Y4W1: Llama Hike, Clinic Orientation, and Hospital Tours!

This was our first week of our fourth year, and we are less than 4 weeks away from being in the clinic!

Monday started off with an introduction to our orientation course and an overview of some of the main people involved in our fourth year. We heard from some of the administrative staff, curriculum committee, hospital staff, and counselors. This was a nice way to know who will be in our corner as we navigate the next 13 months! We then transitioned to a lab on fine needle aspirates and cytology. This was a fun way to practice the skills we had learned in the past and make sure that we were familiar with some of the diagnostic techniques we will be using in the clinic. After a lunch break, we had a discussion on IV fluid therapy and calculations. This was also a nice way to review past material and make sure we were all on the same page regarding IV fluid administration.

Fourth Year!

Tuesday morning began with a quick whirl around the park with Churro followed by a mini-shadow day. I spent the morning with the ER and ICU service and was able to learn from some of the current fourth years and watch how things operated in the ER. That afternoon we reviewed infectious disease control procedures for large and small animals, learned about the radiology service, and learned the proper way to present and transfer a case between colleagues or services. The rest of the afternoon included some fun time on the field with Churro.

Wednesday morning began with a quick whirl around the park with Churro followed by a hot yoga session and swim. I then had a nice brunch with our awesome CVF advisor and radiology faculty, Dr. McLarty. It was nice to have some time to catch up outside of the academic setting, talk about the club, and get to know each other better. I then had some time to get a few things done at home before heading to school for the afternoon sessions.

That afternoon we learned how to put in patient orders, fill out treatment sheets, and use the patient treatment software, Instinct. We then had a session on VMACS, which is our teaching hospital’s software. All of these sessions are super helpful and will make the transition into clinics slightly less chaotic.

The rest of the evening included some fun time on the field with Churro and a tour of the small animal teaching hospital. We are assigned into groups of 8-9 students and have a list of sites in the hospital that we need to find and take a picture at. It is a fun way to learn where things are while also bonding with classmates.

Thursday morning began with a nice run with Churro followed by large animal Grand Rounds. This is where some of the large animal students present different topics and cases. It was interesting to learn about breeding exams in rams as well as CT myelograms in horses. The rest of the day included a lab on IV catheter care and setting up different types of fluid pumps with and without additives. These are skills that we will be expected to perform in the clinic, so it is nice to practice them in a low-stakes environment and receive helpful feedback.

After a nice walk at the arboretum and a meeting with the incoming IVMC president, we had a session on drug calculations. This was a good way to review some key calculation principles such as continuous rate infusions, fluid additives, and nutrition calculations. That evening we had another hospital tour. This time it was in the second part of the small animal teaching hospital, community practice, and exotic animal medicine.

Hummingbird at the Arboretum

The rest of the evening included some time with Churro on the field!

Friday morning began with a quick whirl with Churro followed by an awesome workout session with Jen and Madeline. We did multiple strength sets with some cardio mixed in. This training is pretty opposite of what I normally do and I loved it! I was also humbled. The rest of the morning was spent working through a drug calculation worksheet and finishing up a few assignments for the orientation course. That afternoon we had an introductory session for the gross pathology, and clinical pathology services. We learned how to properly handle and process samples so that we can efficiently get our patients’ results. The last session of the day was on the blood bank, which is crucial to know about, especially when on emergency rotations.

The rest of the afternoon was spent on some online safety training as well as with Churro on the field.

Saturday began with a nice 5 miler with Churro followed by a hot yoga session. I then did some grocery shopping for the week. The rest of the morning included some cleaning and cooking followed by some additional assignments for the orientation course. Churro and I also spent a lot of time outside enjoying the beautiful weather.

Sunday began with a fun 5 miler with Churro followed by the annual llama hike! This is a magical 6-mile hike through Sutter Buttes with some awesome llamas brought in by the local llama lovers. I have had the privilege of attending this hike every year of my vet school career and it is truly one of my favorite events. The people are wonderful and the llamas are amazing creatures. Each year I have also had the joy of watching Jay grow into a more strong and confident llama. This year he was towering above all the others and was SO well behaved. It is fun to think back to the first year I hiked with him when he was scared about walking through water. Now he is a rockstar giving his other llama friends the confidence to keep going.

Jay ♡

The rest of the day involved some meal prepping and time with Churro on the field.

Quote of the Week: “When they fight, they go for each other’s testicles and try to castrate them.” -Dr. Beaufrére