#veterinary psa

[ainawgsd]

Just a reminder with spring on the horizon and gifts of flowers being more common, LILIES ARE TOXIC TO CATS!

And by TOXIC I mean even just a few pollen grains or the water from a vase holding cut lilies or even just biting into a stem or leaf can cause fatal kidney failure.

If you have cats, please keep true lilies (any plant from the genus Lilium) out of your home or garden

[ratsarecute4]

I've been seeing way too many "heartwarming" videos of people rescuing injured wild animals and taking care of them, but I need people to understand that you should NOT do that. I don't mean just leave the animal there, but you shouldn't bring it in to your home thinking you can rehabilitate it by yourself or keep it as a pet.

Instead, you should take the animal to the nearest wildlife rehabilitation center. Those centers have vets and staff who are experienced in treating wildlife and who have the correct materials to heal the animal and let them back into the wild. The average person just does not have the materials or knowledge to keep the animal alive or heal it. I get that you will want to do the right thing, and you may think you are prepared, and it feels good to personally help an animal, but in truth the right thing to do is give them to a proffessional who has a better chance of keeping that animal alive than you do.

There is also the fact that animals can carry diseases which can pass to humans and other animals. Bringing a wild animal into your home (and especially one which is injured and could be ill) is a risk to you, your family, and any existing pets. If you are going to take an animal to a rehabilitation center, you might want to call them first and ask how to protect yourself while retrieving the animal (or they might send someone to your location to do it for you). If you cannot contact them right away, make sure you are completely covered, including gloves. Also be sure you know how to correctly handle the animal in question (bunnies, if handled incorrectly, can break their bones while trying to kick you away). There is still a chance you will get bitten or scratched, which puts you at risk for serious diseases like rabies and rat bite fever.

NEVER rescue an animal from a predator. This puts you at risk of injury and also deprives the predator of much-needed food. It can be really sad to see an animal eat another, but that is how nature works and they all need to eat somehow. Taking a squirrel away from a hawk, for example, means the hawk now does not have food to feed itself or potential offspring, and it can starve. Let nature take its course.

It is different for stray cats and dogs, in which case you should call animal control, which will bring the stray to a shelter where they can be healed, neutered/spayed (to prevent more strays) and then either released back where it came from or put into adoptions. Some shelters will contact you if the stray is put into adoptions so you can get a choice hold.

[yonderlyporcupine]

Ok, I swear to god! I don’t actually post a lot about my field because it makes me anxious but every so often media just urgh! alright so rabies

first of all - you can’t order a test for rabies like a blood test. It doesn’t work like that. Rabies lives in the brain - specifically in the nervous system. The only way to test for it is by cutting off the head so the brain remains untouched and intact and not possibly infecting anyone else, and send that off to the local health department for testing. why is it a problem in media to get this wrong sometimes?

BECAUSE A WHOLE ASS MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL ONCE SENT A WOMAN TO MY ER WITH HER 12 week old PUPPY FOR A “RABIES TEST” after it bit her husband

and I had to ask her “so…did you want to wait for your husband to get here to say goodbye or?”

Media begets real life in ways the some people don’t realize. Should that doctor (yes an actual fucking MD!!!!) have done his research? Yes. Am I surprised he did not and just went with the information he had from pop culture? No. Rabies isn’t a real concern in human medicine in the US, the most informed people are going to be us in animal health and wellness fields.

second of all - that fucking thing everyone is calling Chronic Wasting Disease on TikTok. Yeah THATS RABIES!

CWD is a real disease, but it doesn’t present with the BS symptoms tiktokers are describing. It’s called wasting disease because the ruminate effected by it WASTES AWAY. They just turn into walking skeletons. That’s why sometimes you’ll hear it called the zombie deer disease or the living dead disease. It’s because they look like they couldn’t possibly be alive anymore with how emaciated they are. Not because they act like zombies. I mean they do act abnormally after awhile but severe malnutrition does eventually present with neurological symptoms.

if you see a deer walking in circles in the woods

It 👏 Is 👏 Rabid 👏

I actually had to argue with a full grown man today about the fact that not only can herbivores contract rabies, they tend to be a major carrier of the disease. Like guys, ANY MAMMAL can get rabies!

Fuck! Sorry …

anyway how’s y’all’s days been going?

[gelastocoridae]

Okay time for another PSA to not let your pet cats free roam outdoors ever. (If you think you don't have the space indoors for a cat to be happy or the willingness to give your cat what it needs indoors then don't have a cat. That means you can't take care of it so don't get it. Also, you clearly don't care about a cat's "natural needs" if you don't also keep it fully up to date on health check ups/vaccinations, give it enrichment and feed it only pure raw meat at home. They're obligate carnivores. Kibble is why they develop and die of kidney issues.)

They indisputably cause incredible damage to ecosystems and due to the way they became domesticated to eradicate pests, they are built to kill and maim indiscriminately and with extreme prejudice. Your pet cat does not hunt to eat when it has a safe bed and food at home. It hunts to slaughter. Because it's instincts say so, even if you think it's a chill lazy cat (what are the feather and mouse toys for but to satisfy those instincts?).

Whether or not a direct attack kills a small animal, it will most certainly still die of complications (like ruptured air sacs in birds -an incredibly painful way to go-, blood loss, disability, necrosis, cellulitis, and septicemia), countless serious infections from the cat's claws and mouth, inhalation of blood/stomach contents, or other infection from exposure to the environment. That is if it totters along on its will to survive, suffering, and manages to escape the next predator that comes along.

And if you couldn't care less about the local ecosystem and countless species that have gone extinct by cats under our very noses, you should worry about your cats' safety and the possibility of infection and parasites that they bring home to you and transmit to other pets, people, and homes they visit.

Cats will be run over or killed/injured by people, either by accident or intentionally (many people see any kind of small animal as target practice for their car or dart gun or whatever else and don't care if it's a cat. Maybe they even do it to protect their livestock, e.g. chickens, rabbits). Cats will get into fights with other animals. Cats will get eaten by coyotes. Cats will hide or shrug off injuries. Cats will meet other cats from different circumstances. Cats will carry rabies or be bitten by a vector animal and the only way to test for rabies is to take a slice of the brain (i.e., kill the animal in question). Cats will walk back into your yard and home with everything they picked up along the way, if not on their body then in their mouths after grooming and in their litterbox. Putting your cat, yourself, and others in that sort of danger is more neglectful than keeping them indoors. Letting them bring everything back to your home is negligent. Letting them infect and harm other animals is negligent ("dangerous" dogs who stay in their own yards get euthanized for less). It does not matter what part of the world you live in. Letting your pet cat outdoors is neglect and malicious behavior.

And in case you think you're not at risk from disease from your own cat or you want relevant, recent news to back this up, here's an article X , posted 07 August 2023, about a UK man contracting a completely unknown bacterium from a stray cat, initially resistant to certain antibiotics, that started to kill the infected flesh, and here's the scientific study about identifying the bacteria X

Who knows what your own cat gets up to outside or what other animals they meet?

[hallow-there]

Hi im terribly sorry! I just really need your help. I’m trying to raise some funds for little Olaf’s needs (my cat) as I brought him to the vet yesterday morning because of a really bad diarrhea and im trying to raise some funds as I cannot afford the estimate the vet gave us. 🥲Please help me share the post I made for him, I have pinned it on my blog. I’m hoping that you’ll consider, and sorry again for bothering you and for being this direct! Take care!

Wait, aren’t you apart of the wave of pet, specifically cat, veterinary bill scams????

And with further inspection, your account looks very suspicious.

Your first reblog was made 2 days ago and immediately after that reblog, you put up your first ad and then proceed to spam reblogs to give off the appearance you didn’t just make your account 2 days ago. Also, that breed of cat looks expensive but I don't feel like bothering my dad over a Tumblr post.

Look, I get it, times are hard and you're only asking for $300 but I don't think guilt-tripping people out of their money is the solution.

If you need help spotting rent, and or utilities, your state may have an emergency rental assistance hotline you can access here.

If you need groceries you look can look for a local food bank you can search on this databse here and USDA nutrition services here. (Some food banks may be able to spot you toothpaste and diapers but everywhere is different)

If you need clothes I suggest garage sales, clearance isles (specifically at Walmart), sometimes dumpster diving can yield surprising results. And to wash those clothes, laundry mats usually require a few bucks or less.

If you can't afford a car, let alone, gas, if it is possible for you, I'd use bikes and become very familiar with public transportation. They're a lot more cost effective.

I personally have a serving center near me that may be able to supply all of these if not more and I highly suggest you look into your area as well. Those places usually have more information than I can provide to you on how you can survive in this system.

I don’t think you’re a bad person, I think a lot of people end up being angry at desperate actions from people who are just trying to survive. What I am is worried for you. Please stay safe and know this isn't the only option. Quick cash is convenient, but ultimately, temporary.

[clanoffelidae]

talk about a fucking week huh

just wanna throw out there for the masses that idiopathic feline vestibular disease (link below) is a thing, because i sure as hell didn't know about that until a few days ago, which is basically:

cat's sense of balance suddenly becomes so severely fucked up that they may need help eating and drinking due to falling over when attempting to make it to their water or food bowls as they are unable to move without stumbling around and falling like a blackout drunk

it starts to clear up after a few days and usually has no lingering effects

no causative agent can be found

the medical/scientific communities have absolutely NO fucking clue what causes this or why ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

which is absolutely as terrifying as it sounds and you have all my complete and utter empathy if your cat, especially a fairly old one like idk a 15 and a half year old cat with kidney issues you got to pick out as a kitten all those years ago, suddenly develops this condition and you get to experience the roller coaster of 'suddenly and without warning my cat is dying' and undergo 23 different stages of grief in the matter of 48 hours

i have told him in no uncertain terms that he better not ever fucking scare us like this again unless he is Actually dying

so yeah, be aware that that is a thing that happens sometimes apparently, glance over this article if you like, and make sure to have little paper cups on hand to bring water over to your cat so they can drink. and give them lots of comfort because they are also going to be extremely stressed out due to (presumably) feeling like they're on an extremely fast, never-ending merry-go-round. keep an eye on them and where they're trying to go, too, because while there don't seem to be lingering effects they can very well end up falling off things and hurting themselves because they're so unstable even if the condition itself doesn't hurt them

holy shit what a week

[miscellaneous-manx]

[soberscientistlife]

Free veterinary services offered for large animals today and tomorrow (along with small):

Tractor Supply Elizabethton, TN

For those affected by flooding

11am - 4pm (Clinic closes daily 1pm - 1:30) UTCVM-University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine THANK YOU!!

PSA: spread the word

[just-horrible-things]

'Verse: BBU

PSA: Stop taking your human pets to the vet!

Human pets are biologically human. It's right there in the name. When they are sick they need to be seen by a human doctor. 

Don't bring them to your local vet! I am more qualified to treat an emu than a human pet, and I'm not a specialist in birds or exotic animals. 

We learn about the common ailments of all kinds of animals in veterinary school because you never know when someone's going to bring you a critically ill sugar glider or a deer they hit with their car and as a generalist I'm expected to at least be able to provide the very basics before a specialist can get to the scene. But do you know what one animal we don't study? 

Humans! 

Because there's another profession for that and they're called doctors!

Okay, yes, there are optional modules on human anatomy in a lot of courses, and yes humans are mammals and there is some overlap. Don't be a pedant about this.

I am not trained or qualified to treat humans, regardless of their legal status. Don't bring me your human pets. I can't help them, and I don't want to see them. It's a waste of everyone's time, including yours. But especially mine. 

On the same topic, please stop referring to doctors who will treat human pets, and “pet medical specialists”, as vets.

It's insulting to vets, it's insulting to the doctors, and it encourages this misconception that it's okay to bring a human pet to an actual vet.

Obviously I personally think that veterinary medicine is just as challenging and intellectual a discipline as human medicine, but I think you'd be hard pressed to find a doctor who's okay with being called a vet just because they treat human pets. Especially if that's only a part of their business, as it is for many “pet-friendly” practices.

I know people say this as a joke, or because they think it's cute or funny, but it's just a way to distance yourself from the reality that you are keeping a biologically human person as a pet.

If you can't handle that reality, you really shouldn't be owning one in the first place.

While we're at it:

“Pet medical specialists” – also called “Pet health specialists”, “Pet health advisors”, and “Pet vets” – are not real medical professionals. They do not have medical degrees, or veterinary degrees, or nursing qualifications. Calling them vets is an insult to my entire profession. 

And don't take your human pet to a “Pet health specialist”.

They do not know enough medicine to safely make diagnoses or prescribe treatment. It is not safe to take your human pet to these clinics. 

They exist in a legal gray area where they claim to only be giving “health and lifestyle advice”, which is only remotely permitted because human pets lack any effective right to adequate medical care.

If they tried this in the regular medical sector they would very rapidly be prosecuted for practicing medicine without a license. 

So don't entrust the health of your human pet to these people. They're effectively scam artists, passing themselves off as medical professionals to human pet owners who don't understand the difference.

Especially do not rely on these services if you think there is any risk your human pet may have a serious injury or illness. They need to see a real doctor. If you can afford to keep a human pet, you can afford insurance for them that covers actual medical care.

If the problem is minor – like a superficial cut or a head cold – and you absolutely must take your human pet to one of these “Pet clinics”, at least insist on seeing a real nurse. They should at least know enough not to make the problem worse, and enough to know whether an actual doctor needs to get involved.

This has been a PSA from a vet who is sick and tired of being asked to provide illegal or borderline-illegal medical care to the wrong species. Please stop doing this to me. Thanks.

[trainer-alyx]

PSA since All Hallowed Eve is this month!

To all trainers and owners, if you want to paint your mon or dye it's fur make sure you're purchasing mon or type specific specialised paints, chalks, and dyes!

If you're not sure which check with your local Pokémon Ranchers association or Rescue Union, or your veterinary clinic.

If you're dressing them in a costume make sure it's safe and sized correctly.

And lastly, while it can be fun to give your child a spooky, creepy crawly, or cute corrsoive friend, be aware that mons aren't just for the season, they're for life, in the case of ghost types beyond that even.

If you're unsure if your little one wants or which they would maybe like to get to know, plenty of gyms, Fanclub associations, Unions and Ranches put on a Meet The Mons night or week around the holiday season just for such occasions. This is an opportunity to learn about the complex and diverse world of different Pokémon and their needs as well as their traits!

Above all else have fun this season! And if you're going to be in and around Queens Meadow maybe I'll see you on one of those nights where I'm helping out with the more caustic critters!

[equalistmako]

acetaminophen sucks balls but it's not an NSAID. not that both won't fuck you up from improper dosage but NSAIDs are actually anti-inflammatories and target pain sights vs acetaminophen just accidentally turned out to be a pain killer and everyone's still like ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ on how its pain relief supposed to work

Oof, you’re right. I went on a rant and misspoke (just fixed it).

Also, I don’t want any of this to come across as shaming folks who need daily OTC pain control! I just want there to be options that are less hepatotoxic or nephrotoxic.

✨PSA: read the directions on any meds you take, don’t exceed the recommended dose, and don’t give your pets any meds without calling and talking to a veterinary professional first.✨

[nusta]

Gente che vive in queste zone, ma in generale gente che va e passeggia in giro per l'Italia, fate attenzione alle vostre scarpe e alle zampe dei vostri cani. Non siamo ancora in emergenza massima, ma siamo comunque messi maluccio, mi pare. E posso capire tutte le polemiche sugli allevamenti intensivi, ma intanto sarebbe bene mettere un freno sul breve periodo. Individualmente purtroppo si può fare ben poco, a parte evitare di diffondere disinformazione e panico, il vero contenimento lo devono fare gli allevamenti, ma tant'è, i consigli seguiamoli lo stesso, per quanto possibile. Abbiamo la fortuna che come malattia non ci riguarda e non riguarda nemmeno cani o gatti, ma la sua diffusione è comunque un problema importante, anche perché una moria evitabile di cinghiali e maiali credo non faccia piacere a nessuno.

I consigli per non diffondere la peste suina

In attesa di altri chiarimenti e indicazioni, ci sembra utile rilanciare l’appello della Regione Emilia-Romagna rivolto ai cittadini amanti delle passeggiate nei boschi per non contribuire alla diffusione della peste suina. La Regione ricorda che la peste suina non rappresenta un pericolo sanitario per le persone e che i prosciutti si possono mangiare, ma bisogna contrastare l’epidemia per i gravi danni che arreca al settore zootecnico. Ecco le regole.

Se cammini per i boschi o per la campagna, o vai per funghi e ti imbatti in una carcassa di cinghiale (quindi un cinghiale morto o resti di ossa), contatta i servizi Veterinari dell’Azienda unità sanitaria locale, al numero unico regionale 051.609.2124. Se puoi memorizza la tua posizione geografica sul cellulare e scatta una foto.

Quando rientri da una passeggiata in un’area che potrebbe essere contaminata dalla PSA, cambiati le scarpe e riponile in un sacchetto prima di pulirle.

Non abbandonare nell’ambiente avanzi o rifiuti alimentari specialmente se contenenti carni di suino o cinghiale o salumi che possono essere veicolo di infezione per gli altri animali.

Le malattie non rispettano le frontiere (se viaggi informati su quali tipi di carne puoi portare con te).

[scruffydogposting]

PSA! Especially in the PNW. My breeder friend just returned from the Golden Retriever national specialty in OR and knows several dogs who are sick, some very much so. Stay alert!

[skellymom]

Hi, Skelly! Really random question here but I think your honestly the best person to ask on this topic. This is non-Star Wars related btw. Feel free to ignore.

I have these neighbours who arent the best of people. They got a dog 2 years ago I believe, a Belgian Shepherd. Unsurprisingly, she barks a lot.

We don't think the owners are abusing her or not feeding her or anything, just not taking her for a lot of walks. It's their first dog (the mum, dad and two sons, to be exact, none have ever had a dog before) and obviously shouldn't have gotten a Belgian Shepherd when they have a smallish backyard.

I was wondering if there was something I - or my family - could do? None of us blame the dog, just the inexperienced-ness of the family.

You don't have to reply to this, as I know its out of pocket and not what you expect. Was just curious.

Have a great day/night!

~Jamie.

P.S. My puppy had a scare last year when she was only 2 and a half months or so and we had to go to ER for her. Geez, that place is stressful so my thanks to you and your workers everywhere!

Buckle up and get comfortable, I have A LOT to say on this issue:

(TRIGGER WARNING-I WORK VETERINARY ER AND THERE WILL BE MENTIONS OF DEATH AND OTHER DARK ASPECTS OF WHAT VET STAFF SEE IN THE FIELD. Consider yourself warned. I am ranting as a PSA and FYI for those not familiar but REALLY need to know what we do! If you feel brave PLEASE give it the time to read. Thanks!!!)

OHHH, I LOVE SHEPPIES!!! They are SO smarticle, sweet, energetic...and extremely spirited. However, they DEFINITELY need exercise. More importantly, they need mental stimulation. A several mile walk is great for the body, but not something everyone can do daily. Plus, these guys are brilliant (only second to the esteemed Border Collie) and their mind is like a hamster on a wheel. So, training, commands, tricks, agility courses and anything that requires not just exercise, but mental stimulation is top priority. These guys were bred to run and think on their feet. THEY NEED A JOB! They AT LEAST (and this is foundational) NEED TO BE WALKED DAILY!!! Every dog needs to be walked daily as this also helps with bone density, muscle strength, balance, cardiovascular function, etc. Same with humans. If you don't exercise, you can become depressed, overweight, brittle bones, diabetic, constipated, and a host of other health issues later in life that cost money to regulate and fix.

Most owners buy a dog as a companion, and these guys can be amazing ones. However they aren't your lazy Golden Retrievers or Greyhounds (while sporting class they do a burst of energy and lay around a lot normally). Unfortunately, dogs not given mental stimulation will show the following behaviors: excessive barking, destructive chewing, inappropriate urination/defecation, escaping out of the yard and getting in trouble/injured, misbehavior to commands, possible self injury, and unfortunately even aggression towards people and other animal housemates. A LOT of working/sporting dogs wind up in shelters and euthanized due to these behaviors when all they needed was regular exercise, training, and mental stimulation. A LOT of regular non sporting dogs do too.

In order to keep their dog, they need to include them as a true member of the family. Plan family activities with the dog. Can they run errands with a family member who might just want to do a ride along and the dog comes with to sit in the car when the person goes in. They can also research places that allow shoppers to bring their dogs into the facility: Home Depot, Lowes, Michaels, some downtown shops in their area might allow it. Shop for dog snacks/food and take the dog with them to pick it up as many pet stores allow dogs in their store. Heck we have restaurants and coffee shops that cater to outdoor dining patrons who bring their dogs...and the dogs get spoiled too.

If their dog is too rambunctious, then they DEFINITELY NEED TO SIGN UP AND GO TO DOG TRAINING CLASSES. ALL THE CLASSES, and more than just puppy training. Really, this should be foundational too. Every dog needs training. Again, get the whole family involved, because the dog (like children and adults) need consistency and everyone needs to know what to do when walking, interacting, and commanding "Sheppie" to behave like a Good Canine Citizen. There is a a right way to train and a horrible way to reinforce negative behaviors in a canine. EVERYONE needs to put in the work. Everyone needs to feed the dog, fill it's water bowl, pick up the poop, and walk the dog. Everyone needs to play and pet the poochie. That's why you get a dog!

The family needs to do some honest soul searching to figure out if this dog and breed REALLY fits with their family dynamic. If not, they the dog should go back to the rescue or shelter (many shelters have a return clause in their paperwork that says they MUST return the dog to them. It's for safety reasons) or find a RESPONSIBLE new owner to adopt "Sheppie". There are rescues, shelters, and fosters online. Again, they took on the responsibility and they need to do their due diligence to find a good home for this living breathing animal.

Let me also debunk a horrible myth that still circulates: REHOMING YOUR ANIMAL IS NOT WRONG IF YOU CANNOT TAKE CARE OF OR PROVIDE FOR IT! Screaming it for the people in the back!!! I have been working in the vet field for over 8 years (general practice, shelter med, emergency, high volume TNR) and have seen some horrendous shit when people keep an animal that they no longer wish to interact with. It can be mild contempt for the perceived burden to downright neglect and abuse. Also, I have seen family members and household pets in danger or actually mauled from dogs that people refused to put more money/couldn't afford/didn't have time for training that kept/refused to rehome to a place with no children/no pets/etc. And, understandably, many of these people LOVED that dog and kept trying to fix the situation. But sometimes you cannot, and the aggression, destruction, ingestion of foreign objects (we have frequent visitors to my ER that have foreign body surgeries due to anxiety chewing/swallowing-some end as euthanasia's). I have had owner's come in with animals that needed to be euthanized for aggression due to high drive, with their housemate mauled, and the owner mauled and bleeding (trying to pull them apart)-all of them showing up together. We have had bored dogs jump the fence to find something interesting to do and get hung up on it, needing emergency surgery. We have had them run out into the street and hit by cars. These things happen to all dogs that require someone to tend to their needs EVERY DAY!

I had to rehome a Dutch Shepherd that we took on as a foster (from a not good situation-putting it mildly) when she tried to maul my elderly German Shepherds (and that was with daily walks, daily at home training, professional training, and veterinary medical evaluations), we found a rescue that deals with security/military breeds to take her to. Sometimes the animal you choose to have in your home may NOT FIT WITH YOUR FAMILY. It happens.

So, you asked what you can do? First, thank you for caring and wanting to do something. Second, you can print out information on local dog training places, agility, and specific breed information (Belgian Shepherds include: Malinois, Turveren, Laekenois, and Groenendael, so tailor it to what their dog is), and anything else you can think of to offer to the owner. Try to approach it as helping and not frustration. HOWEVER, I will warn you now that sometimes people are not open to outside help and will not take this positively. Even people seeking out medical veterinary help can get defensive when we try to help them. Unfortunately, nice people who take on a high drive/high energy breed for their first dog are unaware of the huge responsibility they have. And, not demonizing here, but they buy the dog with the ideal they have for themselves and forget this animal has needs and is languishing without proper care...even a mental/physical outlet. And from what I have seen, this is an epidemic. For those reading this: if you feel you have to "come at me" go volunteer at a shelter/rescue or go have a heart to heart discussion with ANY veterinary professional. If someone was entrusted as your guardian with the responsibility of your mental healthcare and didn't see to your mental health needs and you had no outlet, how would you feel?

Actually...that is happening now in epidemic proportions. It sucks, right???

I wish you luck @fionajames . It's NEVER bad to reach out and attempt to help. At least you tried and I LOVE YOU FOR IT!

[cvt2dvm]

Introduction!

TLDR Summary: CVT2DVM is run by me, Elizabeth, a 23-year-old pre-vet student who shares my small on-call apartment with 2 dogs and 2 cats. I work full-time in veterinary medicine while also taking night classes. My Tag: #CVT2DVM

Hi Everyone! My name is Elizabeth, I'm a 2nd generation veterinary professional currently in phase 2 of 3 in my journey to a DVM pursuing my associate's of veterinary technology. I have 4 critters of my own, 2 cats (Olive 10, and Hannibal 6 months) and 2 dogs (Chewbacca 7, and Phobos 2). My Blog is best viewed on a desktop via cvt2dvm.tumblr.com

About Me:

Name: Elizabeth

Age: 23

Meyers-Briggs: ENTJ

Enneagram: 8

Astrology Big Three: Scorpio Sun, Cancer Moon, Libra Rising

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Religion: Episcopalian

Nationality: American

Ethnic Background: Polish & Irish

Languages: English, Polish, Gaeilge, Greek, Latin

Job: Live In, On-Call Veterinary Assistant

Interests:

Bite Sports (PSA, KNPV Trials, French Ring)

Epidemiology

Theriogenetics

Sports Medicine, Canine & Equine Fitness, and Rehabilitation

Hikes

Women's Fitness and Nutrition

Comparative Theology both within the Christian faith and with world religions

Volunteering as an escort for both my local Women's DV Shelter and Planned Parenthood

Feminist Theory

Being on a breakfast team at Church

Line Dancing

Ice Breaker:

Guilty Pleasure: Contemporary Cowboy Romance Novels

Drink of Choice: Coffee with cinnamon and honey during the day,

Cardio or Weights?: Weights, but I love going line dancing as a form of Cardio

Favorite Indulgence: A glass of merlot, a baguette, and warmed brie by a fire

Favorite Show to Binge: ER or American Horror Story

Ocean, Lake, or River?: River

Usually Craving: Soy-Free Teriyaki Flank Steak

Celeb I'd Love to Meet: Anna Wintour or Reese Witherspoon

Alternate Job: Singer-Songwriter or Cabinetmaker

Current Goals

Gain more muscle mass

Maintain a minimum 3.8 GPA

Achieve PSA 1 by Fall 2025 with Phobos, and continue pursuing PSA 2 and PSA 3

Be an advocate for my patients with both their medical team and their owners.

Graduate on Schedule as Class of 2027, and earn my CVT License while continuing to pursue my pre-requisites for Vet School while being realistic about my financial situation and responsibilities

Further deepen my relationship with Christ

Get back into the saddle in a lesson program

Expect

Case Studies

Revised Notes

Studyspreads

Accountability posts

Dog Training & Sports Content

Cats Adventuring

Lakeside views

[zombielenin]

Someone sent me lilies again! I know they mean well, but people really need to stop sending me flowers that can kill my cat. Luckily, I checked before taking the bouquet into my apartment, so my cat wasn’t exposed to them this time.

PSA: Don’t send lilies or bouquets that contain them to cat owners. They’re common in sympathy bouquets, but you should check any bouquet you send to cat owners for lilies. You may say it’s on the cat owner to check the bouquet, but plenty of cat owners don’t know that lilies are very toxic to cats. Consuming any part of a lily, its pollen, or even the water they were in can cause is an acute kidney injury that will kill a cat without medical treatment. Even in the best case scenario where the cat gets prompt treatment and survives without any issues, the cat has to be hospitalized for a couple of days, which is unpleasant for the cat, and the owners have a huge veterinarian bill. I paid $4,000 dollars upfront in an NYC pet hospital, and was reimbursed $3,000 by my insurance. I’m lucky that I’m in a position where I can afford this, but many people can’t, and I hate to think about what would happen in that scenario.

To the cat owners, know which flowers are toxic to cats. Lilies are just one of them. The ASPCA has a list of these plants. They also have an animal poison control center, which does charge a fee of about $95. You should absolutely call them if you think your cat may have consumed a lily or other poisonous plant. They will tell you what you need to do and work with the veterinary team at the hospital that you take your cat to devise a treatment plan. Their number is (888) 426-4435. I’ve put a few links to more information on lilies, the toxic plant list, and the animal poison control center below.