CLASS OF 2014...how ya doing?

[katryn]

Cardio exam tomorrow morning, then repro quiz at 11 am, then radiology quiz at 3 pm. I thought Fridays were supposed to be the good day of the week...

I second this, and I still have to take my cardio quiz too.

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[cowgirla]

Gave a presentation last week for a food animal class I took over the summer.
I wasnt the biggest fan of the professor, and he is well aware of the fact that I slept through most of his lectures in another class.

So, I was really not expecting this presentation to go well since it's a pretty subjective grading thing.
Imagine my surprise when I get an email today that my score was a 98%! (I was "pushing" the time limit a little, apparently) This means I have at least 1 A on my transcript this semester, haha.

 

[GellaBella]

So far so good here at PennVet!

Studying for a Med/Surg exam for next week. Have a take home genetics exam due on Friday, have two presentations next week and gearing up to do my very own spay on a real live dog later in the semester!

but it all feels just oh.so.easy compared to last quarter of last year...that or I've just completely given up on stressing about things and am now looking forward to clinics in January.

Where are people going for clinical year externships?? Mine (either confirmed or in process of confirming):

Humane Alliance, NC - shelter med/surgery
PSPCA, Philadelphia - shelter med/surgery
Angell Memorial, Boston - ophthalmology
GSK, Philadelphia - industry/lab animal med
2x Private Practice externships - household exotics at one, mixed animal ambulatory practice at other
RVC?? (would LOOOOOVE to go. not sure its gonna happen) - whatever, it's london!
APHIS-NJ - government/regulatory

where are the rest of you going?? Help me procrastinate!

 

[nyanko]

but it all feels just oh.so.easy compared to last quarter of last year...

YES...every time someone has asked me how school is going this year, I've been all "A lot better than last year. But honestly I could be literally on fire and it would still be better than last year."

We don't start clinics until June, and we have a lot less externship weeks than you guys do apparently!

Where are people going for clinical year externships?? Mine (either confirmed or in process of confirming):

Humane Alliance, NC
PSPCA, Philadelphia
Angell Memorial, Boston
GSK, Philadelphia
2x Private Practice externships
RVC?? (would LOOOOOVE to go. not sure its gonna happen)
APHIS-NJ

where are the rest of you going?? Help me procrastinate!

The most I could fit into my schedule realistically was 4 weeks of SA externships. I'm going to Angell too, and Ohio State (both for Neurology). I'm Food/Small track though so I also have 6 weeks of FA externships (2 weeks dairy, 2 weeks beef, 2 weeks huge mixed practice). It's really nervewracking waiting for people to get back to me since we are supposed to submit our dates by Friday!

 

[GellaBella]

The most I could fit into my schedule realistically was 4 weeks of SA externships. I'm going to Angell too, and Ohio State (both for Neurology). I'm Food/Small track though so I also have 6 weeks of FA externships (2 weeks dairy, 2 weeks beef, 2 weeks huge mixed practice). It's really nervewracking waiting for people to get back to me since we are supposed to submit our dates by Friday!

I know what you mean, if we do early entry (which I am - skipping large animal block even though I'm a mixed animal major) we need our forms in by Oct 12 with confirmed dates for externships scheduled from Jan-March. But the rest of our externships aren't due until later in the semester...which means more procrastination for me...

I think I had about a million elective credits and I'm keeping the rotations I do at Penn to a minimum to try to maximize the time I can do other things. Theres just so much I want to do, it's so hard to choose!

 

[Lissarae06]

We get 3 preceptorships if I am not mistaken. I have one lined up at a small animal clinic where I live. I am wanting to get one at a mixed animal that's about 10 miles away from where I live and then one that splits your time between a small animal and mixed animal clinic owned by the same vets that is in Stillwater. I just need them to give us our dates to get them confirmed. I am trying to stay close to home since I will have the baby.

 

[katryn]

We get 3 preceptorships if I am not mistaken. I have one lined up at a small animal clinic where I live. I am wanting to get one at a mixed animal that's about 10 miles away from where I live and then one that splits your time between a small animal and mixed animal clinic owned by the same vets that is in Stillwater. I just need them to give us our dates to get them confirmed. I am trying to stay close to home since I will have the baby.

I got lucky and was able to line up both my externships at home. Going to a small animal clinic I used to work at, and an acupuncture/pain management specialist.

 

[nyanko]

I think I had about a million elective credits and I'm keeping the rotations I do at Penn to a minimum to try to maximize the time I can do other things. Theres just so much I want to do, it's so hard to choose!

Same here. We only have 48 weeks of rotations though (holidays etc) and so many are required for our core tracks that on small I would only have 6 weeks total to do externships, so at least on food/small I get more elective time.

I really hate having to plan this far in advance, haha. It's...not really my style.

 

[katryn]

First barely didn't fail test of the semester (yay for tossed questions). Oh well, at least I got it over with and can go back to remembering that C=DVM. Here's hoping that I adapt to less time and different study methods as the semester progresses.

 

[quantized]

So far so good here at PennVet!

Studying for a Med/Surg exam for next week. Have a take home genetics exam due on Friday, have two presentations next week and gearing up to do my very own spay on a real live dog later in the semester!

but it all feels just oh.so.easy compared to last quarter of last year...that or I've just completely given up on stressing about things and am now looking forward to clinics in January.

Where are people going for clinical year externships?? Mine (either confirmed or in process of confirming):

Humane Alliance, NC - shelter med/surgery
PSPCA, Philadelphia - shelter med/surgery
Angell Memorial, Boston - ophthalmology
GSK, Philadelphia - industry/lab animal med
2x Private Practice externships - household exotics at one, mixed animal ambulatory practice at other
RVC?? (would LOOOOOVE to go. not sure its gonna happen) - whatever, it's london!
APHIS-NJ - government/regulatory

where are the rest of you going?? Help me procrastinate!

I'm jealous you guys get so many weeks of externship. Our equine track allows 12 weeks, but I'm only taking 10 weeks because otherwise I'd only have one week of vacation for the whole year, which didn't seem particularly healthy. It sucks because for equine you can't really get an internship at anyplace you don't extern and you can't get a real job without an internship, so it really limits the internship possibilities (which is scary). Our internship applications are also mostly all due Nov 1, which doesn't leave much time in our own clinic for actual recommendations. Oh well, it will work out, one way or another!

 

[skittles12]

I really hate having to plan this far in advance, haha. It's...not really my style.

Definitely agree with this, haha. It's so hard to plan when things are in Dec. 2013 and Jan. 2014!

I'll only have 4 weeks of externships--I'm hoping to do 2 in the area of home. Hopefully some externships back there will boost my chances of a job offer in the area after graduation. Right now I'm looking at the animal shelter (McKamey Animal Center) and the mixed practice vet that I use, who would have to be approved first. Also thinking about the RIVER Emergency clinic, but...I don't know...not a huge fan of emergency...

 

[bunnity]

I really hate having to plan this far in advance, haha. It's...not really my style.

I know... I feel crazy emailing people and being like "Can we make plans for 2014?"

I'm super excited for my externships though. I get to see 4 different shelters plus private practice stuff.

 

[secretaryiga14]

Oh goodness, senior year scheduling right now is crazy! I can't believe how many things I need to have lined up and confirmed in the next...9 days. But it's also quite exciting.

We have one required 1 month preceptorship. We SA people choose from a list of 24 clinics in Washington, Idaho, and Montana. Right now I'm leaning towards the Best Friend's Veterinary Center in Oak Harbor, WA, and Vista Veterinary Hospital in the Tri-Cities (which would be great because I could probably stay at my brother's house...which has a pool...and I'd get to see my family a lot).

I am also doing SIPEs (Student Initiated Professional Experiences) at SpokAnimal shelter in Spokane, WA (looooots of surgery!) and a clinic in Portland (one of the big places I'm considering for after graduation).

As for vacation, we get 10 weeks. I will be spending 2 weeks doing one of my SIPEs, and I'm not sure about the rest.

To sum it up - lots and lots to think about!

 

[nyanko]

First dog neuter tomorrow!!

 

[bunnity]

First dog neuter tomorrow!!

Good luck!
My first spay is on Wednesday
And by that I mean, my group's first spay. I'm just the assistant for this one thank goodness.

 

[LetItSnow]

First dog neuter tomorrow!!

Do the T-Rex!

(I suppose nobody else has had it described that way when they've been taught to do neuters, have they? Sigh.)

 

[nyanko]

Good luck!
My first spay is on Wednesday
And by that I mean, my group's first spay. I'm just the assistant for this one thank goodness.

Good luck to you guys too!!

My surgery team is one of two in our class with only two members (me and quantized), so I will be going assistant-less (I'm surgeon and quantized is anesthetist). We have a cat spay Nov 5 where she will be surgeon, and then another cat spay Dec 5 where I'm up again.

 

[cowgirla]

I have two of my three spays/neuters next week. I'm primary surgeon on both of them and torn between excited and nervous. I think I'm actually more worried about closure than ligating though. I got some good practice with the ligations during my assistant surgeries (assisted for three spays, three neuters).

 

[nyanko]

Wow 2 in a week?

Do you have other stuff on those days too?

For us, we have to be there tomorrow morning at 7 am, have our SOAP completed by 9 am and have run the pre-op bloodwork, then I have class from 9-12, then have to go over at 12 and present the patient to and review the bloodwork with medicine residents, premed, then set stuff up and probably start induction between 1-2. we have to do 2 post-op checks tomorrow night and 1 on Tuesday morning, and I have exams Tuesday morning, Thursday morning and a take-home thing due Friday or something.

This week is sure a thing.

 

[cowgirla]

Wow 2 in a week?

Do you have other stuff on those days too?

For us, we have to be there tomorrow morning at 7 am, have our SOAP completed by 9 am and have run the pre-op bloodwork, then I have class from 9-12, then have to go over at 12 and present the patient to and review the bloodwork with medicine residents, premed, then set stuff up and probably start induction between 1-2. we have to do 2 post-op checks tomorrow night and 1 on Tuesday morning, and I have exams Tuesday morning, Thursday morning and a take-home thing due Friday or something.

This week is sure a thing.

Class 8-12 on Monday, then straight over to sx to do PE and get prepped. (lunch? What lunch?) Start the spay at 1, and then the neuter right after that. We're supposed to be done by 5, but that's not a sure thing, and we cant leave until the shelter picks up our animals anyway (unless there was a problem or they are not awake enough, we send them home that night - if they dont go home, I'll have to do post op checks and SOAPS)
Then Tuesday, I have class from 8-12 and 1-5. Then Wednesday, class 8-11, surgery 12-5. Thursday is a repeat of Tuesday, along with a therio exam that morning. Then Friday is our cadaver surgery lab final after yet another full morning of classes.

The schedule the next few weeks makes me want to cry. This week I've got two cadaver surgery days, two exams plus afternoon lab and a "mandatory meeting" tomorrow night. And have to write post op reports somewhere in there lol

 

[nyanko]

The schedule the next few weeks makes me want to cry. This week I've got two cadaver surgery days, two exams plus afternoon lab and a "mandatory meeting" tomorrow night. And have to write post op reports somewhere in there lol

Blech, our last week and this upcoming week are absolute insanity too. The following 3 weeks are back to normal busy and then it's pretty clear all the way to finals after that.

 

[Lissarae06]

I am absolutely dreading this week. My schedule is pretty much the same as cowgirla's. I don't surgery next week though. I have 2 or 3 the week after then nothing until dead week/finals week when I have surgery 7 days in a row. Luckily I should only have 2 finals + electives finals during those weeks.

 

[skittles12]

I have two of my three spays/neuters next week. I'm primary surgeon on both of them and torn between excited and nervous. I think I'm actually more worried about closure than ligating though. I got some good practice with the ligations during my assistant surgeries (assisted for three spays, three neuters).

The closure was actually the part that took the longest for everyone in my surgery group! I had a dog neuter, and the actual neutering part took me about 20 min. Then I spent 30-40 min trying to get the incision closed with that darn intradermal pattern! It also didn't help that I had a very picky surgeon looking over my shoulder.

Good luck to everyone on their surgeries! It is exciting!

 

[nyanko]

The closure was actually the part that took the longest for everyone in my surgery group! I had a dog neuter, and the actual neutering part took me about 20 min. Then I spent 30-40 min trying to get the incision closed with that darn intradermal pattern! It also didn't help that I had a very picky surgeon looking over my shoulder.

Good luck to everyone on their surgeries! It is exciting!

Yeah, definitely took quite a bit longer to close than to neuter. I knew that was going to happen, haha.

 

[variegata]

Do the T-Rex!

(I suppose nobody else has had it described that way when they've been taught to do neuters, have they? Sigh.)

I went on RAVS - I know about the T-Rex-Rainbow

 

[Lissarae06]

I'm exhausted. That is all.

 

[cowgirla]

I'm exhausted. That is all.

Ive been laying in bed since about 8 watching Tv because I'm too exhausted to study. Tomorrow is going to suck.

 

[GellaBella]

Spayed my first dog yesterday!!

she was a brat - we got her on the table and her BP dropped to like nothing and then shot up over 200 while I was cutting causing her to bleed all over but I got it under control thanks to my super assistant BlacKat and she is back to being a happy little pup today!

YAY!!

 

[StartingoverVet]

Spayed my first dog yesterday!!

she was a brat - we got her on the table and her BP dropped to like nothing and then shot up over 200 while I was cutting causing her to bleed all over but I got it under control thanks to my super assistant BlacKat and she is back to being a happy little pup today!

YAY!!

Well done.

 

[Lissarae06]

Spayed my first dog yesterday!!

she was a brat - we got her on the table and her BP dropped to like nothing and then shot up over 200 while I was cutting causing her to bleed all over but I got it under control thanks to my super assistant BlacKat and she is back to being a happy little pup today!

YAY!!

 

[bunnity]

Seriously crazy week... dog is spayed and off to her foster home though so I'm happy

 

[HopefulAg]

Bah, we cut open my first spay and it was already spayed! Two more chances though; just hope both of them aren't a neuter. Ours is a bit of a roulette on whether it's going to be a spay or neuter, and whether it's going to be a dog or cat.

 

[cowgirla]

Bah, we cut open my first spay and it was already spayed! Two more chances though; just hope both of them aren't a neuter. Ours is a bit of a roulette on whether it's going to be a spay or neuter, and whether it's going to be a dog or cat.

Long time no see, stranger.

 

[Lissarae06]

We got our forms today for picking our electives rotations for 4th year and for ranking what rotation we want for vacation and those we want for preceptorships. I'm kinda freaking out a little bit! And they are giving us one week to make all our decisions. It's starting to feel real now.

 

[nyanko]

We got our forms today for picking our electives rotations for 4th year and for ranking what rotation we want for vacation and those we want for preceptorships. I'm kinda freaking out a little bit! And they are giving us one week to make all our decisions. It's starting to feel real now.

Yeah, we had to submit all that stuff in the beginning of this month. So, so bad at making decisions.

Also I think for our surgeries they really wanted everyone to be able to do a dog spay, a cat spay and a dog neuter, so they made it so that the cat spays coincided with when they tend to get the most young, healthy cats in at the shelters (which I guess is right about now), so our surgeries this quarter are either a dog neuter or a cat spay (first person in group has dog neuter, other two have cat spays), then next quarter the person who did the dog neuter will be up first for a cat spay and the other two will do dog neuters, then in the spring everyone does a dog spay.

 

[twelvetigers]

Long time no see, stranger.

Yeah, really!

 

[RadRadTerp]

I was Assistant for a spay a few weeks ago and I'm going in as Anesthetist on Thursday. Also, an exam Monday and another one on Wednesday.

I'm envious of you with all the externships. We have 16 blocks of 3-week rotations and a 4-week block for over the holidays. Out of those 16, 1 is vacation. For small animal trackers, like myself, all but 3 of the blocks are in-house in Blacksburg. I'm hoping to travel for my Public/Corporate block and stay local to the DC metro area for my 2 elective blocks so I can save money by staying with the folks. Been getting my CV updated and writing multiple letters of interest over the past week. It's crazy how fast the time is going.

 

[cowgirla]

First spay = done!
9 week, 2.2kg shepherd pup - So cute! I was tempted to take her home
Castration was her brother. Tiniest little testicles ever haha.

Got it done in good time. Started induction at 12:30, finished the second surgery by 3. I was happy!

 

[hai1983]

First spay = done!
9 week, 2.2kg shepherd pup - So cute! I was tempted to take her home
Castration was her brother. Tiniest little testicles ever haha.

Got it done in good time. Started induction at 12:30, finished the second surgery by 3. I was happy!

You did your first spay on a dog who weighs less than 5 pounds?! You're the bomb.

 

[cowgirla]

You did your first spay on a dog who weighs less than 5 pounds?! You're the bomb.

I was not at all prepared for a puppy. Took me a while to figure out how to get my fingers insde a 2 cm incision and still have room to work, haha, but at least everything was so little it didnt take much time.

 

[dyachei]

I was not at all prepared for a puppy. Took me a while to figure out how to get my fingers insde a 2 cm incision and still have room to work, haha, but at least everything was so little it didnt take much time.

and big dogs bleed. A lot.

 

[cowgirla]

and big dogs bleed. A lot.

I was mentally/emotionally prepared for a 30kg multiparous fatty. The skinny puppy was a pleasant surprise compared to that.

 

[cowgirla]

Second spay today! 2.8kg dog, but this one has likely had multiple litters in her life...and was post partum so I definitely got some practice with bleeders in haha. Overall it went well. One more surgery day to go this semester. I kinda hope its something bigger so I can get some experience with that too

 

[bunnity]

Killer day today... class + spay dog stuff from 9:00AM to 8:30PM with no lunch or dinner breaks.

Less than 6 weeks and I will never take another class...

 

[Angelo84]

The big fat, multiple litter dogs are no fun (and I think a bit unfair for a first spay)! Much nicer to start where you can actually see the anatomy as opposed to going--somewhere in the fat is an ovary and some vessels--I hope! Congrats!

 

[variegata]

Exam this morning and my group had our first surgery this afternoon. I was on anesthesia and aside from a highly temperamental Doppler, everything ran smoothly and our little kitty is resting comfortably.

 

[GellaBella]

absolutely loving surgery.

back into the surgery suite this afternoon for my groups 2nd dog spay - this time I'm assisting.

I've been surgerizing on the weekends too and they keep track of that for us online in terms of numbers and time: I've castrated 58 cats and spayed 23 cats since August. so cool

also got my early entry into clinics schedule for Jan/Feb:

2wks of SA onco
2wks of SA ICU
2wks private practice (field service type externship)
2wks of SA neuro

3rd year is soooo much better than 2nd year!

 

[cowgirla]

I've castrated 58 cats and spayed 23 cats since August. so cool

!

So jealous. I've done three dog spays and three dog neuters, and that's most likely it for me until fourth year SA or shelter rotations

 

[skittles12]

I've castrated 58 cats and spayed 23 cats since August.

Very jealous! All I have done is a cat spay, dog spay, and dog neuter!

 

[nyanko]

absolutely loving surgery.

back into the surgery suite this afternoon for my groups 2nd dog spay - this time I'm assisting.

I've been surgerizing on the weekends too and they keep track of that for us online in terms of numbers and time: I've castrated 58 cats and spayed 23 cats since August. so cool

As 3rd years we can do cat neuters at feral cat clinics but not spays. I've done a lot of cat neuters too, haha. I think at some of the feral cat clinics we can do spays during 4th year if we volunteer.