After such a long, relaxing Christmas Break, going back to school this past week was a struggle. We have class at 8 am four out of five days, and it was, to say the least, difficult for me to get up and going so early in the morning. Laugh away, my early-rising friends, but I am a dedicated sleeper, and if I had my choice, "early" wouldn't be before 10 am. So, although I've been thrown rather unceremoniously into the second semester of the first year of vet school, I hope to catch up and settle into the new routine. What exactly IS the new routine? Since I already talked about the exact schedule a few posts ago, I'll give you all a rundown of each course I'm in, and any other electives I'm taking.
Large Animal Anatomy: This semester we're dissecting horse cadavers. Whole ones. Hanging from hooks on a rolling frame. The smell of formalin has definitely grown stronger (as my boyfriend likes to remind me when I get home from school), and so has the amount of various juices and globs of fat on the lab floor. Also, we study from a cow specimen that has already been prosected (dissected before we get in lab so we can look at structures without having to do anything), and we have 3 palpator animals. There are 2 geldings, Rooster and Shamal, who are fuzzy, fat horses with hilarious attitude. And there's a tiny, adorable Jersey heifer with one horn, too! The highlight of lab this semester is being able to palpate and study (aka cuddle with) all of these cuties without having to be worried about getting mounted and urinated on (last semester's palpator dog was intact and rather...ahem...exuberant). Needless to say, this class will be interesting, especially since all 104 of us are in the same lab section wielding necropsy knives and cluelessness.
Immunology: So far this class seems interesting and straightforward. Let's hope it stays that way.
Neuroscience: It's nice to have a professor who seems to be organized and on top of everything. I'm looking forward to this class, and lab seems varied and interesting. Plus, we got to pick our own lab partners, so here's hoping that Jake and I kick some ass this semester.
Physiology: We're finally learning HOW the body works. Splendid.
Nutrition: Haven't had this class yet, as no one seems to know where or when we'll actually be having it. I'm not complaining.
Pathology: Strikes fear into the hearts of all, not only due to subject matter but also because of our intense (I'm putting that mildly) professor. Did you want to wear a hat inside today? Unprofessional. Abbreviations, colloquialisms, and slang? Disgusting. Mumbling, um-ing, like-ing, and other infractions against the English language? Impermissible. Also, that man can sharpen a necropsy knife at warp speed and dismantle a carcass like it's made of Play-doh.
I'm also taking 2 electives this semester:
Equine Neonatal Medicine/Foal Team, and Colic Team (which I took last year). Both are more clinically-based classes with opportunities to observe and participate in procedures, then give presentations on what you saw. These classes are at lunch, and are super laid-back and fun.
So that's it for vet school, except for the on-going lunch lectures, wet labs, club meetings, and evening lectures that I'll attend. Outside of school I'm taking Yolates and Pilates at the gym 3 times a week, and also looking for a job to supplement my dismal finances.
Oh! A quick update on Mika, my 12 year old Lab with Cushing's. We started her on chemotherapy (Lysodren); the first dose is 5-7 days, depending on how long it takes for the animal to become ill (vomiting, inappetance, diarrhea, etc.). For Mika it took about 5 days; then she was re-tested, and her cortisol levels were back to normal. This indicates that the chemo worked and shrunk her adrenal glands. YAY! Now she is on a weekly maintenance dose, and goes back in for her monthly re-check sometime next week. All of her stroke symptoms have resolved, and she is nearly back to her normal self. She seems a little bit loony sometimes, which could be residual from the stroke or due to her age. Either way, she's getting around just fine and is a happy, healthy pup! Let's hope she stays that way.
Cheers to the second semester of vet school, first years!
