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Back to the Grind
11 years ago
Spring break is over, time to get back to my boring classes. Had jury duty over the break, and it was every bit as boring as I thought it would be, and then some. But at least it only lasted a day.
The Pre-Vet Symposium was fun. A 3 hour drive got my uni's club to the vet school, and after a meh dinner (with yummy rolls!) and a restless night, we started our series of lectures and labs. The lectures were much more fun than the labs, and it was really nice to learn stuff besides the physics lenses or 'what is a cell' review that college is determined to make me repeat in my sleep. Here's some fun facts of what I learned!
There are 12,063 zoonotic diseases (ones that can transfer between animals and humans)
Ultrapotent opioids used for anesthesia. Takes the large animals down fast, will kill humans in no time.
At some zoos, 'shoot to kill' teams are trained annually, in case a dangerous animal escapes.
Behavioral training: To ensure safety of keepers, vets, and animals, and to limit anesthesia and its risks.
'Station': go to a certain spot for various purposes
'Target': maintain contact with item, like a ball on a stick
Get on a scale to be weighed
'Open mouth': for exams, oral medication, or tooth brushing
'Present paw/flipper': animal will offer forearm, for exams, nail trimming, blood draws
Tolerate touch: allow ultrasounds, injections, blood draws, listen to lungs/heart, take temperature, take X-rays, ear exams, tortoise rests chin on palm, tolerate eye drops
breathe on command: to take gas anesthesia
Most animals can be trained, as long as you can find what motivates them
Even alligators, snakes, and turtles can be trained, though it takes a while since they may not eat daily.
There are animal STDs.
There are very few nutritionists in exotics, or manuals for feeding them.
SWAG: Scientific Wild Ass Guess
Turtles are very hardy and heal well, especially their shells.
Seals are prone to eye problems and dental diseases.
Giraffes have a 30% mortality rate when anesthetized, due to neck trauma. Also, they don't store fat.
The hyrax is most closely related to the elephant. This little guinea pig like animal has a ruminant digestive tract.
Rhinos love getting belly rubs.
The Pre-Vet Symposium was fun. A 3 hour drive got my uni's club to the vet school, and after a meh dinner (with yummy rolls!) and a restless night, we started our series of lectures and labs. The lectures were much more fun than the labs, and it was really nice to learn stuff besides the physics lenses or 'what is a cell' review that college is determined to make me repeat in my sleep. Here's some fun facts of what I learned!
There are 12,063 zoonotic diseases (ones that can transfer between animals and humans)
Ultrapotent opioids used for anesthesia. Takes the large animals down fast, will kill humans in no time.
At some zoos, 'shoot to kill' teams are trained annually, in case a dangerous animal escapes.
Behavioral training: To ensure safety of keepers, vets, and animals, and to limit anesthesia and its risks.
'Station': go to a certain spot for various purposes
'Target': maintain contact with item, like a ball on a stick
Get on a scale to be weighed
'Open mouth': for exams, oral medication, or tooth brushing
'Present paw/flipper': animal will offer forearm, for exams, nail trimming, blood draws
Tolerate touch: allow ultrasounds, injections, blood draws, listen to lungs/heart, take temperature, take X-rays, ear exams, tortoise rests chin on palm, tolerate eye drops
breathe on command: to take gas anesthesia
Most animals can be trained, as long as you can find what motivates them
Even alligators, snakes, and turtles can be trained, though it takes a while since they may not eat daily.
There are animal STDs.
There are very few nutritionists in exotics, or manuals for feeding them.
SWAG: Scientific Wild Ass Guess
Turtles are very hardy and heal well, especially their shells.
Seals are prone to eye problems and dental diseases.
Giraffes have a 30% mortality rate when anesthetized, due to neck trauma. Also, they don't store fat.
The hyrax is most closely related to the elephant. This little guinea pig like animal has a ruminant digestive tract.
Rhinos love getting belly rubs.
Glad you had a good Spring Break.