#and have chronic pain bc of the injury but he still has the foot

[reenbowspimkle]

i love how the entire fandom was like oh yea izzy loses his toe and has some balance issues for a while

only for izzy to actually lose everything below his knee

[autisdicksimmons]

Rvb character disabilities pt. 1

Going through the canon/my headcanoned disabilities of rvb characters, starting with Red Team. I may miss things, so please remind me if I do

Sarge

* Brain. Injury. At the very least from repeat concussions plus the time he was shot in the head

* HC— Hard of Hearing, unsure if from age or constant gunfire and explosions over the years

Simmons

* Literally had most if not all of his internal organs replaced with cybernetic equivalents

* Double amputee, again cyborg prosthetics but we see that they are not always reliable (he literally shot himself in the foot)

* HC— it isn’t confirmed that Simmons has a cyborg eye that I remember, but yes that

* Part of his brain is also robotic which is. Scary.

* Fax machine.

* I won’t be going into mental illnesses for the most part because that could honestly be another post entirely for Simmons alone, but his severe, unchecked anxiety disorder deserves an honorable mention

* HC— he has the most textbook autism ever. Of all time.

* HC— due to the severity of the surgery and Sarge’s incompetence, I believe Simmons is likely in some amount of chronic pain

* HC— Simmons mentions, angrily, that Grif doesn’t get headaches, which I am taking and giving him chronic migraines bc I have them too and no one can stop me

* HC— really really shitty vision, like, man is wearing bifocals in his early twenties type bad (helmets have gotta be able to be adjusted for vision, right???)

* HC— asthma. Bc I have it. And I can.

Grif

* Canonically (debatable, but still) has OCD

* Also a double amputee, but had the parts replaced with Simmons’s which, yikes, considering their canon (season 14 canon, anyway) height/body type differences

* HC/extrapolation off the last point— it’s highly likely that he has a moderate to severe difference in limb lengths, or that the Simmons side had to be MAJORLY fucked up which, ouch

* HC— also chronic pain based on that

* Most if not all of his current organs were received via Simmons transplant after being run over

* HC— again with the eyes, but I always draw/write him having a lazy eye w Simmons’s old eye, with it not seeing well and Sarge’s “skills”

* Had parts of his brain damaged enough by the tank that Sarge felt the need to replace them??? YIKES

* HC— Asthma bc Simmons had it and now he has his lungs lol

* HC— Hard of hearing, and honestly it’s amazing if all of them aren’t to some degree, actually

Donut

* Had half his face blown up. I take this to mean he is blind in one eye and fully Deaf in one ear, hard of hearing in the other, and some mild brain damage

* Had part of his hand CUT OFF when it got caught in the underside of a Warthog. I take this to mean that he’s missing most of his pinky, ring, and middle fingers on his right hand.

* HC— He’s almost died/actually died so many times but we don’t see any canon effects of this, at the very least he’s got some organ damage especially with the severe dehydration/heat exhaustion he’s suffered and being. You know. Shot point blank in the chest.

Lopez

* Decapitated. So many times

[newswcanonprompts]

Slave Chips + Anakin Angst time

(who tf had this convo? whoever it was, all your body parts are going on the wall. kneecaps = TAKEN for making me fuckin cry)

The conversation started w/ a Anakin has chronic pain because of a very Loud force presence + all the fun stuff that comes from a childhood in slavery and formative years spent as a general in a war, and then talking about high vs low pain perception

And then Yui hops in with this:

what if Slave masters have technology in the slave chips where they can control their slaves pain perception--Low perception for when they work and high for when they get punished.

The jedi didn't know about it, Qui-gon forgot to mention the chip to the Council

and Watto " forgot " to turn it the high pain perception off as a way of getting back at the Jedi for “stealing” his investment

Oh my God what if anakin thinks they know and choose not to turn it off

WHAT IF HE THINKS THAT THEY'RE PUNISHING HIM FOR QUI-GON BEING QUI GON AND FOR THEM BEING FORCED TO TAKE HIM IN SO OLD

AND THAT FEEDS HIS BITTERNESS OF THEM

AND ALSO STOMPS HIS SELF ESTEEM

Because the pain NEVER stops.

So Anakin never says anything

It makes him think that he definitely cannot tell them about any injuries he has unless they make him unfit to work

And Obi-Wan constantly lectures him too and like he's already being punished he doesn't need to be verbally beaten down too

(note that it’s from Anakin perspective, the unreliable narrator of the year--Obi-wan actually has no idea about the chip)

And when he lashes out because it just HURTS and he can't contain it anymore, he’s berated AGAIN

Also, if the pain perception is controlled, that means the slave chip is still there, which makes the thought process he has about being punished for being taken so old even worse

And then, what if Kix one day finds a chip in Anakin's nervous system, he removes it, and Anakin begins crying with relief

And Kix goes "Sir Why WAS THIS TORTURE DEVICE IN YOU?"

He gets injured enough for emergency surgery and Kix finds the chip that way, meanwhile, Anakin can't have anesthesia for medical reasons, so he's dealing with the surgery awake and feels the moment the chip is detached.

WHAT IF ANAKIN IS FAKE NONCHALANT ABOUT IT BECAUSE ANGST

"Ah? Oh they didn't tell you? I thought it'd be in the brief. That's my slave chip. It's supposed to be there. It means they own me." And kix...kix is aghast.

the Jedi are all crying in a corner at the fact they let a CHILD be tortured for YEARS

Because Anakin admitted to a slave chip. Of being owned. And he calls obi-wan Master

Obi-Wan is absolutely devastated because he tortured the child who he was responsible for and he never wanted to do that and oh force, he's a monster (it’s obi wan so like. infinite sadness to the max)

The clones basically become Anakin's mother hens

WHAT IF THIS IS HOW THEY FIND THE CLONE CHIPS TOO

BC KIX GOES "IF THEIR JETII HAS A CHIP...ONE OF THEIR OWN... WHAT ABOUT US CLONES?"

Also the fact so if this is during the Clone Wars: they've sent Anakin in as a soldier without him even knowing he had a right to not fight

The Council decides immediately to take Anakin off the front and get to seeing a mind healer, before collectively drinking an entire bar under the table

Oh God did anyone ever explain to anakin. In depth. That just because they are called "Master" does not mean they own him?

AS A SLAVE, HE WAS ALLOWED HIS THOUGHTS AND EMOTIONS. HIS MASTERS BEFORE DID NOT OWN HIS MIND. BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE WITH THE JEDI, IN HIS PERSPECTIVE

(again, Anakin’s perspective, the Jedi didn’t actually know. This somehow becomes an eventual fix it lol.)

Like LOGICALLY Anakin knows that Master to them means teacher but he thinks it doesn't apply to him because they won him and he is still a slave

What if that's the reason he kept his marriage to Padme a secret, not because he was afraid of being kicked out of the Order, but because he would be punished for loving a free person?

YEAH BC SLAVES DON'T GET MARRIED AND PADME WAS NOT ONLY A FREEBORN, BUT SHE IS ALSO, IN HIS EYES, SO FAR ABOVE HIS STATION ITS NOT EVEN FUNNY

Oh, with the removal of the chip and the pain, Anakin gets high from the huge levels of pain-relieving chemicals his body has been producing for years to compensate.

Anakin living in constant fear of punishments, and that's why he always seems so high strung and on a hair trigger

Like!! This whole thing is a web of miscommunication and assumptions

Anakin assumes that the Jedi and whatever know about the chip and chose to keep it in.

He assumes he is still a slave if not in name, then in status

He assumes the council is constantly punishing him for Qui-Gon essentially forcing them to take him in and for his failure to adhere to their code.

He assumes Obi-Wan feels the same, or perhaps he cannot risk going against the council bc they're his elders and he still loves Obi-Wan, bc he sees that Obi-Wan does care for him

(but not enough to free you, a voice whispers in his head that grows louder every day)

Him talking about things with Palpy, thinking the man would be nice enough to free him...

the entire temple is just full of people drinking and crying over Anakin and Anakin himself is currently the most functional person around, trying to convince everyone it wasn't that bad

He doesn't realize that that makes it so much worse. He's all "Really, compared to my other masters. And to masters I could have gone to... you all were kind. I was lucky."

And they despair.

Because how could they still be given that earnest smile, of beautiful blue eyes, shining still with trust and love, when they tormented him, albeit unknowingly, for over a decade?

Anakin is just very relieved to be pain free, and that they didn't know so it wasn't on purpose.

Anakin: You all treated me so well! I had food and water every day, shelter and good quality clothing. You never beat me and my punishments, while sometimes painful, were done with no tricks without cruelty.

“You’re the best masters I’ve had.”

Mace, upon being told this by a very earnest and 100% honest Anakin, knowing full well how he made life difficult for Anakin and didn't like him much, cleared a whole bar of alcohol on his own

While the Jedi are crying, the 501st is willing to go on a murder spree. The Hutts are DEAD.

Everyone say bye bye Gardulla and Jabba

Anakin is just happy and relieved.

Yes there will be talking. He will have to establish boundaries, the order will need to regain its footing.

But Anakin is free, and he has so much love to give.

And now he knows that they never meant for him to suffer.

And maybe he's still high on being free of pain, but now he knows they genuinely cared for him and none of their kindness was because they wanted him to perform well. They were genuine.

Obi-Wan at one point just breaking down and holding Anakin to his chest and sobbing because how did he fail him so badly

meanwhile Anakin's just like "Master, it's fine, I'm fine. Hey crying wastes water, if you're going to cry over something it's gotta be something more major than this. I mean everything's fine, everything's better than fine now, I'm free."

Anakin not quite processing why everything he says makes Obi-Wan cry harder.

Quinlan must be very glad that he never tried to touch Anakin directly.

Anakin's self-flagellation issues are through the ROOF

[synchlora]

HELL YEAH alright

gonna divide this up by his various lives bc otherwise it's a Mess <3

some warnings ahead for descriptions of intense wounds, necrosis, body decay, and general infection. be careful pls

Prior to first death

rly likes robotics work and engineering so he has made his own little robots and such in the past

designed his own headset bc he is hard of hearing, wanted something to help him be able to discern noises better and also adjust volume bc Overstimulation

got a major injury to his right hand that ended up severing tendons and causing injuries that were not heal-able so he had to get it amputated. decided to work on a robotic hand to replace it and eventually finished it (he was right handed so it was a bit of a struggle)

First death

got his heart punctured in battle and it was basically useless. ponk gave him what was essentially a pacemaker and jack later adjusted this with more. robotic things (very technical wording I know /s)

basically had a large plate of metal over the left side of his chest leading to the robotic heart

u can kinda see the mechanism from outside. not super well, but he did use some glass that makes seeing it a little clearer

Second death

very badly burned his legs and left side of his body especially

ended up with a major infection in both legs and his left arm

needed to amputate his left foot and needed a permanent brace for his right

left shoulder to his hand was entirely burnt down practically to bone, also needed that amputated

decided to build off of the mechanism on his chest and made a fully robotic left arm connecting to a shoulder socket he'd also made

made a pretty basic foot prosthetic that was also robotic but not very. his left leg is now surrounded by wire/metal supports that move his leg bc it can't move well on its own

his left eye was burned out in the lava, so he built more onto his headset. made a visor to help him visualize things better and fix his depth perception w only one eye

the 3D glasses design was a bit of a dark joke on the fact that he doesn't have the depth to use 3D glasses

also fixed his headset to be able to adjust volumes better. would've done it ages ago but he just never found the time until the need was forced upon him

Third death & revival

most of him is metal/robotics by now and that's what he looks like headed into the doomsday battle

but techno blade kills him by basically shattering his skull with his sword, killing him and sending him to hell :]

literally clawed his way out of hell out of pure spite

when he made it back, he was very faded and his body was Not stable enough for him to last long

so he spent all of the time he had immunity (y'know like when u log in and ur safe from attacks for a few seconds? he had that for a few hours bc it's an Exceptional Case) trying to. fix himself

basically, he had healed somewhat from respawning but respawning doesn't fix ur issues (as jack has learned in the past) and so his skull still has a massive hole in it

so he spends several hours trying to fix up his own head with various parts and pieces until he's not on the verge of immediately dying again

this is also, despite immunity, Very fucking Painful

but he manages to Somehow make himself stable enough to live

and no one else realizes he's died, they just think he got injured and once again fixed himself back up the only way he knows how

Post-revival

everything is going relatively smoothly. he now has massive chronic migraines but that makes sense. he did have a good amount of trauma to his skull and it's not exactly. healed in a way that is "correct"

but he starts to notice some strange things

his skin is darkening in places, turning unnatural colors that really don't seem pleasant. he's starting to constantly smell rot, like there's something dead following him around. his his skin is getting uncomfortably loose almost and he's not sure what's happening

until it starts to actively slough off

and then he realizes the rotting, dead smell is him. the unnatural color of his skin is necrosis. and his skin, muscle, even bones are starting to necrose

and he is (reasonably) terrified. why isn't this killing him? how is he alive?? how in the fuck can he stop himself from literally decomposing?????

and he sticks to the same solutions he always has. he starts building

and every time he seems to have made a solution for one thing, another part of him fails. he makes a better stomach (or rather "energy core" bc who needs food anymore?) and right when he finishes that, his liver fails. he supports his spine as the nerve endings start to decay, but right as that project comes to a close, his shoulder dislocates from it's socket. etc etc etc

his current big project is basically making a hard drive to replace his brain because ooh boy it's going fast and he's not sure how well it'll work but he's gotta try

so we get to current day jack, an emotional wreck because he's always left behind and a physical wreck because he is literally falling apart as the days go by.

[vamplifyingdotjpg]

please tell me ALL about your ocs!!! 💕

I am Crying thank u so much thank u for Finally asking abt my ocs I have so many of them and I love them all so much so I’ll just sum up my few main ones and favorites (buckle up and also this whole story takes place in london as of now bc I’m uncreative):

Beckett (full name Beckett James Montgomery) is a happy little man who’s full of love and also a lot of chronic illnesses and other conditions. He just has really rough luck but he’s still pretty content with things. He’s working hard to overcome his shyness to set boundaries with others and he’s becoming a lot more confident in himself!! Of course losing a large portion of your childhood to illness and injury is pretty traumatic but he has a really solid support system. He loves his friends and is also very passionate about horticulture. And some other facts abt Beckett:

his favorite colour is pink (which is why his hair is pink throughout his teens and into his 20s but it’s naturally a mousy brown!)

he’s big gay

he’s a manlet (5'6")

he goes on to open up a plant nursery

he plays piano

his entire life is like 1/8th of a plan and 7/8ths of a prayer

Cherry Nova Griffin is a cool girl who’s super smart and just the raddest ever. She’s the older sister friend despite being the baby of her family bc she really really cares abt her friends and wants the best for them. She’s no square so she’s not gonna harsh anyone’s vibe but she is very sensible so u won’t go fucking yourself up on her watch bc she’s your voice of reason. This doesn’t mean she doesn’t partake in her friends foolishness, she just makes sure the foolishness goes smoothly. She’s super smart and very interested in science. She’s also pretty much always dressed to the nines (heavily influenced by her sister Azalea who’s a fashion icon). And some more facts abt Cherry:

her favorite colour is purple

her and elfie are the co-Just Dance™ wii champions of their friend group

she comes out as a lesbian in her 20s because that Internalized Home Of Phobia Tho

she’s 5 foot nothing she’s Small (she looks nothing like her two tall, rake thin older siblings)

her and Beckett are childhood friends, meeting when Beckett joined her class at school when they were both 7 or so

she’s always trying to prove herself to others but she has enough people around her that know how cool she is

Elfie Pepper (or Elfie Kiyoko Takemago-Pepper) is a fun, spritely Irish girl (her mom and biological father are Japanese but she was born in Ireland and raised there by her mom and now-stepdad). She’s super funny and very much the life of the party like she will always get u to chuckle. She can make any situation better just by being there bc she’s hilarious and rad. Her girlfriend is a super butch buff athlete but Elfie’s more often than not found eating lucky charms straight out of the box on her couch. She does like to skateboard tho and she’s pretty darn good at it. She’s the friend who makes all the playlists for driving/partying/chilling bc her music taste is universally liked (without her everyone would be fighting to play their own tunes she’s the peacemaker). Basically everyone likes Elfie. Now for The Facts:

she’s probably the rowdiest of the bunch. she’s like permanently cranked up to 100

Elfie is Big Lesbian

she’s a decent base player

her mom wanted to name her Kiyoko but let her hippie boyfriend pick the name Elfie for her

she moved to England when she was 12 and joined Beckett and Cherry’s squad then

She’s like 5'3" their whole squad is Tiny

Eleanor Lucille Atwin is the only one tall one in their squad. She’s 5'11" and the definite mom friend of Elfie, Cherry, and Beckett. She’s always got snacks and extra sweaters and pain medication and makeup wipes on her. She’s patient and caring and will have your back no matter what. You could indefinitely count on her in a crisis. Eleanor is also trans and has really been through it and still sometimes struggles with loving herself (not to mention dealing with transphobia) but she receives endless love and support from her friends. She’s good at painting and is always lookin super pretty. And some Eleanor facts:

she’s 20

she was born in Yukon, Canada

she joined the main group when she was 15

she’s prefers painting with watercolours

she marries her high school sweetheart (a ginger soccer/football player who’s like the only cishet guy involved in this story)

she goes on to become an interior designer bc she’s got rly good taste

Kimmo Alric Seppänen (23) is kind of a bitch, but he’s been through a Lot so it’s kind of expected. He had a really rough childhood where he was neglected severely by his parents before he was taken out of their house and placed with his adoptive parents who treated him super well and loved him a lot. He struggled a lot with fitting in and became really edgy in high school where he started dating Fredrik on and off. Then after school he had problems with addiction and did a lot of unhealthy shit but he eventually sorted it out. Now he’s living with Fredrik in London and they play in a band together (he still smokes like a pack a day). Kimmo is grumpy, and prone to lashing out, but he’s also a talented musician, wise beyond his years, and very dryly funny. He’s hard to get through to, but oddly lovable when you get to know him. And some Kimmo facts:

he was born and raised in Jyväskylä, Finland

he’s a killer guitarist and an adequate singer

he has a total of 12 piercings, most of which he got in his teens

he was diagnosed with Klinefelter’s syndrome in his early teens

he uses he/they pronouns and hes bi

his nose is crooked as shit from being broken several times

Fredrik Jeremiias Harmaajärvi is beefy and dumb. He’s the second oldest of 4 brothers. He’s like a big stupid golden retriever: cute and overall friendly, but kinda air-headed. He drinks too much (though he has captain america-level alcohol tolerance) and doesn’t notice many emotional cues from others, especially his emotionally unstable boyfriend Kimmo. When he was 21, he formed a band with some friends and Kimmo (his then ex-boyfriend whom he had newly reunited with). Kimmo and Fredrik moved to London after the band lost its two original members. Fredrik is easygoing and fun, but he has literally no brain cells. Some facts:

he’s a killer singer and an adequate guitar player

He’s also from Jyväskylä

His whole family is absolutely disgustingly beautiful (to his kinda ugly bfs dismay)

pure, unconcentrated himbo

His band is primarily punk/garage rock but Fredrik loves pop music

he’s also pretty into fitness and maintaining his image so he frequently goes to the gym (this is why he’s a big muscly Viking man)

Phoenix Delphinus Griffin is Cherry’s oldest sibling and he’s also a gem and a treasure. He’s a professional dancer and dance instructor. He’s 6'5" and all lanky, wirey muscle. He’s a laid-back, sociable guy who easily builds relationships with others. He acts super chill on the outside but he does struggle with pretty bad anxiety. He’s very fit and health conscious and is always up early to go to the gym or go for a run or drink a smoothie or whatever healthy people do. He has a number of large friend groups and is probably the most “popular” of all my ocs. And some facts abt him:

Phoenix has a phobia of drowning and is very uncomfortable with swimming in large bodies of water

he prefers contemporary ballet, but he’s trained in classical ballet and tap as well

he was once in a local production of cats the musical (he played macavity and plato due to his height and lack of singing required for the roles) and his friends won’t let him live it down

he’s bi

he dated the bassist in kimmo and fredrik’s band for a few months

he’s just a way friendly dude everyone loves him

I seriously needed motivation to make a post like this of all of them so thank u again!!!!!!!!

[drferox]

20 questions with Dr Ferox #1

Greeting Vetlings. This post is an attempt to chew through some of the many, many questions I have received over the last 2 months without spamming you with two dozen mini post. These questions are in no particular order, and I’ve tagged the asker if I know who it is. If you’re waiting for a question to be answered, it might be below.

@surskitty​ asked: What are your favorite marsupials?

Well, I certainly have lots to chose from, but I’m particularly fond of the carnivorous ones. Numbats, Quolls and Tassie Devils will always be special to me, but I really like the extinct Thylacine and Thylacaleo too.

Anonymous asked: Hey so theres this theory that giving extremely dark chocolate in small amounts to a rat is helpful with the chronic respiratory issues endemic to rats bc of mycoplasma. What do you think about the accuracy of that scientifically? I came for the vet cases/ funny stories, stayed for both!   

I can’t say I’ve used it, but it’s not a standard recommendation. Rats being generalists may be able to handle the theobromine in chocolate better than small carnivores but I can’t find any solid data on it. Small amounts in moderation are probably ok.

Another Anonymous asked: Hi dr. Ferox, I'm planning on getting a gecko this July so that I have plenty of time to get set up and do even more research on them. One of the things that I'm curious about is if you would consider it a good idea to call around and ask some of the vets that I'm considering taking my gecko to see their level of familiarity and comfort with treating reptiles like geckos?  If so then what are some other things that I should ask them about? Thanks in advance!            

It’s definitely a good idea to call around and ask who is comfortable treating geckos, or any exotic pet. Most clinics will know who the local exotics vets are and are happy to refer such patients on. It would also be a good idea to ask which emergency clinics are set up for reptile patients, as some will have better setups than others. You should also ask how much you should budget for routine care and how often they recommend that species comes in for a checkup.

@zaryaisbae​ asked: I have an old Russian Blue (around 13ish, he's 100% indoors and declawed (adopted him that way) and probably a little overweight. He still seems to get around really well, and occasionally plays with the younger kitten we have. Given adequate care and accommodation, how many years would an average case like him have left? (Came for the rant on time sensitive questions, stayed for the excellent veterinary information)

Russian Blue cats can do old age quite well, for a relatively uncommon cat I’ve seen a few reach 18 years of age. I would recommend regular blood or urine tests for my patients of this age as early detected of kidney disease and hyperthyroidism can help them live longer.

Anonymous asked: I might be adopting a little doggy soon!!! She's a sweet australian shepherd/ spaniel cross and I love her. She'll likely become my service dog, but she's currently being treated for heartworm. Are there any long lasting effects of heartworms? Could it be recurring?

Dogs can certainly be re-infected with heartworm even after they’ve been treated for an infection. It’s important that dogs stay on preventatives as recommended by your local vet, they’re most likely to know what’s working well in your area. Heartworm is spread by mosquitoes so your dog doesn’t even need to come into contact with other dogs to get them. It is possible for heartworm infection to cause permanent damage to the heart or blood vessels, but this will likely depend on how severe the infection is. Once a dog is treated they may show no ill effects from the previous infection.

@petitevetoespagnole​ asked: Recently I realize that the idea of what a cat has to eat change a lot between countries. I know mostly it's because I work in a rural environment and I'm good as long as my French cats have cat food (and I'm happy if it's actually the type of cat food they need) but I thought it could be interesting to know what's your experience on this.

Emotion is a significant factor in what and how people feed their pets. Cats are more or less the same everywhere but how they are valued and perceived by society will differ. For some a cat will be their furbaby. For others a cat is ‘just a cat’.

@doctorrichardstrand​ asked: question tax: came for the breed analyses, stayed for the mythical creature analyses. we recently found out my miniature schnauzer has an abdominal tumor. we're not sure yet if it's benign or cancerous, nor where it is actually coming from. i was wondering what the rate of cancer is in miniature schnauzers? i had thought it was fairly low.            

Well, just because a breed doesn’t have a reputation for cancers doesn’t mean they can’t get them. They don’s seem to commonly get them, but it’s still possible. Overall the rate of cancer in dogs (not including benign lumps like lipomas) seems to be approximately 30%.

Yet another Anomymous asked: Do you see many Manchester terriers in Australia? What do you think of them if you've worked with them before 

Not enough to write anything meaningful about them, I’m afraid.

A presumably different Anonymous asked: I've heard mixed things from vets about mixing Baytril with baby food etc so my rats are more willing to take it. Some vets have recommended it but other vets have said it's unwise. (I've avoided mixing it just to be safe.) Is this a controversial thing in the vet community and why is it advised you don't mix it?            

I think it’s more a matter of being confident the rat has eaten the entire dose. The local exotics vets often use a particular brand of sweetened syrup to mix with baytril for rats and parrots. I don’t think it’s a controversial thing, so long as you can be confident the rat is getting the dose.

@its-animalcrazy-love asked: Hello! Do you now where I can learn to read a blood sample and other kind of lab tests?            

Well the vet course in the obvious answer. Certain text books about clinical pathology will have quick summaries. Certain medicine text books (Ettinger?) had charts on the inside covers for quick reference and the 5 Minute Veterinary Guide has reference ranges for just about everything in an appendix at the back. However knowing the reference ranges wont help you if you don’t understand why something is abnormal and what it means for the patient.

Anonymous asked: So noses don't tell anything but what about how soft the fur is? I've always heard that for cats, if their hair is soft and smooth, they're pretty healthy. Is there anything to that?

Not really. If the fur is soft and smooth it tells you that the fur is soft and smooth. Certain disease processes will cause changes to the coat and skin, but these typically take weeks or months to manifest and are not helpful for determining whether a pet is sick today.

@mackthebulldog said: The obsessive foot licking My dog does like crazy. I bring it up almost ever time I'm at the vet(I've seen 3 for it). It's so bad his paws will get like hairy almost because he's breaking down the paw. One vet put him on this medicine to try to help thinking he was licking because it was a bit inflamed and red. When it went away he still did. It's so frustrating. When he comes in I wipe his paws and put socks on when he licks too much. They think he's OCD, any advice on how to curb this behavior

Generally pets are licking due to itch, pain or psychological reasons like stress. Obsessive compulsive behavior is rare but does occur. We can’t ask a dog how it’s feeling, so typically need to treat any possible skin pathology, allergy or nail bed infection (yeast being very common) before we commit to a trial of behavior modifying mediation (like anti-depressants or anxiolytics). Covering up or blocking the dog from licking doesn’t necessarily help because it doesn’t address the reason for the behavior, and if you block an obsessive dog from performing its behavior it will often become distressed. Distraction toys or puzzle feeders can help, but most of these dogs need medical intervention of some sort.

An additional Anonymous asked: Do you do much work with wildlife? In the US, it seems like most people who work with wildlife are wildlife rehabilitators (who might be vets but usually aren't--it's a separate licensing process) or zoo vets, not general practice vets. (Although wildlife rehabbers usually have a vet that they work with, for medication and injuries and such--in my state, it's required that you have a vet who will work with you/see your animals--the majority of rehabilitation does not happen with the vet.)            

General practices in Australia will typically triage wildlife, and some will treat them further. Wildlife carers often have preferred vets they will go to for anything other than first aid because those vets are more experienced or have better equipment for those species (or give good discounts). You’re not actually allowed to house a wild animal unless you are a licensed career or the animal is receiving direct veterinary treatment, and most vets are not also licensed carers. In my current jobs I will do some work with wildlife, including euthanizing those that are too mangled or sick, and sending the rest to a better facility. In my previous jobs I have done a lot more, particularly as one vet at my first job had a reputation for being the ‘raptor vet’ so we got to see a fair birds of prey. This is why I know they’re easier to handle with a sock over their head.

@gram-stained-paws said: Rookie vet asking a silly question: how much water should a dog and a cat drink per day and at what point should it be considered polydipsia? What guideline do you follow when you establish it? I've read so many different answers to this question and I would like to know your opinion.

There is possibly only one thing that counts as a silly question, and this was not it. Opinions will vary, and the answer will vary depending on the animal’s diet and how much water it’s ‘eating’. As a ballpark I call it polydipsia if a dog is drinking more than 100ml/kg/day or a cat drinking more than 50ml/kg/day, although if they’re getting close to this number I’m a bit suspicious and will recommend further testing. And unexpected increase in water intake may also count as polydipsia.

The eighth Anonymous (but certainly not the last) asked: As a vet, or as an animal person, or as someone who just seems really into weird and cool and strange biology (and dinosaurs) do you have any thoughts on Jack Horner and his chickenosaurus?

I think the chickenosaurus project is fascinating, but I’m not sure how far it will get off the ground. I doubt they’ll be able to completely reverse engineer a dinosaur-like animal out of a chicken embryo because some genetic information has likely been lost, but they will probably be able to get some dinosaur like traits. I’m waiting to see how long it will take before those chickens reach the pet market.

@what-will-they-do-next asked: Hi! I know the pyometra is a serious, life threatening condition for intact female dogs, and is caused by the infection of the uterus which causes it to fill up with pus and rupture causing septic shock. But what I don't really know is what usually causes the initial infection of the uterus in the first place. Could you explain that? Question Tax: came for the vet science, stayed for the personal stories of real life events.

Infection can enter the uterus and cause a pyometra in one of two ways. It can either reach the uterus via the blood stream (eg septicemia, bacteraemia secondary to rotten teeth) or from bacteria entering via the vagina. The second way is probably more common, increasingly so with the age of the dog, because a dog spends most of its time with its anus directly above its vulva when standing so gravity helps bring fecal contamination in where it shouldn’t be.

Anonymous asked: Do you have any experience with allerpet products? I'm curious to know if they actually work and wether or not they're actually healthy to use on a pet. Particularly a cat.

They talk a good talk, and probably don’t do any harm, but aren’t proven to be any more helpful than a regular pet shampoo. I do note they also recommend that after the allerpet product is applied, the cat should be dried and they suggest a hairdryer. You are welcome to tell me how washing the cat and drying it with a hair dryer works out.

@missnoodliness asked: Saw you treated pocket pets (rabbits and the like). 1st year vet student here wondering if you had any good texts you'd recommend, anatomical or otherwise.

I printed all my uni notes and had them bound. I also reference the BSAVA Manual of Rabbit Medicine and Surgery, and Ferret Husbandry, Medicine and Surgery by Lewington, 2nd edition. Keep in mind there are not nearly as many ‘exotic’ animals kept in Australia as there are in the USA. We don’t even have hamsters.

Definitely not the last Anonymous asked: Why do octopus' have ink sacs?

Because they do. Evolution doesn’t have a plan, it just runs with what works. A little bit of ink goes a long way in obscuring vision in the water so an octopus can escape or hide.

And the last Anonymous of the day asked: Hi Dr! What's your favourite animal? Mine are bears 😊

I have lots of favorite animals. I even have favorite parasites (demodex). I really can’t choose just one for you, but some of my favorites include fossa, whale shark, kookaburras, tawny frogmouths, foxes, ducks and just about every domestic species.

[mingmagazine-blog]

Sprain and Injury - Weekend Warrior Syndrome: Part 1

If you’re like the average American, you are not getting the recommended 2.5 hours of moderate activity each week. That’s 2.5 hours where you’ve got your heart rate up and your breathing is fast but not quite out of breath. For these people (including me here); when we get the urge to be more active by playing ball with the guys, working off some extra holiday weight, running after kids at the park, showing off for a significant other, or taking up a new hobby; injuries are more common. As the sprain is the most common of these injuries, let’s cover how it happens and what to do about it first.

Sprain Treatment

The mainstay treatment of any sprain-type injury is RICE.

Rest – You want to avoid using the injured part as much as possible. For an ankle, avoid putting weight on the leg and use crutches if at all possible.

Ice – Use a cold compress or ice pack for 20 minutes at a time as much as every hour if desired. You can make your own out of a frozen wet cloth or sponge in a plastic bag wrapped in a towel. Keep doing this as much as you can for the first 48 hours to keep any swelling to a minimum.

Compression – Use an elastic bandage or neoprene brace to support the joint and help limit swelling

Elevation – Finally, as much as possible, keep the limb above the level of your heart. Stack pillows or couch cushions up to make a support, even while sleeping.  This will help alleviate swelling.

*Disclaimer #1: RICE does not apply to back injuries.

Medication

NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) medication like ibuprofen or naproxen will also help limit swelling and pain with your injury.  You can also alternate NSAID’s with acetaminophen to increase pain relief. Just make sure you follow the directions on the bottle. This applies to all sprains and strains.

The Sprain

Ankle Sprain

This is likely to happen if your leg or body shifts while your foot is planted (common in sports like soccer and basketball), or if your foot rolls with weight on it (stepping in a hole on uneven ground). In these cases, your pain comes from ligaments (fibrous bands that support your ankle) getting stretched or torn. You may experience swelling, pain, and with more severe cases even bruising and an inability to put weight on the foot. With the most severe ankle sprains, it can be very difficult to tell it apart from a broken ankle without an x-ray…you’ll definitely want to go to the urgent care if there is immediate swelling, bruising, and/or an inability to walk.

Back Sprain/Strain

This is likely to happen if you’re reaching out or up while twisting (common in your weekend pickup basketball game), or lifting while twisting (playing with children and packing/moving). The pain comes from the ligaments or muscles in your back being stretched beyond what they should be. You may experience swelling, tension (knots), and pain with moving. This generally doesn’t need to be seen by urgent care unless the pain lasts for more than 7 to 14 days with treatment, or if you’re having numbness, tingling, or burning down one or both legs. If you have bowel, bladder, or sexual dysfunction that is new after the injury you definitely need to go to urgent care.

If you do get a back sprain, rest it by using your back less (don’t lift anything too heavy and don’t twist and lift). During the rest period, add gentle stretching so the muscles don’t get tight. My recommended search terms online are “stretches for back pain” or “yoga for back pain”. You still want to ice your back as often as you are able, too. If you find the ice is uncomfortable, after the first 48 hours, of course, you can change to heat. Icing during the first two days is very important to minimize the amount of swelling and prevent further injury. Compression is out, as limiting your movement with a brace or with bed-rest has actually been shown to slow healing. You also can’t exactly elevate your back above your heart without standing on your head all day.

Make sure you go over to Part 2 to read about Overuse Injuries.

Final Disclaimers

MING and the author, Daniel Hardy, are offering generalized medical information for educational purposes. For health information about specific personal conditions, please see a local professional familiar with your needs. Do not start or stop a medication without doctor’s advice, and only start an exercise regimen if healthy enough.

*Daniel Hardy, BSN, RN-BC is a Certified Pain Management Registered Nurse.  He’s licensed to practice in numerous states and has been in practice for more than 10 years.  His specialties are chronic illness and minority health.

[mingmagazine-blog]

Sprain and Injury - Weekend Warrior Syndrome: Part 1

If you’re like the average American, you are not getting the recommended 2.5 hours of moderate activity each week. That’s 2.5 hours where you’ve got your heart rate up and your breathing is fast but not quite out of breath. For these people (including me here); when we get the urge to be more active by playing ball with the guys, working off some extra holiday weight, running after kids at the park, showing off for a significant other, or taking up a new hobby; injuries are more common. As the sprain is the most common of these injuries, let’s cover how it happens and what to do about it first.

Sprain Treatment

The mainstay treatment of any sprain-type injury is RICE.

Rest – You want to avoid using the injured part as much as possible. For an ankle, avoid putting weight on the leg and use crutches if at all possible.

Ice – Use a cold compress or ice pack for 20 minutes at a time as much as every hour if desired. You can make your own out of a frozen wet cloth or sponge in a plastic bag wrapped in a towel. Keep doing this as much as you can for the first 48 hours to keep any swelling to a minimum.

Compression – Use an elastic bandage or neoprene brace to support the joint and help limit swelling

Elevation – Finally, as much as possible, keep the limb above the level of your heart. Stack pillows or couch cushions up to make a support, even while sleeping.  This will help alleviate swelling.

*Disclaimer #1: RICE does not apply to back injuries.

Medication

NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) medication like ibuprofen or naproxen will also help limit swelling and pain with your injury.  You can also alternate NSAID’s with acetaminophen to increase pain relief. Just make sure you follow the directions on the bottle. This applies to all sprains and strains.

The Sprain

Ankle Sprain

This is likely to happen if your leg or body shifts while your foot is planted (common in sports like soccer and basketball), or if your foot rolls with weight on it (stepping in a hole on uneven ground). In these cases, your pain comes from ligaments (fibrous bands that support your ankle) getting stretched or torn. You may experience swelling, pain, and with more severe cases even bruising and an inability to put weight on the foot. With the most severe ankle sprains, it can be very difficult to tell it apart from a broken ankle without an x-ray…you’ll definitely want to go to the urgent care if there is immediate swelling, bruising, and/or an inability to walk.

Back Sprain/Strain

This is likely to happen if you’re reaching out or up while twisting (common in your weekend pickup basketball game), or lifting while twisting (playing with children and packing/moving). The pain comes from the ligaments or muscles in your back being stretched beyond what they should be. You may experience swelling, tension (knots), and pain with moving. This generally doesn’t need to be seen by urgent care unless the pain lasts for more than 7 to 14 days with treatment, or if you’re having numbness, tingling, or burning down one or both legs. If you have bowel, bladder, or sexual dysfunction that is new after the injury you definitely need to go to urgent care.

If you do get a back sprain, rest it by using your back less (don’t lift anything too heavy and don’t twist and lift). During the rest period, add gentle stretching so the muscles don’t get tight. My recommended search terms online are “stretches for back pain” or “yoga for back pain”. You still want to ice your back as often as you are able, too. If you find the ice is uncomfortable, after the first 48 hours, of course, you can change to heat. Icing during the first two days is very important to minimize the amount of swelling and prevent further injury. Compression is out, as limiting your movement with a brace or with bed-rest has actually been shown to slow healing. You also can’t exactly elevate your back above your heart without standing on your head all day.

Make sure you go over to Part 2 to read about Overuse Injuries.

Final Disclaimers

MING and the author, Daniel Hardy, are offering generalized medical information for educational purposes. For health information about specific personal conditions, please see a local professional familiar with your needs. Do not start or stop a medication without doctor’s advice, and only start an exercise regimen if healthy enough.

*Daniel Hardy, BSN, RN-BC is a Certified Pain Management Registered Nurse.  He’s licensed to practice in numerous states and has been in practice for more than 10 years.  His specialties are chronic illness and minority health.