Being a Veterinarian -- Part 1 of 2

This is such an interesting profession and I am truly fortunate to be a part of it.   When I thought about going into veterinary school, one of the big things that drew me to this profession - and away from being a human doctor, or what we, as veterinarians, call them – a veterinary who only learned one species - was the diversity of this job.  There are just so many things that go on in our day, that when I actually take some time to reflect, it makes me shake my head in awe.  Here is an example of one of my days.

The first appointment is a dog that has been vomiting all weekend.  The owner changed the food and it did not agree with the dog.  I get the vomiting dog all sorted out  with blood work and he is started on IV fluids and he looks to be feeling better and his blood work looks good.  Hopefully a day of fluids and antibiotics will get him feeling better.  However, now that he is feeling better he is trying to eat the IV line and the towel we have in his cage, so he just won himself the “cone of shame.” 

Next, we have the 18 year cat in kidney failure that is not doing as well as I hoped.  She is slowing down and the owners are concerned that she is not eating well.  She is on fluids everyday at home and the owners are doing a great job with her care.  She belongs to a lady in assisted living who loves this cat.  The daughter comes with her to all the appointments since she cannot see well and does not drive.  I look at the owner and we both know that the cat is not doing that well.  So, I come up with one more thing we can try to get her eating.  As they walk out, I know that I might be seeing them again in a few days if the new medication does not work. 

Next appointment, we have a repeat offender.  Axel is vomiting again.  We have already removed two socks and part of a toy from his stomach and I am concerned about what he ate.  We take some xrays. Low and behold, we have an action figure (looks like Batman but might be Superman).  I am pretty sure that Batman will not be able to escape Axel’s stomach without some aid from us.  The good news is that I have now had the surgery conversation with Axel’s parents on three separate occasions, so as least that should be quick. We will get Axel all set up for surgery that I will do during lunch.  I might just have to install a zipper in him, since we seem to be opening him up so often.  All the staff shake their head at Axel and they all ask him “really – an action figure?” Axel responds in his happy lab way and just wags his tail just like he did the previous 3 times he ate something.  Hopefully he will learn to only eat his food. 

So in the next blog, I will tackle the next hour of my day!