I had to stop and think real hard when I  read about Skeeter having
CRF.
I could not for the life of me remember what that meant.  I'm just
learning about vet medicine and I should know what that means!!!
AAAAUUUGGGHHH!!!!

Grrrrrrrrrrrr............. I had to look it up, and now I feel really
stupid.  Time to break out my Medical Abbreviations list
again...........

(breathing) OKay, I'm better now.....

Today was fun and sad at the same time.  It was fun because I was able
to draw blood from a dog AND a cat.  And from the jugular, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH!!!!!

It was sad because..............well............... We've all lost a
pet at some point in our lives, and most of us know what it's like to
experience euthanasia of your own pet.

But think how the vet feels......................especially when it's
his own pet being euthanized.

Dr. C has a couple of pug dogs and one greyhound, Comedy, or Comet for
short.  Comedy was put down today.

Comedy was a retired racing greyhound, and old and fragile.  Dr. C
started bring Comet in and keeping her at the clinic all day.  I
finally asked about it a few weeks ago.  I asked Dr. C's  wife, Julie,
a former DVM, but works as a senior tech. (She is an awesome woman and
I learn so much from her) She told me there was a large mass on Comet
between her shoulder blade and spine.  It was quite large.  Even
though Dr. C had removed a previous growth before, he was not
confident enough to operate on this one.

From what I've been told in hushed whispers is that the growth has
been deemed very malignant or another one was found.  Either way, it
didn't look good for Comedy.

We tried to go about our business as usual and none of us said a word.
Dr. C seemed unaffected, but Julie was sad.  It seemed like any other
morning but Dr. C and Julie went home for a long lunch.  Then when Dr.
C came back, the mood was quiet.  Julie didn't come back at all, and
no one dared to say why.  Then I see my coworker fastwalking and
carrying something wrapped in plastic.  yeeeeeekss........
Soon a sympathy card showed up and we all signed it.  Man............
I guess it's just something we're all affected by, but are not really
supposed to talk about.  Purrs out to Dr. C and his family.  I know
Comedy will be missed.

On a lighter note, I brought Mischief to class on Wednesday.  We were
encourage to bring our pets to class so we could practive performing a
physical exam on our pets and the pets of our fellow students.

Everything was going well............until Mischief expressed her anal
glands on my shirt.   Ewwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!  So I had to clean that up
and apologize to the class for the smell.

She handled the exam fine, but after being handled and having her
organs palpated for the sixth time she got cranky.  She got put back
in her carrier and when I opened it to get her she hissed.  Probably
translated into something like, "I AM NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!
I AM NOT GOING TO HAVE MY KIDNEYS AND OTHER ORGANS FELT UP BY STOOPID,
SMELLY HOOMINS!!!"  something like that............

Can't say I blame her.  But it was good practice for me.  :)  I was
able to listen to her heart and look in her eyes, ears, and throat.

And I'm bringing her back again next week.  That is, depending on how
fast she moves once I bring out the carrier.

take care,

Kristi