This is part 2 in this blog series exploring the similarities between the arts and veterinary medicine. Be sure to check out the other parts in this series under the “Arts” tab in this blog. “What was the most memorable experience you’ve had with your doctor or veterinarian?” Over the last two weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to extern at Westfield Veterinary Group. During my externship, I had a conversation with the Business Manager of the practice, Daniel Maus. We sat down t

“Cue 1 ready; in 3-2-1, go.”

Happy National Pet Week! Today’s theme is “Nutrition and Exercise Matters,” which is very timely given that I just finished up my 3rd year small animal nutrition course last week! One of the most important topics we discussed in my nutrition class was pet obesity and weight management. Like in humans, obesity is one of the top problems in pets as well. A survey conducted by The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention in 2018 found that 55.8% of dogs and 59.5% of cats in the Un

The third year of veterinary school is where you finally start to feel like a doctor. After all those courses in the first two years learning the normal and abnormal, you finally get the chance to put it altogether in medicine and surgery courses. I had enjoyed my first two years, but this was the year I was most excited about (clinics aside). Entering third year, I knew it was going to be my greatest challenge to date. The class load is 50% greater than that of first and sec

My dog's journey to recovery from a Total Hip Replacement to treat Hip Dysplasia.

You may be wondering, how on Earth could you learn about veterinary medicine while working on or seeing a theatrical production? How do those two fields even relate to each other? I have been involved with theatre since I was in high school were I was in a Performing Arts program (FPAC represent!) focusing on Stage Production. It was through theatre that I quickly learned that the theatre is a microcosmic representation of our current society, culture, and environment. Theatr

"The best therapist are the ones with fur and have four legs." My 3 year old yellow Labrador Retriever named Ducky is probably one of the calmest, loving and mushiest dogs out there. I know everyone thinks that their dog is *insert cuddly and cute adjective here,* but I really mean it when I say this about my dog: I have never had or met a dog like him. He is obedient, easy-going, and a a social butterfly who always wants to say hi to everyone two legged or four legged friend

What are tick-borne diseases? Tick-borne diseases are diseases that are transmitted from ticks to humans and animals. The ticks must be infected and must bite the animal or human to transmit the disease. Some of the most common tick-borne diseases in the United States include Lyme Disease, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Most of these diseases have nonspecific clinical signs, and when left untreated can cause severe illness or even de

During the summer of 2019, I had the opportunity to spend one month at a group of hospitals in the Chicago area: the Animal Care Clinic and Companion Animal Hospital Group. I visited over 9 hospitals all across Chicagoland, where I got to know each of the practices, the outstanding medicine they all provide, their core values (positivity, integrity, client obsessed, teamwork and communication) and even learned some veterinary business and ownership tips. While externships in

What is Lyme Disease? Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted by infected blacklegged ticks. The disease can only be transmitted from bite of infected deer ticks, Ixodes scapularis, and must be attached for 36- 48 hours to transmit the disease. These ticks are commonly found in wooded areas and is very prevalent in the Northeast along with the Mid-Atlantic, North-Central, and Western regions of the United States. The clinical signs in pets

In veterinary school, one of the coolest things I have been able to get involved with has been the Student American Veterinary Medical Association, SAVMA for short. For those that are not familiar, every AVMA-accredited veterinary school has a SAVMA chapter. The AVMA is the organized medical group that represents veterinarians on Capitol Hill and elsewhere across the country. The student chapter acts as local representation at each school, relaying important messages, scholar

During the summer of 2018, I had the opportunity to spend 2 weeks in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico working with marine mammals. Our group of 21 veterinarians and veterinary students from across the world had the opportunity to perform physical exams on dolphins, sea lions and manatees, blood draw on sea turtles, diagnostic procedures on dolphins, and interactions with sting rays, nurse sharks, whale sharks and manta rays. We also got to play tourist for a day and enjoy some time w

Hello everyone! Thanks for checking out my experiences! The material under this tab will talk about some of the wonderful opportunities and experiences I have had the chance to participate in throughout veterinary school and beyond. Before I get into what I am up to now, here is a little bit on the path that I took to veterinary school. Veterinary Medicine has provided me the opportunity to combine three things I truly enjoy: animals, science and medicine. I have always loved