My Blog
Welcome to my blog!! This is where I'll keep updates on my time at the internship and leading up to it.
Spring Break Plan
As I am about to leave for spring break, I am excited to consider the possibilities that have opened up to me now that I have more free time. I have been talking with Dr. Heard and have discussed coming in over the break and shadowing surgeries, which is most definitely an aspect of veterinary medicine that I want to watch and learn more about. I plan to watch surgeries over the break and do more research/drawings based on what I see. I want to draw more diagrams and work on watercoloring them, which I have been waiting to do as they take a little while to color. I am so excited to continue working on my project and see some new things I haven't gotten to see before!
- Brooke
As I am about to leave for spring break, I am excited to consider the possibilities that have opened up to me now that I have more free time. I have been talking with Dr. Heard and have discussed coming in over the break and shadowing surgeries, which is most definitely an aspect of veterinary medicine that I want to watch and learn more about. I plan to watch surgeries over the break and do more research/drawings based on what I see. I want to draw more diagrams and work on watercoloring them, which I have been waiting to do as they take a little while to color. I am so excited to continue working on my project and see some new things I haven't gotten to see before!
- Brooke
March 9, 2020
Today there were a lot of patients resting at the clinic, and I got to hear about the procedures each one had and how they've recovered. The first patient I saw was a little black cat whose bladder had been affected by a urinary blockage. Usually the bladder feels like a little balloon, but prior to the treatment, the vet techs told me that the cat's bladder had felt like a brick. They had inserted a catheter to help drain some of the urine out, and the cat was put on bed rest. There was also an old beagle there whose blood glucose levels needed to be monitored due to his diabetes. He was resting as well, and would have his blood tested every so often to monitor his blood glucose levels.
Later in the day, a boxer came in who had torn his front ACL and MCL as well. It was just the preliminary visit, so the vets took x-rays of the leg to see where the ligaments had torn. I always like seeing x-rays, as I find them so interesting, and this time was no different. Another dog came in with an ear infection and, upon examination under a microscope, it was revealed that Cocci bacteria had infested the ear. He was prescribed some antibiotics and ear drops to help with discomfort.
I will definitely be doing research on the ACL/MCL and also of Cocci bacteria, which are quite common in dogs. I can't wait to return.
- Brooke
Today there were a lot of patients resting at the clinic, and I got to hear about the procedures each one had and how they've recovered. The first patient I saw was a little black cat whose bladder had been affected by a urinary blockage. Usually the bladder feels like a little balloon, but prior to the treatment, the vet techs told me that the cat's bladder had felt like a brick. They had inserted a catheter to help drain some of the urine out, and the cat was put on bed rest. There was also an old beagle there whose blood glucose levels needed to be monitored due to his diabetes. He was resting as well, and would have his blood tested every so often to monitor his blood glucose levels.
Later in the day, a boxer came in who had torn his front ACL and MCL as well. It was just the preliminary visit, so the vets took x-rays of the leg to see where the ligaments had torn. I always like seeing x-rays, as I find them so interesting, and this time was no different. Another dog came in with an ear infection and, upon examination under a microscope, it was revealed that Cocci bacteria had infested the ear. He was prescribed some antibiotics and ear drops to help with discomfort.
I will definitely be doing research on the ACL/MCL and also of Cocci bacteria, which are quite common in dogs. I can't wait to return.
- Brooke
March 2, 2020
After being sick for a little while, I was glad to return to the clinic and get back to work. When I arrived, I saw the new vet tech learning how to draw blood from one of the veterinarian's dogs. Though I've seen blood being drawn several times by now, it was incredibly interesting to learn about all the little details you have to get right. You have to first break the seal on the needle, then find the vein, slow the blood flow with your finger, push in with a little force and the needle-hole toward you, angle the needle parallel to the dog's neck/leg, then gently pull the needle forward or backward until you start collecting blood.
Afterwards an old beagle came in with issues regarding his tail. He could not raise it more than in a straight line backwards. Any higher than that caused him to freak out. Because of this, the dog was unable to defecate, so he also had an immensely backed-up colon too. The vet decided to take an x-ray, and once the pictures came out, the problem was evident. The beagle had fractured one of his vertebrae in a way that when the tail was raised, the injured vertebrae and the one next to it came together and pinched the nerve, causing immense pain. The doctor prescribed some pain meds and lots of rest and gave the beagle a positive prognosis.
Though it saddened me to see the dog in pain, I was happy to see that he had an owner who was willing to give him the best care and treatments she could. It always makes me happy to see people adopt senior dogs and give them amazing lives. I cannot wait to come back on Friday.
- Brooke
After being sick for a little while, I was glad to return to the clinic and get back to work. When I arrived, I saw the new vet tech learning how to draw blood from one of the veterinarian's dogs. Though I've seen blood being drawn several times by now, it was incredibly interesting to learn about all the little details you have to get right. You have to first break the seal on the needle, then find the vein, slow the blood flow with your finger, push in with a little force and the needle-hole toward you, angle the needle parallel to the dog's neck/leg, then gently pull the needle forward or backward until you start collecting blood.
Afterwards an old beagle came in with issues regarding his tail. He could not raise it more than in a straight line backwards. Any higher than that caused him to freak out. Because of this, the dog was unable to defecate, so he also had an immensely backed-up colon too. The vet decided to take an x-ray, and once the pictures came out, the problem was evident. The beagle had fractured one of his vertebrae in a way that when the tail was raised, the injured vertebrae and the one next to it came together and pinched the nerve, causing immense pain. The doctor prescribed some pain meds and lots of rest and gave the beagle a positive prognosis.
Though it saddened me to see the dog in pain, I was happy to see that he had an owner who was willing to give him the best care and treatments she could. It always makes me happy to see people adopt senior dogs and give them amazing lives. I cannot wait to come back on Friday.
- Brooke
February 10, 2020
Today was a very special day, as I got to meet the new veterinary technician who was just hired. She was incredibly sweet and I was shocked to learn how young she was: only 3 years older than me! It was a little dose of reality for me that soon I would be starting my journey on the veterinary path, in only 3 short years. With that in mind, I eagerly approached the day. A beautiful husky mix was brought in today who had problems with her sinuses, as she couldn't stop sneezing. It had gotten so bad that she had started to sneeze with such force that she would bang her head against nearby objects and make herself bleed. The owners suspected that she had gotten a grass seed stuck in her nose, as the issue only emerged after the owner had laid out grass seeds on her lawn. The veterinarian decided that a rhinoscopy was in order, and went to talk with the owner to schedule it. I will continue to update as the story unfolds and let you know what happens.
- Brooke
Today was a very special day, as I got to meet the new veterinary technician who was just hired. She was incredibly sweet and I was shocked to learn how young she was: only 3 years older than me! It was a little dose of reality for me that soon I would be starting my journey on the veterinary path, in only 3 short years. With that in mind, I eagerly approached the day. A beautiful husky mix was brought in today who had problems with her sinuses, as she couldn't stop sneezing. It had gotten so bad that she had started to sneeze with such force that she would bang her head against nearby objects and make herself bleed. The owners suspected that she had gotten a grass seed stuck in her nose, as the issue only emerged after the owner had laid out grass seeds on her lawn. The veterinarian decided that a rhinoscopy was in order, and went to talk with the owner to schedule it. I will continue to update as the story unfolds and let you know what happens.
- Brooke
February 3, 2020
Today I got to see some very interesting ultrasounds from a dog who had several bladder stones. He was coming in for a follow-up after switching to a diet to make his urine more acidic (as stones form in the bladder when the urine becomes too basic) to check on the progress of the stones. Fortunately, the dog's stones had cleared up, but just to see what they had looked like prior, the veterinarian showed me his previous ultrasound. Then, she showed me one of the worst cases of bladder stones she had seen: a case where the store had actually gotten lodged in the urethra so the dog could not urinate. She told me that to solve the issue she had to stick a catheter up the urethra and dislodge the stone so that the dog could pee again. After that whole ordeal, she told me that she prescribed a specialized diet and that the dog is doing just fine today. The ingenuity of the veterinarians at the clinic never ceases to amaze me, as every problem that gets presented to them seems to be solved with such smart, quick, and out-of-the-box thinking. I can't wait to see what they come up with next.
- Brooke
Today I got to see some very interesting ultrasounds from a dog who had several bladder stones. He was coming in for a follow-up after switching to a diet to make his urine more acidic (as stones form in the bladder when the urine becomes too basic) to check on the progress of the stones. Fortunately, the dog's stones had cleared up, but just to see what they had looked like prior, the veterinarian showed me his previous ultrasound. Then, she showed me one of the worst cases of bladder stones she had seen: a case where the store had actually gotten lodged in the urethra so the dog could not urinate. She told me that to solve the issue she had to stick a catheter up the urethra and dislodge the stone so that the dog could pee again. After that whole ordeal, she told me that she prescribed a specialized diet and that the dog is doing just fine today. The ingenuity of the veterinarians at the clinic never ceases to amaze me, as every problem that gets presented to them seems to be solved with such smart, quick, and out-of-the-box thinking. I can't wait to see what they come up with next.
- Brooke
January 27, 2020
Today I got to see the new ultrasound system in action while the veterinarian drew some urine for a urinalysis. It is always so interesting to me to see the veterinary technology, and I am proud to say that I have gotten at least decent at working a few of them. For one, I am pretty solid when it comes to doing heart worm tests, and I know my way around the washer and dryer, but what I'm most excited to announce is that I have become proficient with the centrifuge. The centrifuge is the device that separates the blood plasma from the blood cells by spinning it at a high speed for an extended period of time. I was a little timid starting out and using the veterinary equipment, but after some instruction (and several reminders of how to open it) I was good to go. I cannot wait to see more technology, as it seems that everywhere I look there is a new device I haven't discovered yet.
- Brooke
Today I got to see the new ultrasound system in action while the veterinarian drew some urine for a urinalysis. It is always so interesting to me to see the veterinary technology, and I am proud to say that I have gotten at least decent at working a few of them. For one, I am pretty solid when it comes to doing heart worm tests, and I know my way around the washer and dryer, but what I'm most excited to announce is that I have become proficient with the centrifuge. The centrifuge is the device that separates the blood plasma from the blood cells by spinning it at a high speed for an extended period of time. I was a little timid starting out and using the veterinary equipment, but after some instruction (and several reminders of how to open it) I was good to go. I cannot wait to see more technology, as it seems that everywhere I look there is a new device I haven't discovered yet.
- Brooke
January 20, 2020
It never ceases to amaze me how diverse the canine world is. Today I saw a bunch of dogs who just needed check-ups and vaccines, so nothing out-of-the-ordinary in the world of veterinary medicine, but just the differences of breeds of dogs are so incredible to me. There was a giant Great Dane who could probably drink out of a sink, then right after him was a little chihuahua who got carried around in a little purse. It is also so incredibly funny to me how these different breeds act. They were both total sweethearts, but their demeanors were totally different. The Great Dane walked in and was very timid at first, totally unaware that if he stood on his hind legs he'd probably be taller than me, and the chihuahua walked in like he was the king of the world and had the size to back it up. It would be interesting to research the reasons behind this behavior, as I have witnessed a sort of trend between small and big dogs having opposite demeanors. I cannot wait to return.
- Brooke
It never ceases to amaze me how diverse the canine world is. Today I saw a bunch of dogs who just needed check-ups and vaccines, so nothing out-of-the-ordinary in the world of veterinary medicine, but just the differences of breeds of dogs are so incredible to me. There was a giant Great Dane who could probably drink out of a sink, then right after him was a little chihuahua who got carried around in a little purse. It is also so incredibly funny to me how these different breeds act. They were both total sweethearts, but their demeanors were totally different. The Great Dane walked in and was very timid at first, totally unaware that if he stood on his hind legs he'd probably be taller than me, and the chihuahua walked in like he was the king of the world and had the size to back it up. It would be interesting to research the reasons behind this behavior, as I have witnessed a sort of trend between small and big dogs having opposite demeanors. I cannot wait to return.
- Brooke
January 13, 2020
It was a slow day at the clinic again so I took this time to raid the bookshelf where the veterinarians keep all of their textbooks and logs to see what I could find. I never thought I'd be happy to see a textbook, but there it was: The Merck Veterinary Manual. It was an old green book that had obviously been around for a while, but once I opened it and flipped through it felt a little like Christmas morning. The anatomical sketches accompanied with captions describing the drawings and possible applications of the diagrams were so incredible, and they not only had them on cats and dogs, but also farm animals (such as horses and pigs), birds, and other small mammals (such as rabbits and ferrets). I will definitely use this book for inspiration.
- Brooke
It was a slow day at the clinic again so I took this time to raid the bookshelf where the veterinarians keep all of their textbooks and logs to see what I could find. I never thought I'd be happy to see a textbook, but there it was: The Merck Veterinary Manual. It was an old green book that had obviously been around for a while, but once I opened it and flipped through it felt a little like Christmas morning. The anatomical sketches accompanied with captions describing the drawings and possible applications of the diagrams were so incredible, and they not only had them on cats and dogs, but also farm animals (such as horses and pigs), birds, and other small mammals (such as rabbits and ferrets). I will definitely use this book for inspiration.
- Brooke
Winter Update
Looking back after taking a little break from interning over the winter, I had no idea how much I would miss it. I found myself thinking of it pretty much every day and waiting until I could come back and work again. I have always sort of knew I wanted to be a veterinarian, but after being at the clinic I have become certain that this is what I want to dedicate my life to. One of the vets told me that this is a job where you'll "never get bored," and at first I was somewhat skeptical, but it's completely true. Even just doing laundry is exciting. Every day I come I have a new experience, and even when I think I've seen it all, I've always been proven wrong. I never knew how much I could enjoy working at a clinic, but now that I do, I don't think I can envision myself doing anything else in life.
Sketching medical illustrations has proven much more challenging and time-consuming than I initially thought, but finishing the sketches have been so rewarding to me because all that hard work has turned into something I'm proud of. The process of making a base sketch, then working on it until it looks how I want, then darkening and lightening lines, shading, and finally painting the illustration are quite taxing, but when I finish I'm always so happy with the final product. Doing the skeletal sketches over break took me so much longer than I originally expected, but like the other sketches I've drawn so far I've been very happy with the finished products. I feel that as I continue drawing, my sketches become more "mature" and I can draw the subjects I'm focusing on more accurately.
This project has really allowed me to explore my passions, and I am continually reminded of how fortunate I am to be doing it. The fall and winter have been so much fun so far, and I cannot wait to continue onward to spring!
- Brooke
Looking back after taking a little break from interning over the winter, I had no idea how much I would miss it. I found myself thinking of it pretty much every day and waiting until I could come back and work again. I have always sort of knew I wanted to be a veterinarian, but after being at the clinic I have become certain that this is what I want to dedicate my life to. One of the vets told me that this is a job where you'll "never get bored," and at first I was somewhat skeptical, but it's completely true. Even just doing laundry is exciting. Every day I come I have a new experience, and even when I think I've seen it all, I've always been proven wrong. I never knew how much I could enjoy working at a clinic, but now that I do, I don't think I can envision myself doing anything else in life.
Sketching medical illustrations has proven much more challenging and time-consuming than I initially thought, but finishing the sketches have been so rewarding to me because all that hard work has turned into something I'm proud of. The process of making a base sketch, then working on it until it looks how I want, then darkening and lightening lines, shading, and finally painting the illustration are quite taxing, but when I finish I'm always so happy with the final product. Doing the skeletal sketches over break took me so much longer than I originally expected, but like the other sketches I've drawn so far I've been very happy with the finished products. I feel that as I continue drawing, my sketches become more "mature" and I can draw the subjects I'm focusing on more accurately.
This project has really allowed me to explore my passions, and I am continually reminded of how fortunate I am to be doing it. The fall and winter have been so much fun so far, and I cannot wait to continue onward to spring!
- Brooke
January 6, 2020
I had expected to be able to come to the clinic more during the winter break, but instead my mom surprised me with lots of trips so I was traveling for most of the time I was supposed to go. So, when break ended and I got to return to the clinic, I was so happy to be able to come back and get into the swing of things again. Today I met the other intern, and got to work alongside doctors for the entire day. I took some time to work on my illustrations, but other than that I got to see some bloodwork, changing of casts, removal of catheters, and draining of an abscess. It was my first time seeing an abscess drained, and it was certainly an interesting process. The vet used a "flush," which was a sodium chloride solution to draw out the pus and other debris from the wound. The dog (an adorable French bulldog mix) had gone to a puppy daycare and had gotten a cut on his jowl (in his mouth) from playing a little too hard. It was an interesting experience to watch an abscess drained, and although it was certainly new I'm glad that I will continue to see new things each time.
- Brooke
I had expected to be able to come to the clinic more during the winter break, but instead my mom surprised me with lots of trips so I was traveling for most of the time I was supposed to go. So, when break ended and I got to return to the clinic, I was so happy to be able to come back and get into the swing of things again. Today I met the other intern, and got to work alongside doctors for the entire day. I took some time to work on my illustrations, but other than that I got to see some bloodwork, changing of casts, removal of catheters, and draining of an abscess. It was my first time seeing an abscess drained, and it was certainly an interesting process. The vet used a "flush," which was a sodium chloride solution to draw out the pus and other debris from the wound. The dog (an adorable French bulldog mix) had gone to a puppy daycare and had gotten a cut on his jowl (in his mouth) from playing a little too hard. It was an interesting experience to watch an abscess drained, and although it was certainly new I'm glad that I will continue to see new things each time.
- Brooke
December 13. 2019
After taking a hard calculus exam, I was more than happy to go to the clinic to destress a little. It was a fairly slow day at the clinic, so I just helped clean up after examinations, do laundry, and help out anywhere else I could. The procedures I saw today were fairly standard, mostly just blood drawing and testing for heart worms and other ailments. Even though these procedures are considered pretty "simple" in the veterinary world, it is still so incredibly cool for me to see veterinarians work and be able to do the bloodwork.
- Brooke
After taking a hard calculus exam, I was more than happy to go to the clinic to destress a little. It was a fairly slow day at the clinic, so I just helped clean up after examinations, do laundry, and help out anywhere else I could. The procedures I saw today were fairly standard, mostly just blood drawing and testing for heart worms and other ailments. Even though these procedures are considered pretty "simple" in the veterinary world, it is still so incredibly cool for me to see veterinarians work and be able to do the bloodwork.
- Brooke
December 9, 2019
Today I got to see another ultrasound technique done on a fluffy black cat in order to have urine drawn from a bladder in order to perform a urinalysis. I was on "tap duty" again, so while the vet used the ultrasound to locate the cat's bladder (which was only about 3 cm long), I tapped the kitty's head and helped the vet look for the needle. It is always so cool to be able to see the bladder and other organs on the ultrasound, and how you can tell how full it is based on how dark it is (because the ultrasound uses sound waves that bounce back and appear dark when seen on the screen) and how you can actually see the needle enter the bladder. I will definitely be doing an extra research page on the ultrasound and ultrasonic technology, because it is so incredibly interesting to me.
- Brooke
Today I got to see another ultrasound technique done on a fluffy black cat in order to have urine drawn from a bladder in order to perform a urinalysis. I was on "tap duty" again, so while the vet used the ultrasound to locate the cat's bladder (which was only about 3 cm long), I tapped the kitty's head and helped the vet look for the needle. It is always so cool to be able to see the bladder and other organs on the ultrasound, and how you can tell how full it is based on how dark it is (because the ultrasound uses sound waves that bounce back and appear dark when seen on the screen) and how you can actually see the needle enter the bladder. I will definitely be doing an extra research page on the ultrasound and ultrasonic technology, because it is so incredibly interesting to me.
- Brooke
December 6, 2019
Today was an incredibly busy day, so I got to be hands-on with lots of the procedures that took place. Literally. For many dogs who needed vaccines and/or blood drawn while there was only one vet tech available, I subbed in and held them, pat their heads, or kept them steady so the vets could work. I got to see a fine needle aspiration performed (see my Extra Research entry on Fine Needle Aspirations) and also got to see the techniques and challenges of drawing blood from several different breeds, both big and small. From pugs, to French Bulldogs, to border collies and Great Danes, I got to see the best way to draw blood from each size dog. For example, the jugular (on the neck) of dogs tends to be bigger in the bigger dogs, so it is easier to get the blood from the dog's neck if they're bigger. I am always so fascinated by veterinary work.
- Brooke
Today was an incredibly busy day, so I got to be hands-on with lots of the procedures that took place. Literally. For many dogs who needed vaccines and/or blood drawn while there was only one vet tech available, I subbed in and held them, pat their heads, or kept them steady so the vets could work. I got to see a fine needle aspiration performed (see my Extra Research entry on Fine Needle Aspirations) and also got to see the techniques and challenges of drawing blood from several different breeds, both big and small. From pugs, to French Bulldogs, to border collies and Great Danes, I got to see the best way to draw blood from each size dog. For example, the jugular (on the neck) of dogs tends to be bigger in the bigger dogs, so it is easier to get the blood from the dog's neck if they're bigger. I am always so fascinated by veterinary work.
- Brooke
December 2, 2019
Today was a slow day at the clinic, so I spent my time reading textbooks, looking at slides of blood and certain microorganisms (which I hope to draw!), and researching more about veterinary topics that interest me. There was a fluffy orange cat in today who had to take a blood test to monitor his diabetes (which has a process that is very similar to the finger-prick humans do; they even pricked the top of his little paw), and there was also an old, angry pug who got her cast taken off. Other than that, I've been helping do laundry, mop, take out the trash, and do other things to help clean up the clinic. Even though not much happened, I am happy to be back after being sick for a while and I look forward to returning on Friday!
- Brooke
Today was a slow day at the clinic, so I spent my time reading textbooks, looking at slides of blood and certain microorganisms (which I hope to draw!), and researching more about veterinary topics that interest me. There was a fluffy orange cat in today who had to take a blood test to monitor his diabetes (which has a process that is very similar to the finger-prick humans do; they even pricked the top of his little paw), and there was also an old, angry pug who got her cast taken off. Other than that, I've been helping do laundry, mop, take out the trash, and do other things to help clean up the clinic. Even though not much happened, I am happy to be back after being sick for a while and I look forward to returning on Friday!
- Brooke
November 15, 2019
Today I got to see some very cool medical technology being put into use, and even though it was a relatively slow day I was just glad to be at the clinic reading textbooks and doing more research. A cat came in who was suspected to be blind (as his owner had noticed him bumping into things a week earlier), so to check the cat's eye pressure the vets took out a device called a "Tonopen" to measure the cat's eye pressure. The Tonopen looked kind of like a cross between a thermometer and a pen, and to measure the eye pressure the vet lightly touched the tip of the Tonopen to the cat's eyes three times. The cat had cataracts, and couldn't detect movement if you waved around him, but it was still good to check on his eye pressure to make sure he wasn't facing another problem. I am always in awe of the technology that has been developed in this field, and I am definitely going to do more research into this device.
The cat also was getting checked for kidney failure, and to check this the veterinarians took a sample of urine for a urinalysis, then sent it off to the lab to run an SDMA (symmetric dimethylarginine) test to diagnose any renal problems. Finally, the cat had some blood taken to test his thyroid. The vets also administered some Ditropan to help with incontinence and/or frequent urination. I have decided that along with technology used, I would like to research common medicines used in veterinary practices, as they seem to crop up as common as the technology does. I cannot wait to come again!
- Brooke
Today I got to see some very cool medical technology being put into use, and even though it was a relatively slow day I was just glad to be at the clinic reading textbooks and doing more research. A cat came in who was suspected to be blind (as his owner had noticed him bumping into things a week earlier), so to check the cat's eye pressure the vets took out a device called a "Tonopen" to measure the cat's eye pressure. The Tonopen looked kind of like a cross between a thermometer and a pen, and to measure the eye pressure the vet lightly touched the tip of the Tonopen to the cat's eyes three times. The cat had cataracts, and couldn't detect movement if you waved around him, but it was still good to check on his eye pressure to make sure he wasn't facing another problem. I am always in awe of the technology that has been developed in this field, and I am definitely going to do more research into this device.
The cat also was getting checked for kidney failure, and to check this the veterinarians took a sample of urine for a urinalysis, then sent it off to the lab to run an SDMA (symmetric dimethylarginine) test to diagnose any renal problems. Finally, the cat had some blood taken to test his thyroid. The vets also administered some Ditropan to help with incontinence and/or frequent urination. I have decided that along with technology used, I would like to research common medicines used in veterinary practices, as they seem to crop up as common as the technology does. I cannot wait to come again!
- Brooke
Fall Update
As I enter my third month interning, I am reminded of how fortunate I am to be doing this project. I have created this website, including a blog, research page, and illustrations to accompany it. I have gained so much priceless experience from working at the veterinary hospital, and I have continued to research and learn about the veterinary field and all things related. O have enjoyed getting firsthand experience and working hands-on with veterinarians to help the animals; it has been such a rewarding and enriching experience for me. I love connecting things I have done research on to things I experience firsthand while working as an intern; whenever I hear a diagnosis or see technology being used that I have researched previously, I get so excited. Balancing work and doing my internship has been a little challenging for me, but because I love interning so much and doing this project I am more than happy to sacrifice in other areas of my life to be able to do this. Some of the things I have seen at the hospital have given me pause so that I have to stop and think, whether scientifically or philosophically, but I love the challenge and the way my character has grown and matured because of them.
I have a lot of illustrations to do and some research, as I would like to create at least 5 extra research posts a month and at least 3 illustrations in that time too. I need to get some more watercolors and watercolor paper, and I also need to redo a few drawings. I also have much more interning to do during the year.
I will continue to go to my internship Mondays and Fridays throughout the year, and plan to continue doing research and illustrations. Thankfully, I have Dr. Heard and her staff to help with any scientific questions, Ms. Kayama if I have any artistic questions, and my amazing team of mentors if I have questions about anything else. I will also try to see some surgeries over the breaks, as I have yet to see one and am excited to witness one.
Over winter break, I plan to double the amount of research posts and illustrations I do, and if it's okay with the staff at the hospital I would like to intern more. I plan on talking to Dr. Heard about this the next time I go over to the clinic. I also plan to do some volunteering at animal shelters over the break, as it will help me better my handling skills and will be a good way to give back during the Christmas season. I will continue updating the website, and will develop it even further with more pictures. I am so excited to continue this project, and look forward to all the growth and development that will come from it!
-Brooke
As I enter my third month interning, I am reminded of how fortunate I am to be doing this project. I have created this website, including a blog, research page, and illustrations to accompany it. I have gained so much priceless experience from working at the veterinary hospital, and I have continued to research and learn about the veterinary field and all things related. O have enjoyed getting firsthand experience and working hands-on with veterinarians to help the animals; it has been such a rewarding and enriching experience for me. I love connecting things I have done research on to things I experience firsthand while working as an intern; whenever I hear a diagnosis or see technology being used that I have researched previously, I get so excited. Balancing work and doing my internship has been a little challenging for me, but because I love interning so much and doing this project I am more than happy to sacrifice in other areas of my life to be able to do this. Some of the things I have seen at the hospital have given me pause so that I have to stop and think, whether scientifically or philosophically, but I love the challenge and the way my character has grown and matured because of them.
I have a lot of illustrations to do and some research, as I would like to create at least 5 extra research posts a month and at least 3 illustrations in that time too. I need to get some more watercolors and watercolor paper, and I also need to redo a few drawings. I also have much more interning to do during the year.
I will continue to go to my internship Mondays and Fridays throughout the year, and plan to continue doing research and illustrations. Thankfully, I have Dr. Heard and her staff to help with any scientific questions, Ms. Kayama if I have any artistic questions, and my amazing team of mentors if I have questions about anything else. I will also try to see some surgeries over the breaks, as I have yet to see one and am excited to witness one.
Over winter break, I plan to double the amount of research posts and illustrations I do, and if it's okay with the staff at the hospital I would like to intern more. I plan on talking to Dr. Heard about this the next time I go over to the clinic. I also plan to do some volunteering at animal shelters over the break, as it will help me better my handling skills and will be a good way to give back during the Christmas season. I will continue updating the website, and will develop it even further with more pictures. I am so excited to continue this project, and look forward to all the growth and development that will come from it!
-Brooke
November 11, 2019
There are some days in life that cause you to stop and focus on introspection, days where you step back and look at the "bigger picture." For me, today was one of those days. I came into the clinic and was met with a big dog with an even bigger ear infection, which the doctor feared was caused by an antibiotic resistant strain of bacteria. She cleaned out the discharge from the dog's ear, then prescribed stronger eardrops to help fight the infection. I also heard news on the golden doodle who had gotten the stick lodged in his salivary glands; he was doing so much better since the stick had been removed. I was glad to hear that, and went about doing laundry and tidying up while waiting for the next appointment. It was half an hour later when one of the doctors asked me to help one of the veterinary technicians with a dog who had just been euthanized. It was my first time experiencing death so close, and I honestly didn't know how to feel. The hospital did an incredible job with handling the dog with the upmost care are respect, which made me very happy to see that they cared for their clients until the very end. Driving home that day, I found myself crying.
Confronting mortality is no small task, and that day I had to stop and realize that this is a very real part of not only life, but also of being a veterinarian. I had to stop and ask myself if I could handle the tasks that being a veterinarian asks of someone. I knew that the dog was old and had lived a long, happy life, and even the owner knew that it was her time to go. She was arthritic and had trouble walking, so when the dog's mom brought her in that day, she probably already knew it was time to say goodbye. I was sad to see the dog go, but ultimately I was more happy that she could peacefully transition to a better place, one where she didn't need to worry about achy joints or any other problems. I was also incredibly touched by the dog's mom, who shared how much of an impact adopting her had on her life. She explained that she had adopted the dog as a senior, and was so moved by her experience that she had decided to go out and help another senior dog. Overall, I'm glad I had this experience, because it hasn't only prepared me for the reality of being a veterinarian, but it has also restored my faith in the world that there are wonderful people like the dog's mom who want to help senior dogs make the most of their lives. This experience has made me even more determined to become a vet, so that I can give back to all the animals like that dog who have taught me so many valuable lessons in my life.
- Brooke
There are some days in life that cause you to stop and focus on introspection, days where you step back and look at the "bigger picture." For me, today was one of those days. I came into the clinic and was met with a big dog with an even bigger ear infection, which the doctor feared was caused by an antibiotic resistant strain of bacteria. She cleaned out the discharge from the dog's ear, then prescribed stronger eardrops to help fight the infection. I also heard news on the golden doodle who had gotten the stick lodged in his salivary glands; he was doing so much better since the stick had been removed. I was glad to hear that, and went about doing laundry and tidying up while waiting for the next appointment. It was half an hour later when one of the doctors asked me to help one of the veterinary technicians with a dog who had just been euthanized. It was my first time experiencing death so close, and I honestly didn't know how to feel. The hospital did an incredible job with handling the dog with the upmost care are respect, which made me very happy to see that they cared for their clients until the very end. Driving home that day, I found myself crying.
Confronting mortality is no small task, and that day I had to stop and realize that this is a very real part of not only life, but also of being a veterinarian. I had to stop and ask myself if I could handle the tasks that being a veterinarian asks of someone. I knew that the dog was old and had lived a long, happy life, and even the owner knew that it was her time to go. She was arthritic and had trouble walking, so when the dog's mom brought her in that day, she probably already knew it was time to say goodbye. I was sad to see the dog go, but ultimately I was more happy that she could peacefully transition to a better place, one where she didn't need to worry about achy joints or any other problems. I was also incredibly touched by the dog's mom, who shared how much of an impact adopting her had on her life. She explained that she had adopted the dog as a senior, and was so moved by her experience that she had decided to go out and help another senior dog. Overall, I'm glad I had this experience, because it hasn't only prepared me for the reality of being a veterinarian, but it has also restored my faith in the world that there are wonderful people like the dog's mom who want to help senior dogs make the most of their lives. This experience has made me even more determined to become a vet, so that I can give back to all the animals like that dog who have taught me so many valuable lessons in my life.
- Brooke
November 8, 2019
After finally getting the first wave of my college applications out of the way (whew!) I was incredibly excited to return to the clinic. And it seems that I had come just in the nick of time; a veterinary technician explained to me that they had just performed a surgery and needed some help cleaning up afterwards so they could attend to their current clients and not have to worry about a mess as well. I sprung into action and helped sweep, disinfect, wipe down, and clean the hospital. I also helped with folding the laundry and was introduced to the ultrasonic bath: a tub filled with a blue liquid that completely disinfected surgical tools. It was very interesting to me, and it seemed that it zapped the tools clean, so I will definitely do a research segment on it. I watched the vet techs draw some blood, then ran some heart worm tests using slides and buffers, but other than that it was mostly a day of straightening up. I didn't mind though, I was just happy to be back. I can't wait to see what else is in store!
- Brooke
After finally getting the first wave of my college applications out of the way (whew!) I was incredibly excited to return to the clinic. And it seems that I had come just in the nick of time; a veterinary technician explained to me that they had just performed a surgery and needed some help cleaning up afterwards so they could attend to their current clients and not have to worry about a mess as well. I sprung into action and helped sweep, disinfect, wipe down, and clean the hospital. I also helped with folding the laundry and was introduced to the ultrasonic bath: a tub filled with a blue liquid that completely disinfected surgical tools. It was very interesting to me, and it seemed that it zapped the tools clean, so I will definitely do a research segment on it. I watched the vet techs draw some blood, then ran some heart worm tests using slides and buffers, but other than that it was mostly a day of straightening up. I didn't mind though, I was just happy to be back. I can't wait to see what else is in store!
- Brooke
October 11, 2019
Today was a very exciting day, as I got to see my very first x-ray procedure. I say procedure because I am not allowed to actually be in the room during pictures due to radiation, but I got to see how they prepared a dog for an x-ray. The dog who needed help was a larger Labrador, whose dad wasn't sure why he kept throwing up his meals. The doctor decided an x-ray would be beneficial, so after getting the green light from the owner, they proceeded. Looking back now I realize that the process could have been incredibly chaotic, but the veterinary technicians handled it so well that I completely forgot about everything that could have gone wrong. They calmly put a muzzle on him then flipped him over so he was laying belly-up in the trough under the x-ray, then they kept him calm while they took the x-rays. It was such a smooth process, and I was incredibly impressed.
The next patient I saw was a dog who was having issues going to the bathroom, and so in order to better see the problem he was taken into the back room and given an ultrasound. The doctor performing the ultrasound showed me the dog's colon, then pointed out how there was a lot of waste back-up. The dog was given some laxatives and was sent home. Afterwards, I was doing some laundry, and a call came in from a lady sounding frantic. She explained that her dog had gotten a stick stuck in his mouth, and wasn't sure what to do. The veterinary technician on the phone talked her through the situation, and thankfully, her husband was able to dislodge the stick. With the crisis averted and no more appointments for the day, the veterinary technicians took me into the kennel with them and showed me a new litter of kittens who were just born. They were so incredibly cute, and I even got to hold them and play with them. It was a very fun day.
- Brooke
Today was a very exciting day, as I got to see my very first x-ray procedure. I say procedure because I am not allowed to actually be in the room during pictures due to radiation, but I got to see how they prepared a dog for an x-ray. The dog who needed help was a larger Labrador, whose dad wasn't sure why he kept throwing up his meals. The doctor decided an x-ray would be beneficial, so after getting the green light from the owner, they proceeded. Looking back now I realize that the process could have been incredibly chaotic, but the veterinary technicians handled it so well that I completely forgot about everything that could have gone wrong. They calmly put a muzzle on him then flipped him over so he was laying belly-up in the trough under the x-ray, then they kept him calm while they took the x-rays. It was such a smooth process, and I was incredibly impressed.
The next patient I saw was a dog who was having issues going to the bathroom, and so in order to better see the problem he was taken into the back room and given an ultrasound. The doctor performing the ultrasound showed me the dog's colon, then pointed out how there was a lot of waste back-up. The dog was given some laxatives and was sent home. Afterwards, I was doing some laundry, and a call came in from a lady sounding frantic. She explained that her dog had gotten a stick stuck in his mouth, and wasn't sure what to do. The veterinary technician on the phone talked her through the situation, and thankfully, her husband was able to dislodge the stick. With the crisis averted and no more appointments for the day, the veterinary technicians took me into the kennel with them and showed me a new litter of kittens who were just born. They were so incredibly cute, and I even got to hold them and play with them. It was a very fun day.
- Brooke
October 4, 2019
As soon as I entered the door today, I was greeted with a sneeze by a big white bulldog. A doctor explained to me that white bulldogs carry a recessive gene that leaves them more prone to allergies and allergic reactions. I looked closer at the dog, and realized that its paws looked exactly like the picture I had illustrated over the summer. The dog's paws were cystic and red from irritation, it was sneezing, and one of its eyes was red. The doctor had some medicine to help alleviate the allergies, but she was worried that the dog had an abrasion on its eye, so she decided to perform a test. I am unsure what the test was (but I will definitely do research on it later!) but she put a sort of colored eye drop in the dog's eye, turned off the lights, then looked at his eyeball with a light. She explained to me that if a scratch was present on the eye, then it would glow. Thankfully, there was no abrasion, so the sneezy dog was sent home with some medication and a few tissues.
The next patient I saw was a little cat, only four years old, who was coughing and had trouble breathing. The owner had thought it was just a bad cold and gave it some time to clear up, but when it persisted she came in to have him checked out. The doctor listened to his breathing with a stethoscope and determined that the issue was centered in the lungs. Then, the cat's mom asked the doctor why he wasn't eating, and the doctor told her that an animal's appetite is mostly smell-driven, and because his nose was all clogged, he wasn't very interested in the food. I thought this was incredibly interesting and hadn't considered it before. But before I could think of it more, the cat's mom reminded the doctor that her cat was FELV positive, and my heart sank. I have done some in depth research on FeLV (which you can read on my "extra research" page), but to summarize it is somewhat similar to HIV in humans but instead of leaving you more susceptible to a contagious disease, it leaves you susceptible to cancer. After that, the doctor thought that the little cat had either an upper respiratory infection or was suffering from a cancer due to the FELV. The cat's blood was taken and sent off to be tested for white blood cell count, and then the next patient came in.
The last case I saw was an older dog who was peeing blood and had seizures from water in her brain. The doctors wanted to test the urine to figure out more about the blood, so they inserted a catheter and drew some urine for a urinalysis. They then sent it off for testing. On my way home, I couldn't stop thinking about how technology and science have developed. From the eye drops, to the blood tests, even to the urinalysis, it is so amazing to me that we have created such incredible methods to help out our little furry friends.
- Brooke
As soon as I entered the door today, I was greeted with a sneeze by a big white bulldog. A doctor explained to me that white bulldogs carry a recessive gene that leaves them more prone to allergies and allergic reactions. I looked closer at the dog, and realized that its paws looked exactly like the picture I had illustrated over the summer. The dog's paws were cystic and red from irritation, it was sneezing, and one of its eyes was red. The doctor had some medicine to help alleviate the allergies, but she was worried that the dog had an abrasion on its eye, so she decided to perform a test. I am unsure what the test was (but I will definitely do research on it later!) but she put a sort of colored eye drop in the dog's eye, turned off the lights, then looked at his eyeball with a light. She explained to me that if a scratch was present on the eye, then it would glow. Thankfully, there was no abrasion, so the sneezy dog was sent home with some medication and a few tissues.
The next patient I saw was a little cat, only four years old, who was coughing and had trouble breathing. The owner had thought it was just a bad cold and gave it some time to clear up, but when it persisted she came in to have him checked out. The doctor listened to his breathing with a stethoscope and determined that the issue was centered in the lungs. Then, the cat's mom asked the doctor why he wasn't eating, and the doctor told her that an animal's appetite is mostly smell-driven, and because his nose was all clogged, he wasn't very interested in the food. I thought this was incredibly interesting and hadn't considered it before. But before I could think of it more, the cat's mom reminded the doctor that her cat was FELV positive, and my heart sank. I have done some in depth research on FeLV (which you can read on my "extra research" page), but to summarize it is somewhat similar to HIV in humans but instead of leaving you more susceptible to a contagious disease, it leaves you susceptible to cancer. After that, the doctor thought that the little cat had either an upper respiratory infection or was suffering from a cancer due to the FELV. The cat's blood was taken and sent off to be tested for white blood cell count, and then the next patient came in.
The last case I saw was an older dog who was peeing blood and had seizures from water in her brain. The doctors wanted to test the urine to figure out more about the blood, so they inserted a catheter and drew some urine for a urinalysis. They then sent it off for testing. On my way home, I couldn't stop thinking about how technology and science have developed. From the eye drops, to the blood tests, even to the urinalysis, it is so amazing to me that we have created such incredible methods to help out our little furry friends.
- Brooke
September 23, 2019
Today I met one of the cutest goldendoodles I have ever seen, but unfortunately he had a problem. The dog, who was only 10 months old, had a hard, golf-ball sized lump on his neck, and his owner was concerned that it could be a tumor. The dog was also bleeding in his mouth, but the owner dismissed that as nothing more than a cut on his gum or something else fairly harmless. The dog was taken back and a needle aspirate was performed, but no liquid came out so a few cells were taken to be put under a microscope and inspected more closely. Until cytology reports came back, they weren't sure what else could be done. However, the doctor had a feeling about that blood from the dog's mouth and decided to take a look.
When the dog's mouth was opened and examined, the doctor discovered a spot of pink poking through the dog's otherwise dark-colored gums, and was shocked. The pink that stuck out was actually a hole in the dog's gums where some foreign body had penetrated through the skin of his mouth. The doctor then recalled the owner saying that his dog liked to chew on sticks and bushes, especially rose bushed. Suddenly, the big lump on the dog's neck made sense. The doctor hypothesized that a stick or even a thorn had punctured his mouth and had traveled down and gotten stuck in the dog's salivary glands. A dental x-ray was scheduled, and the dog was able to leave in order to rest for his x-rays and possible surgery. It was incredibly interesting to watch vets think outside the box and find answers by doing so, and is definitely a lesson I will keep in the back of my mind as I progress.
- Brooke
Today I met one of the cutest goldendoodles I have ever seen, but unfortunately he had a problem. The dog, who was only 10 months old, had a hard, golf-ball sized lump on his neck, and his owner was concerned that it could be a tumor. The dog was also bleeding in his mouth, but the owner dismissed that as nothing more than a cut on his gum or something else fairly harmless. The dog was taken back and a needle aspirate was performed, but no liquid came out so a few cells were taken to be put under a microscope and inspected more closely. Until cytology reports came back, they weren't sure what else could be done. However, the doctor had a feeling about that blood from the dog's mouth and decided to take a look.
When the dog's mouth was opened and examined, the doctor discovered a spot of pink poking through the dog's otherwise dark-colored gums, and was shocked. The pink that stuck out was actually a hole in the dog's gums where some foreign body had penetrated through the skin of his mouth. The doctor then recalled the owner saying that his dog liked to chew on sticks and bushes, especially rose bushed. Suddenly, the big lump on the dog's neck made sense. The doctor hypothesized that a stick or even a thorn had punctured his mouth and had traveled down and gotten stuck in the dog's salivary glands. A dental x-ray was scheduled, and the dog was able to leave in order to rest for his x-rays and possible surgery. It was incredibly interesting to watch vets think outside the box and find answers by doing so, and is definitely a lesson I will keep in the back of my mind as I progress.
- Brooke
September 20, 2019
Today was a very interesting day, as I witnessed a case that was investigated and diagnosed, something that the dog and its owner had not gotten before. Prior to that, I helped out by doing some laundry and then I got to see the CBC machine in action. I also got to see blood spun and the separation of platelets and plasma, which was then sent out for testing.
Afterwards I shadowed a veterinary technician into one of her appointments where I met a small, shaggy-looking dog whose owner had concerns. She said that their dog was frequently vomiting and had lost a lot of weight due to this, which concerned her. She and her family had just moved across the country and noticed their dog was upset, which then progressed to throwing up bile and white foam. The owner suspected that their dog was just having a bad reaction to a certain flea or tick medication, but the doctor wanted to perform tests find a diagnosis. He originally thought that it could be pneumonia or kennel cough, and thought that the problem was in his lungs and not his stomach, like the owner thought.
We took the little dog back and some tests were performed, but the x-ray machine provided the real diagnosis. When the dog's lungs were photographed, the veins around his bronchioles were enflamed (called a bronchiolar pattern), which confirmed that the problem was in his lungs. The dog was diagnosed with bronchitis, and was given some medicine to help with the inflammation. Overall it was a very educational day and taught me that sometimes the first guess at a diagnosis isn't always right, and you should always check for other problems before hastily giving a diagnosis.
- Brooke
Today was a very interesting day, as I witnessed a case that was investigated and diagnosed, something that the dog and its owner had not gotten before. Prior to that, I helped out by doing some laundry and then I got to see the CBC machine in action. I also got to see blood spun and the separation of platelets and plasma, which was then sent out for testing.
Afterwards I shadowed a veterinary technician into one of her appointments where I met a small, shaggy-looking dog whose owner had concerns. She said that their dog was frequently vomiting and had lost a lot of weight due to this, which concerned her. She and her family had just moved across the country and noticed their dog was upset, which then progressed to throwing up bile and white foam. The owner suspected that their dog was just having a bad reaction to a certain flea or tick medication, but the doctor wanted to perform tests find a diagnosis. He originally thought that it could be pneumonia or kennel cough, and thought that the problem was in his lungs and not his stomach, like the owner thought.
We took the little dog back and some tests were performed, but the x-ray machine provided the real diagnosis. When the dog's lungs were photographed, the veins around his bronchioles were enflamed (called a bronchiolar pattern), which confirmed that the problem was in his lungs. The dog was diagnosed with bronchitis, and was given some medicine to help with the inflammation. Overall it was a very educational day and taught me that sometimes the first guess at a diagnosis isn't always right, and you should always check for other problems before hastily giving a diagnosis.
- Brooke
September 16, 2019
Today I started out work at the clinic by watching a dog get his ears cleaned, and learned proper technique to fully clean out the ear canal. I studied a diagram of the canine ear for a little, then was I brought over to the microscope to look at slides of blood and an ear swab. From the ear swab, I was able to see little singular yeasts that caused the infection, and in the blood slide I could see red blood cells, platelets, and neutrophils. It was so amazing to see these up close and to know that doctors can use these magnified images to diagnose diseases or foreign pathogens in the animal's body.
After analyzing the slides for a bit, a little Boston Terrier came in and his owner explained that he was worried the little dog had a UTI. To determine whether he had a UTI or not, a sample needed to be taken straight from his bladder so that it would not be contaminated by any bacteria in the urethra. To locate the bladder, the dog was given an ultrasound, and it was so cool to see the organs on the monitor. A needle was inserted and a urine sample was extracted, then sent off for testing.
After taking samples from the little Boston Terrier, I sat in on an appointment with an owner who was concerned about hard lumps on her dog's chest. Thankfully, it turned out to be the dog's ribcage, and all was well. After dismissing him, two little dogs came in for check ups, nail clipping, and certain tests. I watched while the veterinarians drew blood, then learned how to put the blood sample and buffers in a test slide to see if the dogs tested positive for anything. I even got to do one all by myself, and was so happy to do it. I am always so sad to leave the clinic because there is always so much more I'd love to see and learn, but I'm so happy I'll be back on Friday!!
- Brooke
Today I started out work at the clinic by watching a dog get his ears cleaned, and learned proper technique to fully clean out the ear canal. I studied a diagram of the canine ear for a little, then was I brought over to the microscope to look at slides of blood and an ear swab. From the ear swab, I was able to see little singular yeasts that caused the infection, and in the blood slide I could see red blood cells, platelets, and neutrophils. It was so amazing to see these up close and to know that doctors can use these magnified images to diagnose diseases or foreign pathogens in the animal's body.
After analyzing the slides for a bit, a little Boston Terrier came in and his owner explained that he was worried the little dog had a UTI. To determine whether he had a UTI or not, a sample needed to be taken straight from his bladder so that it would not be contaminated by any bacteria in the urethra. To locate the bladder, the dog was given an ultrasound, and it was so cool to see the organs on the monitor. A needle was inserted and a urine sample was extracted, then sent off for testing.
After taking samples from the little Boston Terrier, I sat in on an appointment with an owner who was concerned about hard lumps on her dog's chest. Thankfully, it turned out to be the dog's ribcage, and all was well. After dismissing him, two little dogs came in for check ups, nail clipping, and certain tests. I watched while the veterinarians drew blood, then learned how to put the blood sample and buffers in a test slide to see if the dogs tested positive for anything. I even got to do one all by myself, and was so happy to do it. I am always so sad to leave the clinic because there is always so much more I'd love to see and learn, but I'm so happy I'll be back on Friday!!
- Brooke
September 13, 2019
Today was a very exciting day at the clinic and I got to see and experience so much. I was able to draw my first vaccine, listen to a heart murmur, help remove a catheter (or, supply bandages at least) and get more familiar with the clinic and the location of its tools. I got the opportunity to shadow a doctor and sit in on an appointment with an owner and her two dogs, who were both older. These two dogs, one of which was a little Yorkshire terrier, were in for checkups but the owner also had concerns about the dog's breathing. He was wheezy and breathed hard. It was then that the doctor inspected him and also let me listen to his heart. It was such an amazing experience and I cannot wait to go back on Monday!
- Brooke
Today was a very exciting day at the clinic and I got to see and experience so much. I was able to draw my first vaccine, listen to a heart murmur, help remove a catheter (or, supply bandages at least) and get more familiar with the clinic and the location of its tools. I got the opportunity to shadow a doctor and sit in on an appointment with an owner and her two dogs, who were both older. These two dogs, one of which was a little Yorkshire terrier, were in for checkups but the owner also had concerns about the dog's breathing. He was wheezy and breathed hard. It was then that the doctor inspected him and also let me listen to his heart. It was such an amazing experience and I cannot wait to go back on Monday!
- Brooke
September 9, 2019
Today I had my first day at the clinic and I saw and learned so much. I started out the day by watching a cat gets its anal glands expressed (a treatment not too common in cats) and helping out as much as I could, whether it was taking out trash or helping restock paper towels. I also was very fortunate to shadow many kind and helpful doctors and nurses. I learned a lot about medications given to certain animals and what their uses are, and I also got to see an X-ray of a cat that had broken all of its toes.
Towards the end, I was able to sit in on an appointment with a middle-aged golden retriever, whose owners were concerned about a firm lump by the dog's rear. The doctor predicted that it would be a type of hematoma, either cystic or bruise, and recommended that a needle aspiration was performed. The dog's owner agreed, and we led the dog into the back where I got to see a live needle aspiration happen. A skinny syringe was inserted into the lump, some fatty liquid and blood was drawn out, and the lump had flattened. The doctor deemed that any further cytology was not necessary, and with instructions to continue monitoring the area, the dog and her owner went home.
Overall, this day was a great introduction into the veterinary world and I am so excited to see what else I can learn!
- Brooke
Today I had my first day at the clinic and I saw and learned so much. I started out the day by watching a cat gets its anal glands expressed (a treatment not too common in cats) and helping out as much as I could, whether it was taking out trash or helping restock paper towels. I also was very fortunate to shadow many kind and helpful doctors and nurses. I learned a lot about medications given to certain animals and what their uses are, and I also got to see an X-ray of a cat that had broken all of its toes.
Towards the end, I was able to sit in on an appointment with a middle-aged golden retriever, whose owners were concerned about a firm lump by the dog's rear. The doctor predicted that it would be a type of hematoma, either cystic or bruise, and recommended that a needle aspiration was performed. The dog's owner agreed, and we led the dog into the back where I got to see a live needle aspiration happen. A skinny syringe was inserted into the lump, some fatty liquid and blood was drawn out, and the lump had flattened. The doctor deemed that any further cytology was not necessary, and with instructions to continue monitoring the area, the dog and her owner went home.
Overall, this day was a great introduction into the veterinary world and I am so excited to see what else I can learn!
- Brooke
August 19, 2019
Today I met with Dr. Heard to establish a schedule for the upcoming school year. She gave me a little tour of her facility, then we sat down and discussed the logistics of the project. We agreed that I could come in every Monday and Friday after school for 2 hours. Overall, I would be there from 3:00-5:00 every Monday and Friday. She also said if there are any days I don't have school I could come early and watch surgeries being performed. She also told me she has x-rays, models, books, and pamphlets full of information that I could use to complete my blog. We also discussed doing different case studies, which I am very excited about doing. My first day at the clinic will be Monday, September 9, and I'm so excited to begin!!
- Brooke
Today I met with Dr. Heard to establish a schedule for the upcoming school year. She gave me a little tour of her facility, then we sat down and discussed the logistics of the project. We agreed that I could come in every Monday and Friday after school for 2 hours. Overall, I would be there from 3:00-5:00 every Monday and Friday. She also said if there are any days I don't have school I could come early and watch surgeries being performed. She also told me she has x-rays, models, books, and pamphlets full of information that I could use to complete my blog. We also discussed doing different case studies, which I am very excited about doing. My first day at the clinic will be Monday, September 9, and I'm so excited to begin!!
- Brooke
August 4, 2019
After doing some traveling, I was finally able to meet with Ms. Ikumi Kayama today to discuss the basics of medical and anatomical drawing. We sat down to have dinner, and she gave me some great tips on how to begin and how to efficiently and accurately produce drawings. She was also kind enough to give me a new tool I hadn't heard of before, a no-photo-blue, which is a colored pencil that won't show up in black and white photographs. I had some trepidation about beginning the art aspect of this project, but after meeting with Ms. Kayama today I feel ready to begin. I am so grateful that Ms. Kayama has agreed to mentor me throughout this project, I know she will help me do a great job!
- Brooke
After doing some traveling, I was finally able to meet with Ms. Ikumi Kayama today to discuss the basics of medical and anatomical drawing. We sat down to have dinner, and she gave me some great tips on how to begin and how to efficiently and accurately produce drawings. She was also kind enough to give me a new tool I hadn't heard of before, a no-photo-blue, which is a colored pencil that won't show up in black and white photographs. I had some trepidation about beginning the art aspect of this project, but after meeting with Ms. Kayama today I feel ready to begin. I am so grateful that Ms. Kayama has agreed to mentor me throughout this project, I know she will help me do a great job!
- Brooke
Mrs. Kayama and me in downtown Annapolis.
July 19, 2019
While at the beach with friends and family, I got to hang around with my friend's new kitten named Snoopy. He's very little and sweet, but when I was playing with him one day I noticed small black dots scattered throughout his fur. When I squished one, it turned red, and then my suspicions were confirmed. These specks are "flea dirt," or the excrements of fleas that turn red when crushed due to the animal's blood. Upon closer inspection I saw fleas all throughout his fur, and knew I had to help. It was one of the first baths Snoopy had ever taken in his young life, so he was a bit scared, but after gently watching him with some dish soap that would be okay for his skin, I dried him and kept him warm in a little blanket until he reheated. Dealing with the fleas up close was a new (and very gross) experience for me, but knowing I helped Snoopy out made it all worth it.
- Brooke
While at the beach with friends and family, I got to hang around with my friend's new kitten named Snoopy. He's very little and sweet, but when I was playing with him one day I noticed small black dots scattered throughout his fur. When I squished one, it turned red, and then my suspicions were confirmed. These specks are "flea dirt," or the excrements of fleas that turn red when crushed due to the animal's blood. Upon closer inspection I saw fleas all throughout his fur, and knew I had to help. It was one of the first baths Snoopy had ever taken in his young life, so he was a bit scared, but after gently watching him with some dish soap that would be okay for his skin, I dried him and kept him warm in a little blanket until he reheated. Dealing with the fleas up close was a new (and very gross) experience for me, but knowing I helped Snoopy out made it all worth it.
- Brooke
A playful Snoopy feeling better after his bath.
July 9, 2019
I am pleased to say that my dog has stopped licking his paw and has allowed it to begin healing. We monitored him closely for a few weeks to make sure he wasn't licking, and applied an antiseptic spray to the wound to stop any possible infection. We had a veterinarian check him over just to make sure he's okay, but it seems to me that he is in the clear. While the vet was examining him, she found several (thankfully) benign tumors on him, which are common in older dogs. I would like to do some overall research on cancers and tumors in dogs, and will focus in on the most common ones later. I will also do this for cats.
- Brooke
I am pleased to say that my dog has stopped licking his paw and has allowed it to begin healing. We monitored him closely for a few weeks to make sure he wasn't licking, and applied an antiseptic spray to the wound to stop any possible infection. We had a veterinarian check him over just to make sure he's okay, but it seems to me that he is in the clear. While the vet was examining him, she found several (thankfully) benign tumors on him, which are common in older dogs. I would like to do some overall research on cancers and tumors in dogs, and will focus in on the most common ones later. I will also do this for cats.
- Brooke
June 25, 2019
I have made lots of progress on researching the history of the veterinary sciences, and I have found lots of interesting facts that I will share on my "Extra Research" page later.
Recently, my dog has been licking his paw frequently, and I am wondering why.. Though I am very upset that he may be uncomfortable, I would like to research the reason behind this habit. I am thinking that perhaps it's stress, though it could also be that he is an older dog and might be trying to relieve any pain in his joints. I will continue to monitor him to make sure his paw is healing, but in the meantime I will begin to research why he might be doing this and will update my "Extra Research" page as soon as I find results.
- Brooke
I have made lots of progress on researching the history of the veterinary sciences, and I have found lots of interesting facts that I will share on my "Extra Research" page later.
Recently, my dog has been licking his paw frequently, and I am wondering why.. Though I am very upset that he may be uncomfortable, I would like to research the reason behind this habit. I am thinking that perhaps it's stress, though it could also be that he is an older dog and might be trying to relieve any pain in his joints. I will continue to monitor him to make sure his paw is healing, but in the meantime I will begin to research why he might be doing this and will update my "Extra Research" page as soon as I find results.
- Brooke
June 23, 2019
Though this is my first blog post, I have been busy setting up all the preliminary stages of this project. I have contacted Ms. Kayama and arranged a day for us to meet when she returns from her conference, and have already begun to research the history of the veterinary sciences. I am very excited to begin this project!
- Brooke
Though this is my first blog post, I have been busy setting up all the preliminary stages of this project. I have contacted Ms. Kayama and arranged a day for us to meet when she returns from her conference, and have already begun to research the history of the veterinary sciences. I am very excited to begin this project!
- Brooke