4 down, 48 to go

And so ICU ends, not with a bang or a whimper, but rather a nicely busy, but not crazy night. I had one patient to call my own, a nice pup who ate something he shouldn’t, and who happened to have one of those incredibly nice owners that makes me so freaking glad I chose veterinary medicine as my profession. Observe:

Phone: ring ring!

Me: Emergency, this is Elizabeth, how can I help you?

Phone: Hello Elizabeth. I have a x-year-old, y-pound Standard Poodle who just ate z-ounces of baking chocolate, and I was wondering how worried I should be? 

(We later found that she was exactly accurate about her dog’s weight, and knew how much chocolate because the dog had meticulous unwrapped one bar and eaten it as she unloaded the groceries.)

Me: Hmmm, that’s an excellent question. Would you mind giving me your phone number so that I can consult with the doctor, and call you right back?

Phone: Not at all! 

We figured out that the amount of chocolate was indeed toxic (if it had been milk or white chocolate it would have been fine, but baking and dark chocolates are the most toxic); I called her back and let her know that she should bring him in as soon as possible. “I’m on my way, ” she said immediately. When I warned her that there would be an emergency fee she said: “As long as my dog is safe, I don’t care at all.” 

When she got to the hospital, maybe 15 minutes later, she was just as sweet in person as she had been on the phone, and her dog, though a bit hyped up on chocolate, was just as great to work with. Sure, he was a tinesy bit CRAZY, but really very sweet and handsome. We managed to induce vomiting (mmm, kibble and chocolate!), gave him some activated charcoal just in case, and sent them on their way. By the time he had left, he had calmed considerable, and his temperature and heart rate had falled to normal values. It was gratifying to be able to treat a case, beginning-to-end, and with a happy resolution and a satisfied client. 

So next up is Dermatology, and I have high hopes. I’m with a good group (again! yay!), the hours should be MUCH more forgiving, and I found a pair of comfortable but stylish shoes to wear since my tattered sneakers won’t cut it anymore. It’s the little things, right?