Day 6/6

This week I worked an extra day at the hospital to cover for one of the other doctor's vacations. It was BUSY! Unfortunately I had several more euthanasias, but I got a lot of new and interesting cases such as a broken toe, a thromboembolism (unfortunately that turned into a euthanasia) and others.

Today was my 6th day working in a row - at the vaccine clinic. The tech and I both got bitten and scratched by a very ill-tempered cat which was no fun, especially since it was within the first 30 minutes of starting work. Cat bites really suck - even if you wash them out thoroughly they often get infected.

Fun quotes from this past week:
"Have you lost weight?" (- Crossfit coach and massage therapist both asked me this on Monday ... actually I've GAINED a little weight)
"You're doing REALLY well." (- Dr. Boss)

Grim

This week was rough. I'd estimate that 25% of my appointments ended up with the clients crying - either because I euthanized their pet or I gave them a cancer diagnosis. That's a pretty high percentage when you're not an emergency doctor!

I've also got my first client who I suspect is mentally ill and it has been exhausting for everyone who has dealt with them. Fortunately Dr. Boss is calling them later today and we'll see what comes of that.

Thankfully I have the rest of the weekend to unwind. Think I might have a beer!

The Profession

There is a website address that is currently circulating in the veterinary community. Its focus is to petition for changes in the AVMA.

In short, the job market is still pretty terrible for veterinarians (I have been lucky, horrible corporate practice notwithstanding). The number of graduates per year consistently outnumbers the open positions available. Student debt is crazy. You can make a lot more money for a lot less heartache.

The idea behind the petition is to get the AVMA to stop saying the field is full of opportunities and to stop approving the accreditation of so many new (foreign) schools each year and instead work on generating public awareness and demand for veterinary services.

I haven't signed it. Why? This may seem silly but I'm afraid my professional liability insurance through them will be cancelled. Next year I plan to get my insurance through my state veterinary association and to not renew my membership with the AVMA (because I do think in their current state they are useless and possibly even detrimental ... except their journal is interesting).

p.s. I found out that a horrible tech/receptionist I worked with at the corporate practice got hired by my old practice (you know, the one I used to dream of joining?) Eesh.

Prime Time

Summer is always the busy time of year in veterinary medicine. Pets go outside more often and therefore get into trouble more often - snake bites, heat-related illnesses, plant foreign bodies like foxtails, cat fights, and so on. My appointments have been booked nearly full most days, which is great considering the other 2 (senior) doctors on duty get priority for appointment bookings.

I've met a lot of nice pets and nice people and am really enjoying this job (which is a relief considering the $106,000 in educational debt I still carry!) Yesterday is a good example of why I like general practice. I had a huge variety of cases such as:
- Annual exam and vaccine visit
- Inappetance
- Back pain
- Vomiting
- Eating dirt
- Euthanasia (very old pet with multiple chronic diseases)
- Foxtail in ear
- Snotty nose/upper respiratory infection
- Diarrhea

I know that probably doesn't sound exciting to a lot of people. I LIKE the "boring" visits where the pets are healthy and I can just chat with the owners and pet the dog or cat. It's gratifying to do a relatively simple procedure like removing a foxtail and watch the pet immediately feel relief. Although there are common themes the variety of things I see in any given day is great. I would be sooooo bored if I only saw GI cases all day, or cardiac, etc.

Who knows, maybe in 10 years I'll be totally sick of well pets and vomiting/diarrhea/itchy skin cases. If that's the case maybe I'll switch to emergency.

YC Fabulous

As it turns out my old lady cat has HCM (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy). It's mild, but it's enough to make her anesthetic risk WAY too high to perform an elective procedure like a dental. She's just about on life 9 1/2 at this point, I swear.

She came to our yard almost 8 1/2 years ago. It was pouring rain day after day and she huddled in the shrubs on the side of the house. She went into heat shortly thereafter and had many, um, suitors visit. I decided to trap her and get her spayed, and after that we started feeding her.* At one point she had a bad wound on the back of her neck but we couldn't catch her to get medical attention for her.
We named her Yard Cat, or YC.

Over the following months as summer came she would visit with our other cats through the screen door. Eventually we would crack the door and she would walk in - for a little while at first, then longer and longer. Around Thanksgiving time she decided to stay for good.


The first year or two we had a challenge catching her to take her in for exams and vaccines. Once she was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease she allowed us to pet her more - sometimes with both hands! At one point she developed Horner's syndrome from an unknown cause.









Then she was hospitalized when her kidney disease progressed. After that she required fluids every other day and she became even more friendly.


She's a great cat and I am dreading the day we will have to let her go.






*We believe in feeding stray cats as long as they are spayed or neutered - otherwise you end up with a cat population explosion!