head out with the mixed animal vet on her large animal calls on Wed.
It is great to get out of the clinic and touch some horses!

Started with equine vaccinations.
We vaccinated for Rabies, West Nile, WEEV/EEEV, Rhinotrachietis, Influenza, and something else that I can't for the life of me remember.

Most horses will tolerate vaccines well, we used a 20 gauge needle so it is small, but 1 1/2" long. It is common to use the nice meaty part of the neck but semimembranosus/semitendinosus or pectorals are also good spots. This vet picked one on the left, one rostral on the right and then another right but more caudal to spread out the injection points. All are intramuscular vaccines.

We did 3 vaccine calls, getting a chance to meet different clients and talk about daily horse care. It is amazing that anyone can just buy a horse, even without knowing anything about them. I guess that is why we are here, to educate!

Then saw a wound that was previously as deep as a pinky finger, now only a cm deep! Great progress to such a major wound. The owner has been changing the bandage every 3 days and keeping the horse on stall rest. He should be able to have individual dirt turn out in a week or so. I'm sure he'll love to be able to walk around and get some fresh air! (But really, he lives on a farm, there is nothing BUT fresh air!)

Then a lame pony. Xrays showed no bony changes or issues. This is hard to show clients. They want to know why their horse is lame and when you take $300 of xrays of the whole leg, and all you can say is, "well nothing is broken but your animal is still lame" they get upset. I feel the same way when we do bloodwork and everything is normal. I like being able to relieve some of their worry by giving them a diagnosis. This is something I just have to accept. Anyway, the vet offered to ultrasound the tendons, but she warned that even if they narrowed it down to a tendon, she would not change her treatment protocol so the owner opted out. So the owner will have to wrap the both front legs everyday and keep him on strict stall rest for 6 - 9 months. Bute for 5 days for pain, but then he will start to feel better. Plus we don't like giving bute for much longer than that because it has some dangerous side effects.

For those not familiar with bute it is called Phenylbutazone and is an NSAID.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenylbutazone

SO ulcers, kidney issues, clotting disorders, and others are risks of being treated for too long. And because it is so popular and works so well in horses, we recommend keeping its use to a minimum so that when the horse really needs it, we can bring it in without too much risk. It is a fine line, between therapeutic and toxic. But all drugs have a line.

Then saw an alpaca for some vaccines. I guess they are VERY susceptible to clostridial diseases so get an 8-way clostridial vaccine and rabies.

And then ended with another lame horse but it looked like an abscess so hopefully with some days of stall rest and poulticing, it will pop and the horse will be right as rain!

It was lovely to tour the country side with her. She was so insightful and accepting. I asked lots of silly questions and never did I feel intimidated or stupid. I love feeling like an equal, it makes me more confident! I also got to ask questions about the lifestyle of a mixed vet, and talk about how she keeps her work-life balance stable.

All around a great day, and I can't wait to get back out there!

New comic

New comic. Posted at http://vetsintraining.blogspot.ca/2013/06/stress-relief.html

I do not want to post every comic here, but I think this one really hits home. Sometimes you just need to remember why you are here... :)

Summer Stand By

Hello.
Successfully finished Phase Two. No rewrites even! So proud of myself.

Now that phase two of OVC is finished what is next?

Well here at OVC we have to do a 8 week externship between third and fourth year. But that is a year away?! Yes. But I have to FIND a clinic that is WILLING to set me lose on their patients! That is no easy feat.

Issues of finding and Externship placement:

#1: Mixed

The clinic MUST be a mixed animal practice with both BOVINE AND EQUINE patients. How we divide our time is up to our veterinarian guardians and us, but you have to touch a dog, cat, horse, and cow in the 8 weeks you are there.

#2: Money, money, money, moneeeeeeeeyyyyy!

We get a stipend for our time. It is minimal, but gives us a bit of money to live during the 8 weeks (We only get a 16 week summer so this cuts our work time in HALF!) This is funded by OMAFRA - Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs. So if you go outside of Ontario, you have to have a REALLLLLY good reason to if you want the stipend. My friend went out to New Zealand, and got approved because she was able to prove that her experience there would benefit the veterinary field here in Ontario. Gotta be able to back yourself up. Now, if you go up to Northern Ontario where they are in need of veterinarians, you get an extra bonus! Yay Timmins! Then when your amazing hands on experience is over you are left with two choices; get lucky enough to get an 8 week job placement, or try and get some of your fourth year rotations started so the end of the summer is not a complete waste but slowly starve cause all you can afford is Kraft Dinner!!!

#3: Location, location, location

I live here in Guelph, I pay rent 12 months a year. I DO NOT want to pay extra rent and/or gas to get to a clinic that is far away. Meaning I have to compete for the few clinics that are a 45 min drive from Guelph. There are honestly, not enough for this to be the case for my whole class. I am banking on the Americans, Ottawains, Out of Provincers, to head home so that it creates a bit more room here for the kids that only have family in South Western Ontario. Plus I hate commuting in the mornings. It makes me want to punch babies.

#4: Quality vs Quantity

The clinics that we get accepted to have to have enough "stuff" for us to watch/do. We have a form that we have to fill out with our experience and we HAVE to see/do certain things or else the whole experience is a waste of time. Vet med is a hands on career. I have to be comfortable performing procedures as well as understand why we are doing it and what the result will tell us and why this is helping the patient. It is one thing to say "Yes, this cat has pyometria because it got an infection after it's last litter!" and ANOTHER to actually safely remove a small cats pus filled uterus!!!! This is a bit extreme but you get what I am saying. Blood, urine, feces, semen, embryo, etc collection is something WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO DO, not just talk about. Yes, technicians are amazing, but in the field, you won't always have one and you need to be able to do these things. If your clinic doesn't service any breeding farms, then you get NO therio experience.... And how will you make babies then?! HMMMM?!?!?!??! :)

#5: "Working" Interviews

So you send your resume and cover letter out to clinics, you get some call backs, you are asked to come in and do a working interview. These are not just 8 hour shifts, we are talking about 7:00 am on the farm to 8:00 pm emergency LDAs or all morning assisting surgery then an afternoon of double booked appointments! And of course there is an emergency in the parking lot at 15 to close!!! These require a full day of commitment. As much as I love it, that is a full day away from my house or job. At multiple clinics. And for those that do not have cars, that is rental cars, or borrowing form friends/parents, ga, and not eating/drinking/peeing for 6 hours because you want to look good for your potential boss. I know vet med is like this in the real world. WE have all experienced this in our volunteering/working but this is an interview! It is just stressful to plan around. Especially if you are interviewing at a rival clinic to the one you work for!! 



Anyway, all complaining aside, I am honoured that I get the opportunity to be in vet school and will happily play along so long as I get to be a Doctor in two years!! :) 

Tee. Hee.

Just a bit of vet humour to destress.... Don't mind me, just going crazy!

I may have found this a lot funnier then I should have

Courtesy of ZUKUreview - Daily NAVLE prep questions!

Exam Time

Hello people.
I just wanted to say that I have been contacted by a couple of you and I am truly touched. Thank you for following my chronicles. I hope that they have brought you something positive. But please do remember that I am me and you are you. This is life through my eyes, not anybody else's. My path to and through vet med will be vastly different from my classmates and yours. Please contact me if you have questions or concerns or even if you want me to post about something.

First off.
EXAMMMMMS! Ugh. Everyone's least favorite time of year.
I want to rant about them but I had a moment of clarity yesterday while I was in yoga class. I was in my hot yoga class, sweating out toxins and letting go of my pent up emotions when I realized that I asked for this. I chose this path. I want to be doing this. I want vet school. And vet school comes with exams and stress and bullshit, just like everything else. So as much as I hate sitting sedentary for HOURS and trying to cram info into my brain, I would hate not being in vet school more. So I will endure. I really hope that as you go through your high school or undergrad exams as well, you too can realize that this is what you want. You are strong enough AND smart enough to do this. Dig deep. Power through. Flick BEAST MODE on and show those exams that YOU are the boss! Give er!

Second.
I have been hitting the gym pretty hard these last couple weeks. It makes me feel good plus gets me off my butt for a break! I am lifting mostly with some cardio. My goal is to run a Tough Mudder in Septemeber. So I have been training for the 10 mile race. It is a long process. I can do about 2 miles right now. I need to push it up once exams end. Follow kmarinac on instagram to followmy healthy eating and work out progress!

Iron

Healthy Active Lifestyle

Protein Pancakes!!!! With Banana

Mantra!

Also, I got a summer job. So that is awesome! Working reception at a Small Animal clinic in Cambridge!!! Cheers to clinical experience and the ability to talk to clients!

Smells like team spirit!

Hello,

So after that very heavy post, I am here to say that I have added an extra level of stress by having to retake a Bacteriology test. And I have no one to blame but myself. I really should have studied for it instead of whining. So I am knee deep in work and all I can do is slowly wade out of it by doing as much as I can, when I can. Resit is Thursday. I can do it... I hope!

The Stags' coed hockey team has been really pushed to the limit this month with IM AND Challenge Cup games. Despite our amazing teamwork and extreme dedication, CC is not looking so good this year. But I can really feel myself improving as a player. I need to work on my passing and shooting, but I feel much more comfortable on my skates! I plan on continuing during the off season with a prof team that plays scrimmages once a week all summer. Never can get enough ice time!

Coed Scarlet Stags - 2013 --> With our #1 Fan and our real life mascot!!!

We also made a new Stag mascot. It took us months but it looks pretty awesome!

Designed and made by us!

I am hoping to get a Parasite post in soon. But right now I need to focus on getting this resit out of the way. Next Monday will be our last midterm of the year. It might be easier if it JUST STOPPED SNOWING!!! I really got my hopes up this time. I know one kid that doesn't mind...

Winnie <3

What a goof.

Promo Video

Promotional video for OVC:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA8tmfpIhyM&feature=youtu.be

You can see me at 1:20 in the front row in blue and white stripes!!! hahaha

Life in Vet School

As I have mentioned before, Some of my classmates and I keep another blog with comics and such about life as a Stag and in OVC. Got a couple new posts in there, One being a new comic of mine.

Thought you might like to see them.
http://vetsintraining.blogspot.ca/

Also, I post all my drawings at Deviantart as well.
http://kmarinac.deviantart.com/gallery/

Stress

I have eluded to the fact that vet school is stressful before but I have realized that it has been vaguely touched upon and honestly, deserves to be better explained.

I have no idea how you ended up on my page here, but if it is because you are interested in getting into veterinary school, I hope you take this post seriously.

Mentally and emotionally, I am not the most stable person. I grew up in a house of passion. Fights occurred  like any household, except most were because we loved each other so much that we had each others best interests at heart. High school was particularly hard for my mother and I. Of course we still fight but we have advanced our communication skills so much because of all the practice we had. But all that aside, I came from a happy, loving family, yet I still suffer (and yes I choose the word suffer) from anxiety and depression.

School is stressful. You have a lot of pressure put on you from your profs, parents, friends, and yourself. It is expensive, time consuming, and requires constant mental alertness. Plus... you chose to be here. You WANT to be here.

I know there is this stereotype of college kids partying all the time and I am not about to say that I do not make time to enjoy myself. What I wold like to point out is that we work hard and play hard. I particularly love getting together with my girlfriends with a couple bottles of wine and gossiping and ranting the night away or getting together with my classmates at a local bar for cheap drinks and dancing. It is nice to let my mind go; let the stress of midterms and assignments fall away and just get caught up in the endorphins of the dancing and suppression from the alcohol.

But going out every weekend is not enough release to control my emotional turmoil. I still find myself up at 4 am on a random school night crying myself to sleep or emotionally eating when no one is looking. Then come 8:30 am when class starts, I am too tired or too upset to go and miss a lot of class/labs. I find it hard to pressure myself into studying every night, so all my work is frantically attempting to catch up to what I have missed, because I was too tired the night before from being behind in material.

This vicious cycle looks so simple written down. I could solve my problems with 3 hours of library time and some sleeping pills, really. I can even push my luck here and pretend to blame it on all my extra curriculars;  Social Committee, hockey, helping make the classes mascot, College Royal, frat events, games nights, dog sitting, working at the reception desk, birthday parties, etc. But I know that this is just a cover for my lack of self discipline and motivation. And I am sure that it also has to do with my knack for self destruction.

Self destruction. Self hate. I am sure these are things some people haven't thought of before, but a LOT of people hate themselves. Hate who they are and/or what they look like. I wish that my words could better explain the feeling. I can't control it. I know I am smart and pretty and I try to please people and stick up for what I believe in. I try to be tolerant and respectful, be a good listener, be a good friend/sister/daughter/girlfriend/employee/student. I know I have accomplished so much, worked so hard, gone against the odds to be here, but I still cannot prevent myself from stuffing my face with unhealthy foods, staying up to late watching youtube videos of God-knows-what, procrastinating to the point of being wildly unprepared, and lashing out at the people I love.

I explained that I used the word "suffer" above. I think I do suffer because despite therapy and medications, I have no control over these emotions. I lack the ability to stop these behaviours when they are happening. I think it happens less than in undergrad, and I am better at recognizing when it is happening or if it is about to happen and I can try to get out of the situation, but I cannot prevent it.

It makes me scared for my future. How will I get through exams like this? Survive fourth year rotations and my NAVLE like this? Get a job, when I do not even like myself? How will I move in with my boyfriend when I can't articulate why I am sobbing and do not want him to touch me? How will I be a mother? How am I going to be a productive veterinarian, who makes a difference in the lives of clients, patients and consumers? It is all so over whelming.

I have told you that I love being in vet school. I swear 80% of the time, I wouldn't trade it for the world. I love my profs, my classmates, my subjects, my teaching animals, my community... This is where I belong. But that 20% of self doubt and hatred is hard to work with. Of course I am not seriously suicidal but sometimes I can see why people do it. Seems like a selfish way out of this Hell I have created for myself. But I know that is not my answer. I got here because I am strong, and I know that these feelings will pass, and I will be ok.

I decided to write this down for two reasons: 1) I need to for myself, and 2) I want people to know that these feelings happen to other people to, that you are not alone. I want younger people to know what to expect - no not depression, that is an individual thing - but the stress that university and graduate school can put on a person. You have to be prepared. You need a support system of friends and family that will help bring you back down to Earth when you spiral out of control. You need to know that a lot of other students are going through the same thing, that you are not weird, or lonely, or stupid. You need to be able to proactively be helping yourself out; getting some studying in between classes, getting your room cleaned a week before your exam so it will not distract you the night before, eating healthy and getting active so your body AND your mind are tired at night, not over committing yourself so you are not worn out, spending time with your friends and family and telling hem what is on your mind. These are just some broad things, but they really do help.

I have a very far way to go. Honestly, I do not think this will ever go away. I do not feel broken, this is just who I am and the sooner I accept myself, the sooner I can work with it and manage it and stop fighting myself, the sooner I will be a more functional human being. The boyf and I have been working together on this over the last year. I am so surprised he hasn't freaked out and ran away by now. Maybe he realizes a bit of this in himself, or maybe it is just because the bond we have been able to create is stronger than all of this. All I am sure of is that I am very lucky.

Sorry to post something such heavy feels dudes. But it will be worth it if I can at least help one person. I talk to a lot of vet school hopefuls and I think this is an important issue they need to be aware of. Just as important as how to study for the MCAT or what their volunteer experience is. Please let me know if there are any questions or comments. :)

More surgery pictures.

Just a couple more pictures of  us in surgery lab.

We practiced opening packs, scrubbing, gowning, gloving, draping, then suturing... All on our DASIE's!!! ( I named mine Tequila!)
Great experience! And no animals needed at all!

Looking good all aseptic and shit!

So focused... Trying not to granny...

Me suturing Tequila.

:) Let me know if I can answer any questions about this lab or the DASIE!

Intro to Surgery

Hello there,
It has been quite busy here. A mix of a new fitness routine, with school, and some personal stuff.
I wanted to mention that we have been taking a course called Principles of Surgery. It is an intro class to get the second years ready for the real surgery class that is presented in third year.

We have started literally at the beginning with the basics. Gowning and gloving, suture material, suture patterns, instruments and sterilization. We also received fake abdomens and a basic suture kit so we can practice our suture techniques. Honestly, it is like hardcore sewing, but more difficult.

DASIE and Wine! Seems like a good combo

The DASIE is short for Dog Abdominal Surrogate for Instructional Excersise. They were redeveloped by a surgery prof at OVC (Dr. B. Brisson) and were donated to the members of my class this year by Boehringer Ingelheim. Please take a look at the website http://www.dasiesurgery.ca/DASIE/DASIE.html

So surgical instruments should be pretty easy don't you think?
HAHAHA
I am sure one day it will be second nature but this stuff is seriously complicated! Forceps are the worst actually. They differ only slightly and by the amount and direction of their striations.

(L) Kelly Hemostatic Forceps - (M) Crile Hemostatic Forceps - (R) Pean Hemostatic Forceps

Mosquito Hemostatic Forceps

Carmalt Hemostatic Forceps

Asepsis includes gowning, gloving, attire, draping, prepping, etc. All the "fun" stuff.
Of course I am being sarcastic. Scrubbing everyone down with chlorhexidine for 5 minutes is really not that fun, but knowing how to sterilize the surgical field and materials IS important. Nobody has time for bacterial infection!

Suture material and patterns can be a bit complicated, but again, I know that this stuff will be so not the drama in a couple years. Mostly we split suture material into absorbable (loses strength in less than 60 days) or non-absorbable (maintains strength for more than 60 days). I guess natural fibres are not very common anymore so most of the suture material we are dealing with is synthetic.
Absorbable synthetics:
Polydioxanone = PDS
Polyglecaprone 25 = Monocryl
Polyglactin 910 = Vicryl
Glycomer 631 = Biosyn
Non-absorbable synthetics:
Polyester
Polypropylene = Prolene or Surgipro
Polyamide Nylon
If you have ever worked/volunteered at a clinic you have FOR SURE seen this stuff, either being used in surgery or being removed from healed skin.

So other then that, I don't have much more to say! Actually I have lots I want to get off my chest but this is not the place. Maybe some tea with my housemates is more appropriate.

Shout outs to...
Life in Vet School: http://vetsintraining.blogspot.ca/
I drew a comic for them last week so go check that out

Fitocracy: https://www.fitocracy.com
Log workouts, meet new people, get fitspired!

Fitness Made Easy: https://www.youtube.com/user/MakeFitnessEasy
Fitspooration: http://web.stagram.com/n/fitspooration/
FightforFit: http://web.stagram.com/n/fightforfit/