The other day I saw one of the worst ear infection cases I've ever seen. While cleaning out the foul-smelling sticky yellowish-white gunk from the dog's ears the tech commented that it looked like Alfredo sauce.
Eww.
We make a lot of comparisons to food in our field because the various things that come out of our patients resemble food items. These comparisons also make it easier to converse with owners and to get a good description of vomit, diarrhea, pus, and so on. Some examples:
- The diarrhea from patients with hemorrhagic gastroenteritis looks almost exactly like raspberry jelly (but smells NOTHING like it)
- Diarrhea can be liquid, "milkshake," or "soft serve" consistency
- Ear mite debris and vomit containing digested blood can look like coffee grounds
Eventually you get used to it, although it may be a while before I eat fettuccine Alfredo again.
Showing posts with label veterinary medicine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label veterinary medicine. Show all posts
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Sunday, June 16, 2013
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.
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.
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