Tales of An Army Veterinarian

There are no straight paths to success 

[hoovesandheartbeats]

Why I left Private Practice to Join the Army

I know it seems like an odd concept leaving a high paying private practice job in order to join the Army. So why in the world would someone make that decision?

Well for myself, joining the military was a small concept that actually began in high school. I toyed with the idea of joining the Navy to be a pilot. Well, my hight and eyesight got the best of me at that time and I was given a no-go for the Navy flight school. So I continued on with my path to veterinary school. I considered Army ROTC in college, however, the prospect of not getting into vet school on my first try and having the Army reassign me to a job I did not want kept me from going this path. Onward I trekked.

Once again in veterinary school, I considered entering the Army’s HPSP (Health Professional Scholarship Program), but I recently received a scholarship waiver dedicated to my father’s time in service so I didn’t think I needed the tuition assistance. So once again I walked past the Army and continued on my way.

After graduating, I continued my education with an intense equine internship and then entered small animal practice. I greatly enjoyed both equine medicine and small animal practice, but I wasn't satisfied. The idea of being tied to one practice for a large portion of my career really frustrated me. I wanted to explore, I wanted to travel, I needed variety in my life, and I needed a bigger purpose.

Student loan debt also played a huge role in my decision, I would be lying if I said it didn't. Even though I received a tuition waiver, I still incurred debt due to living expenses, books, etc. Upon graduating veterinary school I had 80k in student loans. Compared to my classmates that was pretty good. However, after my internship, I saw that amount balloon to 100k+.

I did not see a way forward in private practice that could meet all my needs, becoming financially independent as well as providing me job satisfaction. I became restless and unhappy.

One afternoon I finally had enough. I cracked open my laptop, found the closest AMEDD recruiter and gave them a call. That started the whole process of direct commissioning into the Army as a Veterinarian.

[hoovesandheartbeats]

Hello Tumblr Family,

It is I H&H back from a very long hiatus. If you have been following I last left you right after I completed the NAVLE and started my job hunt. It has been quite the roller coaster since graduating veterinary school. 

Following veterinary school, I moved to the east coast and completed a rotating internship in equine medicine and surgery. Due to poor job prospects and limited income, I switched over to the dark side. That is right, I began small animal private practice. 

I enjoyed the pace of small animal medicine and the cases I was seeing, but once again I wanted more out of my job and my life. After 3 years of practice, I then sought out an Army recruiter and commissioned shortly after as an officer in the Army Veterinary Corps.  

I have since been getting settled into the Army way of things and so far have greatly enjoyed my experience! While I was going through the process I noticed the lack of information on joining the Army, especially joining as a direct commission (joining after being in practice instead of directly out of school)

I hope to continue to provide information on the veterinary field, veterinary admission processes, but I also hope to help anyone out there that might have even the slightest interest in the Army Veterinary Corps. 

One thing I have learned so far in my short veterinary career is there is no one way on how to do anything. 

Best Wishes and Happy New Year!

You will be hearing from me again soon! 

[hoovesandheartbeats]

The Amazing World of Fleas

[mindblowingscience]

The tardigrade genome has been sequenced, and it has the most foreign DNA of any animal

Scientists have sequenced the entire genome of the tardigrade, AKA the water bear, for the first time. And it turns out that this weird little creature has the most foreign genes of any animal studied so far – or to put it another way, roughly one-sixth of the tardigrade’s genome was stolen from other species. We have to admit, we’re kinda not surprised.

A little background here for those who aren’t familiar with the strangeness that is the tardigrade – the microscopic water creature grows to just over 1 mm on average, and is the only animal that can survive in the harsh environment of space. It can also withstand temperatures from just above absolute zero to well above the boiling point of water, can cope with ridiculous amounts of pressure and radiation, and can live for more than 10 years without food or water. Basically, it’s nearly impossible to kill, and now scientists have shown that its DNA is just as bizarre as it is.

So what’s foreign DNA and why does it matter that tardigrades have so much of it? The term refers to genes that have come from another organism via a process known as horizontal gene transfer, as opposed to being passed down through traditional reproduction.

Horizontal gene transfer occurs in humans and other animals occasionally, usually as a result of gene swapping with viruses, but to put it into perspective, most animals have less than 1 percent of their genome made up of foreign DNA. Before this, the rotifer – another microscopic water creature – was believed to have the most foreign genes of any animal, with 8 or 9 percent.

But the new research has shown that approximately 6,000 of the tardigrade’s genes come from foreign species, which equates to around 17.5 percent.

“We had no idea that an animal genome could be composed of so much foreign DNA,” said study co-author Bob Goldstein, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “We knew many animals acquire foreign genes, but we had no idea that it happens to this degree.”

Continue Reading.

[appliedtechnotopia-consulting]

One of the toughest critters in existence - the tardigrade

[medicallybrunette]

Being sick when you’re in med school:

My parents: You should go to the doctor and get medication

Me: It’s viral

Them: But maybe they can give you something

Me: They will give me a paper saying “drink lots of fluids, pain reliever for muscle aches, blah blah blah”

Them: 

Me: You’re not gonna let this go, are you?

1 hour later at the clinic…

Them: What did the doctor say?

Me: She said it’s viral. 

Them: What did she give you?

Me: Nothing. It’s viral. 

Me (in my head because I know better): 

Them: But my friend had a virus this week and they gave her antibiotics..

Me: 

Them: Maybe you should ask for a second opinion.

Me (because my sass filter could not be contained anymore): My $200,000 dollar loan says we don’t need one. 

Them: 

Me: Yes. I love you. Let’s go home. *smiley face*

In my head: 

[cranquis]

Arrgh THIS.^^^^^^^^^ And it doesn’t end after med school either:

My folks were visiting for the holidays, and they figured it’s ok to bring along a distant relative who is sick with cough, sore throat, loss of voice, and fevers. 

My immediate reaction: Ok, we’re gonna have her wear a mask, because she’s still contagious, and I don’t want the Cranquis Boys or their visiting cousins to get sick with croup or something.

My mom: oh that would be so rude to make her wear a mask.

*2 days later, ALL of the young cousins are sick with croup.*

Me: SEE?!

My mom: that’s because you let them go outside without a jacket, and eat christmas cookies before bedtime.

Me: MOM SICK PEOPLE SPREAD INFECTION THAT’S HOW VIRUSES WORK.

My mom: oh sweetie i can’t believe you want to blame someone else over this, just because you’re a doctor. nobody else would think like that.

Me:

[skunkbear]

Despite the on-going violence in South Sudan, scientists were able to mount 23 camera traps in the country’s remote forests. Their survey covered an area of 3,100 square miles, and caught 37 different species on camera. These photos include the first known documentation of several species in the region: the golden cat, water chevrotain (a tiny deer-like creature), red river hog, giant pangolin and forest elephant were all previously undocumented in the area. 

Documenting the presence of forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis) in South Sudan is of particular importance. In a statement released by the researchers, DeeAnn Reeder, Professor of Biology at Bucknell Univestiy explains:

Forest elephants are Critically Endangered, and have declined dramatically over the last two decades. Finding them in South Sudan expands their known range — something that urgently needs further study because forest elephants, like their savannah cousins, are facing intense poaching pressure.

Photo Credits: FFI and Bucknell University

[hoovesandheartbeats]

[hoovesandheartbeats]

[dr-dre-anatomy]

WHEN I HAVE A PATIENT WITH TOO MANY MEDICAL PROBLEMS

[hoovesandheartbeats]

Finished my NAVLE...

Now to navigate the hoops of getting licensed. 

Anyone know if you can begin an application for a licence before you receive your NAVLE scores? 

[americasgreatoutdoors]

It’s Bat Week – a week dedicated to celebrating the importance of bats! Far from scary, these little creatures are super helpful! Bats act as pollinators and are also natural pest control. How can you help bats? Build a bat box for your yard to provide bats with a safe home. Check out more cool facts at http://on.doi.gov/1iifb4k

[exchangealumni]

For Bat Week, check out this Fulbright blog, “Going Batty in Oz: Conservation of the Critically Endangered Southern Bent-wing Bat in South Australia” 

[hoovesandheartbeats]

Supreme Court lets stand ruling that says veterinarians don't have free speech over advice

WASHINGTON – Veterinarians do not have a free speech right to give online advice to pet owners about how to care for a sick animal, said a decision that the Supreme Court let stand on Monday.

“ Veterinarians do not have a free speech right to give online advice to pet owners about how to care for a sick animal, said a decision that the Supreme Court let stand on Monday.”

I support this decision, it is impossible to make any recommendations without physically looking at the animal as a professional. 

[getyourveton]

when i can finally trick a patient into taking his medicine

[lemme-holla-at-you]

[ordinarytalk]

The Death of National Geographic (and some payback)

National Geographic Magazine has been bought out by 21st Century Fox, a division of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation (and the infamous Fox News). About 9% of National Geographic’s award-winning staff was immediately laid off on the day of the takeover, the largest amount of layoffs in their history. 

The sale marks a shift of the previous non-profit organization to a for-profit one, and most likely means that the long-term investigative reporting stories National Geographic is famous for will no longer be funded, in favor of shorter, shallower, more clickbaity stories. 

Rupert Murdoch is a known climate change denier, and has a long history of disrespecting, misunderstanding, or flat-out ignoring science. The people working for National Geographic knew that the sale would likely mean the end of truly science-based writing.

So what did they write for their last non-Fox-affiliated issue?

An entire issue where every single article is about the indisputable scientific truth of global warming, and what it’s doing to our planet.

National Geographic as we know it may be dead, but at least it died doing what it did best - upholding science and spreading knowledge.

[hoovesandheartbeats]

I seriously cried when I heard the magazine was sold to Fox. 

[hoovesandheartbeats]

Hi! 3rd year vet student here! Can you please tell me some webs with vet info or even books and stuff for vet students? The world can't understand that we don't have enough money to buy all vet books *cries* THANK YOU SO MUCH <3

Hey there!

Sorry for just now getting to this, here are some blog post I made on this subject in the past: Websites, Apps

I would also suggest finding an upper classman that may have an extensive PDF library that they are willing to share. 

Good luck learning all the things!

[hoovesandheartbeats]

Equine Respiratory - NAVLE Review #5

Most Common Respiratory Diseases of Horses: 

Common Upper Respiratory Tract Diseases:

Viral Diseases:

Equine influenza (2-3 years olds); high fevers, rapid spread

Equine Herpes Virus -1 (weanling/yearlings): causes respiratory, CNS, and abortions in last trimester

Equine Herpes Virus- 4 (weanling/yearling): primary respiratory infection

Bacterial:

Streptococcus equi. Sub. equi. “Strangles” (young horses): Can form Chondroids and horses can become persistent carriers

Common Lower Respiratory Tract Diseases

Rhodococcus equi “Foal pneumonia”:  intracellular bacteria, common treatment Erthromycin + rifampicin

Pleuritis “shipping fever”: mixed viral and bacterial component

Non-Infectious:

Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage: common in high intense sports, racing, eventing

Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO) “Heaves”: common in older, stabled horses, neutrophilic inflammation

Inflammatory Airway Disease (IAD): common in young, athletic horses, neutrophilic, eosinophilic, or mast cell inflammation