Reflections on Life in Vet School

Therese Gavin, Texas A&M

Life as A Vet Student, Entry

Not long ago, an old friend asked me what the theme of my life in veterinary school was. The question caught me by surprise, but what surprised me more was I honestly did not know the answer. So, I did what one typically does in such situations, and said something I knew wasn’t wrong, but also wasn’t quite right—“Contentment,” and hoped my answer wasn’t questioned. Yet, the question remained on my mind and I soon discovered why.

Click to read more ...

Demodex...

Joyce Huang, UGA

Foot In Mouth, Entry

One day, I was talking to a non-vet school friend about what I learned at the vet hospital and I mentioned Demodex.  I thought nothing about it, until I saw her worried expression.

Me: "..so, this dog came in and it had Demodex. The doctors were showing me how to find it with a scrape."

Friend: "..."

*5 minutes into the conversation*

Friend: "Wait. Did you say Demon X?? What kind of bugs are there in the vet world???"

Me: "...Demodex? Though...Demon X sounds like a good name for it too..."

The Dog Who Did not Want a Bath

Alex King, Virginia-Maryland

Creative Corner, Entry

I needed no alarm clock or siren or bell

For I was awakened by a foul doggie smell

A wet nose in the morning is a pleasant enough thing

But not if your pup has just rolled in something

Some dogs take to water as a rule

But to mine you cannot be more cruel

Than to get her cold or make her wet

She’d rather endure a trip to the vet

Some might avoid the washing chore

And let her smell for a month or more

But on this truth we must conclude

that to stink and smell too much is rude

She ran, she hid, she barked and fled

I chased her round til my face turned red

I caught her, held her, sprayed the hose

She rolled and squirmed and clawed my nose

Battered and bruised, wet and dripping

She kept up the fight, yelping and kicking

At last it was over, my task was complete

My clothes were all soaked from my head to my feet

And why, you may ask, do I still love this cur?

She’s finally clean but I’m now covered in fur

And when I can take no more of it

To anger I could never commit

For one who can fetch and stay and sit

Filled with joy, and life, and wit

But maybe I spoke too soon a bit...

NO LILLIE! Please don’t roll in that poop!

Important Lessons from Your First Week of Vet School

Megan Murata, Texas A&M

Experiences, Entry

The first week of vet school is nothing less than enchanting, exhilarating, and ultimately overwhelming. Whether you are a first, second, third, or fourth year student (or perhaps even a practicing DVM), I am sure that you also remember your first week of school. 

Emerging from an undergraduate institution or post graduate job into a professional school is more than somewhat uncomfortable. Immediately you are aware of the unfamiliar setting of sitting in a room full of super smart people that are just as intelligent and studious as you (if not more). You begin receiving a FLOOD of emails every day and stress over reading, organizing, and remembering each one. Your calendar is in complete disarray due to the onset of new meetings scheduled and exam review sessions offered (who knew you would be reviewing for an exam during the first week?!), coupled with random clinical opportunities to further your veterinary knowledge. 

Click to read more ...

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Summer Fellowship

Rachel Ruden, UPenn

Abstracts, Entry

Kittlitz’s murrelets (Brachyramphus brevirostris) are an elusive sea bird of Beringia, however there presence on freshwater glacial lakes in the Bristol Bay region of southwest Alaska precipitated an extensive survey effort in 2014. Surveys were carried out on lakes in the Wood River Lake System, in close proximity to Togiak National Wildlife Refuge, as well as Togiak Lake within the Refuge proper during the late nesting and early post-nesting periods. Murrelets were confirmed present on Lakes Aleknagik and Nerka, with a peak abundance of 66 birds on Lake Aleknagik 4 August. Distance sampling was employed on Lake Aleknagik during formal surveys using traditional distance estimation and an off-transect method. Maximum abundance with 95% confidence intervals was estimated at 253 birds (100-644) and 419 birds (84-2093), respectively. Though the presence of hatch-year birds could not be confirmed, the findings of this study warrant further research given the sensitivity of this species and its novel use of freshwater resources.

Rachel, during a survey of a lake in Alaska.