I recently had a conversation with someone that asked a common question about dogs: “Why does my dog eat grass?” My retort: “Why does my kid eat crayons?” With a speculative look, the friend answered, “Well, because babies are gross.” HAHA! Yes, they are gross, but really, they’re just looking for something to do. Depending on what kind of parent you are, or dog parent, you tend to redirect them. Give the baby a rattle while slowly removing the crayons to avoid a fight. Throw a bone and see who can get it first, the dog or the baby. If it’s your second child, you might even be handing them a box of crayons to nibble on just so you can get the dishes done, so it really does come down to parenting style at any given moment. In most cases, regardless of what you’ve heard, dogs probably eat grass only because they are bored, especially if they are a puppy or younger dog. Do you see how well being a pet owner can prepare you for parenthood? In one study on this common problem, three-quarters of the dogs were found to eat grass, so it’s considered normal behavior by most veterinarians. If you are concerned that it may be more than boredom because other symptoms or signs accompany this behavior, here are a couple possibilities you might bring up with your veterinarian: Pica due to nutritional deficiency - Pica is the term used when a person or an animal frequently eats something that is not food. It can be caused by a lack of nutrients, which is being supplemented by whatever they have chosen to eat, in this case, grass. If this is the case, your dog might need a special diet, such as a high fiber dog food, to include more of those lacking nutrients. Upset stomach - Although the common theory that dogs eat grass to help them throw up, which settles an upset stomach, is probably more myth than anything, if you have a super smart pooch, just maybe, small maybe, they are self-medicating. In actuality, fewer than 10% of dogs have been known to be sick before eating grass and only a quarter of them vomit after eating grass according to studies about this phenomenon. If your dog is eating grass and throwing up frequently, ask your veterinarian in case it’s a bigger issue such as digestion problems. If it comes down to boredom, then get your dog a new toy or bone once in awhile to occupy its time, and more walks are always good for you and your pet. If they continue eating grass, they may just like it, just like your baby loves to chew on your shoes. Just keep in mind that some herbicides and pesticides used on your lawn (or places you visit) might be toxic, so keep your canines safe by checking up on your lawn care products. Wait, what’s that? Your kids don’t eat your shoes. Just my kid. Okay, so he is gross. Don’t be afraid to ask your veterinarian for advice if you think it’s more than boredom or you see other signs that there might be a problem with your pet eating grass. Now, are there any doctors that want to write a blog about my son’s general grossness? Something to tell me it’s normal? Oh well, he’s building immunities here. My shoe can’t be worse than big slobber kisses from the grass-eating (and who knows what else) Pyrenees that lives with us.
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School is about to start, which means there's a brand new crop of veterinary students getting ready to begin the long and arduous experience known as veterinary school. They're full of excitement, optimism, and probably feel like hot sh*t after being accepted into such a competitive program. My own journey in veterinary school began at this time nine years ago. Nine years! In some ways it seems like yesterday, and in some ways it feels like a lifetime ago. I couldn't resist the opportunity to impart some of my wisdom to brand new veterinary students or even students considering attending veterinary school (if by chance any of you are reading this blog). Veterinary school can be the best of times and the worst of times. It can be fulfilling but also soul crushing. Here are my tips on how to survive it. 1. Don't go it alone. In veterinary school, a support network of classmates is crucial. You may have gotten by on your own in undergrad, but veterinary school is a different ballgame. If your veterinary school is like mine and has an orientation weekend, take that time to establish relationships with your fellow classmates before veterinary school starts. Start a Facebook group for your class and arrange get-togethers before school. I was thankful someone in our class did just that. I met a classmate with a common interest: running. We got together for a run, and she even came to my husband's family dairy to help milk cows. A vegetarian from California dodging cow kicks and urine. Can you imagine? This individual became “my person” as Christina Yang from Grey's Anatomy would say, and she's still one of the best friends I've ever had despite now living across the country. Everyone needs a person or people. Also know that veterinary school often feels like you're the new kid in high school. There are cliques. Lots of them. The group of people you start with may not be your forever friends. You win some friends and lose some. And if you're like me, you may feel like you're floating around aimlessly until you find your place or your people, and that's okay. You'll find them. Establish a good group of friends. Veterinary school is tough, and you need people to lean on, as uncomfortable as that may seem. 2. Study groups! Never underestimate the power of study groups! You may be used to studying by yourself in undergrad, but I found study groups infinitely helpful during veterinary school. Veterinary school often requires sitting and studying for hours on end after class. And I mean HOURS. I didn't do well studying at home. Too many distractions. Libraries weren't really my thing. Too much quiet and my brain gets distracted. I need a low level of background noise, so coffee shops were my perfect study spot. Luckily, my uncle owned a coffee shop in downtown Columbia that provided the perfect study atmosphere, Lakota Coffee Company. My group of friends in veterinary school would meet and hold up a table in Lakota for hours on end while studying lectures. Most of us would study on our own, but it helped to have a group there to ask questions when they arise, lament on our social life (or lack thereof), and people watch. Believe me. There is plenty of people watching to do in downtown Columbia, MO. The one time I truly wish I hadn’t been studying so intently and focusing more on people watching was when I was truly zoned in on the work before me, studying my anesthesia notes, when suddenly I looked up and everyone had left the store. There was a crowd outside. I thought to myself, “What in the world is going on?” Then suddenly, my cousin pops through the door, talking about how a guy just got tazed right outside. Apparently my ability to focus on studying was better than I thought if I missed something like that. It just goes to show that finding a comfortable spot to study (that works for you) pays off. 3. Get as much experience as you can! This is very important before applying to veterinary school but also during. Veterinary school is a long, tough road. It's important to know what you're getting into by accepting all the experiences that you can, good and bad. You have to know if you have a passion for it in those good and bad situations, otherwise, the long road ahead won’t be worth it. It's sad when I talk to colleagues who feel the job is too difficult or they wish they would have done something else, like going to medical school to become a “real” doctor. It's hard saying if more experience before veterinary school would have changed their path. Sometimes it's hard to get a true feel for the profession as a student when the patients aren't your responsibility, or you're not running the practice. That being said, it's best to get as much experience in as many different practices as you can. I also worked at a veterinary clinic (the one I currently own) during veterinary school, and I'm glad I did. During first year when you're studying anatomy and microbiology for hours on end, you need some hands on experience to remind you why you're torturing yourself so much. 4. Eat real food and exercise! Admittedly, there are certain times in veterinary school like finals weeks where self care is off the table. However, it's good to take a break from binge eating Cheetos and sitting for hours on end to exercise and eat something without packaging. Running was my refuge during veterinary school. Hour break between classes? I would put in a quick six miles at Stephens Lake Park. I would then sneak back into class sweaty and in spandex shorts getting strange looks from my classmates. Not sure if they thought I was crazy for running or if they were turned off by the smell. I may have packed on a few extra pounds during the first two years of veterinary school, but I was able to avoid the freshman 30 at least. Also, even if you put on a little weight in the first couple years, do not despair. I lost all of it immediately when we began clinical rotations. Basically, even if exercising isn't your outlet like it is for me, take the time to do it anyway. Even if it's just three days a week. Might as well get in the habit now. It will clear your mind, keep you healthy, and save money on new scrubs when the stress eating kicks in. 5. Have a plan for debt control. It's no secret that the debt-to-income ratio is high in our career. Knowing that, it's important to have a plan to keep your debt as low as possible. I saw time and time again classmates borrowing the maximum each year while eating out every meal and using loan money to buy new vehicles. Then they got to the end of veterinary school and realized what they'd done and wondered how they were going to pay it off. Things I did to reduce my debt were driving a beater car (that I still drive), taking leftovers as much as possible, not having a smartphone, not having cable or dish, working during veterinary school, and shopping at Aldi. Now, almost five years out, I nearly have my student loans paid off. During my first five years of practice, I also bought a practice, bought a house, had a baby, and recently got diagnosed with cancer (future blog post to come on that one). Maybe it’s not wise to build a house, buy a business, and have a child all in the same year (and then get diagnosed with cancer). Seriously, I feel like I’m hemorrhaging money right now, but being frugal and padding my savings account has prepared me for all of these things. My point is that it’s possible to do all of those expensive, adult things while paying down your student loans simultaneously. Yes, I have a lot of debt now, but luckily student loan debt isn't a huge factor, making it possible to make other adult-like investments. I'm not trying to brag or say I'm perfect. I've been known to splurge on the occasional Coach purse or Stitch Fix. But know that it is possible to graduate with a manageable debt load. It takes a lot of budgeting, hard work, and sacrificing certain luxuries for a period of time, but it can be done However, that budgeting and hard work starts now, not after you graduate. 6. Make sure you like people on some level. I get a lot of students in my practice, and a common answer to the question of why they want to be a veterinarian is usually, “Because I love animals, and I don't like people.” That's fine, and a large part of our job is connecting with animals and treating them, giving them a better quality of life, but know that those animals come attached to a human that loves them, and that human is the person that you interact with most. The human is also the one that pays you. If you truly don't like people, you probably aren't going to like this profession unless you decide to specialize in radiology. 7. Make priorities and stick to them! Veterinary school and your career thereafter may seem like the most important thing right now. Those things are important, and it's important to take them seriously but while you're busy studying and taking on the world, remember to take time for important relationships in your life. Go on a date with your significant other. Go out to brunch with your best friends. Career is not the end all be all, and you'll eventually regret making it your number one priority. Basically, take all these things, find what works for you, and if you choose to stick with this career even after all the late nights and debt accrued because you still feel the passion for it, I promise, those stressful days will be worth it. This is a beginning, so get started on the right foot, whichever one that may be. . |
Jessica Stroupe, DVM
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August 2017
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