One of the more challenging times in veterinary school is preparing for the final weeks. During those weeks, anxiety levels and caffeine intake increase quickly, and survival mode is on. You might be sleep-deprived at the end of each semester, but you must pass your test. Today, I wanted to share some recommendations on how […]
National Poison Prevention Week: Chocolate Toxicosis
Last month, there was an increase in the cases of chocolate poisoning in veterinary hospitals. We all love chocolates and often give them as gifts, but pets should not eat them. Chocolate is very toxic to dogs because of its main ingredients: theobromine and caffeine. Both ingredients cause adverse effects on the cardiac, gastrointestinal, and […]
Women in Veterinary Medicine
Nowadays, women are the majority of students entering veterinary schools in the United States. When I was in high school and started shadowing in the veterinary hospital, all my mentors were males. I did not have a female veterinarian role model until my senior year when I met an animal science professor and veterinarian. I […]
Working in Emergency Veterinary Medicine
As with every area of veterinary medicine recently, emergency medicine has seen an overwhelming increase in patients. I’m lucky enough to have worked in a busy, high-level medicine critical care center in a very populous city. At this clinic, we see intense, university-level cases including severe diabetic ketoacidosis, snake bites, trauma, and many more. I […]
Shelter Medicine Externships for Vet Students
Gaining surgical experience in a shelter environment is essential for any veterinary student. The more we practice how to use the spay hook or how to do intradermal sutures, the more confident we will become. Here I wanted to share some great shelter medicine opportunities to gain more surgical experience or explore this field. ASPCA […]
My Favorite Dental Products for Dogs and Cats
Dental care is essential to maintaining a pet’s overall health. Over the past few years, dental disease has become one of the most common concerns in dogs and cats. There are a lot of pet dental products available in the market and, many times, clients want to know which dental products I recommend. Today, I […]
How to Talk About Pet Dental Care
One of the most common concerns in general practice is periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is progressive and painful, affecting a pet’s overall well-being. For that reason, it is so important to talk about pet dental care at home and in the clinic. When speaking with owners, I start my dental consult by explaining the stages […]
Q&A with Dr. Andrea Hernandez-Bures: The Role of A Veterinary Dermatologist
Dr. Andrea Hernandez-Bures was born and raised on the island of Puerto Rico. She went to the University of Puerto Rico for her undergraduate studies and later went to Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine for her veterinary degree. Following graduation, Dr. Hernandez-Bures completed a small animal medicine and surgery rotating internship in southwest […]
Tips for Getting Exotic Animal Experience
My background is in wildlife biology. My bachelor’s degree was in wildlife and pre-veterinary medicine. Before I got into vet school, I worked at a wildlife rehabilitation facility; however, once I got into vet school, I realized that I was lacking the hands-on experience. For one, there wasn’t a lot of free time to gain […]
I Hear a Heart Murmur: What Now?
Something that has always confused me, even before vet school, are heart murmurs. What is a heart murmur? Where do they come from? Why do some of them go away when some are very serious? These questions and more have left me wondering for several years. Finally, in my last semester of the didactic portion […]
