Pets @ Medschool

[Brain]

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Anyone out there own parrots? They require as much attention as dogs, except that they don't need to be walked. Nonetheless, I've heard that they go nuts and start pulling out their feathers and tearing up your stuff if the owner doesn't play with them enough. I've had them for 7 years now and am attached. Anyone with experience with them and have suggestions for dealing with them in med school?

 

[Sweet Tea]

Anyone out there own parrots? They require as much attention as dogs, except that they don't need to be walked. Nonetheless, I've heard that they go nuts and start pulling out their feathers and tearing up your stuff if the owner doesn't play with them enough. I've had them for 7 years now and am attached. Anyone with experience with them and have suggestions for dealing with them in med school?

heh, thanks my recent lectures in micro and pathology, i will forever associate parrots with Chlamydia psittici.

 

[evajaclynn]

Okay guys - I wanted to post a pic of my puppy, but the file is too large. How do you handle this? How do you post thumbnails vs the big picture? Please help! 😳

 

[lulubean]

Okay guys - I wanted to post a pic of my puppy, but the file is too large. How do you handle this? How do you post thumbnails vs the big picture? Please help! 😳

me too! i am having the same problem...

 

[VienneseWaltz]

Hey yall, someone mentioned having cats in med school. I really love cats and was thinking of getting a kitten when I start med school, especially if I have to live by myself since I'd get so lonely. Has anyone done this, and if so how hard is it? Also, would a small dog like a Pomeranian be really hard to take care of in med school?

On a side note, my beloved hermit crabs Quinn and Steve are totally going with me! 🙂

I had hermit crabs when I was in college. Their terrarium looked like a fish tank, so the RAs assumed I had fish (the only legal pet). Aren't they cool?

I would highly recommend getting a cat, or maybe two (they can keep each other company when you're away). You can also buy automatic feeders and litterboxes, which are great when you're on call.

Meow!

 

[evajaclynn]

me too! i am having the same problem...

Someone please help us! 🙁

Please???





.

 

[VienneseWaltz]

my friend just got an english bulldog. her and her boyfriend are interviewing people for the position of "dogwalker". pretty particular they are.

I totally understand this! They can't let just any old person who can hold a leash take their baby.

 

[stoic]

Okay guys - I wanted to post a pic of my puppy, but the file is too large. How do you handle this? How do you post thumbnails vs the big picture? Please help! 😳

You'll either need to reduce the quality of the picture using a program like photoshop or take a lower resolution photo.

Once you upload a photo, a thumbnail is automatically created.

 

[IAMS]

I posted my pic on a free image hosting site and linked to it.. if there a size limit for that, you should use a picture editor to reduce the resolution.

 

[IAMS]

hi
this is silly but can you tell me how you put that picture up? (adorable pic btw 🙂 )
thanks!
luu

I uploaded my photo to save file at
http://www.savefile.com/filehosting/

Click the browse button to find the image and upload. They'll give you a URL to link to the image.

Then in your post , look at the toolbar above the text box, select the icon of a mountain which directs you to insert image by plugging in the URL.

Hope this helps.

 

[DrMom]

If you're using a pic on your computer, you're going to have to do it as an attachment (with a size requirement). The insert image button is for images that are posted online.

If you need to resize an image, you can always use your paint program to shrink it. Also, bmp format usually saves as a larger document, so you may want to save it in a different format.

 

[lulubean]

yay i did it! (thanx for the tips, people)

and here is my little emma in provincetown, ma...

don't you feel like only other dog lovers understand how important your pup is? i think my non-dog owning friends think i am little bit koo-koo...

 

[LiNk]

Here is my dog Miles trapped in my hotel room.
My dog needs lots of exercise and if am accepted to med school I'll probably give him to my bro, or someone who could give him lots of love.
🙁

 

[DubZteR]

yay i did it! (thanx for the tips, people)

and here is my little emma in provincetown, ma...

don't you feel like only other dog lovers understand how important your pup is? i think my non-dog owning friends think i am little bit koo-koo...

love the beads 😉

 

[IAMS]

lulubean

Was this taken after Mardi Gras? 😉

 

[lulubean]

Was this taken after Mardi Gras? 😉

it was cape cod's version of mardi gras/gay pride. she wanted to be a diva too that day 😉

 

[IAMS]

Anyone out there own parrots? They require as much attention as dogs, except that they don't need to be walked. Nonetheless, I've heard that they go nuts and start pulling out their feathers and tearing up your stuff if the owner doesn't play with them enough. I've had them for 7 years now and am attached. Anyone with experience with them and have suggestions for dealing with them in med school?

I have a parakeet. Her name is Clementine. I know it's not anything the same as a parrot, but she sings to herself in her mirror, and also throws fits if her food isn't full.

I'm actually not sure if she's female or male, though, she doesn't lay eggs. Is it by the color of their beak that you tell?

 

[runner1979]

I uploaded my photo to save file at
http://www.savefile.com/filehosting/

Click the browse button to find the image and upload. They'll give you a URL to link to the image.

Then in your post , look at the toolbar above the text box, select the icon of a mountain which directs you to insert image by plugging in the URL.

Hope this helps.

Your labs are so LEAN!

...and I just realized that your screen name is a combo of their names--very cool.

 

[IAMS]

Your labs are so LEAN!

...and I just realized that your screen name is a combo of their names--very cool.

🙂 Dog owners do not have their own identities.

They are thin, but they get a lot of exercise. I got them from the humane society, they're lab mixes. They looked exactly alike when they were babies, but as they've gotten older, Mina has become twice as big. Inga has border collie - very sure of that - she herds. Wilhelmina, I am not sure, she has the kangaroo legs, may have weimeriner.

 

[45408]

so like, where'd CarlosMielefan's posts go?

 

[akpete]

maybe he's been banned?

 

[DubZteR]

so like, where'd CarlosMielefan's posts go?

I'm not sure if he removed them himself or if they were done by the mods?

 

[IAMS]

I'm not sure if he removed them himself or if they were done by the mods?

The PM's he sent me are no longer in my inbox. I think he was banned and all traces removed. Kinda creepy.

 

[DubZteR]

The PM's he sent me are no longer in my inbox. I think he was banned and all traces removed. Kinda creepy.

me too but if he's been banned then why does it still say registered user when you click on his profile? shouldn't it say banned?

 

[mustangsally65]

getunconscious,

If you're going to be living alone in med school, I would recommend getting a couple of cats. Having just one, as someone else said, can get kind of lonely when they're at home all alone. Two can play together when you're gone. I have two girls who were littermates, and they've gotten along all their lives (they're almost two). If you're looking for companionship cats can be just as loving as dogs. And when they jump up in bed with you they won't hurt you like some big dog breeds might. My cats follow me around, and sit outside the bathroom door when I shower. They are wonderful companions, and require very little care. I will be taking them with me when I go to med school. As long as you have a couple of litter boxes and an automatic water fountain they are taken care of when you are gone. Life is lonely without pets. 🙂

 

[lulubean]

🙂 Dog owners do not have their own identities.

SOOOOO TRUE!!!

 

[IAMS]

getunconscious,

If you're going to be living alone in med school, I would recommend getting a couple of cats. Having just one, as someone else said, can get kind of lonely when they're at home all alone. Two can play together when you're gone. I have two girls who were littermates, and they've gotten along all their lives (they're almost two). If you're looking for companionship cats can be just as loving as dogs. And when they jump up in bed with you they won't hurt you like some big dog breeds might. My cats follow me around, and sit outside the bathroom door when I shower. They are wonderful companions, and require very little care. I will be taking them with me when I go to med school. As long as you have a couple of litter boxes and an automatic water fountain they are taken care of when you are gone. Life is lonely without pets. 🙂

This is the reason why I have two dogs. Kinda like where the red fern grows, I guess.. They are attached to eachother more than they are to me. I don't think one would make it without the other. That may be why I'm extra protective.

 

[IAMS]

Here's hoping Santa and his Reindeer bring you all you want from your Adcomms.

 

[evajaclynn]

Here's my little puppy! 🙂

 

[evajaclynn]

I'm adding another pic, just b/c she is so precious. 🙂

 

[bananaface]

i cant provide intresting magzine racks in medical school and my dog likes to always poke in them.... i dont think he likes to read lippincott 😡

link ..your dog seems much better prepped for med school
mine wont even take the mcat 🙁

Is your dog an American Eskimo? My dog is. 😀

 

[Old_Mil]

Nice dog...a bit like one of mine when he was younger (obligatory dog photo attached).

 

[SirTony76]

Here is my doggie, his name is Jeremy

 

[Iain]

Mine is the big one.

And my pony (well not really a pony, he is pushing 16 hands).

 

[Aristotle]

I envy all of you with pets, especially those of you with dogs! Always wanted to get a dog as a pet, but never got around to it. 🙁

 

[evajaclynn]

I envy all of you with pets, especially those of you with dogs! Always wanted to get a dog as a pet, but never got around to it. 🙁

Well, its not too late, right? I just got my beagle 3 months ago! 🙂

 

[leiface]

I have a parakeet. Her name is Clementine. I know it's not anything the same as a parrot, but she sings to herself in her mirror, and also throws fits if her food isn't full.

I'm actually not sure if she's female or male, though, she doesn't lay eggs. Is it by the color of their beak that you tell?

This is sort of a late response but you can tell the sex of a parakeet by the color of their cere (the area where their nostrils are). Blue/purple->male white/pink/brown-> female
I have two parakeets already and am starting med school next year, but I'm thinking right now that I want a kitty too 🙂

 

[IAMS]

This is sort of a late response but you can tell the sex of a parakeet by the color of their cere (the area where their nostrils are). Blue/purple->male white/pink/brown-> female
I have two parakeets already and am starting med school next year, but I'm thinking right now that I want a kitty too 🙂

Hey Leiface -

Thanks so much - Clementine's relieved to know she's a female!

I hope you get a cat, she'll love watching your birds - just be sure to hang them up high 😱

Good luck!

 

[Jody Sadler]

don't know if this is a viable option or if someone else posted this but I work 90 hours a week now and obviously can't spend an enormous amount of time with my dog. My solution has been doggie daycare. he loves it and seems very happy.

 

[LorinE]

I have a two yr. old kitten/cat. I'm in NYC right now and the snow is really coming down out there. Little kitty has been staring out the window at it all for the past twenty minutes which is good because I am definately taking her to Syracuse with me this year and she has to get used to that kind of weather!

 

[IAMS]

Hey, if it's reliable and in your area, doggie daycare is great.

That may be why I got 2 dogs instead of just one, so they could entertain each other. It's worked to a large extent, they're more attached to each other than to me, but they are still pretty attached to me, so that gives you an idea of what happens if and when they're separated.

Since they've gotten older, they know their routine revolves around mine - it's hard not spending as much time as we used to because of school. Or maybe they're just getting older, and less exstatic about absolutely everything...

 

[PTPoeny]

I have two parakeets and I know they will be coming with me. If you only have one you might want to get a second because they get lonely if they are alone all day.

I had to get a second one when I started working full-time. This way they can talk to each other all day long 🙂 I still spend time with each of them in the evenings, but Loki (my first parakeet) no longer cries each time I leave the apt.

 

[funshine]

Mine is the big one.

I love golden retrievers!!!!!!!!! 😍 😍 😍 😍

i never understood why people would want to have small dogs.
they might as well get a cat! small dogs are pesky, stupid, and spoiled rotten.

 

[lulubean]

I love golden retrievers!!!!!!!!! 😍 😍 😍 😍

i never understood why people would want to have small dogs.
they might as well get a cat! small dogs are pesky, stupid, and spoiled rotten.

the worst is when they use dogs like fashion accessories and stick 'em in handbags. they are ALL OVER new york city. its a dog for crying out loud! they need to run! play! 😛

 

[IAMS]

Here's the newest addition to our fam, he'll be 1 year before med school begins in '06.

 

[bwells46]

Cats are wonderful, too, and require less supervision than a dog. Cats are quite managable for med students, and some are as affectionate as dogs.

My husband and I have a dog & cat--they are a lot of work (dog more so), but ever so worth it!

Something the OP might also consider is finding a dog-owning/loving roommate. Two of my classmates each have a dog and room together, and so far they've been able to work out the walking schedules. They're planning to have a dog-walker on reserve for clerkships, for when both of them have call, etc.

Uh... I have a cat and she's freaking mean! I get bit one or two times a week and at night - LOL! This will be the last cat I ever own.

When it's totally dark and I'm going to bed, she'll chase, take a couple swats at my ankles, and run off. However, she's always nice around feeding time

 

[criminallyinane]

Uh... I have a cat and she's freaking mean! I get bit one or two times a week and at night - LOL! This will be the last cat I ever own.

When it's totally dark and I'm going to bed, she'll chase, take a couple swats at my ankles, and run off. However, she's always nice around feeding time

Is she declawed by chance? Cats who are declawed tend to bite because they feel vulnerable. Another reason NOT to declaw cats. 👎

Cats are generally not mean creatures, but they need a home that will support them: scratching posts and training, litter training, etc. You can't just expect a cat to go for a post instead of the couch if you don't train them. Cats, like dogs, need training and attention, too.

 

[IAMS]

Sounds like my first cat.. he'd pee in my father's shoes.
Though he got plenty of attention, I think he was bitter over being neutered.

 

[Learfan]

Anyone out there own parrots? They require as much attention as dogs, except that they don't need to be walked. Nonetheless, I've heard that they go nuts and start pulling out their feathers and tearing up your stuff if the owner doesn't play with them enough. I've had them for 7 years now and am attached. Anyone with experience with them and have suggestions for dealing with them in med school?

Parrots require plenty of one on one attention to remain social and to keep them happy. This is particularly true if you are keeping a flock species. In addition, they do not react well to any changes in their environment. Most birds are creatures of habit who require a substantial amount of time to sleep. My mollucan cockatoo, who is a flock animal, has to get at least 10 hours per night or his behavior deteriorates into constant screaming and biting. So, I do not recommend taking them to a med school environment where they will have to cope with your irregular hours and study schedule. Leave these birds in their current environment and have a friend or relative provide them with care in the environment where they are comfortable.

If parrots become disturbed by some change in their environment and cannot find relief from the stress, many will turn to feather plucking. If the plucking continues for an extended period, usually over one year, then scar tissue forms over the feather folicles and they lose the ability to regrow feathers over the scared area which will remain permanently bare. I have seen many birds that plucked for reasons such as being fed an incorrect or deficient diet, having a major change in schedule, lacking a mate or being kept at too high a temperature.

My mollucan plucks intermittantly on his leg feathers. I think this is due to frustration over not having a mate. When considering large parrots as pets, one should note that female birds often make better pets since they are less likely to be frustrated by the lack of a mate. Male parrots often have to be very agressive in the mating process while the female is relatively passive so in the absence of a mate during the appropriate season, the males often act out their frustration by screaming and biting. The females are usually less agressive during the late winter mating season.

The problem with the females is that despite not having a mate, many still lay eggs. If the egg becomes stuck in the cloaca, the bird becomes egg bound, a condition that is usually fatal because it is not caught and treated in time. Birds generally try to conceal any sickness or infirmity until they cannot any longer meaning that when the owner detects it, the bird is very sick and often cannot be saved. We lost out nanday conure in this manner last year. She became ill with gastroenteritis and conceled it until it was too late. We had her for 16 years.

 

[dajimmers]

<-- I'll be bringing him. Currently in non-green form since March Madness.

My family has three golden retrievers, covering two generations, and my fiance has a pup from the third generation that will hopefully be coming as well.