Spreading Myself Out - Blogging Wise

As much as I love love love writing about the drama, stress, and the amazingness (yes, it's a word, like fetch) of veterinary school, I feel as if my writings are a bit confined to an audience who are basically interested in...well that.

A lot of things have happened this past summer. The most significant (besides my staying in the States this semester) was ending a NINE YEAR relationship with my now, ex-boyfriend. It's, well, a bit traumatizing going from a relationship that you've had since you were in your teens, to being in your late twenties, and realizing the dating world has significantly changed from that college scene of beer pong and hooking up at random parties. Ok, maybe it hasn't changed that much...

And oddly enough, a lot of my close friends are finding themselves single, or have been single for awhile, after I ended my long term relationship. It's strange that we're all experiencing the same thing, but comforting as well.

A group of us, after a few nights of sharing horrifyingly hilarious stories of our new (or old) singledom, began to realize how similar some of our stories were. For example, we've all experienced "The Mental Terrorist," and have yet to find our "Mr. Nice Guy." Perhaps it was the good bottle of red wine coursing through our veins, but we decided to write a blog about being single.

What makes it different from the other blogs?

I honestly can't tell you since I haven't read anything like it. My blog list consists of authors writing about veterinary medicine, which is probably why I'm anxious to write about something new.

I hope that you all read this blog as much as this one. I will be updating both regularly, so I promise to not let my first blog (which is my baby) slide.

However, I must warn you, the new blog is about dating and relationships. It is not censored. There are definitely adult topics discussed. The stories are not all mine either. It is a blog written by so far, a group of single women in their twenties. So please do not think that all these stories are a reflection of myself. I do however, find most of them hilarious.

So, if you are easily offended, please do not read it. As usual, I say this with love!

After that warning, I'd like to introduce you all to: The Singles Table

The Explanation

What have I been doing all this time?

I can tell you right now, I'm not in Ireland. I'm currently back in the States, doing online distance learning part time.

"What the hell happened?!?" you ask.

Sallie Mae is what happened.

So, as you know, we've had an economic crisis and those evil bankers stole all our money. Ok, maybe that's not really the proper synopsis, but it helps me sleep at night. Long story short, Sallie Mae wanted me to have a co-signer this semester to be approved for the loan amount I was requesting. I unfortunately was unable to attain a co-signer (it makes me subconsciously think my parents secretly hate me...I kid) and there was a giant, ok, 99% possibility I wouldn't be able to continue school.

Thankfully, and due to what I think as the lovely money grubbing tendencies of academia, I was approved to study two courses, online, because they did not have any labs that would require me to stay in Ireland. I had some money left from last year from borrowed funds, so with that I was able to pay for those courses, thus staying back in the States, studying part time.

My situation is a very unusual one indeed. It's put me a year behind, but, it beats dropping out of school and facing a debt that in no way I'd be able to pay off.

How do I feel about staying in the States for the semester? Honestly, it made me realize how much I miss this country. I cannot tell you how happy I am to finally, appropriately, catch up with old friends, as well as the frivolous things like driving my own car to Target, whenever I want.

I do miss Ireland. I do miss veterinary school. And it's incredibly hard to study while I'm here. I have five weeks till finals and I feel screwed. I hope that I'm scared enough now that I will study my ass off until I have to fly back to take final exams.

So that's my life in a nutshell right now.

Questions?

Neglect

So, it's obvious that I've neglected this blog.

And honestly I don't really have an excuse for not posting.

I just didn't.

But to answer the biggest question, yes, I am still in veterinary school. But a LOT has changed since then.

And being a giant tease, all of that will be written in another post.

Hopefully those who have read my blog will keep reading. And perhaps...put me back on their blog roll. Not that I deserve it...

But to prove that I'm not dead, here I am, being lame, playing Rock Band.



















Special thanks to Homeless Parrot and lareinadeluz for asking about me...and well, the blog. It finally made me look at my page and realize, wow, I actually have followers. Why are they still following a horrible writer who never updates? Guilt ensued, and yes, I'm back.

...Hopefully on a regular basis.

Extreme shepherding

Lala showed me this and I still can't believe it's real. I'm guessing farmers have a lot of time on their hands.

And here is how they did it: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7961889.stm

Seeing-Eye Dog, But Seeing-Eye Horse?

What do you think?

http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa090324_wz_serviceanimalsfolo.67c58be1.html

Spring Break

I'm in Japan visiting my grandmother during break. So, with limited opportunities to get online, this blog may slow down a bit for the next week and a half.

Hopefully I'll post photos soon. But sorry, they won't be veterinary related. Contrary to popular belief, my grandmother is not a horse.

An Evening Lecture with Dr. Derek Knottenbelt, Part One

Last night Dr. Derek Knottenbelt, courtesy of BEVA, came to our school to discuss the dermatological examination of the horse and diagnosis and management of medical colic.

If you ever get a chance to attend a lecture by Derek Knottenbelt, I highly recommend it. He is incredibly entertaining. He is very animated and hilarious. Sometimes when you have to learn something not very exciting like dermatology, you need someone who is passionate about it to get you inspired.

And here are the notes from the lecture...

The Dermatological Examination of the Horse

Reasons for dermatiological consultation?
Overt skin disease (owner is concerned about)
Skin disease in systemic disease (owner worried about other signs)
Pre-purchase exam

Different approaches to an consultation are required.

Important elements to a history?
Particular duration / extent of problem
Contact with other animals (horse and others)

Owner complaint
Onset of problem
Changes? Better or worse
Circumstances
Treatment attempts? type, duration, results

What matters?
History is vital

Were there previous episodes?
Previous attmepts to treat (benefit vs. harm)
Iatrogenic intereferences
Invariably harmful, e.g. *Camrosa Ointment for sarcoid
e.g. ill advised surgery / ligation of sarcoid

Management
Where does horse live?
e.g. photosensitivity and horse lives in pasture with St. John's Wort (get rid of plants / move horse)
e.g. pruritis, horse lives with poultry, horse found with poultry mites (have a BBQ!)

Local environment is significant!

Disease / Treatment History
Previous disease?
Other systems
Treatment attempts
Concurrent treatment?
Routine medications: wormers, vaccinations?

*Camrosa ointment
Case: sarcoids around horse's eye
Owner refuses radiation therapy, brings horse home
Requests appointment by phone four months later wanting radiation therapy, stating unsuccessful treatment with Camrosa ointment
Horse returns with HORRIFYING results
Camrosa ointment is NOT for use on sarcoids

Record signalment with history
Age, Breed, Sex, Color

Age : because congenital disease occurs in young animals
Some things happen in old aged horses, e.g. cushings disease > 15 years old
Melanomas > 5 years old
Squamous cell carcinoma occurs in older horses, however when they do occur in younger horses, they are more malignant

Breed: because there are specific breed related diseases
Appaloosa - mane and tail dystrophy is desired
Paint - Curly coat syndrome desired in some breeding circles
Arabian - Fading syndrome (pinky changes in face, perineum)

Sex: things affect reproductive organs of various animals
e.g. squamous cell carcinoma

Color: color related diseases
e.g. paint horses, where no pigment, squamous cell carcinoma can occur

Dermatological exam
Distribution of lesions
Type of lesions
- Configuration
- Solitary / multiple
- Confluent / grouped
- Annular / linear

The hoof is part of the skin! It is critical to think of that when dealing with laminitis.

You need to take samples...
Blood? For systemic disease, secondary disease

Skin scrapings are USELESS for horses because there are no burrowing mites.

For lice, mites (non burrowing)
Denture toothbrush and petri dish
Groom e.g. feathers of horse into dish
Examine directly

If can see the parasite with the naked eye, it's not a mite.

Chorioptes bovis found generally in feathered horses.

Hair plucking for ringworm. Be careful! Zoonosis!

Acetate / adhesive tape prepartions: Oxyuris equi mostly

Skin biopsy can confirm or rule out. It's very useful. With fine needle aspirate, technique DOES matter!
Use a 2 cc syringe with a 21G or 23G needle
Leave local anesthetic needles in so when go in to do the actual biopsy, know where horse is numb.

Always examine the full horse.
Establish a problem list.
Establish differential diagnoses.
Select further tests.
Establish a diagnosis.
Define prognosis.
Select treatment.
Monitor progress.