Y3S2 Week 6: Abdominal Ultrasounds, Dystocia, and Valentine's Day

Monday began with a quick whirl around the block with Churro followed by a fun treadmill interval session. Interval training is something I like to call “type 2” fun. It is rough while it is happening, but once it is over, it feels amazing! The school day began with two lectures on diabetes mellitus. This is a fairly common endocrine disease in both dogs and cats, so it was nice to have two hours dedicated to this topic. The disease process is fairly similar to what we see in humans. Dogs are typically "insulin deficient" mimicking Type I diabetes while cats are more often "insulin resistant" which is similar to Type II diabetes. With proper management, animals with diabetes can live fairly normal lives and it was interesting to hear how new treatments are making this disease even easier to manage. We then transitioned into our comparative stream and had a lecture on genetics. We worked through a handful of cases and had the opportunity to explore the genetic testing that UC Davis offers and how that can help clients make educated decisions regarding their animals.

During lunch I walked around the arboretum before heading back to campus for an ultrasound lab. This lab mimicked the first abdominal ultrasound lab we had during our second year of vet school but since we are nearing the end of our didactic curriculum, we entered this lab with a lot more knowledge. Over the course of two hours, we had the opportunity to scan three different dogs and practice finding/assessing the major abdominal organs. This was a great way to practice applying our knowledge and building upon prior practice. The rest of the afternoon included some time on the field with Churro and some studying.

Tuesday morning began with a quick whirl around the park with Churro followed by a nice hot yoga session. We then had a wonderful lecture on the nutritional management of diabetes and hyperlipidemia followed by an hour break. I used this break to jog around the arboretum and stretch my legs before heading back for a lecture on calcium and parathyroid disorders. Lunch included an awesome bible study session on Chapter 8 of Relaxed, which is centered around the concept of risk. Megan begins this chapter by acknowledging that it is normal to be risk averse. Some of that is due to our innate survival instinct, but I also think some of it may be because it is oftentimes easier to just cruise through life within the walls of our comfort zone. Taking risks is uncomfortable; it requires a level of vulnerability and courage to go into a situation where the outcome is out of our control. 

In this chapter, Megan describes risk as a way to strengthen faith and truly rely on God. She states, "God hangs out in places beyond our comfort zone, places that require His power... If all we ever do is splash around in the shallows, we'll never see the power of God at work. That is why I'm convinced so few people see God working in their lives. They genuinely don't need Him." (Page 122). Living a comfortable life can make things feel like they are within our control and we become disillusioned by the idea of self-sufficiency. It is only when we start trying to live a life that is bigger than what we can do alone, and step out in faith, that we realize our need and ultimate dependency on God. We don't have to figure any of this out on our own, He desperately wants to do life with us which is fabulous news.

The rest of the afternoon included two lectures on metabolic and endocrine emergencies. We covered the diagnosis and treatment of an Addisonian crisis, diabetic ketoacidosis, and hypoglycemia. These are not rare emergencies, so understanding how to implement treatment and stabilize these patients is crucial.

Wednesday began with a nice run with Churro followed by a swim. We then had two lectures on thyroid disorders; one covering hyperthyroidism in cats and the other on hypothyroidism in dogs. Both of which are common endocrine disorders, so having a solid understanding of how to diagnose and treat these conditions is important. If you want to learn a little more about Addison's disease while enjoying a fun movie, the film Dog Gone does a decent job of depicting this disease. If you want to know where they missed the medical mark, and test your knowledge of Addison's disease, you can look at this movie review.

That afternoon I had the opportunity to participate in the block debrief for the past course and provide feedback on behalf of the student body. Our curriculum committee places a strong value on student feedback and is always looking for ways to improve the learning experience, which is amazing.

Thursday morning began with a whirl around the park with Churro followed by a hot yoga session and swim at the rec center. The day was blocked off so that we could study for the upcoming renal and endocrinology exam, so I spent most of the day reviewing lecture material. That afternoon I spent some time on the field with Churro followed by a mask fitting appointment. Prior to entering our clinical year, all veterinary students are required to have a properly fitting respirator mask in case they need to work around animals with zoonotic diseases. The rest of the evening included a little more studying and an early bedtime.

Friday started off with a quick 3 miler with Churro followed by the renal and endocrinology exam. This exam was filled with clinically relevant material and a nice way to test our understanding of the past two weeks of material. I then had the opportunity to run to the rec center and get in a spin session on the bike before heading back for the comparative course on dystocia.

After the iRAT and tRAT assessment, we had three mini lectures on dystocia in dogs, horses, and cattle. It was interesting to learn about the similarities and differences across species! During lunch I walked around the arboretum and the rest of the afternoon consisted of two lectures on urinary tract infections.

Happy boy

Saturday morning started off with a fun 7 miler with Churro followed by a hot yoga session. I then went to the Farmers market and did some grocery shopping for the upcoming week. The rest of the day involved getting a few things done around the house and a nice 25-mile bike ride. Churro and I also spent some time on the field enjoying his special Valentine's present and were also surprised by a sweet gift from Standard Process. Sunday morning began with a quick whirl around the park with Churro followed by a hot pilates class with Raymond before church. The rest of the day involved writing some scholarship essays and visiting the Davis craft fair. Churro also enjoyed some time on the field.

Quote of the week: “Golden retrievers - our little cancer factories of veterinary medicine”