#NerdsUnite: The secret life of a veterinary technician

<editorsnote> Nerds, meet my buddy Lindsay. She and I met ... well, somewhere in the social space. I think we might have started talking through this site directly, then through facebook - maybe ... I'm not sure. But she's awesome. I talk to her on twitter almost every day, and she's really rad and TOTALLY a big huge animal lover. Like crazy huge!! In these series of posts she will be talking about her life and random adventures with sometimes more than two legged creatures. I guess there's only one more thing left to say ... HIT IT LINDSAY!!</editorsnote>

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @TheCraftafarian

This post is not for people who think of pets as *just* a cat or dog or whatever animal. For some people they are family members and they are deserving of such respect. 

Today was a rough day. Ok to be honest this last week has been kind of rough. I've been having headaches and migraines on and off for about two weeks now, it's probably the weather. Here in Florida it’s been overcast and rainy almost every day. It sucks but we really need the rain, or so I'm told.

Anyway, some of you guys may remember back in February when I wrote the post "In Memory." It was for a client of mine who had passed away. I had become pretty close with the family over the last almost two years of nursing their kitties back to health and pet sitting for them. The family is clients of my clinic and of my pet sitting business (and now I'm glad to call them friends). I have spent many evenings syringing food into their cats mouths and medicating them. They've invited me over for dinner and drinks. They are just genuinely the kindest people I've ever met and when Don passed away my heart ached for them. Today we had to euthanize one of their kitties and I feel like a part of me is missing. Actually right now I feel really numb and its taken me hours to get myself together and right this post. The wonderful kitty named Cally lived to almost 17 years old with a number of ailments including cancer. She never suffered, her mom always made sure that if it got to that point we would let her go peacefully. That day was today. She was a diva, a princess, a silly little grouch, but we all loved her.

This is an old photo that the daughter posted on Facebook today. We should all remember Cally plump and happy. 

Thank you Cally for every moment of happiness you gave your mom and rest of your family. I know you waited as long as you could after your daddy died, your mommy needed you. Even though you were sick and felt so bad, I know you recognized my voice and purred, for that I will never be the same.

#nerdsunite

Click here to follow Lindsay on Twitter!

#NerdsUnite: The secret life of a veterinary technician

<editorsnote> Nerds, meet my buddy Lindsay. She and I met ... well, somewhere in the social space. I think we might have started talking through this site directly, then through facebook - maybe ... I'm not sure. But she's awesome. I talk to her on twitter almost every day, and she's really rad and TOTALLY a big huge

animal lover. Like crazy huge!! In these series of posts she will be talking about her life and random adventures with sometimes more than two legged creatures. I guess there's only one more thing left to say

... HIT IT LINDSAY!!</editorsnote>

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @TheCraftafarian

Last week I was planning transport for nine kittens and a mother cat. The exchange to foster mom went well and she told me to call/text her if we have more abandoned kittens. Shes a really nice person with space to foster animals AND she works with a rescue so shes more likely to be able to get the kitties help that way. Thats awesome to know that we have a foster home available if needed.

The kitten I have at my house (fostering) has been doing great. Last week she started playing and this week she started purring! Sooo cute!

Also on thursday I recieved a call from the Center for Birds of Prey informing me that the owl I found was being released. They invited me to come but I was unable to attend :( But I was so happy that he was finally well enough to be released. Ok I think thats all the animal updates I have :) (anyone want a kitten??)

In other news my boyfriend was promoted to manager at the restaurant so he and the boss asked me to help them with social media marketing! I set up their twitter and claimed their facebook page. I also have been running the facebook account for my vet clinic (and recently started twitter for the clinic also)--so even though I have experience with the clinic, my personal social networks and for my businesses its still a learning experience. But its kind of exciting, right now I just get to eat pretty much whenever and whatever as payment but if its successful then we will discuss further compensation. Yay! If you'd to see the page!
Its still in progress :)

#nerdsunite

#NerdsUnite: The secret life of a veterinary technician

<editorsnote> Nerds, meet my buddy Lindsay. She and I met ... well, somewhere in the social space. I think we might have started talking through this site directly, then through facebook - maybe ... I'm not sure. But she's awesome. I talk to her on twitter almost every day, and she's really rad and TOTALLY a big huge animal lover. Like crazy huge!! In these series of posts she will be talking about her life and random adventures with sometimes more than two legged creatures. I guess there's only one more thing left to say ... HIT IT LINDSAY!! </editorsnote>

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @TheCraftafarian

Lately we have had an overwhelming number of kittens abandoned at my clinic. I'm not referring to the two recent kittens my clinic has taken in as fosters. I mean like I get to work and there are boxes taped closed with holes cut for air waiting. Or in this recent case they broke out of whatever duffle bag thing that was made into a cage--and were sitting on top of it! See!! I had to whip out a can of food I had for a foster to convince them not to run away--you can see the can in the photo as well as the mother cat tied to the pole. 

There was a note taped to it. It said that her mom was making her get rid of the cats and to please take care of her babies. It said the other mother cat was sick and she was the mom of the smaller babies. Unfortunately there was only one mother cat when I got there. She however took over nursing all nine kittens!

The extremely sad part of this is that if people just educated themselves sometimes they wouldn't be in this mess. First off--spay and neuter your pets. Not just for reproductive reasons, or behavioral reasons, but also it vastly reduces the likelihood of developing reproductive organ cancers (mammary, ovarian, testicular, prostatic---yeah animals get all those cancers too). Secondly we actually have a sign that asks people to not leave their pets here AND also lists phone numbers/address where you can safely surrender your pet to SPCA which is a no kill shelter. It also lists the County Shelter for strays. It's not that we don't want to help stray animals, it's that we aren't able to help strays or our clients in need if we continue to have multiple animals abandoned on us. Thankfully with the help of my friend Kari I was able to find a rescue volunteer who will foster them until she can get them into her rescue group. FANTASTIC!

6 months ago we had a litter of 5 kittens dumped. We were able to place them into a rescue (who the entire time made snarky comments about the fact they were all black--apparently they don't get adopted as well). By christmas all those kittens found homes. 3 months ago a litter of 7 kittens were dumped, same style, same little faces (I think they were related). We have been unable to place them into a rescue (again all black) but we have found 4 of them homes. Then we took in two stray kittens. THEN wednesday I pull up the driveway to the clinic and I see the scene above. It's been really overwhelming. After tonight we will be back to 5 fosters. Which was already a lot. Of course my veterinarian has tested them for felv/fiv, dewormed, tested for parasites, and vaccinated--so that's another reason its overwhelming. The cost. 

Whew, so this all got resolved today. I have a long 4 hours ahead of me but I have a lot to do all in the name of kitten rescue! Geez, I hope you guys aren't totally tired of my animal posts :)

#nerdsunite

<3 Lindsay
twitter: @thecraftafarian
blog: craftafarian.blogspot.com
email: craftafarian at gmail d c

#NerdsUnite: The secret life of a veterinary technician (Success Stories)

<editorsnote> Nerds, meet my buddy Lindsay. She and I met ... well, somewhere in the social space. I think we might have started talking through this site directly, then through facebook - maybe ... I'm not sure. But she's awesome. I talk to her on twitter almost every day, and she's really rad and TOTALLY a big huge animal lover. Like crazy huge!! In these series of posts she will be talking about her life and random adventures with sometimes more than two legged creatures. I guess there's only one more thing left to say ... HIT IT LINDSAY!!</editorsnote>

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @TheCraftafarian

It's always nice to be able to share a sad story that has had a happy ending. About two weeks ago one of our regular clients of the clinic brought a little 5 week old orange and white male kitten because he appeared to have an injured hind paw. (Side note: These people are AMAZING, they are the epitome of "good Samaritans." Although they aren't wealthy by any means they do absolutely everything they can to help the little stray kitties in their neighborhood. They have spent a lot over the last few years on their own cats and strays that eventually become theirs as well.) She reported that the day before the little guy was running around apparently normal. Then this morning she found  him in her yard limping. He was one of three kittens that suddenly showed up in their yard a few days prior. The mom was nowhere to be seen. Upon examination of his paw we discovered that he had a partial amputation of his leg by unknown trauma. Poor little boo. I assume many people would think euthanizing him would be in the best interest of their checkbook (he was a stray after all) and the kitten. My vet exchanges a look with me and before we could say anything the foster mom asks "What can we do to fix him?" The doctor and I both smile. We were all glad to give the little guy a fair shot at life. We named him Hercules.

After determining that we should amputate--rather than leaving a partial limb that he may hobble on and accumulate pressure sores/arthritis--we discussed with the foster mom and she gave us the go ahead. The concern was that he was 4-5 weeks old and less than 2lbs. He was 1.4 pounds to be exact. We weren't sure if we would be able to intubate him with an endotracheal tube that would administer oxygen and isofluorane anesthetic gas. The plan was if we could intubate him do a complete amputation of the limb at the hip joint. Since he was so young we knew he would do extremely well and likely not even realize he was missing anything. If he was too small we would clean up the wound and bandage it until he was big enough to do surgery. In the meantime we put him on some pain medication and antibiotics it was Saturday so we would do surgery Monday after making sure he was ok otherwise. Blood work was normal. Surgery day came around and the little tube we had fit perfectly! Proceed to surgery!

Since he was the youngest and smallest patient I have ever anesthetized I spent several hours the night before reading articles about neonatal/pediatric veterinary anesthesia, drug dosages, after care, special recovery instructions. There were a few things we had to do different. Usually you fast for about 12 hours prior to surgery but with so young and small patients you worry about their blood sugar (blood glucose) getting too low, we had to feed him about 4 hours prior to surgery and then fast. I read their heart rate is generally a good deal higher than older (but still young pets) under anesthesia. We had to stay on top of his temperature, they get so cold so quickly when they are so little. It was a very high anxiety hour for me but he did extremely well with no problems and the doctor did an amazing job on the surgery. I had one hand on his little chest for a lot of the procedure (under the drape) just making sure his little heart was beating (even though my monitors said so, you have to check manually!). He woke up a little freaked out but we all took turns cradling him in warmies (warm water bottle thingies) and towels. He finally fell asleep and once he fully woke up from anesthesia he was a happy camper. The next day his foster mom reported that he was attempting to RUN around the house on three legs and was chasing a ping pong ball as well as the other cats. 

The greatest news is that Hercules has found his forever home. He new mom and dad came by the clinic today to meet him and his foster parents. And of course it was love at first site and they took him home.

What a happy boy! Also he may have a new name, Roosevelt, with a Roo. I think that's cute, but I'm just glad that we found someone to love him.

#nerdsunite

<3 Lindsay
twitter: @thecraftafarian
blog: craftafarian.blogspot.com
email: craftafarian at gmail d c

#NerdsUnite: The secret life of a veterinary technician

<editorsnote> Nerds, meet my buddy Lindsay. She and I met ... well, somewhere in the social space. I think we might have started talking through this site directly, then through facebook - maybe ... I'm not sure. But she's awesome. I talk to her on twitter almost every day, and she's really rad and TOTALLY a big huge animal lover. Like crazy huge!! In these series of posts she will be talking about her life and random adventures with sometimes more than two legged creatures. I guess there's only one more thing left to say ... HIT IT LINDSAY!!</editorsnote>

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @TheCraftafarian

My most recent adventure was a quick trip to a local dairy farm. It's really close to my house, like 5 minutes away. I pass it all the time and I've always seen the sign but its never really registered to me that there was a working dairy farm minutes away from me. I think one day I was stuck behind someone really slow and I looked and actually read the sign. It stated they were open to the public only on Saturdays between 9am and 4pm. I've been meaning to go for the last two weeks but something always comes up and I'm not able to make it or I'm too exhausted from work. On the sign it says they have eggs, cheese, and honey. Every time I tell someone about the farm they are surprised there is one so close, most farms are further out in the boonies...I mean I was surprised there was one there! You never know what you will find when you actually stop and look around.

Today really wasn't the best day for me to attempt a visit but I knew if I kept putting it off there was a good chance that I'd never get around to it. After work I wanted to stop by the house I was pet sitting for to check on the kitties and give them more food. After that I knew I had to pass by the farm to get home so it was an easy way to force myself into it.

I turned down the dirt road and slowly drove past several cows and horses happily grazing on hay and whatever was available in there feed troughs. You could tell it was a small, family owned farm by the layout: some equipment here and there, pastures up front, long driveway leading to barn and allll the way in the back there was a house. There were little signs to point you in the right direction labeled "farm shop."Just the kind of place I was looking for!

At first it was slightly difficult to figure out where to park but you kind of just park wherever. They turned the entrance of the barn into a little shop. I walked in and the girl welcomed me. They had butter, biscotti, jams, jellies, cheese, and honey. They also usually have eggs but they were all out when I got there. I was told that they were out of several things and should have everything restocked next week. All I bought was some honey, it was a little more than I would have liked to spend on a big jar of honey ($7) but its from a local beekeeper so I figured "support local."

I tasted the two cheeses they had available. Tomme and Bleu Cheese. They are "Florida raw milk cheeses", you can see the website for more information about that. At first I didn't want to taste the bleu cheese but the other customer told me I HAD to try it. Now, let it be known I don't care for bleu cheese. I'll eat it, if I have to (now why would I have to?) but I won't go out of my way to have it. The bleu cheese I sampled was AMAZING. It is nothing like the bleu or blue cheese you get with wings or salad. Its very mild and creamy, it doesn't have that weird sharp perfumey taste. The Tomme tasted like a soft, mild parmasean, also yummy. The website says they also have coffee.  http://www.winterparkdairy.com/ I'm definitely going back next week for some farm food!

I spoke briefly with the girl running the shop. The cheese and butter is made on site from the dairy cows. The eggs are cage free (I hope that's why they are so expensive!) but are from a farm in Eustis, FL. The honey is local from Orlando, FL. I didn't get to ask much more because she had more customers. A mom and her cute little boy, probably 3 years old. They were there to tour the farm and see the animals. I thought it was really cool that they would do that when asked. I needed to get home to let the dogs out so I didn't stick around for the tour but I may try to get one next week.  

It was a nice experience and now good to know that I have access to some local farm products that don't have growth hormones, antibiotics, preservatives or other chemicals. This past week has been pretty good, I enrolled in school for my veterinary technician license and I am really looking forward to it! I start in the fall but I'll share more about that another time, once I get all my classes figured out. At work I had a career first, anesthesia of a 4 week old kitten. The surgery went very well and the little guy is doing great! I hope everyone is doing well and well you know, #nerdsunite.

#nerdsunite

Click here to follow Lindsay on Twitter!