Merry Christmas! Enjoy Some Singing Animals!

Second Quarter Coming to a Close!

I only have two more classes until my second quarter of veterinary technician schooling for my associates degree is completed. I have about 6 more quarters to go, and I have loved the first two so far, so I cannot wait to see what else will be in store.
So far...
~ I can make blood smears
~ I can restrain cats and dogs properly
~ I can bathe and clip nails on cats and dogs
~ I am able to maintain patience around all situations
~ I can evaluate and create gram stains and other microscope evaluations for specimens
~ I understand the ways certain diseases can be diagnosed
~ I know how to properly use the lavender, red, blue, grey, green, and marble top tubes
~ I can properly break and evaluate a hematocrit tube
~ And many more beginning skills
I am very happy that I stayed with my heart and chose this path. I know it will be worth it in the future, and any stress that I get thrown into along the way will be worth it.

Dawg Dayz - Waunakee, WI

There's this place: Dawg Dayz.
I volunteer there once a week and I absolutely love it! Sure, the place looks a little rough, but the care the dogs get while they are there is far better than most places. I have seen daycares or boarding places where the animals don't get to see the light of day or the outside of their cages the whole time they are there, but at Dawg Dayz, even when people can't be enriching the dog's stay, they are in a decently sized area where they can interact, play, and become acquainted with other dogs.
They can be groomed, bathed, taken to the park, played with, and given a chance to nap. This is the kind of place I would have my animals taken to, the quality of the work done there is beyond exceptional.
I am very proud to say I have worked under that roof.

Moving Forward...My Second Quarter of Vet Tech School Taught Me:

We re-covered all canine and feline restrains and knocked those skills off the first day. We are improving quickly, our instructor was pleasantly surprised.

In the Lab:

• Collect Urine Sample (Feline and Canine)
• collect voided urine sample
• Perform Urinalysis
• examine and identify sediment
• Perform Packed Cell Volume
• Perform Total Protein
• capillary tube method
• plasma method
• Prepare Blood Films
• using a variety of techniques
• Prepare specimens for diagnostic analysis
• serum and plasma
• Perform Blood Chemistry Tests
• pre-anesthetic or general profile BUN
• glucose
• common enzymes
• Perform Microbiologic Procedures/Evaluations:
• collect representative samples
• culture bacteria for isolation
• perform staining procedures (gram stain)
• culture and identify common dermatophytes
• Collect, prepare, and evaluate ear cytology (Feline and Canine)

Learning the Basics...My First Quarter of Vet Tech School Taught Me:

Canine Restraints:

• Sternal Recumbency
• Lateral Recumbency
• Cephalic Venipuncture
• Saphenous Venipuncture
• Jugular Venipuncture
• Eye or Ear Medication
• IM Injection or Nail Trim
• Gauze Muzzle Application
• Nylon or Leather Muzzle Application
• Restraint Pole

Feline Restraints:

• Cephalic Venipuncture
• Jugular Venipuncture
• Sternal Recumbency "Cat Press"
• Lateral Recumbency "Cat Stretch"
• Gloves, Towels, Cat Bag
• Feline Muzzle Application

Various Animal Skills:

• Nail Trims (Feline and Canine)
• Express Canine Anal Sacs
• Clean and Medicate Ears (Feline and Canine)

Other Skills:

• Encage and remove small animals from cages
• Apply Elizabethan collar
• Implement sanitation procedures for animal holding and housing areas
• Ability to obtain objective patient data: temperature, pulse, respiration, and auscultate heart/lungs (Feline and Canine)