Cool Book for Want To Be Veterinarians and Others Who Care About Animals

Did you know that a dog's normal heart rate is 80-120 beats per minute?  Does a cat's heart beat faster or slower?  What about a small bird's?   Those answers are in a wonderful resource, ER Vets -- Life in an Animal Emergency Room by Donna M. Jackson.  The book is filled with many critical-care cases coupled with graphic pictures, including one of a cat who had a piercing arrow in her abdomen.  The cats, dogs, birds, bunnies, SNAKES, and other animals were all treated at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Colorado State University.   You'll learn Emergency room codes like -- FB (foreign body -- something odd showing up on an x-ray like a needle, cell phone or rubber duck); BDLC (Big dog, little cat: a big dog attacked a little cat); and CHF (Congestive Heart Failure).  Wat do you think HBC stands for?  There's information on toxic treats -- many of us know that chocolate is bad for dogs and cats, but did you know that onions are harmful, too.  The book suggests items for an animal first aid kit, addresses the history of veterinary medicine, and offers resources for where to go for more information.   A school , classroom and personal library must have!

Interns Gain Experience While Helping the Animals in the Medical Center

Jasmine with a dog recovering from spay surgery.

Charlotte holding a dog who will be spayed next.

Interns are trainees who obtain experience through temporary assignments. The Washington Animal Rescue League Medical Center is fortunate to have interns year-round. Not only do the interns gain valuable experience, but the hospital benefits from the additional help. Some interns are veterinary students gaining practical experience in shelter medicine, others are high school students completing student service learning hours requirements while checking out possible career choices. Hospital interns are responsible for a wide range of jobs. Two of our summer interns, Charlotte, a rising high school senior, and Jasmine a veterinary student will share their experiences in this space in the coming days. Check back soon to read what Charlotte and Jasmine have to say about their work in the hospital.

What do you think it would be like to work in an animal hospital? I've never worked in a hospital, but as a casual observer, I think it is safe to say that no two days are ever the same!