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Tag: Dogs

  • Hot dogs belong on a barbecue, not in the car

    Hot dogs belong on a barbecue, not in the car

    We’ve all heard horror stories of dogs left in hot cars by their owners; it’s an issue that comes around every year like the warnings of dangers of chocolate at Easter and mistletoe in December.

    Luckily, I’ve never seen a case brought into practice or even witnessed a dog shut into a car on a hot day – until this week.

    While shopping, I noticed a small Westie lying rather forlornly in the back of a parked car. The windows were cracked and it was a cloudy day, so the owners had obviously assumed popping into the shop for however long they’d intended would do their animal no harm. Not surprisingly, I was immediately concerned.

    Getting hotter

    Despite the clouds it was a hot day and muggy – and as it was only 11 in the morning, the temperature was only going to rise. No water had been left for the dog (either out of laziness or for fear that it would be knocked over), and although I could tell he was alert, he moved from seat to seat, clearly agitated and anxious.

    I’d hope the average passer-by would intercede, but being a veterinary student with all the worst-case scenarios scarred permanently into my brain, I didn’t feel right leaving it.

    The situation didn’t seem urgent enough to warrant bashing the windows in – especially as I had no idea if the owner was just around the corner. Instead, I checked with the shop the car park belonged to, and although it didn’t have a tannoy system they thanked me, took down the registration number of the car in question and promised to watch diligently until the owner returned.

    Legislation lacking

    Since then I have been brushing up the laws in the UK regarding leaving animals in cars, and although it is not illegal to leave a dog in a car (regardless of the temperature, or the windows being rolled up or down), the owner may be prosecuted if anything happens to the animal in that car.

    Given the number of dogs that die in hot cars, or shortly after being left in one every year, I think that this legislation needs to be reviewed. If you wouldn’t leave a child in a car unattended, why leave an animal that is arguably even more vulnerable?

    What to do?

    For anyone who finds themselves in the position I was – and there’s nobody around to help, the animal seems distressed or in danger, or you simply don’t know what to do – please know you are absolutely within your rights to call 999 and contact the emergency services. The best case scenario will be that the animal is absolutely fine and no intervention is needed – the worst case scenario is far, far worse.

    Try to check how long the car has been there by looking for parking tickets. If you’re unsure whether a dog is suffering within a hot car, look for signs of heatstroke/hyperthermia such as heavy panting or drooling, lethargy, collapse or vomiting.

    More advice can be found on the RSPCA or PDSA websites, and if in doubt, the RSPCA hotline (0300 1234 999) is available for advice.

  • Anaesthetic risks: when complacency sets in

    Anaesthetic risks: when complacency sets in

    Adverse events during anaesthesia in otherwise young and healthy patients is a rare occurrence. However, with low incidence of adverse events could come an increased risk of complacency on the part of the veterinary team.

    Take the following case as an example:

    Clicky
    Clicky the cat with Gerardo and his team.

    “Clicky” is a young and healthy cat that underwent a routine dental prophylaxis procedure. A few days after the procedure, she developed respiratory difficulties and presented to our emergency clinic.

    Possible problems

    She was diagnosed as having severe subcutaneous emphysema, most likely from a tracheal wall compromise that would have occurred as an adverse event from tracheal intubation.

    We need to handle cats very gently while they are intubated as their tracheas are nowhere near as robust as their canine counterparts.

    Overinflating the cuff is another cause of tracheal necrosis.

    Never be complacent

    What we think happened was the patient was repositioned during the dental procedure and the endotracheal tube was twisted in the process, causing either ischaemic compromise to a portion of the trachea or direct damage to the trachea.

    Thankfully, “Clicky” made a full recovery, but this case certainly highlights that we must never be complacent when it comes to handling our anesthesia cases.

    Low incidence does not mean no incidence, and individualised anaesthetic plans – along with in-depth training for the anaesthetist (who most often are veterinary technicians and nurses) – will help reduce the chances of adverse events occurring.

    Clicky's x-ray
    Clicky’s x-ray
  • Linear foreign bodies, part 3: should YOU take it to surgery?

    Linear foreign bodies, part 3: should YOU take it to surgery?

    In the previous post we covered what to look out for on ultrasound when assessing for a linear foreign body. Now we discuss the things you should consider before deciding to take the patient to surgery.

    Read the following statements and answer the questions – either yes or no…

    • Linear foreign body surgeries can be technically difficult and can take a prolonged period of time to perform. The longer the surgery, the higher the rate of complications. Are you (or do you have access to) an experienced surgeon who has performed a linear foreign body surgery before, and do you have an additional pair of hands for surgery to help reduce surgery time?
    • Were bacteria visualised or is their presence likely based on the comparison of the abdominal fluid glucose and lactate to peripheral blood (see previous post)? If yes, then septic peritonitis is present. Approximately 40% of dogs with linear foreign bodies will have septic peritonitis. This means you need to be prepared to perform a resection and anastomosis; sometimes two. Have you performed a resection and anastomosis before?
    • Often a combination of gastrotomy, enterotomy, and resection and anastomosis are required. Are you prepared to perform a combination of these surgeries?
    • Linear foreign body surgeries can often require a significant number of surgical instruments and consumables. Do you have Balfour retractors, forceps, clamps, additional kit for closure, supply of lap sponges, as well as substantial amounts of lavage and access to suction?
    • Linear foreign body patients are often critically ill due to septic peritonitis. They can present in shock and have biochemical derangements such as hypoalbuminaemia, which indicates the need for perioperative critical care. Do you have experience stabilising, performing anaesthesia and postoperatively managing a critically ill patient?
    • Hypotension can be caused by hypovolaemia; however, if the hypotension has not responded to reasonable volumes of a balanced isotonic crystalloid fluid – for example, 30ml/kg to 40ml/kg – then the hypotension could be caused by vasodilation from septic shock. This means vasopressor agents will be required in addition to crystalloids. Do you have access and experience with vasopressor therapy?
    Image: Gerardo Poli.

    Conclusion

    This list of questions is not meant to be conclusive or definitive, but merely a list of considerations before taking a linear foreign body patient to surgery.

    If you answered no to many of these questions, then consider referral to a facility that is prepared and equipped for the challenges that often accompany linear foreign body patients. However, if referral is not an option, consider the list above as a way to be as prepared as possible for tackling those situations.

  • The new etiquette of dog walking, post COVID-19

    The new etiquette of dog walking, post COVID-19

    Having been lucky enough to spend the past few days in Cornwall – at a time of year where dog walkers are plentiful and you can hardly take two steps without tripping over something small and fluffy – it’s struck me that COVID-19 has not only shaped the way we interact with one another, but also with other animals.

    Although the British public as a whole has never been labelled as “overly friendly”, we never used to go out of the way to cross the street to avoid each other; now, however, that’s become a regular occurrence.

    The way we behave around other people has had to change over the past few months, but I think it’s worth arguing that a change in the way we behave around pets is equally necessary.

    Group walks

    Dog walking in groups has obviously been reduced to a maximum of six (furry friends notwithstanding of course), along with many other social activities across the country, but it is still important to maintain social distancing and not be tempted to go back to old habits.

    Taking care when holding another dog’s lead, or getting tangled in a web of leads as your dogs are overwhelmed with seeing each other again – it’s also important to obviously be mindful of other members of the public, as six dog walkers marching down the street, each with one or two dogs in tow, is now the closest thing to a booked out concert and can seem quite intimidating to some poor person just trying to get to the shops.

    Up close and personal

    Approaching dogs you aren’t familiar with is a situation that should always be treated with caution, but coronavirus adds an extra element to consider.

    I was enjoying a pub dinner recently when a couple came in with the most adorable 10-week-old border collie and made the whole room erupt into a cooing, aww-ing mess (myself included). It seemed that everyone’s instinctual reaction was to approach, but in the current climate almost everyone stayed seated – if a little mournfully.

    So much has been written in the papers about whether our animals can transmit the virus, whether they carry it on their fur from where their owners have touched them, if they’re asymptomatic carriers (etc) that I don’t think a lot of people know what they should or shouldn’t do around other people’s pets. There is also the question of whether the owner would feel comfortable with you getting close enough to pet them in the first place – and as a further minefield, the addition of face masks can make it very difficult to read a persons facial expression to gauge their reaction.

    mask
    Face masks can pose a problem for dogs. Image by ivabalk from Pixabay

    Facing the facts

    Face masks can also pose problems for dogs, being a species that relies heavily on physical over verbal communication. The absence of facial cues can be disconcerting for some dogs and make them more nervous or prone to aggression than they might ordinarily be.

    Furthermore, if the dog in question did not grow up in the world of face-masks and visors, or has had a negative experience with a person wearing a similar item, it can cause it to be excessively wary, stressed and defensive. If a dog is too young to remember pre-COVID life, he/she may also not be used to heavy traffic or large numbers of people.

    It’s perhaps more important than ever to consider an animal’s individual circumstances before engaging with it. If in doubt, ask the owner for his or her permission and a little bit about the dog. For reference, a yellow harness or lead is often used to indicate a particularly nervous dog.

    Assistance dogs

    A final consideration that I’d hope would come naturally to everyone is to give way to people with service dogs, whether they are guide dogs or for other purposes.

    Although training is already underway for some guide dogs to learn to social distance, a lot of dogs were never prepared for these circumstances and a full two-metre distance isn’t always entirely possible or safe (for example, two people passing each other on a thin kerb beside a busy road).

    Being mindful of service dogs and taking care to give way when possible goes a long way in ensuring everyone can stay safe and well.

  • A nervous generation

    A nervous generation

    I read somewhere in the early days of lockdown that several rescue shelters have been experiencing 100% empty kennels for the first time since opening.

    This was truly heart-warming to hear, and seemed at first as a small silver lining around the dark clouds of the pandemic. However, it shortly came to light that demand for new pets, both young and old, was sky-rocketing.

    More households were finding they had more time on their hands. People were lonely and in need of company, or learning to better appreciate the outdoors during the unprecedented good weather and fancied a four-legged companion by their side.

    Think before you buy

    I’ve spoken before about the dangers of buying a pet during the passion of the moment, without proper consideration or planning, but as long as both are present I’m wholeheartedly for the mutual companionship that both dogs and cats can bring, especially in the current climate.

    It was only after a conversation concerning a friend’s adorable young dog – who is both the most friendly and energetic creature in the world and a little bashful when it comes to running into other dogs on her walks – that I began to think of the future and the ways in which lockdown might have inadvertently shaped the next generation of pets.

    106531876_359046358410663_3574193795805829036_n-2_sml
    Phoebe – pre-lockdown puppy of Eleanor’s friend Felix.

    Opening the social window

    A social window is a short period of time when dogs and cats are growing up, in which they are the most open and absorbent to new experiences.

    After this window has closed, these animals can become suspicious or downright terrified of anything they didn’t come across during their early days – sort of like the grandparents who are a little wary of the iPad, saying: “We never had that in my day.”

    This window has always posed a tricky obstacle in the past, as neither puppies nor kittens can legally be sold until eight weeks of age, but the social window for cats is nearing its end at around only seven weeks. So, in the past – unless breeders were well informed, educated, and responsible – lots of owners could end up with a bit of a scaredy-cat (I‘ll pause for the eye-rolls).

    The outside world

    During a young animal’s “social window” they should be experiencing a variety of scenarios and situations in both a positive and safe manner, to avoid sensitisation and steer towards a comfortable association. In the same way many of us have aversion to traumas of our past, our dogs and cats too can hold an almost unconscious grudge.

    The thing about lockdown that most new pet owners probably won’t have thought about is how it has unfortunately deprived an entire generation of young dogs and cats from experiencing enough of the world around them.

    The decreased access to outdoors and the different smells, sights, and sounds it brings might be leading to a wave of pets that will always be just a little bit trepidatious.

    cowering
    Image © feelmax / Adobe Stock

    Therapy?

    I think it needs mentioning that there is, for the most part, nothing wrong with a cautious pet – as long as the owner is aware of their pet’s disposition and knows how to manage it.

    Management can be as simple as taking them for walks during less busy times of the day, or brightly coloured coats, leads, collars or reigns to alert other dog walkers that they’re in need of a little extra space

    Addressing any behavioural ticks with proper therapy or training can also go a long way. Therapy in this case does not mean lying back on a sofa to delve deep into childhood traumas, but a gradual, supportive normalisation of stressful triggers.

    Next gen

    If we really are producing a generation of nervous pets, then it is the fault of no one person – no “bad” owners, mistakes, or malpractice; simply a product of the times – crazy, unique and unpredictable times.

    However, it is the responsibility of any owner to be supportive, observant, and proactive, regardless of your pet’s quirks or the times we live in – another example of why taking on a pet is such a huge commitment that can never be taken lightly.

    Consult with your vet if you have concerns and always be patient with your animals, just like us, they are trying their best to keep their balance on unsteady ground.

  • Look after each other – including the four-legged ones

    Look after each other – including the four-legged ones

    As much as we’re having to adapt our lives in so many ways during these strange and uncertain times, I think a lot of us take for granted that our pets will always be so reassuringly consistent.

    This is mainly because, while our own lives are currently being turned upside down and inside out, our pets haven’t a clue what’s going on.

    During this lockdown, most dogs are probably thrilled to have their owners at home to play with them and give them fuss almost 24/7, but the abruptly shortened walks and lack of pet play dates, on the other hand – maybe not so much.

    In their shoes

    I think a large part of getting through times like these is not to focus on what you don’t have, but to appreciate what you do. As my university moves to an online platform, I feel so lucky to have a supporting family to come home to, a warm house and good food. Thanks to the modern wonder that is social media, I can at least feel updated and informed when everything is so uncertain and confusing.

    By comparison, my cat, for example, is at a slight disadvantage. While she also benefits from home comforts, when it comes to being in the know, she, like the rest of our pets, is in the dark.

    To be honest, I quite envy her, and certainly the daily routines of a lot of domestic animals hasn’t changed at all. For more sociable pets like dogs, however, this sudden drawing back from the outside world will obviously be incredibly confusing, as well as frustrating, because they’ve no idea why everything has seemingly changed overnight.

    Monkey see monkey do

    Despite popular belief for so many years, animals can experience a large array of emotions – from elation and excitement to extreme anxiety – and this is partly because of their amazing ability to pick up what we, their owners, are unwittingly putting down.

    If you’ve seen a change in your pets’ behaviour over the past few weeks, do a quick self-inventory of your own. If you spend your days anxious, irritable or melancholy, your pets can pick up on this and act in kind, even if you don’t notice it yourself. They can see it in your body language, tone of voice, even in your level of eye contact.

    Of course, all emotions are heightened now – and justifiably so – but if you notice your pet mirroring your mood swings, it might be a good sign you need to be kinder to yourself, for the both of you.

    kitty
    Image by Kadres from Pixabay

    Help is always there

    Depending on where you are in the country, your local vets might be closed, running shorter hours or a very long journey away.

    In cases of the latter, this might make you worry if your need to take an animal to an appointment is justified, or if you’re in a densely populated area or are/live with an “at-risk” individual, you simply may not be comfortable leaving home to make this journey at all.

    No matter your current circumstance, I think it important to confirm that veterinary help, should you need it, is still readily available to you – just perhaps not in the form you’re used to.

    Changes

    A lot of vets are reducing their opening hours, not just to limit person-to-person interactions, but to make more time available for phone or email consultations.

    As of right now, emergency cases are still very much a legitimate reason to travel, and if you are unsure if your pet’s medical need constitutes an emergency, all it takes is a quiet phone call to your local vet for advice.

    Incredibly innovative changes have been made to the way practices operate in a staggeringly short space of time to help keep everyone safe so that the health of your pets doesn’t suffer, while brave and compassionate veterinary professionals are still going into work every day to ensure your pets are continued to be cared for.

    Basically, what I’m saying is: if in doubt, just call – there will always be someone on the other end of the line, willing and wanting to help.

    Give and take

    It’s of no doubt that our pets have a greatly positive impact on our mental health. Without even knowing it, they are helping us through some potentially isolating and scary times.

    With this in mind, I feel it only fair to return that kindness and take care of them in every way we can.

    If we all look out for each other, those with two legs and four, we will all get through this and out the other side.

  • A Merry Christmas for all the family

    A Merry Christmas for all the family

    Little things you don’t consider until you spend every waking moment looking at, thinking about, or learning about animals, is how one of our favourite times of year might impact the smaller members of our families.

    Awareness is rising on just how traumatic Guy Fawkes night can be for our furry friends, but there is a tendency to bring even more chaos inside the house during the Christmas period.

    Anxious pets, or those used to a small household, can find themselves overwhelmed when the whole extended family comes stampeding through the front door – it’s often exhausting for us, so just think how they must feel!

    The little things

    Take little measures like employing a commercial pheromone infuser in the house a few days before the festivities start to kick in, or give your pet a safe and quiet room in the house away from the main action where they can take refuge. Make sure, of course, that they have plenty of food and water and, perhaps, some comforting items like their favourite bedding and toys.

    Now don’t get me wrong, in my eyes Christmas is just as much about stuffing our faces as anything else, but making sure our pets don’t eat anything they shouldn’t is just as, if not more important, at this time of year.

    A few things to watch out for include mistletoe, holly and ivy, which are often in plentiful supply at Christmas. Take extra care with house rabbits or any other pets that would normally enjoy tucking into leafy greens. Small pieces of tinsel, plastic bristles from artificial Christmas trees, or wrapping paper can also cause stomach problems if ingested – and nobody wants a festive trip to the vets or dog sick in their stocking come Christmas morning.

    If you like to leave mince pies out for Father Christmas, make sure they are out of pets' reach. Image © Chris Leachman / Adobe Stock
    If you like to leave mince pies out for Father Christmas, make sure they are out of pets’ reach. Image © Chris Leachman / Adobe Stock

    Festive food

    Our favourite Christmas foods aren’t a good idea for our pets either, no matter how hard they beg. I know a lot of people are aware just how toxic chocolate can be to dogs and cats, but ingredients such as garlic, onions and alcohol are all equally dangerous. Mince pies also contain a lot of dried fruits, so if you like to leave some out for Father Christmas, take care to put them somewhere they can’t be snaffled before he arrives.

    It can feel nice to include our pets in the festivities by giving them an extra helping at dinner as well, but a lot of animals have very sensitive stomachs when it comes to diet changes, and a lot of dogs and many cats don’t have the ability to “self-regulate”, which means they will keep eating after they’re full – a bit like us. This can make them really unwell and have the opposite effect the owner desired.

    So, instead, the occasional biscuit treat or a new toy will probably go down just as well.

    Teachable moments

    Finally, teaching your family and friends all these little things can go a long way to protecting our pets over the holidays.

    Little things we take for granted like cracker bangs, festive fireworks, a busy house and lots of food are all parts of Christmas that we’ll never lose – and quite right! But that doesn’t mean our furry friends have to suffer during what’s meant to be one of the most joyful times of the year.

  • A different kind of exam

    A different kind of exam

    A veterinary career and examinations go hand in hand. I can’t count the number of papers I’ve sat over the last quarter of my life that have opened the doors to where I am now.

    If you manage to make it even half way through the vet course it can be assumed you have mastered the art of taking tests.

    But third year, I’m coming to realise, is a game changer.

    The same, but different

    I don’t think it properly dawned on me until our first day back during an afternoon practical. We were going over a routine canine examination, mimicking the role of any vet when a fresh patient comes through their doors; travelling from nose to tail, searching for abnormalities, checking mucous membranes, smelling inside the ears – the works.

    We also covered various injection sites along with their pros and cons, how and where to auscultate the lungs, and even how to wash our hands – which, it turns out, is far more complex than life up until now had led us to believe.

    Now don’t get me wrong, they hadn’t waited until third year to teach us all of this (a lot of it was basic stuff; the habits general practice workers could do in their sleep). No, the difference was that, in these practicals, we actually had real dogs.

    New experiences

    It sounds childish given our future line of work, but as any vet student will confirm, when we see an animal, any animal, but especially dogs, we get very excited. It’s not just the fact it’s a cute dog (although, I won’t lie to you, that’s also a big part of it, too), but getting to practice something you’ve spent hours, if not days, learning about in the classroom on an actual patient – even a volunteer one who’s really just there for the treats and attention is such a breath of fresh air and an experience to be jumped on.

    Palpating lymph nodes that aren’t sewn into stuffed animals, palpating an abdomen that isn’t lying on your dissection table – all these things are akin to luxury for new third years.

    But, with this rush of this new kind of learning, came to realisation of what they were preparing us for: the dreaded OSCEs – a whole new kind of exam.

    Image © stokkete/ Adobe Stock
    “Before long, we won’t be able to pass every test they throw at us by last-minute reading and flash cards” – Eleanor Goad. Image © stokkete/ Adobe Stock

    Growing up

    It’s always difficult having to start over or break out of an old routine into a new one, but when you go from pre-clinical to clinical you pretty much have to do just that. As you and your cohorts shuffle ever closer to becoming real full-fledged vets, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that you get treated more and more like one, and are expected to act a little more like one.

    Before long, we won’t be able to pass every test they throw at us by last-minute reading and flash cards. Attention to detail, compassion, patience and professionalism will begin to carry the same weight as memorising words from a page.

    In my mind, this can only be a good thing; a little scary, perhaps, but it’s also a nice reminder of where we’re headed. Working with real animals, working on problem solving – it all helps to make the future a little more tangible and less of an abstract concept.

    I don’t know how I’m going to shape up with this new style of assessment coming my way, but I’ll certainly give it my best.

  • Keeping pets happy in the heat

    Keeping pets happy in the heat

    The English summer, though tardy as usual, has finally arrived – and while this is cause for celebration among humans, I thought it best to share a few words of caution about keeping our furry friends equally happy as the temperatures rise.

    Around this time of year, vets get a surge of patients coming in with signs of heat stroke, sunburn and dehydration – conditions that can often be prevented with just a few changes to routine and a little extra care.

    Unfortunately, dogs can’t sweat through their skin as we can, and rely predominantly on panting, drinking and radiating heat via their noses and paw pads to keep them cool. For this reason, a number of factors should be considered when it comes to making sure your pet is comfortable and healthy in the hotter months.

    Heat hints

    Looking for signs of panting and lethargy are good ways to tell if your pet is getting uncomfortable, but a good rule of thumb is: if it’s too hot for you in shorts and a T-shirt, it’s probably too hot for your dog in his permanent fluffy jumper.

    If your dog requires a muzzle, try to find one that allows it to drink and pant, to help it regulate its own temperature.

    On days at the hotter end of the spectrum, it’s also a good idea to walk your dog during the cooler hours – such as in the morning or evening/late afternoon – rather than at midday when the pavements are hottest, as cement and gravel that is too hot can burn its foot pads.

    Five second rule

    Blue Cross recently posted about a “Hot Day 5 Second Rule” for judging whether it’s too hot to walk your dog. It advises to stand on the pavement barefoot and if it’s too hot for you to bear after five seconds then it’s also too hot for your dog’s feet.

    It’s not just dogs, though – cats only sweat through their paws, so they, like dogs, will often choose shadier spots and/or sprawl themselves out over the coolest place in the house or garden they can find.

    However, unlike dogs, cats only use panting as a last resort, so if you see your cat panting, it’s a definite indicator you need to help it cool down. If your cat prefers the indoors then by making sure your house is ventilated and cool, with lots of water in supply, it should be pretty self-sufficient, as cats often are.

    If you have an outdoor cat, restricting its access to the garden on the hotter days of the year may seem cruel, but it is probably the best thing for it – especially if you’re intending on leaving the house, and won’t be around to let it in to drink and take shelter if it needs to.

    Hot exotics

    I haven’t seen a lot mentioned online about caring for your exotic pets in a heatwave, so I thought I’d briefly touch on it here. Of course, I’m not an expert, and if you wanted professional advice on how to properly care for your snake, lizard, bird and so on then asking your local vet is definitely the best course of action.

    However, small factors exist that people tend not to think about, such as turning off the heat mats and/or lamps in your reptile cages, as they’re not always needed when the external temperature is suitably high. Making sure cages aren’t in direct sunlight, but also aren’t in a draught, can be a fine line, but is also imperative.

    This goes for bird cages as well, and it can also help keep the cage cool to keep it lower to the ground (since heat rises) and, of course, provide plenty of water – both for drinking and bathing in certain bird species.

    Subtle signs

    We all want the best for our pets, and it can be easy to forget their needs are often different to ours in subtle, but important, ways. Knowing the signs of when your pet is happy and when it is not is the best way to help prevent issues such as heat stroke and lower the number of cases seen in practice.

    And, as always, if you’re unsure what signs to look for, or what precautions to take at any time of year, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with your vet to get some helpful advice.

  • Always on: a new perspective

    Always on: a new perspective

    It was a couple of weeks before I set off for Bristol and an uncertain, but exciting life on the vet course that my mother – who’s been a member of the medical field for many years – began pointing out various dogs and cats to me as we passed them, stating that, once I began studying medicine, I would never look at these animals in quite the same way.

    They would be patients, not just pets, she reminded me. In the same way she herself subconsciously clocked subtle signs and symptoms in the people she interacted with day to day, not even meaning to look for things a person without the same training or knowledge would ever think to look for.

    At the time, I was dubious. To my mind, a cavalier King Charles spaniel would always be, to me, an adorable cavalier King Charles spaniel. Two years on, I can, perhaps begrudgingly, admit to her she was right.

    A blessing and a curse

    I think one of the greatest strengths of any medical profession – their extensive and almost unfathomable reserve of knowledge – is also their greatest curse.

    There’s a reason they say doctors and nurses make the worst patients – it’s most likely because when you‘re drilled over your 5-year to 6-year course – whatever your poison – to consume gargantuan amounts of knowledge about anatomy, physiology, microbiology and how it all goes wrong, when it comes to your down time, you can’t just switch that off.

    There’s no way to know all you need to know between 9am and 5pm, and then just un-know it until you need it again the following morning. Knowing everything that can and could go wrong is perhaps one of the plethora of reasons why medical staff – human and veterinary – suffer from stress the way they do.

    Can’t help but think about…

    To put this into context for you, I am a lover of fluffy breeds and, aside from empathising with them a little over the hotter months, I didn’t ever think too much about them in the way of anything remotely pathological.

    Now, though, I can’t help but catch a glimpse of what is undoubtedly a very well-cared for animal without thinking about the dermatitis, the ear mites, the conjunctivitis…

    I don’t want to be thinking about that, I can assure you. I’d much rather be thinking about the adorable dog I’ve just witnessed – but take it from me, it’s a really hard thing not to do; much like being told not to think about elephants and then finding yourself only thinking about elephants.

    Wealth of knowledge

    Don’t get me wrong; I love having this ever-growing pool of information at my fingertips. But is the knowledge of every disease or parasite I could ever contract slightly stressful? Yes. Is the act of learning all of these also somewhat stressful? Also yes.

    But learning all this is half the reason any of us decided to become vets, doctors, nurses and so on in the first place. There’s a lot of good that can be done with it. For starters, I was completely unaware of the medical issues surrounding brachycephalic breeds until my first year on the vet course. If vets don’t know the worst that could happen, how can they advise owners on how to prevent or manage it?

    One of the greatest responsibilities of medical practitioners is to educate; to pass the knowledge on. It will be a part of your life in a much wider capacity than just your career, so it’s not something to be scared of, but taken advantage of.