Update!

  

It has truly been too long since I have written about school- the whole purpose of this blog to begin with! 

Things have been crazy this semester.  Not the same crazy as last semester, instead a more protracted crazy with miscellaneous things thrown in so that even though I have a little more free time by looking at my schedule, I don't really have a little more free time.  

To start with, this semester has been brought to us by the never ending midterm/quiz cycle.  Since the end of September there have been maybe one or two weeks where we didn't have a test or a quiz to study for, or a group project to put together.  Thankfully the number of group projects decreased in comparison with last year, because I find coordinating with other people is difficult, despite all having the same class schedule.  People tutor, have athletic pursuits, jobs, or lives outside of vet school.  The group project I had this semester (so far) entailed writing my own section of a paper and combining it with everyone else's to form a cohesive article by way of e-mail.


Aside from group projects, the never ending quizzes and tests have made my life relatively dull outside of studying and going to class.  Last year, my goal was to stay on top of the material for each class- at least by reading the notes over and maybe rewriting so that when it came to studying for finals I was not starting fresh with the material.  It was a good plan, and for most people would work beautifully to keep them prepared.  It is also not something I have been able to maintain this semester.  Once the first midterm kicked off I spent all my focus studying for it, and thus let other classes slide.  The following week, another midterm, so I went directly from studying for one midterm to going onto the next, still letting other classes slide in my preparation.  This new form of studying has proven to be effective: I rewrite my notes, then reread the notes multiple times to cement things into my brain, and it works for me (or it seems to have, based on my grades).  However, I am now only a few weeks from finals and I know that the every other day testing is going to really make my method of preparing difficult if I do not start pushing to study subjects now. I have one more midterm this Tuesday, then 2 weeks with quizzes and so I will begin pulling together finals material as soon as I am done preparing for the last midterm.  The final push is going to be tiring, and by Dec. 14 I will be beyond ready for my Christmas break, but I am hoping all my hard work will have paid off.  

By and large the hardest class for me has been Virology.  I find the material to be difficult at times (a lot of memorizing random facts about virus families), and the test style of totally true and false questions is difficult for me as well.  I am not naturally a second guesser when it comes to tests- I read the questions and go with my gut instinct- but I find with true and false I pick the questions apart and convince myself three different ways the answer is right or wrong.  It has ultimately led to grades not on par with the rest of my courses this semester, but I am hoping to pull out all the stops for the final and give my grade one final boost.  Perhaps surprisingly one of my favorite classes has been Public Health.  I find it interesting, following the outbreaks and learning about the way diseases are handled when there is major concern for the public.  I have done very well to date in the course, not because I find the material to be impressively easy, I find that I don't mind studying for it.  If there wasn't a component of epidemiology (probably one of my least favorite classes) I would maybe consider working as a vet for the public sector.  I also enjoyed Diagnostic Imaging, and Pathology a lot.  The remainder of the courses have been not horrible, and I find that in stark contrast to last year at this time, I am just enthralled with being in vet school.  Last year I was not sure I could survive the course work, I thought maybe there was a mistake in admitting me over hundreds of other applicants.  This year, I am thankful I have my place in vet school and realize how fortunate I am to have a spot that many other applicants wanted.  

Yesterday was really the crowning moment so far for my vet school career-- I did my very first rectal palpation of a cow!  I know many think it is disgusting, but it is a valuable and important tool for vets who work on large animals- it allows for the internal anatomy to be felt better than if  you are just working on the outside of the animal.  It also allows you to feel the uterus, which is important!  In reality it feels like a warm pile of mush when you stick your hand in there (as you might expect), but I do think I felt rumen, the brim of the pelvis, and the uterus!  I feel as if this makes me a true vet student now!  I will say that for me, if I have to work on tall cows I am going to need a step stool.  Thankfully, my group picked the short cow yesterday!  

The only other reason I have not sat down to write has been that Cherokee has been dealing with some knee issues for the last few weeks, and we have aggressively been tracking them down.  As most probably know she had her cruciate repaired early on this summer, and while she did have some complications post repair, from about August on she had been working her way back up to lengthier walks.  About three weeks ago now she had started trending back towards lameness on her hind leg.  She would preferentially walk fast so she could bunny hop her hind legs together or quickly place her bad leg on the ground.  She lost interest in walking as far, and I cut back her walks to nothing in case she was overdoing it.  Still, while on restricted exercise she didn't improve so we decided she should go get checked out.  The vet in Charlottetown was great!  Super nice, friendly and helpful and while she couldn't say exactly what was wrong from just the physical she felt it would be beneficial to go to the orthopedic department at school.  So, on Halloween Cherry and I paid a visit to the hospital at school.  Her exam showed she was very painful in the hind leg with motion, and she had swelling in the knee, though overall the repair felt pretty stable.  Her elbows were also inflamed.  So, Cherry had sedation and radiographs (many, many radiographs!) of her elbows, knee, and lower back.  Her elbows came back totally normally radiographically, and her stifle did not appear to have a failed repair, though there was a lot of swelling to the joint capsule.  The orthopedic doctor decided it was beneficial to tap her joint- if it showed inflammatory changes it might be best to consider opening the leg and removing the hardware.  If it showed anything else, we would address it.  The elbows were also tapped, but that fluid was normal.  Her knee had a lot of joint fluid removed- which  we sent in for cytology (an analysis of the fluid to see what was in it).  We held off sending in the bacterial culture because if it looked ok cell wise, they would probably not do more with it.  The results came back on Saturday that she had a lot of white cells, and the vet thought it would be best to treat with some antibiotics, and run the culture on the remaining fluid.  On Monday the results came back that she had a MRSP infection in her knee (the bacteria is a staph. bacteria like MRSA- but is more commonly found amongst the skin in animals).  Thankfully the bacteria was susceptible to the antibiotics she was already on, so we decided to continue her course.  While she was improving a small amount on the antibiotics (she was weight bearing more on the leg, and seemed a bit more comfortable), she was not making huge strides.  So, yesterday Cherry had full anesthesia so they could take large amounts of sterile fluid and run it through her joint to try and remove the inflammatory cells and bacteria that were residing.  So far today, she is using the leg (less than before due to the inflammation that arises with the procedure) but is resting.  With an e-collar on her head (cone of shame).  She might not be too happy about the cone, but she tolerates wearing it well enough.  She will have a recheck this week, but the hope is she will return to using the leg better than before the flush in a short period of time.  When she is done her antibiotics, we will need to reculture the knee fluid to be sure the infection is gone.  If she is not improving (and please please hope that she is!) then the next step would be to consider reopening the knee and exploring it, as well as possibly removing the hardware that is in there.)  I am truly hoping that does not become the case, as she tends to be a complicated post-operative patient.  

This will likely be my last update til Christmas break- being Veterans day weekend(or Remembrance Day here in Canada) I want to thank all those who have served in any capacity, including the animals, and thank those who continue to serve for us.  I hope people realize the importance of thanking them every day, not just the holidays designated for it, because they are far braver people than I ever could wish to be.  

Vet care scams...?

Tizzie and Kenai, photo courtesy Nikki K

Within the last month I read an article on Yahoo's website that offered things to watch out for at your vet, and recommended haggling with your vet over the cost of your bills, and the care your pet was receiving.  Tonight, on CBC's Marketplace there was a half hour expose of veterinary clinics and the way we scam you out of money.  I feel compelled to share some insight and truths so that maybe you will at least learn to question information you might read in the popular press, or see on the television.  

It's probably easiest for me to argue the points brought up in the show on CBC tonight.  The main points were:

 1.) Vaccinations are major source of income for your vet, and given unnecessarily to pad their bottom lines and get you in the door. 

2.) Heartworm testing is an unneeded expense if your pet is on preventatives

3.) Veterinary diets are recommended (particularly for weight loss) and may not really be needed, and the brands are pushed by manufacturers to veterinarians.

4.) Vets recommend seeing specialists/extra tests as a way to pad their bottom lines

5.) Medications are more expensive through your vet, and they do not tell you about ways to save money going through a pharmacy.

It is likely if you are reading this and you have a pet, you have brought your animal to the vet for generalized health visits which include vaccinations.  At the bare minimum, states require all animals to be vaccinated against Rabies.  This is not simply for your pets protection, but yours as well.  In the United States and Canada the canine strain of rabies has been eradicated, in large part due to the vaccination of our pets.  Yes, rabies still occurs in wildlife, but it is a different strain.  Comparatively, the undeveloped world, and developing nations have seen the canine strain of rabies as a number one killer in humans.  They do not have the same vaccination standards that the US/Canada have.  

Your vet recommending other vaccines may sound like foreign language.  In my opinion one of the biggest issues that veterinarians need to become better about addressing is the language barrier between clients and themselves.  We go to school for four years, and learn a "foreign language" that allows us to accurately describe conditions we see to other veterinarians.  This language is not always conducive when we are trying to explain things to our clients.  Telling someone their animal needs Leptospirosis vaccination, or Bordatella often means nothing and brings a confused look to their face.  People blindly agree or decline these without actually knowing what it means.  A good veterinary practice will explain all available vaccines, and tailor a program to your animal's need.  They may even give you a handout that explains the vaccination schedules and reasons each is given.  The program on CBC tonight found that "6 out of 10 veterinarian's recommending boostering a vaccine even though (the dog) was up to date".  What this statistic fails to mention is when the last time the dog actually had the vaccine was, what the manufacturer of the vaccine recommended, and what the dog's lifestyle is.  In general, vaccination schedule has been spread out to three years for many vaccines.  Certain vaccines, such as Leptospirosis and Lyme Vaccine are not good for three years.  Part of the reason for this is that those vaccines are fighting a spirochete bacteria, as opposed to rabies which is a virus.  This changes the immune reaction that the animal's have to the vaccine and therefore decreases the length of time that they could adequately mount a response against a disease.  The major vaccines given (rabies, distemper, leptospirosis etc.) offer the option of having a titer checked.  This entails your veterinarian drawing a blood sample and shipping it to a lab to have the level read.  While rabies does have a titer level that can be returned it should be noted that due to the nature of the disease, most labs will not return a result stating the titer is protective.  Instead, that titer is often used to determine whether or not there are ANY circulating antibodies present to protect your animal.  The distemper titers will give you a level of protection idea, and can help you formulate a decision as to whether or not vaccinating your pet is necessary.  It is up to you, as the pet owner, to do your research of any recommended vaccinations, to ask your veterinarians for other recommendations, and advocate for a plan that best suits your pets needs.  

Moving on to heartworm testing.  For the sake of argument, I will focus on Canada and the Northeast region.  It is true, that heartworm disease is fairly low in prevalence throughout the northeast and Canada.  Mosquitoes however, are not rare- as anyone living in Vermont this summer can attest to.  The mosquito is a vector for heartworm disease.  Heartworm disease IS a killer of dogs, just look at the data from animals living in the southern United States.  For some time the current belief was that heartworm disease was not found frequently in the Northeast, and preventative medications were even questioned as being necessary.  In the years following hurricane Katrina, and the subsequent influx of southern dogs moving to the north, heartworm cases have been on the rise.  Animals from the south often come up with heartworm disease, and before they begin their treatment it is possible for a mosquito to bite them, become infected, and then spread it to your unprotected animal.  Treating heartworm disease is not cheap, easy, pain free, or risk free.  It is also difficult at times to get the medication to do so.  This summer alone, one of the clinics I worked for saw multiple cases of heartworm disease.  Preventatives cost money, for sure, but the cost of treatment for heartworm disease is much higher, and the life of your pet is on the line.  Additionally there is new research out stating that there are now heartworms that are resistant to the medication used to treat animals with the disease.  The prevenatives prevent not only against heartworm disease, but also intestinal parasites that are found in the environment all around.  

Aside from heartworm disease prevalence perhaps being on the rise again, many clinics utilize a heartworm test that does not only test for heartworm, but for other diseases as well.  Idexx Laboratories offers a test known as the 4DX- it checks for heartworm disease, but also lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and erlichiosis.  The last three are tick borne diseases which pose serious threat to your pets.  If you are not testing your pets yearly for the reason that you use monthly preventative medications for heartworm and fleas/ticks you should know that no product/medication is 100 percent effective.  In particular, topical products for fleas and ticks in endemic areas for Lyme disease will not be enough to protect your pet.  Vaccinating against lyme disease can be an important aid in protection, but you are not protecting  against the other two tick borne diseases with any vaccination.  Early detection allows for the veterinarians to recommend further testing, and treatment to prevent systemic damage to your pet from circulating pathogens.  I have heard owners refuse testing before, stating they have never seen a tick on their pet before.  The ticks can be smaller than your fingernail and difficult to see, and it is entirely possible they fed on your pet, and fell off before you even realized they were there.  Additionally, if your pet is at risk for lyme disease, or other tick borne diseases- you are too.  Sometimes being aware that your animal has an exposure allows you to become more proactive about your own risk.  

Veterinary nutrition is often an area of contention for owners.  When a vet recommends trying a diet for your animal, often owners wonder if the recommendation is based on a kickback from the manufacturer.  I would be lying if I said that the nutritional companies do not do things such as provide lunch lectures surrounding their products, or that they did not offer software that allowed a clinic to assess weight, or other offers to entice  veterinarians to use their food.  They are trying to sell their food just as much as the next person.  However, the diets that are marketed for veterinary prescription are put through scientific research, take years in development, and have proven results- it is why you so rarely hear of problems with recalls, and why you see results.  Diets formulated for kidney health, for liver health, for urinary health, and for weight management all exist (along with many others), and because of the research and the care that is put into their manufacturing, their prices reflect that.  Food for animals is not cheap, especially as the quality and specialization in the food increases.  Even at cost to your clinic the food is not cheap.  However, when you consider that the nutritional diet is preventing you from spending money doing additional medications, and potentially prolonging your pets life by actively targeting organ systems that are not working properly, the cost is worth it.  The best example is the diet for urinary tract uroliths and crystal.  Animals that develop crystals, particularly male cats, are prone to stones and urinary blockages.  These blockages are potentially and rapidly life threatening.  In many cases, nutritional management goes a long way in treating these animals by altering the pH of their urine to prevent crystals from forming.  When you consider what you are paying monthly for food, and compare to what the cost of treating a blockage is (ranging from 1000-1500 or more in some cases!) it is often much more manageable to pay for the food monthly.  

When your veterinarian makes a recommendation for you to see a specialist, or makes a recommendation for additional testing to determine the extent of an abnormal finding, it is not simply because they do not know, and not because they are looking to charge you more money.  When we as humans have physical exams, we can verbally tell the doctors "It hurts here" or "When I do this, this happens".  Animals do not have the full verbal capacity we do.  Sometimes they can tell us where they hurt, and sometimes they are stoic and though you know something is wrong, it is impossible to tell on general physical exam where that problem is.  Sometimes a physical exam will highlight a problem, but not give the information necessary to make informed treatment decisions.  As an owner, if a veterinarian recommends doing tests, ask questions!  Why is that test being recommended?  What information will that test give you?  If I do not do this test, what would the next likely outcome or treatment option be?  We are taught to offer you the optimal treatment options so you are aware of what we would fully recommend.  Not every person wants to, or is able to do every test recommended.  We are also sensitive to that.  It is not my job to judge you as a person for making a decision pertaining to how much money you can spend on your pet, or how much you are willing to do for your pet.  My job is to offer you treatment plans that work with you, your pet, and your budget.  My job is to present  you with gold standard treatment, but also to be realistic and present you with treatment options if you cannot or do not wish to pursue all testing.  Not every veterinarian is capable of walking this line, and if you feel uncomfortable in your relationship with your veterinarian, I encourage you to either be vocal about it, or look for a clinic that suits your needs better.

  

The patient on the CBC show this evening was told that they had an eye condition, and given a few different diagnoses/treatment options tonight.  They then went to the specialists for a follow up report based on the recommendation of the veterinarian's who saw the animal.  The animal received a different opinion from the specialist, and was put on medication to treat the issue.  The show's viewpoint was that the owner A) paid veterinarians to tell her the problem and then they wanted her to go to a different veterinary and pay more money and B) veterinarian's were inconsistent in their findings, so perhaps there was education lapses.  Interestingly enough, as a pet owner if a veterinarian recommended to me to go to a specialist, I would feel confident that they were referring me on because they wanted me to have the diagnosis from someone who was confident with the organ system involved.  Additionally, the eyes being such an important organ, are also complex with multiple conditions.  To ensure proper treatment, that is also currently recommended, the best option is to go to a specialist who can confirm or alter diagnoses through additional tools.  It should bring peace of mind that your vet was astute enough to recommend another opinion to you.  Additionally, no vet is right 100 percent of the time.  No person is.  No doctor, human or animal, should ever claim to be.  Having additional opinions in general can only lead you to a more refined diagnosis.  Again, these things are not cheap, and they are not for everyone, but the option is out there.  

It is no secret that medications are not always cheap.  The first thing to be pointed out in the argument against paying veterinarians versus paying human pharmacies, or online pharmacies is drug safety.  Some drugs are specifically formulated for animals.  Yes, there are medications like antibiotics that are human drugs utilized in animal medicine.  However, just because your veterinarian prescribes a medication, it is not safe to assume you could also pick up the medication at your pharmacy.  I know several veterinarian's who will write prescriptions for drugs to pharmacies if they know it will be cheaper for you to get it there.  What I also know is that veterinarian's have little control over the cost of medications.  If you want to fight a battle over the cost- contact the drug suppliers.  As with the food, there is a mark-up so that the clinic can make a profit- just as there is a mark-up if you go to the human pharmacy.  However, the base price is not often that different.  Secondly, the use of online pharmacies can be cheaper for you as an owner- however you should know that not all online pharmacies are created equal.  There are some that are not inspected.  In order for you to be sure that the drug dispensed to you, is the drug meant to be, you should utilize your vet clinic or pharmacy.  I will not lie, there are some pharmacies online that are cheaper than your veterinarian, however you should also be aware that receiving medications online does not exempt you from a legal prescription from your vet.  Many state laws require there to be a patient/doctor relationship for medication to be dispensed, and that typically requires a yearly physical exam at the bare minimum.  

I won't be so naive as to say that there are not vets out there who pad their prices, take advantage of economic circumstances, or in general are not current with education- but the common theme is that all the veterinarians went to school to earn their degrees, and they care about your pets.  If you feel that you are perhaps the victim of a bill being padded, then you need to ask more questions- find out why certain charges are as they are, or tests are recommended.  It is easy for veterinarians to forget that transparency is needed to eliminate concerns regarding costs and level of care.  Estimates at most clinics can give you an idea of what is being done, and for what cost- if it isn't offered to you immediately then you could always ask for one.  If you are not comfortable with what is presented to you, then consider finding a vet who better fits your needs.  If your animal does not have a critical concern, then take a day to decide if you want to pursue further testing- go home, do your research, think of more questions.  If it is critical, don't be afraid to ask for further clarification.  

I apologize for this post being as long as it is- below I have included some links to information I may have referenced in this post.  What is written is my opinion, you may form your own, ask me more questions, or discuss your feelings with your vet.  It is unfortunate that the popular press and media present one sided arguments geared towards what people want to hear- after all, if you hear what you want to, why ask any more questions?  Asking a question never hurt, and it may even allow your veterinarian to consider something they previously had not.  

Heartworm disease information: http://www.heartwormsociety.org/ This link is EXCELLENT for vets, students, and for owners

http://www.idexx.com/view/xhtml/en_us/corporate/home.jsf has information regarding the 4DX test, as well as other profiles they offer for diagnostic purposes. 

http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/ information regarding rabies both in the US and Worldwide.  Excellent resource!

https://www.aahanet.org/Library/CanineVaccine.aspx This is the AAHA site with recommendations for canine vaccines.  AAHA accredits hospitals that are high achieving, high standard and work to maintain progressive standards.  Their site is useful in learning many things

http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/episodes/2013-2014/barking-mad The CBC Marketplace Episode, so you can watch for yourself (It's a half hour show... may not work in the US, though you might be able to find alternatives) 

Lastly, I encourage you to do your own research.  I caution you to avoid using sources that are not verified by knowledgeable or reputable people- you can always find something to go with your side of the story!   

Back in the saddle again!

Well, after a summer that was far from dull, and quite busy, I have returned to the land of ocean smells and seafood (not that I eat that... but you get my point).  After spending much of my summer working- when initially I wasn't sure I would be working at all- it was a bit of a welcome break to have a whole week off before coming back to school.  I was fortunate to spend a lot of time with people who I didn't see a lot of over the summer.  My mom got a new Pug puppy- a little whirlwind named Tizzie (consequently I referred to her at Tizzie Tornado), and plans to come back to school slowly fell into place.  

Saturday the 24, at about 4:30AM Nikki and I packed the rest of our stuff into an overloaded car- including the big Malamute- and hit the road.  The 12 hour journey can at times be tedious and I was happy to have company along for the ride (otherwise, I have to converse to the radio or myself... not as much fun).  We stopped a few extra places from where I normally stop so that Cherokee could stretch her leg, and also because I wanted to do the scenic pull off and check out the view of Mt. Katahdin in Maine.   We had beautiful travelling weather, albeit a bit warm.  We finally arrived at the destination of my new cottage at about 6:30 PM (Atlantic time) and unpacked the car.  

My new living quarters for this year is a beautiful, small, 2 bedroom cottage not too far from the beach.  It is a bit of a further drive to get to school each day- about 5-7 minutes longer than last year- but the peace and quiet, convenience to the beach, and the nice cottage all make it worth it- as well as the fact that it is totally pet friendly (as long as they are not destructive animals).  It has no washer and dryer so I have to use a laundromat- but the nice thing is having the spare bedroom- so if someone comes to stay with me, or I need the storage space it's there!  And, the rent is cheaper than my last place as well, by quite a bit.  Ultimately I feel it works out well.  


Nikki and I unpacked, and then Sunday we took the big dog to the ocean for the first time.  She was SO excited!  The waves!  The people!  The birds!  It was like Christmas for the old goof.  She ran and played in the waves and didn't quite grasp you shouldn't bite the waves when they come in- they bite back!  She did almost manage to drown in 2 inches of water... but she never has been the water dog that others are.  

Monday classes started!  I will be writing another blog on classes once I get in the rhythm a little more, but this semester I have Bacteriology, Pharmacology, Virology, Public Health, Diagnostic Imaging, Clinical Orientation and Systemic Pathology.  Halfway through the semester we finish Diagnostic Imaging and go on to having another class.  So far, I think Virology will be my toughest course.  There are a lot of small details to remember about the viruses, and it is quite technical in terms of material.  I don't necessarily dislike it, I just think it will be the course that gives me the most struggles.  I love Pharmacology, and I like Diagnostic Imaging a lot as well!  Pathology is also a favorite of mine!  I anticipate that this school year will be very busy, but also probably a lot of fun.  

My goal for the semester is to improve upon my study habits more from last year- though by the end of the second semester my studying was much improved- I would like to focus it even more and earlier in the semester so I am not scrambling.  A few of my courses have quizzes this semester and it makes more sense to be prepared all along.  I am also going to try to remain as organized as possible.  Last year at times I did not have everything as orderly as it could have been, and it was detrimental to me.  Hopefully I can take that lesson and put it to good use!  

Lastly, club sign up happened on Wednesday.  This year, I knew a bit more about what to expect- for one that you can pay your dues right away and then not worry about it later, and for another you can sign up for multiple clubs and pay your dues to them later- but risk not being chosen for their wet labs.  I ended up signing up and paying for Pathology and Shelter Medicine Club- both of which I really enjoyed last year and was most active with, and then I also signed up for Alternative medicine club, Equine club, and Emergency and Critical Care Club (which if I pay will allow me to sign up for ICU shifts-- something that I would look forward to!)  

WIth all the club work, the studying, and the outside activities available I should have a fairly busy semester- but I am looking forward to it!  Here's to a new school year!! 

What the first year of vet school has taught me...

First year of vet school is officially under my belt, and I am looking forward to resuming as a second year student this fall.  I would be lying if I told you that it went exactly as I expected it to.  In fact, I learned a few things this year that you can't find in a text book, and I think this is as good a place as any to share those things. 

1.) I had no clue what studying really was.  This seems odd- most people would assume that to get into vet school you have to have a pretty good grip on what studying is, and you probably would also assume that a vet student is good at it.  I thought I had a handle on it, and I figured I knew how to best approach studying. I thought wrong.  By the end of the midterms in the first semester I quickly realized I had no idea what I had been doing all along but it most certainly didn't constitute studying- at least not for this level of school work.   And my midterm grades showed it, being so so at best.  In undergrad, I realized that I could put in relatively minimal effort and my grades were always perfectly acceptable.  By minimal effort I mean that in comparison to other students- I certainly put forth effort or else I wouldn't have gotten grades decent enough to get into vet school; I mean that I had to put forth less time and effort than a lot of kids did.  I figured that since the subject matter was interesting, I paid pretty good attention in class (I thought-- I actually didn't pay nearly close enough attention), that I would be just fine with a routine amount of studying.  Wrong.  From midterms on in that first semester I spent a huge amount of my time dedicated to staying on top of lecture material, to committing details to memory.  I gave up a lot of free time to study.  I now know what studying in vet school really entails.

Class Halloween Party, 10/2012

2.) Free time is sparse- use it wisely!  Once I realized that you can't just study for two nights before the midterm and expect to do well, I also realized my free time was going to take a big hit.  People always said you go to school for 8 hours, come home and study for 5 or 6 more, go to bed, get up and study while you eat breakfast, and repeat.  I thought this was an exaggeration- that was only for the most hardcore of people.  The truth is it is somewhat of an exaggeration-- I left my breakfast time study free for the most part (except for before finals/midterms- then I usually ate and studied).  Regardless of the large amount of time you spend with your nose in notes/texts you have to find ways to take breaks, or your brain will rebel and nothing will stick.  I explored walking trails, the beaches, the city... or just walked away from the notes long enough to watch some trashy TV show that would allow my brain to stop focusing on something.  I tried to make sure that if I was studying both Saturday and Sunday there was enough free time in there to get out and see or do something.  If you don't incorporate free time, especially during finals, your brain will implode.  (Well, maybe not but I am pretty sure it will be massively ineffective.)  

3.)  Your classmates become your new family.  People always tell you that your classmates will be who you see and interact with the most.  They aren't lying!  You spend at least 8 hours most days with these people.  I am fortunate to go to a school with a comparatively small class size (62 of us, many schools have 100+ these days).  Due to this large amount of time spent together, and the activities that the class puts on, it is inevitable that by the end of the year, your class has a special bond.  And much like families- you may not always agree one everything with one another, but you still know that if you needed something they would be there.  I am proud to say I feel this way about my class.  When Evie passed away several of them offered their condolences and offers to do whatever I might need to help us out.  It's nice to have that kind of relationship, especially when you are not near home, and you are all stressed from the same thing- school!

Visiting one of the professor's farms!

4.)  The hardest part is NOT getting in!  This is an old saying that gets thrown around a lot-- the hardest part is getting in!  This is not true.  Yes, getting in is difficult- just ask anyone who has sat through the application process, the admission interviews... they are nerve wracking and make you anxious.  However, once you get in you have a LOT of work to do.  See lesson 1.

5.)  Grades are a number.  They do not define your intelligence or ability to be a good vet.  This sounds like a cop out from someone who didn't achieve stellar scores- and that may be... but the truth is that while grades matter for things like scholarships and internships they play very little role in your ability to translate what you learn in the classroom to what you can do in a practice scenario.  Almost any professor will tell you this.  It took a long time for me to accept that sometimes the grades I thought I deserved or earned were not what I was going to see in front of me.  I did very well this last semester, but I still would have been annoyed by a couple of the grades if I compared them to my undergrad.  Things are different in vet school- the grading is harder, the material denser, and the sheer volume of material required to learn under very tight time constraints put your learning abilities to the test.  Yes, people do achieve all A's.  Yes, people do very very well.  Yes, you should continue to strive for excellence-- but in the end getting a C+ for a grade does not mean that when faced with the same scenario in practice you will only be able to respond with that level of competence.  

6.)  Your friends and family are your best support system.  So many times I heard people say they didn't talk to their family for days in a row- or they called just long enough to say that they were still alive and well.  I admit, I did not talk to my parents/friends as much as I used to when I was working full time, or like when I was in undergrad.  I may have previously talked to my parents at least every other day, but this time around especially during tests I might go a week between talking.  I had to set limits/time frames when I was free to skype.  Does it put a strain on your relationship with your friends and family?  Maybe-- but only if you let it.  I tried to make sure I kept in touch with everyone I could through facebook, phone, e-mail and texts.  It was compounded by being in Canada-- but ultimately when I was having a bad day or problems if I had alienated all my family and friends I would have had next to no support system.  Having understanding friends and family made a huge difference in my ability to succeed this first year-  it's important to work hard-- but even more important to maintain contact with those people who love and support you through the program.  

7.)  Lastly, I learned I will survive this!  After the first semester midterm grades I had serious doubts as to whether or not I could actually do this.  Just because you do well in the field (I worked as a tech for 6+ years quite happily), does not mean you can automatically have a leg up on others.  You don't.  Sometimes I had an advantage- the terminology, some of the cases we looked at, radiology terms and structures were not all foreign to me and gave me a good baseline to work with.  I happened to have an advantage in the hands on classes and Parasitology.  However, there was some stuff that was sheerly fresh material for me.  I never took developmental biology so I had no basis for Embryology, and similarly I had very little background in Immunology.  Epidemiology was utterly foreign.  All of this could be overwhelming- especially when you realize that a test at midterm was 60 plus pages of material to understand and remember in less than 2 days time.  I spent many a night during test time whittling away the hours instead of sleeping because I was anxious or nervous about a test.  8 tests spaced out every other day for 2 weeks or so is enough to make anyone doubt their capabilities.  However, if you want something bad enough-- and I want this badly-- then you can and will survive.  I'm proof of that!  

I am beyond excited for the next semester.  I know the second year, first semester of vet school is another intense semester with a lot of clinical applications, but I am excited.  I know what it takes to get grades that are successful.  I know I want to do this.  I know I have people who support me, and best of all, I know that in the end the pay off for all the work, all the tears, the late nights, and the anxiety of tests will be worth it!  

Evie Jean

"Dog's are great.  Bad dogs, if you can really call them that, are perhaps the greatest of them all" ~John Grogan

It was about mid-November 2004 and I was in the throws of my Vet Tech program at Vermont Tech.  I had figured out what my passion was and I was enjoying learning about veterinary medicine.  The program at VTC is small, maybe 18-20 students.  In order for us to learn hands on how to perform things like blood draws, radiography, anesthesia and restraint the school houses small animals for a semester before adopting them out to the students.  Sometimes there were two or three dogs, three or four cats, a handful of mice, rats and a couple of guinea pigs.  In my first semester I was not planning on taking a dog in.  For one thing, I lived on campus and my mother would be tasked with taking care of yet another animal I brought home and for another we already had two dogs and three cats.  We didn't really need another animal in the mix.  

If you were interested in adopting an animal through the school, then you signed up to take the dogs or cats home over school breaks so that they could acclimate to your house a bit, and so you could get to know the dogs outside of school better.  By the time October break rolled around all the animals were spoken for and I didn't think much else about it.  As the Thanksgiving break approached we noticed that the girl who was scheduled to bring home Evie was not showing up to classes, and no one had really seen her on campus to know what her plans were.  For the Thanksgiving break Evie and a couple of the other animals stayed on campus as no one had decided they were taking them home.  After the break I think most people assumed someone would take Evie home, but the girl who no one saw still had her name on the adoption list for her.  It wasn't until about 2 weeks before the end of the semester that we found out she was no longer involved in the program and Evie was "homeless" as of the middle of December.  

To be honest, I don't think anyone else wanted to take in dear, sweet, Evie.  And I am not really sure why I thought I should consider it.  She was young- maybe 2- and hyper.  Walking her outside required arm strength as she had little to no leash manners.  She routinely barked and bounced and in general drove people a bit nuts.  To work on as a teaching animal she was actually pretty well behaved- though a bit high strung.  She had a beautiful coat of black and there was something about her that made me think maybe she could be a good fit in our house.  I am pretty sure my friends thought I was nuts.  I am pretty sure my mother was hoping she wouldn't fit in well and then we wouldn't have to adopt her.  Regardless I set it up so that I could bring her off campus for a weekend to my house to see how she would get along with my crew.  At the time we had an aging Sheltie that had belonged to my Grandmother and Nonie who was 4 and still quite active herself.  I figured if nothing else Evie would get a chance to get off campus and play some before being relegated to her kennel again.  I picked her up from the school kennels Friday afternoon, and loaded her into the car for the hour long trip home.

If the car ride home was an indicator I should have left her at school and not thought twice about it.  I stopped at a store to get a drink for the road and when I went back out to the car she had eaten the air freshener that was hanging from my dashboard.  I chalked that up to the smell and figured she was nervous.  We made it back to Pittsford and I stopped at my dad's house to drop something off quickly again leaving her in the car.  I was gone for about 3 minutes and when I came back she had chewed her leash to shreds.  I  blew it off as my fault and continued on home.  She came in the house and she and Nonie took to each other right away.  They played and romped and bounced all weekend long.  Evie snoozed in my mother's bed and cuddled with us on the couch.  It appeared as though she would be coming home to stay.  

When I relayed this to the program technician I tried to pretend the look on her face was happiness, not relief.  In truth Evie was never suited for kennel life and she was driving everyone nuts with her incessant barking.  Now that she was coming home with me, the noise would be done soon enough!  When the school semester ended and finals were done, I brought Evie back to the house.  It didn't take long for her to wear off her welcome.  The good behavior she had exhibited (except for the car ride) the previous trip was but a faint memory.  She spent the first week barking.  Close to non-stop.  At anything that might be moving or might be new or different.  Having lived in a kennel for a semester and who knows what before that her house training was lax at best.  She pestered the old Sheltie and even was a bit too exuberant for Nonie.  I am pretty sure my mother thought I had brought home an imposter the first time and now I brought a monster back for good.  Evie was a trying dog, to say the least.  

Evie's first Christmas at home

By the end of Christmas break, after some rough patches she was starting to settle in and the barking had ceased.  She was making small strides in the house training department and we found that she was in love with ball playing and being out in the snow.  When it came time for me to go back to school for the next semester she was on her way to becoming a better behaved member of society.  The worst "incident" was the thieving of Yorkshire pudding off the table during New Years Day Dinner.  In front of all of us she just stood up on her hind legs, stretched and pulled the food towards herself, happy as could be.  Food, it turned out, was something Evie was quick to snarf up.  

Over the years that followed something happened to this wild Lab mix-- she grew up!  It wasn't a quick progression, and at times she challenged me, but the challenges strengthened our relationship.  Evie was the smartest dog I've had the pleasure of working with.  Nero was clever and could open things I didn't think possible, but Evie was easy to train and willing to please.  She learned tricks, and commands, and became a master of fetch.  If you were to ask her (and she were to answer) what mattered most in her life the answer would be: Food, Ball, Swimming, Snow, repeat.  If we were out hiking by water she needed a leash on her  or she was in it.  Once we were hiking along the creek and she jumped into the water-- right alongside a Beaver that I hadn't seen.  Thankfully she came when called.  Once she went into the creek and couldn't find the place to get out so my brother had to jump in and help her out.  In all the time we owned her I never saw her tire from playing fetch.  She would have played ball or chased sticks and toys all day, every day if possible.  It was even better if combined with snow.  

Evie and her stick

Shortly after she had been home I noticed she came up slightly lame on occasion after long walks.  I asked the vet I was working for and she said she wondered if it was her hips.  We took some x-rays and discovered her hips were horrible.  Riddled with dysplasia, if you didn't know she was walking around you would have thought she couldn't.  Evie on the other hand, didn't pay much mind to the hips.  We started her on a glucosamine supplement and she was not bothered by her hips until she was about 8 or 9 years old, at which time she responded well to pain meds as needed.  This was a dog with a pain threshold higher than anyone or any animal I had ever met.  

When I went to vet school, leaving Evie behind was a hard decision.  She was pretty firmly bonded with my mom, and her vocalness (though less than when we first got her) made her a poor candidate for an apartment.  I decided it was in her best interest to stay at home.  When Nikki and her crew moved in, Evie had new friends to play with and I realized it was a better fit than bringing her to an apartment with no other animals for her to interact with, especially while I was in classes.  It worked out well, as Nikki was able to keep an eye on her arthritis and made me feel better about not being home to micromanage her medical needs.  

Over the last few weeks Evie developed a urinary tract infection, was put on meds, and treated, though it didn't appear to clear up well.  After talking it over with Nikki and Mom Wednesday we decided she really needed a bigger work up (more blood work, maybe radiographs etc.).  Nikki told me she thought something else was up as Evie was quiet, and her abdomen seemed a bit rounder than normal.  Thursday she brought her into the clinic and bloodwork showed she was anemic, and had high white cell count despite having been on antibiotics for awhile.  Her x-rays showed little detail in her abdomen making it look like there was fluid there, but she appeared stable.  The diagnosis was probably cancer, but she needed further work up to confirm it.  Nikki set her up for her ultrasound appointment in Burlington on Saturday and I would be around to take phone calls about it.  I realized Friday morning that there was no way that if something was to go wrong I could get home over the next few weeks with finals coming up to say good bye, and I also knew that I would be happier if I could be at her ultrasound appointment.  I left school Friday at 12:30 and planned to drive the 12 hours to get home to be there.  Once I hit Northern Maine- somewhere between Houlton and Orono- I got a phone call from Nikki.  She and my mother didn't even know I was planning on coming home so I thought it was odd, but I also knew why- Evie.  When Nikki got home Evie was struggling to stand up and come see her.  She knew something was wrong.  Evie was weak but Nikki managed to get her into the car and took off towards the clinic.  Unfortunately, Evie didn't make it.  In my heart I know she waited so she wasn't alone, and I couldn't be more grateful that Nikki was able to be with her.  My only regret is not leaving Thursday afternoon and driving home so I could see her face once more.  Life in the house is not the same without the big black goof, greeting you at the door with some object in her mouth (toys, shoes, cat food dish... whatever was around) and an enthusiastic woof and tail wag.  Nikki's crew is here, but mornings without Evie barking because she wants someone to throw her toy leave the house feeling empty.  If you had asked me if I would miss that bark three years ago, I would have laughed at you and said her silence would be appreciated-- but in truth that silence is far louder than her bark ever was, and I miss it.  

Almost there!

First day of spring!!  Unfortunately I don't think that Mother Nature likes PEI because we are in the midst of a snowstorm, and the wind is blowing so hard I can't see the end of my short driveway from my window!  The bonus to this late season snowstorm is of course a snow day.  The second one for the year!  I don't think I had that many snow days in all of my undergrad combined (I may have had 1 in Maine, and 1 at VTC... maybe.)  In reality the whole snow day tends to bite you in the rear end later on because we still have to make up the classes that we missed somewhere, which inevitably means longer days at some point.  Thankfully, Wednesday is a short day anyways, and so there aren't many classes we are trying to squeeze in.  The added benefit to today's snow day:  We happen to have a test tomorrow so we now get a little bit of extra time to study.  

Overall midterm season came and went without a lot of fanfare for me.  It was busy, I studied a lot and worked hard and in the end my grades came back good.  Compared to the first semester midterm where I thought I was going to fail out of vet school and never be a vet- this was a much easier passing, and ultimately a testament to what I have done to change my study habits (mainly, do more studying.)   In first semester I studied but focused the bulk of my learning efforts to to right before the exam and ultimately it didn't allow me enough time to fully understand some concepts.  This midterm season I have been working daily to learn the material, and trying to keep an organized pattern so I can keep up as best as possible.  Keeping up in vet school is kind of an imaginary concept- there simply are not enough hours in the day to study all the material learned every day in each class, before the next class.  But I do try to make sure by weeks end that I am at least caught up in the big core classes, and mainly the smaller ones.  It probably also helps that I really enjoy most of the classes this semester so I don't mind giving up my life to study them.  

I think my favorite class this semester is General Pathology.  I love learning the lesions, and why things appear as they do.  It is a lot of work to remember the pathways and mechanisms of disease but every class is like a lightbulb of why something I have seen in practice or experienced with my own dogs happened, and allows me to better understand it.  I love Friday lab time where we go down to the Gross Pathology Lab and look at all kinds of specimens with a variety of lesions and disease processes.  I used to think I enjoyed the microscopic aspect more, but I realize now I could look at Gross specimens for a long time and not be bored!  The body is amazing in what it does when presented with problems- truly!  

In all it is hard to believe that classes will be done for the semester in a mere 42 days!  We have about 4 weeks of classes left before we head into a 2 week span of finals.  The end of the first year of vet school is in sight!  I am going to be going home for the summer somewhere around the first weekend in May, and I look forward to having a breather from always having a nose in the books.  In this remaining 4 weeks before finals I have a test tomorrow, a test on Monday, and a lab quiz next Thursday.  After that I will be prepping for my Clinical Orientation final which has a practical part and a written component and takes place the 2nd of April.  I have 1 week after that and before finals where no tests intervene, though I will be prepping for my finals that will coming right up as well.  I am not sure where the time has gone this year-- it seems like just the other day my dad was dropping me off here to begin this adventure and I was trying to navigate a new environment.  Now, I know the island better, have made good friends at school, and am anxious to keep my education on the path to becoming a Vet.  

I doubt I will have more blog posts in the next few weeks as I mentioned I have some tests coming up, then finals- but once school breaks for the summer I will likely post again.  In the interim, Happy First Day of Spring!!

Life without a dog

As the majority of people who read this know, I have been dog-less up here in PEI.  Initially when I got accepted to this school and decided I was indeed moving to Canada I was going to bring Nonie with me, but when we ended up putting her to sleep it left me without a companion up here.  Most of the time, I miss having a dog to come home and spend time with, to hike with, and to spoil rotten.  There is not a substitute for a dog in your life- stuffed animals, friends of the human variety, and cats won't do.  Don't get me wrong-- stuffed animals can be decorative, everyone needs human friendship in life and I love cats, but the time spent and bond you form with a dog is something words don't do justice.  

If you were clever you picked up on the fact that I used the preface most of the time to the above statement.  You probably brushed by the usage and continued on.  However, I meant just that- MOST of the time.  The thing about ownership of a dog, or any animal, is that they rely on you for everything- food, water, potty places (or trips outside), and most of all your love and companionship.  Without a doubt I could and would happily spend all my money on the material things an animal needs.  I would also shower them with my love and affection and of course walks.  The problem is, that vet school- the very place you enroll to learn to better take care of these companions- is not very accommodating to owning an animal who relies on you for so much.  Don't get me wrong-- many many of my friends and class mates, as well as many people before me, have or have had pets while they go to vet school.  Many of them own cats, some own rodents/pocket pets/ferrets/exotics, and still multiple own dogs as well.  I in no way mean to insinuate they don't provide all of the above things for their pets (often times, I am positive they go beyond for them!)  I mean this post to serve as a reflection of me, and my opinions.  

This current moment is not the appropriate time for me to have a dog.  There are days in my schedule where I am at school by 7:30, and I don't leave until 7.  That's 12 hours of school.  If I owned a dog, I could skip home at lunch to let them out briefly, and if I had commitments after school I could always arrange to run home and let them out again and feed them between end of classes and when I needed to be back for a meeting, studying or what have you.  Still, the dog would be alone from the time I went to class early in the morning, see me for a span of 15 minutes for a quick lunch/potty break, and again for a quick dinner/potty break... and by the time I got home from school I would be too tired, or backed up on school work to provide quality play time/walk/cuddles etc.  Granted, this schedule is not an every day occurrence, there are days like Wednesdays where I go to school late, and come home early.  I have weekends for the most part to study but could also easily do all things related to doggie fun.  This semester Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays however, I am at school until at least 4:30 PM.  When I come home, I sit down and veg out for a few minutes before starting to study again.  Often, I study til 11 or 12, go to bed, get up in time to get ready for school and am out the door.  If I added a dog to this routine, I would have to get up earlier to take care of the animal (a sacrifice I could adjust to), but also risk major distractions while I am trying to study in a short period of time.  If anyone has ever tried to get me to study, you are aware of how easily distracted I can be.     

Nonie, getting ready for one of her many naps

So, even though I miss having a companion in my life, I don't regret my current living situation.  If I had Nonie here it would have been a different set of circumstances all together.  So much of what I said above depends on the dog involved, every bit as much as it depends on me.  Nonie was the kind of dog who was most content sleeping  snoring on the couch for the day.  Usually she required begging to get her to go outside more than twice a day.  If you were late getting home she accepted it.  She was used to being home longer hours.  I would have felt guilty knowing I was running late and she had been waiting for her dinner, but I also would have known she could handle it.  She was a versatile dog which is what is required if you are going to have animals (in my opinion) while you are at vet school.  I don't think too many of my fellow students would disagree that they wish they were home more to spend time with their animals.  

More than once this school year I've thought I should really consider adopting a dog.  However, given the amount of class hours/time spent at school outside of that, I don't regret my decision to live solo.  I have my little "stray" kitty who comes by fairly regularly for snacks, a cuddle, and then he is off again, which is precisely what I feel I can contribute to a relationship with an animal right now.  From my understanding, second year you have more time where you are home, and the hours are a bit more conducive to pet owning.  Once I have the schedule in front of me for next year, I'll reevaluate owning an animal.  I've decided when I am ready it will definitely not be a young dog I take on.  I know senior dogs carry their own baggage and heartbreak because you inevitably get less time and risk more medical issues with them, but truly that's where my heart is.  Senior dogs available for adoption tug my heart strings every time, they deserve the chance to enjoy the end of their time on earth, and when I have the time to devote to them, I will once again have a dog to greet me when I come home.  

Vet School Year 1, Take 2

Well, I survived the finals grind of first semester, and passed all my classes-- actually surpassing my grade expectations in most classes- or at the very least meeting them.  The only class that was a surprise in the end for my grade was immunology.  I knew going into that he was a keyword grader, and I suspect that was the big issue for my final/assignments, but I really didn't expect that class to become my lowest grade.  In the end it didn't matter, I passed all classes clearly, and my overall average was good.  So bring on semester 2!

I took time over the winter break for me.  It was refreshing to spend so much time at home and with friends-- though I will say I was on the run and ate out an awful lot!  I loved seeing my friends from home again.  There were a few people I was unable to connect with-- but trust me if you're reading this I WILL make a priority of it when I am home again!  It will be less crammed full when I am home again because I will have a bit more time.  I was fortunate enough to have dinner with some of my oldest friends from high school, spend time with my best friends, have great lunches out, and had a family holiday party, plus a work holiday dinner. As fun as it was seeing everyone I was TIRED!!  I am looking forward to when I am home for the summer break where I can more leisurely break up my time to see people, and hopefully see EVERYONE!  

Christmas was a quiet event-- except my sister came home and surprised us!  It was great to see her since I live up in PEI and she is in NY and our schedules don't typically mash up well for getting together.  I always enjoy my time with her and the little crazy dog Ruca.  I often wish we lived closer so we could see each other more often.  At any rate her presence made it more like a Christmas from when we were younger- as last year she didn't make it home for Christmas.  I also spent a good chunk of time with my brother and it was nice to do so.  Even if we do argue sometimes-- but then again, what siblings don't?  I know my parents were surprised and excited to have my sister home and the holiday felt great!  

I spent time doing things I really enjoy this break too-- especially hiking and spending time with my Evie dog.  She might be getting older, but she lives for her ball/swimming (not this time of year)/hiking.  Most days you wouldn't know her hips were horribly riddled with dysplasia, and she is quick to let you know she wants to go go go all the time.  She loves the snow- and I got my wish for lots of it while i was home!  Though we did have a light layer on the ground for Christmas it was after the holiday that we saw two quick storms dump 2 feet of the white stuff.  The second storm was less predicted and Nikki and I had all the dogs out for a hike while it was piling up.  It was beautiful to walk in- but the trail was deep snow, and poor Evie did have a bit of trouble with her legs that day.  All the same- it was a great time!   hiking the trail at home

Like all vacations it was not long enough!  I closely watched the weather patterns for my trip to try and decide when I was going to come back to PEI.  Classes were set to resume on the 7th and my plans were to leave either on Saturday or Sunday.  For those unfamiliar it is a 12 hour (or so), 745 mile long trip from home to my apartment.  I can make decent time (it is pretty much all highway driving from New Hampshire on) but even so I have never done the trip in under 11 and a half hours before (and that was really a fluke and good timing in the more densely populated areas).  The weather reports looked clear over the weekend as we were getting closer so I decided I would drive back Sunday after breakfast with my father.  Friday PM the reports along my path said flurries in places-- well I am from VT I can drive in flurries... so I continued to plan a Sunday departure.  Saturday the weather forecast for VT in the afternoon was iffy-- reporting snow squalls to be expected but I planned to be out of VT by 10:30.  When I finally got on the road (yes, I waited to pack until Sunday AM...) it was cloudy and flurries were expected a few spots along my drive but overall the trip looked clear.  

I have never been caught off guard like I was driving back.  In NH the sun was shining, and in a good chunk of the state the temp was low 40!  By the time I reached Bangor ME, it was dark out, the roads were wet and the temp was cool but overall the going was fine.  Shortly after I passed the Bangor exits the roads went from being wet to being a bit slick and a light snow was falling.  The further north I went towards the Mt Katahdin region, the more conditions deteriorated.  What is normally a quick stretch of road (with a speed limit of 75), turned into a lengthier piece of travel.  I always stop in Houlton to gas up before crossing the Canadian border, and by the time I left my gas stop snow was coming down in pretty good shape.  It was about 7:30 PM when I crossed the Canadian border.  From there the trip usually takes me about 4- 4 and 1/2 hours depending on traffic and bridge crossing.  From  that point forward on the highway I did not go above 50-55 MPH.  When I left the highway for the road that eventually leads to the bridge onto the island you could not see roadway anymore.  The highway had taken me over an hour longer than normal to drive.  The trip onto the bridge was very slow going and I had no choice but to drive in 4WD as the snow pack was otherwise untravelable.  At this point my nerves were frayed, my body was tired, and I still had an hours drive (in good weather) before making it to my apartment.  FINALLY I made it to the bridge and white knuckle drove across it (ice, wind, poor visibility-- none of my favorite things on a regular road let a lone a bridge!).  I should insert for those unaware that this bridge is not a typical short up and over-- it is an 8 mile long bridge that rises above the Atlantic... it feels like you are driving it forever on a clear day.  The island road conditions were much the same-- at times I couldn't tell if I was driving on a road or where I might be in a lane.  It was 12:45 AM so there was not really other traffic or signs of people driving the road before me.  I had no choice but to go slowly and hope for the best.  At 1:40AM I pulled into my apartment driveway.  The trip took me about 15 hours-- and I had to be up for class by 6:30.  I regretted my decision to leave Sunday AND I was annoyed with the weather predictions.  The only plus side was that I was able to see just how well my car did in the snow (which by the way was excellent!)  

Aside from all this the first week of classes (abbreviated due to a large veterinary conference the school is hosting) was very busy but relatively uneventful.  This semester I have Pathology, Parasitology, Histology II, Macro Anatomy II, Physiology II, Embryology (half the year- this takes over the second half of histology II), structure and function, clinical orientation and epidemiology.  The new classes so far seem pretty good, though I admit to being a bit bored in Parasitology having taken a lot of it at VTC.  Clinical orientation is a lab course on handling and restraint- a lot of which especially on the small animal side of things is review for me and requires that we take care of a beagle (by walking it twice daily), grooming a horse and a cow.  At least it is hands on with animals!  Once I get a full week more or so under my belt I will know better what to expect from the classes and will update with more information there! 

I wish I could procrastinate my studies more-- but I already did that well enough for today so it's back to the books for me!  I studied yesterday and after today I hope to be mostly caught up so I can enjoy some morning sunshine outside tomorrow!