Hard Stare

By Kelsey Shaw

Cornell University

Creative Corner- My Horse

By Brady Thompson

Purdue University

Foot in Mouth- a remake of "Firework"

As you approach your next semester of clinics or classes- let this serve as a laugh and an inspiration :)

Especially for the class of 2012- you can make it! Almost there!

To the tune of "Firework" by Katy Perry

By Julie Kornder

Do you ever feel

Like a fluid bag

Is dripping on your head;

Just hanging by a thread?

Do you ever feel,

Feel so very stressed?

How will you ever sleep,

Pass the boards, and rest?

Can you localize

Where that horse is lame?

Block the nerves and trot.

These x rays all look the same.

Do you know that there’s an ophtho case for you?

Cuz there’s a Vet in you.

You just gotta

Shine your pen light

In the patient’s eye

To localize.

PLR is fine!

I’m gonna wear my White Coat

And finally use my Stethoscope.

Clinics make me say Oh! Oh! Oh!

As I stay up writing SOAPS SOAPS SOAPS.

I’m gonna wear my White Coat

And do a Minimum Database.

Chem CBC UA-A-A

I sure hope that they can Pay Pay Pay.

You don’t have to feel

Like it will never end.

May 2012,

You’ll be a DVM!

If you only knew

How to pay back your debt,

Communication, and

Practice Management.

Maybe the reason why

You do 3 fecal floats

So you don’t miss worms

And then see them with your endoscope.

Cushing Yes or No?

Your head will spin.

Your first emergency!

I just hope that

The barn is quiet.

I’m on call tonight.

A colic arrives!

Adrenal over-drive!

I’m gonna wear my White Coat

And finally use my Stethoscope.

Clinics make me say Oh! Oh! Oh!

As I stay up writing SOAPS SOAPS SOAPS.

I’m gonna wear my White Coat

And do a Minimum Database

Chem CBC UA-A-A

I sure hope that they can Pay Pay Pay.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Clients already in the room room room!

Pet needs a rectal where’s the lube lube lube?

And vaccines are over-due due due!

I’m gonna wear my White Coat

And finally use my Stethoscope.

Clinics make me say Oh! Oh! Oh!

As I stay up writing SOAPS SOAPS SOAPS.

I’m gonna wear my White Coat

And do a Minimum Database.

Chem CBC UA-A-A

I sure hope that they can Pay Pay Pay.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Internal Med with Dr Sum Sum Sum.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

No more eating lunch at Noon Noon Noon!

Case Report

By Stephanie Silberstang                      

Cornell University

Signalment: Adult Short-eared owl, undetermined sex

            Case # 702287

Common reasons for presentation of Short-eared Owls include collisions with vehicles or flying into windows. SEO opportunistically inhabit areas with small mammals, they are ground nesting birds and are also vulnerable to attacks by predators. SEO have an endangered status by the Department of Environmental Conservation.

History and clinical presentation:

The owl presented to the Wildlife Health Center on 11/21/10 after it was found on the side of the road on 11/20/10. Physical examination revealed dehydration, a thin body condition (3/9), and an open fracture of the right humerus. A contaminated wound was also present. No other abnormalities were revealed.

Presenting problems:

Open transverse fracture of the right humerus

Dehydration

Thin body condition score (3/9)

Differential diagnoses for the thin body condition included inappetence due to a metabolic disturbance, inability to apprehend food, neoplasia in the gastrointestinal tract, pain, sepsis, weakness, parasites of the gastrointestinal tract, or an inability to find food due to adverse environmental conditions.

Triage plan

Subcutaneous fluids were administered to combat dehydration and promote cardiovascular stabiliy.

Enrofloxacin was administered to treat infections of gram positive and negative organisms. This antibiotic is concentration-dependent and does not treat for anaerobic organisms.

Clindamycin is a broad spectrum antibiotic administered to treat many anaerobes, gram positive aerobic cocci, Toxoplasma and other organisms.

Butorphanol is a partial opiate agonist/antagonist used as an analgesic in birds. The action of butorphanol is thought to occur primarily at kappa and sigma receptors, which is effective for birds because they have a majority of kappa receptors. This analgesic is more effective in birds than morphine which target mu receptors.

Meloxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) administered to reduce inflammation and pain through its inhibition of cyclooxygenase, phospholipase A2, and inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. Meloxicam is considered COX-2 preferential and should be used with care in a dehydrated animal due to the possibility of increased renal toxicity.

Diagnostic plan:

Complete blood count (CBC) and chemistry panel to determine overall health by observation of red and white blood cell morphology and relative counts, and the extent of inflammation.

Radiographs to determine the extent of the fracture and to reveal any other internal injuries the owl may have acquired.

Fecal evaluation to determine if certain internal parasites are present in the gastrointestinal tract.

The results of these tests provide initial evaluation of the owl’s status. In addition, they provide a data point for monitoring the animal over time. Blood work should be rechecked after treatment has had time to take effect to monitor for improvement or if no apparent improvement is observed. Radiographs should be repeated to check for bony callus formation that indicates proper healing of the fracture site. In birds, callus formation is expected after about 5 weeks, but a prolonged healing time is expected in open and contaminated fractures.

Results of the CBC showed a packed cell volume of 39% and a white blood cell count of 17,100/uL with 13,900/uL heterophils and no band heterophils. No toxic changes were observed. Results of the chemistry panel revealed an elevated uric acid of 16.1 mg/dL.

Results of the radiographs confirmed a mid-diaphyseal fracture of the right humerus.  

Isospora and Capillaria revealed on routine fecal examination

These results revealed a parasitic infection that was likely the primary cause of the Short-eared Owl’s thin body condition. Open mid-diaphyseal transverse fracture of the right humerus was confirmed.

Iatrogenic/Nosocomial problems:

Increased body condition score (~100 grams over average weight for female SEO)

Early signs of bumblefoot

Surgery:

This mid-diaphyseal humeral fracture was surgically repaired in an attempt to restore the owl’s ability to fly. An alternative way to manage this case would have been partial amputation of the right wing distal to the shoulder joint. This would have avoided the risks encountered in placing an IM pin including spreading infection throughout the medullary cavity and having open wounds that communicated with the medullary cavity where the ESF pins were placed. Disadvantages of this procedure would be that the owl would no longer be able to fly, although this may also be true with a repaired fracture. Prognoses for fracture repair can range from poor to excellent based on many factors. Factors such as open, comminuted, infected and fractures involving a joint decrease the prognosis. Factors such as closed, simple, aseptic fractures and fractures not involving the joint increase the prognosis. Humeral fractures in birds have a lower prognosis than in mammals because the humerus in birds is pneumatic and is in direct contact with the air sacs. If a fracture becomes infected which is common in open fractures the infection can spread into the air sacs causing air sacculitis, significantly decreasing the life expectancy of the bird. This airsacculitis can appear as a diffuse whitening of the coelomic cavity in the regions of the air sacs

Monitoring:

This owl was monitored by checking the bandage for discharge and inspecting the incision and fractures sites for any signs of infection or deterioration as should be performed with all surgical incisions . Because the humerus was repaired with an external skeletal fixation device and an intramedullary pin, inspection of the device for bending, breaking or displacement of the pins was done during routine bandage changes. The skin around the wound healed after about two weeks as was expected. This owl had an intramedullary pin that needed to be cut and removed which was performed about three weeks post-op. Radiographs are used to monitor bone healing. A bony callus is expected to be seen approximately three weeks post-op, however, this owl took longer to have a callus observed on radiographs. In addition, the radiographs also revealed poor coelomic detail with air sacculitis being the main concern. Antibiotics can be discontinued after the wound appears to be closed and healing well with no signs of infection.

References:

Plumb, Donald C. Plumb’s Veterinary Drug Handbook, 6^th Edition.  PharmaVet Inc. Stockholm, Wisconsin. 2008.

Cascades Raptor Center. “Resident Raptor- Short-eared Owl.” http://www.eraptors.org/rr_shortEaredOwl.htm. Eugene, Orgeon. 2011.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7080.html.

Life as a Vet Student- Advice to the Class of 2015

By Jamie Zhen

Cornell University  

            Living at home my entire life and having the luxury of my parents preparing delicious meals for me every day, I had to face the biggest challenge going away to school and living on my own: the kitchen. The most I’ve done in the kitchen was boiling water, scrambling some eggs, and microwaving leftovers. As I transitioned to living on my own, I feared I would be living off of ramen and microwavable meals. However, I was fortunate to have two amazing roommates who were culinary experts and were willing to guide me and share some of their expertise. Without their help, my transition to living independently wouldn’t have gone as smoothly as it did.
            Half-way through into my first year of vet school, I received an early Christmas gift. After a calf handling lab, I contracted cryptosporidiosis, a few days before my final exam. Cryptosporidiosis is a disease transmitted via fecal-oral routes and causes diarrhea that lasts anywhere from a few days to 4 or more weeks. As a vet student, I was destined to contract this illness sooner or later. Rumors were that once you get it, you will become “immune” to it upon future exposures. I crossed my fingers and hope that this is true so that I can look on the bright side of this situation of having this illness at the worst time possible. Although it was a fairly effective weight-loss strategy, I highly don’t recommend it. Despite the nausea and frequent visits to the restroom, I was still able to make it to school to take my final exam. The first thing I did as I entered the exam room and found a seat, I took out my bottle of Gatorade and container of saltine crackers. I made it through that day without much trouble. This experience certainly made it to the number one spot on my most memorable parts of my first year of vet school.

            In spite of contracting a zoonotic disease and being forced to cook for myself, I really enjoyed my first year of vet school. I learned so much without even realizing it. When I pursued a summer externship at an animal hospital, I actually understood the veterinary medical jargon being used. All of the countless hours of drawing diagrams of canine and feline anatomy as well as diagrams of physiological processes popped back into my head as I watched the vets diagnose and treat their patients. My first year of professional school was an extremely rewarding educational experience in which I was given an opportunity for personal growth. Although I miss being a first year student, I am excited to see what my second year of veterinary school has in store for me.