Y2S2 Week 17: Anesthesia, Doggy Days and Mother's Day!

Izzy Pulido
May 12
5 min read

This week started off with a quick whirl around the block with Churro followed by the third exam of the block. After that I had the opportunity to do some strength training at the gym before heading back to campus for some lectures on anesthetic induction and maintenance drugs. That afternoon I got to take Churro on a long walk and study a little before heading to the undergraduate campus for the KLOHC course. This week we had the privilege of having Dr. Kate Hurley give a lecture on the impact that outdoor domestic cats have on the bird population. This lecture provided some interesting viewpoints along with an overview of past attempts to limit the cat population. As a side note, Dr. Hurley is the most recent recipient of the 2025 AVMA Animal Welfare Award and it was a privilege to have her lecture to the students!

Tuesday morning started off with a quick run with Churro followed by a hot yoga session. We then had a lecture on the anesthetic machine and breathing circuits. It was interesting to review how all these components work together and get a better understanding of how to make an informed decision on what equipment is needed during a procedure. The morning wrapped up with a lecture on airway management. That afternoon we had some time blocked off to review the lecture material and dive deeper into the information. Our instructors had provided multiple modules filled with resources related to these topics to help cement the lecture material which was helpful. The rest of the afternoon involved hanging out with Churro and getting in a quick swim.

Wednesday morning started off with a nice run with Churro followed by some lectures on anesthetic monitoring. We reviewed how to assess anesthetic depth and then learned about some of the more common complications associated with anesthesia. These lectures brought in a ton of clinically relevant concepts, and it was great to dive into these topics. I have run anesthesia for countless surgeries and had received most of the training on the fly, so it was fun to dive into some of the more complex principles and learn the “why” behind how things are done. Wednesday afternoon involved another strength session at the gym followed by a quick visit with Madeline and a chiropractor appointment. Churro and I spent the rest of the afternoon studying and prepping for the upcoming labs.

Thursday morning started off with a quick run with Churro followed by a nice hot yoga session and a swim. We then had a lecture on anesthetic recovery. Monitoring a patient in the post-anesthetic period is crucial and is a common time for complications to occur. We then had an information session regarding our upcoming anesthesia labs.

That afternoon we had our final Bible study session of the year followed by an IV catheter lab where we had the opportunity to practice placing catheters in models. We then transitioned into an anesthetic machine lab where we went through all of the components of the machine and practiced visualizing the flow of oxygen and inhalant through different circuit setups. This was a nice way to cement the information from the previous lectures and prepare for the upcoming lab and exam as well as our junior surgeries in the fall. The rest of the afternoon included some quality time walking Churro followed by some studying.

Friday morning started off with a nice run with Churro followed by a hot Pilates class. We then had an anesthesia case discussion where we were given different cases and had to come up with different anesthetic plans that would be suitable for the patient. We then regrouped as a class and went over some example plans and analyzed them to see what could have been done better. After that discussion I jumped into the car and made my way down to San Luis Obispo for the weekend. I got to SLO early evening and spent some time at the beach letting Churro run his brain out with some new friends. The trip down to SLO was a last-minute decision, my parents were planning to go to Santa Barbara for the weekend to see my sister and celebrate Mother’s Day, so I decided to surprise them. I spent the weekend at Jenn’s place and then drove to Santa Barbara on Sunday morning for the surprise and some family time.

On Saturday Churro and I went on a 13.2 mile run on some of our favorite trails and then I had the opportunity to meet up with the Cal Poly Doggy Days team for one of their pop-up clinics. I was heavily involved in this program during my time at Cal Poly, so it was a blast to participate in another clinic and see all of the hard work that the students have been putting in to make the program a success! I also got to see some of my amazing mentors and friends and briefly catch up on life! The rest of the afternoon included another beach visit with Churro and a quick ocean dip. I then headed back to the house to get some studying in for the upcoming anesthesia exam.

Sunday morning started off with a walk with Churro, Jenn, and her pups. It was great to have some time to reconnect and let the dogs go crazy. I am so fortunate to have such an amazing support system in SLO and am grateful that I always have a place to stay whenever I am in town. Jenn and her family have become my second family and Churro and I are blessed to have them in our lives.

After the quick morning walk, Churro and I booked it down to Santa Barbara to surprise my mom for Mother’s Day. We had breakfast by the beach and then went on a little walk along the pier. My mom is my rock and is one of my biggest cheerleaders, so it was a blast to celebrate her on Mother’s Day in person. It was also awesome to see my dad and sister and spend some quality family time together. Everyone’s schedules are crazy busy so any time that we get to spend as a group is super special and I am so glad that I was able to make the trip down to see everyone. One thing I’ve learned, especially while being in vet school, is that things don’t ever stop or get less busy. There will always be another exam to study for, another meeting to attend, and another event to plan. Taking the time to prioritize family is something that I will never regret and memories I will always cherish.