Week 12: Last Crazy Fun Week at the Clinic

What we use to measure blood pressure

This is my last week and I have plenty of information to share the First one, is that I brought everyone their thank you cards and their bagels, which everyone was surprised. But happy especially Tracy, who was allergic to gluten. I managed to find her some gluten-free cookies at some of the organic stories that I live nearby. This week is also the week that I found my special event, which was helping Dr. Dugan and Tracy determine the blood pressure of Bella, the black retriever mix. It was interesting learning about the different symbols and meaning on the screen. 

I also got to see two pit bulls that were recently rescued. Thought they did get into a dog fight upon the rescuer arrival. They had to stay in an emergency animal hospital for a few days before coming to Auburn Hills, as the owner was getting the dog out all the employees at the clinic made sure that there were no dogs in the waiting room. Tracy and I went into the room and the dog named Banjo was in two casts, one was called a warm cast and the other was an IV cast. He also had a torn up face and many small puncture wounds. Banjo is people friendly and he was also the loser of the fight meaning he suffered more damage than the winner. We did keep him overnight just in case the wounds may be reopened. He was gone the next day with some antibiotics and new casts.

But the best part of this week was seeing how all the employees pitched in to get me a card and some expensive chocolate bars. This really made me happy and inspire me to do well in college so that one day I'll come back to visit them. I will be seeing them soon since May the 4th is when they will be doing an open house I believe they are showing off police dogs and raising money to pay for the dog's expenses. I'll have to post it in the group chat to see if any are willing to come. 

Week 11: Check your dog for Heartworm!

During the week we had two pit bulls come for their annuals, meaning they were tested and updated on their shots. one of the tests that are performed daily at the clinic is the heartworm test. the test is easy all that is need is a few drops of blood from the dog and is then place on a plastic object. They way you can tell if it's negative is when there is only one line, two lines mean that it's positive. Unlike parasites, heart-worm can spread to other animals. This type of worm is common for dogs who are outside a lot. 

Ways that you can locate the worm in dogs if it's coughing, reluctant to exercise, more tired, decrease in appetite or weight loss. The way heartworm is transferred or even caught by dogs is by an annoying bug. This bug being a mosquito, how it spreads the worm is by biting into their host's skin. Then they transfer parasites that enter the bloodstream and later gets pumped into the heart. If left untreated this can cause heart failure in dogs. The pit bulls were lucky that their owners caught it early, but they will be treated with stronger drugs which will wear the dog out

How the heartworm test is preformed

How heartworm is transferred

Week 10: Picture taking

Week ten was mostly taking pictures of everyone at the clinic and set up my presentation. I took pictures of everyone that has mentored me at the clinic alongside with Stacy who set up the whole internship. A few things that I learn there was that never everyone went to college in the U.S. Charley is from Germany and has only been practicing at the clinic for 4 months as our newest vet technician. Before she came here her last job was in wildlife management.  Misha is the second person I know that didn't go to college yet works the clinic. The way she learned was by on the job training, she has previously worked at hospitals before deciding that she is better with animals than people. 


Another fact that I didn't know about was how old the clinic is. I thought it was pretty old based on how the building looks. But in fact, it's only 11 years old, after Dr.Stamps open it. I few pictures I took was the objects themselves, we have two types of X-ray machines at the clinic. One for dog teeth and the other one is for regular body x-rays. Over the semester I got to see both in action, which we always put the dog under some drug to keep them still.  I was allowed by Dr. Stamps to take these two pictures of them. 

X-Ray for broken bones/others

For Teeth