Diary of a Dick Vet

I’ve come across a very interesting, but also rather tragic blog about a cat named Chase. When Chase was four weeks old, she was hit by a car and left. Luckily, after a few days, someone found her and brought her to a clinic, and after she was treated for her injuries (including amputation of a back leg) she was rehomed to one of the clinic’s technicians. However, her face later sloughed off due to injuries, resulting in the loss of her nose and the surrounding skin. To be frank, she is a rather horrific sight and I wouldn’t visit the blog if you’re put off by the thought of seeing her badly disfigured face. But if you can manage to bear her injuries, the blog is pretty remarkable. In an internet full of cute kitten pictures and videos, to find a cat that is the very antithesis of ‘adorable,’ and yet is so clearly loved and admired for her survival, is very heartwarming. Even more impressive is the outpouring of support she gets from her readership, including cuddly outfits and toys sent in the mail.

She’s a lucky cat. She’s mostly healthy, except for daily drops to keep her eyes from drying out, and has an owner that recognizes her as a source of inspiration rather than horror.

No Face Chase (again, be careful clicking!)

It’s Thursday night but in my mind, I’m already in Friday afternoon. With the rather seasonal snow all day and my general exhaustion from studying, I can’t seem to make myself study for that last exam tomorrow morning. Instead, the thought of enjoying a beer and sausage at the German Market tomorrow night is disrupting my focus! Can I board the plane home yet?

We’ve had assessments all week. Monday I had to tie a simple suture, which was nearly impossible due to shaking so much, and on Tuesday I had an easy assessment on instrument recognition, such as needle holders and different types of scissors. I’m so glad I took the time to revise with the example instruments they set out! I liked both of these assessments because they’re obviously testing useful skills: I will need to be able to tie a suture, and recognizing instruments will be useful in surgery and for communicating with others during an operation. I helped a vet dress a wound once during an internship and was very, very frustrated when he kept asking for different bandage supplies and I didn’t know what they were!

Yesterday was a ’spot’ exam, where we had to identify and describe different pathological lesions, which didn’t go too poorly, but today I took a big, scary exam. Something like 43% of the class failed the exam last year (normal fail rates for the first time exam for other classes are more like 5-10%) and judging from some of the questions they asked us this morning, that same figure might apply to this year’s class. We’re not stupid and we’re not lazy. Sometimes an exam is just hard! If I have to come back in August to resit I will appreciate the extra time to study, but obviously it’s nicer to enjoy your summer in full!

So, one more exam and I’m done! Plans include going to Glasgow for some Christmas shopping, reading the Sunday paper in bed (I am might be old before my time), and exchanging gifts with friends. And packing! I hope I have space for gifts for my family….