Mrs. Q

Naomi Kane, UC Davis

Experiences, Entry

While working as an assistant in a small, small animal hospital I met a very special client. When I first walked into the exam room to greet the client and the patient, I thought I might have stumbled into the wrong room. “Hello…?” I tentatively asked the empty space, thinking perhaps they had stepped out. “Hi!” a cheerful voice answered back from the other side of the room. Mrs. Q stood less than 5 feet tall, and when seated completely disappeared behind the exam table.

Mrs. Q introduced me to her kitty. We got to talking about what brought her in that day and I quickly realized that we didn’t really share a spoken language between us. All that aside, we had a wonderful conversation. Her cat was very itchy. The veterinarian met Mrs. Q and her cat and, and after a thorough exam, suggested that this kitty and all of Mrs. Q’s other pets start on flea medicine. Mrs. Q looked at us with desperation. She lived alone with 4 cats and a dog, and it was very difficult for her to administer medications. On top of the cost of the medications, she didn’t think she’d even be able to use them. I asked Mrs. Q if she would consider bringing her pets in to see me so I could help her give the medications. So we worked out an arrangement, Mrs. Q would come in a few days every month with her pets, go to the receptionist and ask for “Nayomo” then gesture to her mouth and say “Ah! Ah! Ah!” to signify her baby was there for his or her medicine. I was delighted to see her every time she came in. The language barrier remained but she was such a joy to interact with, that it never mattered.

One morning a few months after we first met, Mrs. Q came in with her dog. She was a sweet, elderly girl who had lost the use of two limbs and both eyes. Mrs. Q decided that there was no more joy in her dog’s life, and she elected to return later in the day for euthanasia. My shift was about to end and I walked Mrs. Q out to her car. I knew I was leaving for vet school very soon, and I likely wouldn’t see Mrs. Q again. She asked me if I could take some photos of her with her dog and email them to her, and I obliged. Later that day I received a message from her that I will cherish and remember as I move through my career. In all of our interactions thus far, we’d never actually spoken much. So, I was surprised by the beautiful message she sent me, thanking me for the care I had given her pets and telling me of her certainty of the great veterinarian I was to become. I aim to earn her kind praises. I look forward to the fun, interesting, and meaningful client relationships that lay ahead.

Partners for Healthy Pets - November Newsletter

 Check out the November Newsletter HERE!

"Elli" and "Puppy Eyes"

Kristina Solch, The Ohio State University

Creative Corner, Entries

  Puppy EyesElli 

NEW Personal Financial Planning tool from AVMA!

Student AVMA members, it is time to get excited! The AVMA has created a brand new online tool, targeted specifically for AVMA members to assist with financial planning. Student loans are a hot topic amongst veterinary students and especially those recent graduates who are beginning their loan repayments. The AVMA Personal Financial Planning (PFP) tool has taken the headache out of financial planning! It gives you an easy way to organize your finances, while also taking into account the specific budget concerns of veterinarians. Now it’s possible to plan for not only your current expenses, but also your long term financial and career goals. This tool makes it easy for anyone to set up a budget, walking you through the essential steps for set up in no time at all.

As students, we need to think of the future, loan repayment, and retirement planning. This tool makes it easy to start now while sitting at home on your computer. It doesn’t involve going to a financial planner, it involves you at home inputting your own information, getting feedback as soon as you click “submit”.  For students, the scenario mode is especially applicable. You can see how your budget would change based on income level and amount of debt. The folks at AVMA have made the PFP very user friendly for us, and have gone above and beyond with even more advanced financial planning tools at your disposal. A few of the extras that SAVMA students can utilize include a veterinary salary calculator, cost of living comparisons, rent or buy calculator, credit card calculator, automobile cost of ownership, and tips on how to stand out in your new job. They have really listened to the concerns of students and practitioners alike and delivered something great!

As SAVMA members we are fortunate to have access to this wonderful financial planning tool as part of our yearly membership. It can be accessed using your SAVMA ID at avma.org/mybudget.

Forget the Swag, Just Gimme the Bag!

Tony Nitido, Western University

Creative Corner, Entry

"It doesn't matter how many toys and treats I bring home, it's what's holding them all that counts for this little one!"