Tasmiya

Horrid Colleague: So have you had much to do with ultrasounds, then?

Tasmiya: Not really though the previous practice I worked had purchased one just before I left.

Horrid Colleague: They didn’t have…I mean you wouldn’t have had many ultrasounds….I mean in your day.

Tasmiya: (meak voice): I’m not THAT old.

I mean they’ve been around since the 1940s surely. What? Do I look SIXTY years old??

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Horrid Colleague: I’ll just run the blood tests on this dog in hospital if that’s ok.

Tasmiya (busy seeing to critical, nearly dying cat): Yeah, sure.

30 minutes later, Tasmiya has stabilised critical cat while Horrid Colleague finally gets dog out of cage for blood collection.

Tasmiya: I hate to be a pain but I generally like to do the workup on my own cases so I’m happy for you to look at the dog and assess but I’d actually like to do the blood collection and do the health profile.

Horrid Colleague: So you want to do the blood test?

Tasmiya: Yes.

Horrid Colleague: But just before I asked you if I could do it and you said that was fine.

Tasmiya: I know but that was because I was busy before.

Horrid Colleague (throwing her arms in the air): Fine! If you want to do it then that’s just FINE!

Tasmiya: I didn’t mean you couldn’t examine the dog for yourself….

Horrid Colleague : NO, that’s quite alright. I just didn’t want the dog sitting there being neglected and not having anything done to it.

Nevermind that she had left it for half an hour.-

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Horrid Colleague: So who is the night vet on then?

Nice Colleague: Me.

Horrid Colleague: So you’re here tonight?

Nice Colleague: Yeah, till 8:30

Horrid Colleague: That’s not the night vet, that’s the evening vet. I mean who is on the overnight shift?

Nice Colleague: That would be the OVERNIGHT VET.

This conversation actually went for much longer but it was nice to see someone else have a problem with Horrid Colleague. At least I know it isn’t just me. What would I know anyway? I’m just an old fuddy duddy.

Owner: I was throwing a stick and I think it hit my dog. He went all shivery and fell over.
Tasmiya: So you were throwing the stick AT the dog?
Owner: No, I was throwing it at my son but it accidentally hit the dog.

Colleague #1: I’m thinking of opening up a small one-man practice.
Tasmiya: Oh, really? That’s not such a bad idea.
Colleague #1: Yeah - it might not get as busy or as glamorous as this hospital but…
Colleague #2: Glamorous?? I can think of lots of words to describe the veterinary profession and I can assure you, GLAMOROUS isn’t one of them.

Owner (after dog tries to attack and kill Tasmiya): He doesn’t like you. It’s either your skin colour or your scarf.
Tasmiya: Bigoted dogs. Who would have thought?

Client: I’d like to make an appointment with that nice little Sri Lankan girl/ small vet/ Indian lady/ the lady with the head thing.

I’ve been working way too much lately and have been enjoying every single millisecond of it! It’s been hectic, frustrating, nerve wracking; patients have gotten better and gone home wagging their tails or purring away. Some have passed away which is never easy to handle. Clients have been appreciative, thankful and then again others have been annoyed or upset.

I love the respect that human doctors are afforded. Patients waiting for their G.P. can often wait for over an hour and nobody complains. It’s just expected that they will have to wait. If vets are running 15 minutes behind, we must apologise profusely and placate many an angry client. I know everyone has busy lives and things to do and nobody wants to sit around for longer than they absolutely have to but sometimes we will have an emergency or urgent case to attend to and so normal vaccinations and ear cleans will have to wait. If you turn up without an appointment for a routine consultation, you will have to wait.

Doctors can yell at hysterical family members to GET OUT! of the treatment room while they try to resuscitate comatose and flat-lined patients. They can even call security to remove them (at least they can on TV - I saw it on ER once so it must be true). Vets don’t have security and I’m not big on yelling at people but it’s really had to convince an owner it is not just in their best interest but in their pet’s as well if they wait out in the waiting room so we can do our thing. I know they want to make sure their pet is ok but sometimes they get in the way and other times they get stressed out by watching us trying desperately to put an IV in and having to cut down with a scalpel blade into the skin to try and find a vein or even just intubating. It gets the nurses and the vets worked up and then we get all flustered. Even after 10 years of practice I do much better without an audience.

Doctors can tell patients to turn off their mobile phones (whether or not there is indeed interference with the medical equipment) actually, doctors don’t even need to tell people to turn them off, they do it anyway but for some reason people have no qualms at answering their phone in the middle of a vet consultation(!) while the vet waits patiently for them to finish so she can continue with the check up. And then they wonder why vets are running behind! How rude!

I should stop right now. I didn’t mean for this to be a rant. These little things don’t happen often and they’re made up for many times over by the wonderful owners who are considerate, compassionate and understanding and want to do everything and anything to make their pets’ lives easier and more comfortable. The cats are just precious and the dogs adorable. The birds are sweet (of course you can’t hug them -they’re way too small & delicate) and the rats are surprisingly affectionate.

1. Husband takes children out.

2. As soon as they leave, get necessary textbooks, paper and other stationery products and organise on table.

3. Make self a cup of tea.

4. Sit down. Wonder if maybe biscuits might be nice with tea.

5. Check fridge. No biscuits.

6. Sit down for serious study. Open book. Look at computer.

7. Check email (you never know when someone is going to send something IMPORTANT!)

8. While on computer, check favourite blogs, surf for a little while.

9. Tell self this is ridiculous and you really need to get back to the books.

10…… After you check the news (you never know when something IMPORTANT is going to happen!)

11. Hey what’s on TV right now? (you never know what IMPORTANT TV show might be screening)

12. Channel surf.

13. Nothing on TV so you simply HAVE to get back to the books.

14. Write topic on paper.

15. Check fridge (you never know - IMPORTANT biscuits might magically appear)

16. Family arrive home.

17. Close books.

18. Sigh heavily.

I’m very indecisive about my blog template. I keep chopping and changing willy nilly.

In other news, I have decided to sit for my Membership. This could very well go along the same lines as all my other half baked ideas ie. NOT EVENTUATING AT ALL. Please make dua I can be the good student, study hard and more importantly pass the dang thing.

It’s been years since I actually studied FOR AN EXAM, which is completely different to studying to learn, you see. Exams and I don’t get along very well. We knew each other quite well about 10 years ago and when I finally dumped him, it was such a relief. Liberation.

Getting reacquainted with him will be really awkward. So anyway, I’ve spent a mini fortune on textbooks and a colleague has graciously offered a few of his textbooks and photocopies of relevant bits and pieces. The College recommends aiming for about 2 or more years of study before actually sitting for exams and they will organise a mentor should I request one. When to study? I will need to wait for the kids to sleep before I can sit down and do serious study so I don’t have tons of time on my hands. I’m going to have to be vigilant with time management and stick to a study program. Any ideas?

InshaAllah, I’m also planning to increase my hours at work. I am finding a few hours once a week just isn’t enough. I’m losing my diagnostic skills and to be honest, I’m getting lazy knowing that other vets will be there to take over my cases. I don’t want to be the sort of vet who wreaks havoc and comes back one week later when all the damage has been fixed. OK. That sounded a tad melodramatic but I hope you get the gist.

Please keep me in your duas. I need ‘em!

Alyndabear, I thought about just putting this in the comment section but then got worried you might miss it.

There isn’t really much in the way of preparation when it comes to taking your rabbits to the vet. Make sure they have water in their cage and maybe some food. The car trip isn’t usually stressful but rabbits are highly strung so it might be an idea to have someone drive while you carry the cage in your lap. Covering the cage so they are in the dark may also help. Don’t try to transport them just sitting in your lap. Plus once you get into the waiting room there may be a dog or two waiting. The rabbits are much safer in a cage or secure box.

Umm..that’s about it I think. The vet will usually give them a check over, ask if you have any concerns and then give them their jabs. From memory I think it’s only calici virus we vaccinate against. Here in QLD rabbits are pests so we don’t see any as pets. When working in Adelaide it was just the calici virus we were worried about. It’s probably the same for you (you’re in WA, right?).

Ok. Hope that helps!

I’m not sure if any of my readers have dogs but this advice needs to be given to everyone out there. EVERYONE!

Please, please don’t let your dog fetch sticks. There are so many other things you can throw that are much safer. Balls, rubber things (of course large enough that the dog can’t swallow it) and other toys. Sticks cause horrendous injuries. The stick impales itself into the ground and with the dog running enthusiastically, usually seconds behind the stick dog will grab at the stick with its mouth and there you go - big fat laceration at the back of the soft palate close to the oesophagus so the poor dog can’t swallow properly or straight through the hard palate and into the nasal passage.

Another thing - we can’t reach in there to stitch things up! We don’t have robot arms or instruments capable of going down throats to suture. So we usually leave things to heal by 2nd intention which takes a few weeks to heal - major concern is secondary infection or the other option is to refer you to a specialist.

I know how tempting it might be - you’re at the park & you’ve forgotten to bring his/her favourite ball and he/she is itching to play. Don’t pick up that stick to throw. It isn’t worth it.

Owner : My dog is choking! I think there’s something stuck in his throat!

Vet nurse : Ok, come straight down.

Owner : Oh but I’ve just put up the potatoes on the stove. I’ll be there in half an hour.

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4 am

Owner : Yeah….ummm..my dog - she’s got these lumps on her back …do you know what they are?

Vet : ummm…no?

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Owner : Look - I’ve got a really sick cat. I need to see a vet straight away!

Vet nurse : We are fully booked this morning. I can make the appointment after 4.

Owner : NO NO! I really need a vet NOW!

Vet nurse : What’s the problem with your cat?

Owner : Well, he’s been sick for a couple of weeks…….

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Dog growls when approached. Ears back and hackles up.

Owner : Oh, he’s just saying hello.

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