Final #4 of 6!

Dermatology Final FUN Facts! (Getting closer to the end!)

1. With otitis, only implement systemic treatment for ulcerations, otitis media, or proliferations.

2. Lupus erythematosus lesions result in depigmentation of the nose and a loss of the cobblestone appearance (no “nose-print”).

3. Bovine ascariasis (mange) usually affects the TAIL HEAD.

4. Impetigo papules are NOT oriented around the hair shaft and it is NOT contagious (in dogs).

5. Copper deficiency in cattle causes a harsh hair coat with FADED COLOR (think bleach-blonde Hereford’s).

6. Culicoides (a causative agent of equine insect hypersensitivity – the most common cause of pruritis in horses) are “weak fliers” and cannot fly into a box fan.

Final #2 of 6

Theriogenology Final FUN Facts:

1. Urethrostomy is performed at the level of the perineum in cats, but at the level of the scrotum in dogs.

2. Dogs spayed at less than six months of age almost never develop mammary cancer.

3. In cryptorchid dogs, the testicle is usually in the abdomen lying just next to the bladder.

4. Rams that are born co-twin to another male have a higher breeding capacity than those born co-twin to a female.

AND I AM ALL DONE WITH LECTURE!

Final #1 of 6

It's that time of the semester again (finals time!) - but this time it's the LAST TIME!

Here are a few fun facts for my first final exam tomorrow morning - Metabolic and Endocrine Diseases!

Metabolic Final FUN Facts:

1. Pergolide is used to treat PPID (Equine Cushing’s Syndrome) by increasing the action of dopamine. Pergolide was first used to treat Parkinson’s disease in people, but it was linked to valvular dysfunction and discontinued.

2. The CNS, placenta, and mammary glands are the only tissues NOT under the regulation of insulin.

3. Xylitol (an artificial sweetener in GUM) will cause severe hypoglycemia in dogs.

4. Cows with fatty liver will NOT be icteric. Cats will!

My study buddy, Maxamillion.

I THINK that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree

Joyce Kilmer. 1886–1918

Pure Michigan

Well tomorrow marks my first day at the fair with the Healthy Pet Surgical Suite, and therefore tonight marks my last night of vacation (I am therefore spending it with TV and a large Slurpee). As sad as it is to meet the end of a very stress-free month, I am excited to embrace the carnival life! Besides, I certainly squeezed enough fun into June to last all summer!

To start things off right, Logan and I loaded up his car (and made some excellent 80's CD's) and made our way to the Windy City to visit Brad and Jeff in their adorable little city apartment. As was the story of the summer, the mini-vacation was jam-packed with activity! First, we saw the Tigers play the White Sox on the South Side and listened to Sam share a bit of Chicago city history with us on the drive past the old projects just outside the park. Did you know that Chicago is called the Windy City for two reasons (1- It's windy. 2 - It has a history of political coruption)? And if you really want a history lesson, I recommend reading about the Chicago Flag on Wikipedia. The Tigers ended up winning the game (much to our delight!) and after we answered a bunch of questions about why Detroit hadn't demolished Tiger Stadium yet, we bid farewell to the White Sox fans around us and left with smiles on our faces. I specifically told one gentlemen (who was awfully down on Detroit) that we Detroiters would always have our sports - the Red Wings had just clinched a playoff finals berth to back up my statement.

After returning to Michigan, we spent the better part of most days enjoying the great outdoors. We killed an afternoon in the Beal Botanical Gardens at MSU, and acted as nourishment for the mosquitoes of Bald Mountain Park on a nine-mile hike.

Toward the end of June, both our families had planned and invited us to join them on a family vacation. So of course we joined them! First we went up to Tawas on Lake Huron with Logan's family where we stayed in a cozy little cottage right on the beach. The highlight of the trip had to be the flight of Logan's most prized possession - the box kite he had been working on for almost two years! We had to wait a couple of days for a good wind (somehow we found the only two days of the year when the shoreline wasn't even the slightest bit breezy), but the wait was worth it in the end. The kite took off like it knew it belonged up among the clouds looking down on us. It didn't even fight the wind at all; and it looked like it was merely floating rather than flying (like a hot air balloon rather an airplane). My favorite memory from our time in Tawas was the HUGE grin on Logan's face when he knew that everyone on the beach was stiff-necked from staring up at the kite he built with his own two hands.

Lastly, but certainly not least, we met up with my family at my parent's cottage neslted near the top of the lower peninsula, and celebrated the Fourth of July. We spent the day at the beach swimming out to the center of the lake and diving from the "big raft". We even joined in some of the Beach Bash games . . . and I ended up covered in eggs after mistakingly entering the egg toss. Fortunately, I was on a beach and quickly ran straight into the water to rinse off the yellow yolk dripping down my shoulder. We played baseball in the street, tried our luck fishing on HorseHead Lake, rode along the bumpy dirt rodes on a horse-drawn hay ride, and even found time to put together a farm-scene puzzle.

So despite the fact that I began this entry in Chicago, I feel as though I started highlighting the beauty of Michigan as I blabbered along, and I ended up sounding like one of those "Pure Michigan" commercials. Maybe they should hire me? - I could do a great job! Well I think now its time for me to finish this Slurpee and get ready for the rest of my summer in the Great Lakes State!

Hola Honduras

What a beautiful country! I had a fabulous time in Honduras with a great group of people that I would certainly want with me if I were ever trapped on a deserted Spanish-speaking island! This majestic palm tree silhouetted by the mountainous backdrop greeted us at the "refreshment station" on our journey in to the city of Siguatepeque.

A rickety old bridge presented us with our first little adventure in preparation for the much greater adventure that awaited us in the mountains. We arrived safely in Siguatepeque on a lazy Saturday afternoon, but quickly set to work. We settled into our lovely little hotel downtown (they even came in and cleaned everyday . . . not bad for about eight dollars/night!) and set off to the storage facility where we met up with the supplies and medication and prepared our toolboxes for the busy week!


We had four veterinary teams and three public health teams that embarked upward into the mountain villages each morning. Each team loaded a pick-up truck with the day's supplies and then we all piled in on top of the boxes and got "comfortable". The ride up the side of the mountain was absolutely exhilarating. When we arrived at our destination, the Honduran people and their many animals were already waiting for us with much anticipation.


The children were absolutely precious and patiently, longingly awaited the end of each day and the distribution of sweets and lollipops for all! The children could easily have been mistaken for young men and women, working through the heat of the day without a hint of complaint (not that I would have known if it were in Spanish). Their tiny little legs supported them across the mountainside, with one small arm carrying the weight of a rambunctious basketful of chickens and the other steadily pulling to counteract the combined strength of a family of goats.

At one point I had to stop, take a step back, and realize how beautiful the scene really was. When I was in the thick of it, the situation felt like a chaotic debacle. It was like working at McDonald's during the turnover from breakfast to lunch (you know what I mean if you've worked at McDonald's). Then suddenly everything was silent. The animals were calm, the people relaxed, and the ambiance serene. I was surrounded by an aura of tremendous compassion and dedication; it was spilling out of my teammates, the animals, and the Honduran people.


In the end we treated a grand total of 6,594 animals and touched the lives of countless children. At the same time, I opened up and awoke a part of me that I'd lost somewhere in the rush-rush mindset of the American lifestyle. I was reacquainted with the curious child-like spirit within myself and the love of life that has always driven my enthusiasm and desire for departure on the next great adventure.

Summer in the Mitten

The Lake Huron shoreline with my favorite mode of transportation.

Well I passed Semester 4 and I am officially a third year veterinary student! I can't wait to spend some time relaxing (canoeing, hiking, swimming etc.) in the beautiful state of Michigan and the gorgeous summers that come with it. Beginning in July, I will be traveling about the state working at the Healthy Pet Surgical Suite, an exhibit featured at fairgrounds throughout Michigan. I can't wait, and I will keep you posted on our progress! Here is a link to the HPSS blog that I will be updating shortly: http://mvmahealthypetsurgicalsuite.blogspot.com/

Until the fairs being, I will be working in the laboratory trying to finish my project from last summer (the microbial composition of the gut flora in murine IBD models!). Cross your fingers that these PCR's start to work for me!

On Saturday I am taking off for Honduras with the Christian Veterinary Mission. It should be quite an experience! We are providing veterinary care for the animals of village people in remote parts of the country. Our skills (even just as students) are very valued because these people depend on their animals for their day-to-day survival. I can't wait to use what I've learned to give back, and to see another part of the world! I just need to work on my Spanish speaking abilities until then!

Fun Facts!

Final #6 Monday: Clinical Pathology! Fun Facts: Insulin and epinephrine will push K into cells and can cause a hypokalemia. Evaluate long-term glucose levels by measuring fructosamine and glycosylated Hgb (long half lives!). Pancreatitis can cause a hypocalcemia as Ca deposits in necrotic adipose tissue to form SOAP (cool!).

Final #5 of 10

Final #5 tomorrow (almost halfway there!): Systemic Pathology! Fun Facts: Blepharospasm means "squinting". Unlike in humans, cirrhosis of the liver in animals is usually not due to chronic alcoholism (long-term anticonvulsant therapy or Copper toxicity are more likely). Ulcers are not due to stress, but to Helicobacter pylori in people, and usually NSAIDs or mast cell tumors in dogs.

Final #3 of 10

Final #3 tomorrow: Large Animal Clinical Skills! Fun Facts: If you hold a sheep's nose for 3-4 seconds, she will urinate. Second degree AV block is normal in very athletic horses. To treat a cow with a clockwise uterine torsion, lay her on her right side and turn her in the SAME direction (clockwise!). If you dock a lamb's tail to short, she is prone to vaginal prolapse.

The Final Countdown

Sunset in the Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

You know you are really procrastinating when you set up a blog. Here is where I wish I were studying right now . . . under this Acacia tree in Kenya. I have eight more finals (two done!), many of which are cumulative, but they are all that stand between me and my last summer break. Bring it on vet school!