Summer 2012--St. Francis Veterinary Clinic Visit #5: The Strangest Day

I'll admit it: I copped the title from an episode of one of my favorite anime series. But it fit today well. I only saw one surgery this morning with Dr. Jill as the surgeon, a dog spay. It was very routine and uneventful. I did get to practice drawing blood and got to give an intramuscular Buprenex injection (Buprenex, or "Bupe" for short, is a narcotic used to ease pain), so that was fun, but other than that, not much happened. I got to take home a clean syringe to practice drawing fluids with one hand and also injecting fluids with one hand (since I tend to favor the two-hand approach and need to build up my hand muscles in order to be a good vet). The rest of the day was a mishmash of different appointments and tasks to complete. Dr. Jill was sort of off-duty as a veterinarian after the surgery, but she helped Dr. Nicole with appointments and other things as needed, which I thought was admirable of her. The hot, humid weather here had me feeling off my game, so I felt kind of off my game. I felt bad because I am there to participate and get as much out of the experience as I can, but I was pretty slack today. I'm hoping that next time will be better. I did get to help with such things as restraining animals and even worked together with a vet tech intern to clean up a little rescue dog. It was an interesting pair--a future tech and a future vet; I thought that was significant. Dr. Jill made me feel so good when she introduced me to one of the techs (whom I had not met before) as a "strong candidate" for vet school. Sure, I have lots of people who believe in me, and I am extremely grateful to them for their support and confidence, but it means a whole heap when it comes from a veterinarian herself. She has the best knowledge of who will be good in the profession, and I have never heard a vet say that about me until today. It's probably the best compliment I have ever received.

Today was pretty fun, too, because I got to spend more quality time with the clinic cats. Odie contented himself with "solar-charging" in a sunny spot in the reception area. One of the techs got him his kitty bed so he could enjoy the light to its fullest capacity. It was pretty funny to think about a cat running on Sun power. I couldn't resist photographing him sleeping in heavenly bliss.

Your cat has no battery power remaining. Goodnight.

Bailey was very affectionate again today. She was very attached to me and kept rubbing her face on my face and under my chin and on my arms. It would have bordered on obnoxious if it weren't so cute. She playfully nipped at me as I scratched her belly. This is the best shot I could get of Hernia Kitty. She either ignored the camera or paid so much attention to me that she wouldn't sit still long enough for me to get a good picture of her. Finally, I had to distract her with a toy.

Don't worry, Bailey Bird. You're not fat. The camera just adds 10 pounds, so they say. (I think she looks like a Magnus...or maybe a Maggie, since she's a girl, but that's just my weird self.)

That was pretty much my day. It was about half as long as a normal day for me, and being there on Monday was a different experience (I've done Monday shadowing at St. Francis before but not in awhile). I'll be glad to be back on my Wednesday schedule, though; I feel like it has more structure, and I'm usually more prepared and ready for a longer day. Today, I didn't know what to expect or how long  I'd be there, and I think that kind of messed with me a little bit. But, like I have said, I still got some good stuff out of it, and I'm glad that I could shadow for the time that I did, since I won't be able to on Wednesday of this week.