Y3S1 Week 1: The Start of a New Chapter!

Just like that the first week of third year is over, and things are getting a whole lot more “real”. The past two years of our curriculum was heavily systems-based meaning that we did a deep dive into each body system learning the pathophysiology in depth. This year, our class split into our species-specific streams and began to focus on some of the more clinically relevant aspects of diagnosing diseases and their treatment. We are still in a comparative class that allows us to continue to have exposure to different species and get a well-rounded perspective of veterinary medicine. In addition to those courses, we also started our surgery course which will include a canine castration and two canine ovariohysterectomies! It is going to be a busy, yet exciting, year where all of the foundational material from the first two years starts to build into clinical knowledge.

First day of school pic!

Monday started out with a surgery orientation followed by an introduction to our comparative course. The afternoon included two more lectures on surgery and anesthesia followed by some quality playtime with Churro and a hot yoga session. I had done a few hot yoga sessions over the summer but was not as consistent as when I am in Davis, so it was nice to be back in the studio!

Tuesday morning started out with a nice run with Churro followed by some playtime with his buddies. We then had our first species-specific stream lecture and since I am in the small animal group, we started learning about diseases of the musculoskeletal system. We started with a lecture on clinical orthopedic imaging followed by a lecture on juvenile bone disease and patella and tarsal conditions.

Back on our Davis running trails!

Two main conditions that can affect young dogs include panosteitis and hypertrophic osteodystrophy. While there have been a few proposed mechanisms behind why these diseases occur including a potential genetic risk, the true etiology is still fuzzy. Panosteitis typically presents as a shifting leg lameness but other than that, the dog does not appear "sick". On the other hand, hypertrophic osteodystrophy is characterized by inflammation of the metaphysis (area near the growth plate) of long bones. These dogs may also have a fever and other clinical signs making them appear "sick". Both of these diseases affect young dogs with a preference for large and giant breeds such as Great Danes, German Shepherds, Boxers, Labrador Retrievers, and Weimaraners.

That afternoon we had some time blocked off to review some surgery information and learn about medical/surgery reports. The rest of the evening included some time on the field with Churro and some lecture review.

Wednesday morning started off with a nice hot yoga session followed by two lectures on hip conditions in juvenile and adult patients. We ended the morning with a two-hour radiology discussion where we analyzed the radiographic features of common hip orthopedic diseases. The rest of the afternoon included playtime with Churro and some lecture review.

Thursday started off with a nice run with Churro followed by some fun time with his buddies on the field. We then had a lecture on cruciate ligament disease followed by one on shoulder conditions and osteoarthritis. The rest of the morning included another two-hour radiology discussion, but this one was focused on knee and shoulder issues. The rest of the afternoon included a surgery and anesthesia lab. We were placed in our surgery groups and had the opportunity to practice neutering a model and closing the incision. We also had the ability to practice the surgery prep, gowning and gloving, and draping the patient. The anesthesia lab allowed us to practice IV catheterization, intubation, running labs, and pressure checking the anesthesia machines. These labs were a great way to practice running through the surgery checklist and making sure that we had a clear understanding of how things should run! The rest of the afternoon included some quality time with Churro on the field followed by some preparation for the team-based learning activity on Friday.

Friday morning started off with a quick run with Churro followed by a hot yoga session. We then had another anesthesia discussion followed by a team-based learning activity. This activity was based on some pre-session reading on the benefits of working in small groups and how to provide effective feedback. It was interesting to see the research surrounding the benefits of small group learning environments and the overall impact that this type of learning environment can have on overall student performance over the course of a term.

The rest of the afternoon included our final radiology discussion. This session focused on shoulder conditions along with a little introduction to some diseases that can affect the brain and spinal cord which is a nice little preview to our next sub-block which is neurology! The rest of the afternoon was spent with Churro reviewing some lectures and playing on the field.

Saturday started off with a 3 miler with Churro followed by a hot yoga session. I then went to the farmers market to get some fresh produce. It is always fun to spend the morning enjoying the beauty that Davis has to offer and soak in some sunshine before it gets too hot! The rest of the day was spent getting some things done around the house and studying. Churro got plenty of quality time on the field and a nice afternoon walk since the weather was cooperating.

Sunday started out with a fun 9-miler with Churro and Naomi. I usually do most of my long runs alone so it was wonderful to have a buddy to talk to and made the whole run fly by! I then went to church and did some grocery shopping. The rest of the afternoon was spent reviewing lectures, meal prepping, and spending time with Churro.

Running Buddies Naomi and Churro ♡

Quote of the week: "If you had to be a young dog and you had to have an orthopedic disease, you should pick panosteitis every single time." Dr. Barbro Filliquist