I KNOW Nothing!

I know this is not about dentistry nor veterinary education and training.  But, I wanted to share it with you all none-the-less.

So, on April 28th, 2013 I shared this photo on my personal Facebook page:

I wrote the following under the photo:

So, this morning, I was so excited to climb up and see if we had eggs or chicks! Now, it is a good thing you weren't outside of my house as I was taking this picture, because you should have seen the bed head, old PJs and this 53 yr old teetering on a plastic step ladder getting attacked by the brazen, fitful mommy bird. You would have died of fright or laughter. Either way, you'd be dead and you wouldn't get to see this!


The different eggs certainly caught my attention and so I wrote further:

 So...we have squatters? Who belongs to who and what do I do? Do I get rid of the squatters? Do I let Nature run its course? What kind of eggs are they? The bombardier bird was small, brown with bright red mixed in. I am thinking Red House Finch. The one thing I am not going to do is turn on the light at night. We will have 8 cooked eggs!

Then I did some research and posted the following:
So, apparently, a Brown Headed Cowbird has laid eggs in my house sparrow's nest. Cowbirds do not build nests due to their wide migratory nature. So, they parasitise other bird nests. Usually the cowbird removes one of the host eggs and then she lays one or more of her own eggs in the nest. She is capable of laying 30-40 eggs over a 2-3 month period so she parasitises many nests. The eggs then hatch and the chicks are much bigger than the other chicks.  Not only will they starve out the host chicks, as they grow, they can literally crowd the other babies out.

Everybody posted opinions on how to handle it.  Literally, it was the most responded to post I have ever gotten (71 interactions).  They went from removing the larger, cowbird eggs to letting Mother Nature handle it.  I valued everyone's opinions but I really struggled with this.  I even went so far as to try to design a net to hang under the nest to catch anyone that was crowded out with the intention to take them to the area's licensed wildlife sanctuary/rehab.

OK...I wrestled with the decision as to how to handle the cowbird:house finch saga.  I chose to allow Mother Nature and the Universe to do as She does best...I figured it was Her responsibility to handle it and my name was not on this.

For days, I had chosen not to peek.  I was afraid my reaction would be that of disgust and disappointment.  But, yesterday I chose to see what had happened.  The video clearly shows what I found and my heart filled with the miracle of Spring and the joy of new life.

Within the last five years I am frequently reminded that I don't know everything and I don't have to understand all.  I have no idea why cowbirds lay their eggs in the nests of other birds.  I have no idea why wonderful people get sick.  I don't know why young men bomb innocent children and people.  I don't understand how miracles happen.  But, I have awakened to the beauty and joy available to us in those moments if we chose to see them.

This tiny house finch has chosen to love three big cowbirds as though they were her own.  She doesn't question why they don't look like her, or why they eat so much...she loves them unconditionally. She rises to the challenge and that is a Miracle.  People I love get sick but families and friends rally and gather and find strength and Love in moments they would have otherwise thought they could never survive.  Bombs go off and people run towards the danger to help a stranger instead of listening to the survival part of their brain that clearly says: RUN!

I am coming up on 54 years old and the older I get, the more I surrender to the fact that I KNOW NOTHING!  That statement sounds scary but it has offered me the most beautiful way to experience life.

Namaste', friends.

Vickie

I Can't Believe I am Admitting This!!!!!

True Story! I had already shared this on my Facebook page, but I thought it made a good story for a blog and a chance for you all to get to know me better!

Last week, I had the opportunity to lead an all day dentistry CE event for the Northern San Joaquin Veterinary Medical Association at the Modesto Junior College.  Thank you, Tim McDaniel, CVT and Dr Frankie Bonifacio for inviting me and providing such incredible hospitality.  But, travelling always carries its own challenges and this time was no different.

I landed after a nice, long flight to San Francisco. I fetched my luggage and made my way to the airbus that took me to the rental cars. I signed in and I was led to a lovely, young lady with a clip board. She informed me that all of the compact cars were taken but that she would upgrade me at no further charge to a larger car. No biggie! OK. 

So, we were wandering through the garage and I was in a bit of a hurry. She started naming off the available cars and in my head I think; "Sweetheart...I could care less which car." So, I saw this lovely blue car and blue is my favorite color...done (that's how smart people make decisions). So she took me over to the blue Kia Optima. We inspected the car for damage, I signed and she left me with the perky statement..."The keys should already be in the car".

Well, there were these two "key like" looking things in the console. They had buttons that looked like open lock, lock lock, open trunk and blare horn. But there is no metal key thing sticking out.

I sat there for what seemed like 30 minutes looking at this "key thing" thinking...how do I make the key pop out. Something has to go in the ignition. I looked for other keys. Nothing except a good tour of the car. Do I look like an idiot and ask that sweet 20 some year old blonde girl that has already engaged 3 other customers who have happily crossed over the grated speed bump to their happy California adventures? Are you kidding! No way! Any unexpressed "Y" chromosomes wandering though me, completely forbid my asking this kid that could be a child of mine (except for the rockin' body and blonde hair). 

So, I deduce "Maybe it's Bluetooth".  So, I confidently waved this "key thing" in the vicinity of the dash board....nothing. I pushed all the buttons...doors locked and unlocked, trunk popped open and I scared the bejeezus out of a 90 year old man walking in front of this blue piece of brilliant metal when I pushed the horn button. Still nothing.

Finally, I needed to check out the ignition. Wait..let me find my glasses. There...wait! A button says "ENGINE START STOP". 

It looks like a button. I push it. All of the lights go on but no engine sounds. "Push it again!", the left side of my brain says. Now the car gleefully bids me fair well. I pushed it again...lights went on and it showed me a lovely branch of a blossoming cherry tree and all the gauges move...but no engine sounds. I pushed it again..."Good bye". 

Five cars were inspected and are on their way and now that blonde chick keeps checking me out in the car...to which I smile and act as though I am completely under control, taking a call on my cell before I am on my merry way. Reality...I am embarrassed and warning: Do not come anywhere near me right now or you may be the next thing planted in the San Joaquin Valley.

Finally....through the completely dysfunctional self talk:
Vickie...you make a decision about which car to drive based on the color BLUE!
Vickie...you idiot.
Vickie... if you ask that child for help, she is going to tell all her friends about the 50 some year old moron and it will be on Facebook and that will get 1 million "likes" and someone you know will share it on PetED's wall! You will be found out and everyone will know you are a knucklehead.

Then...by Grace....a piece of random information I hadn't really assimilated when inspecting the car floated from the lovely right side of my brain into a folder in the left side of my brain and in my mind I saw an image from the back of the car saying........
Hybrid. 

I push that ignition button one more time...the car goes through its happy salutations and I hear nothing....nothing. But, I put the car in gear and it moves effortlessly forward. An electric car. OMG! What a simpleton! But, I smile to myself and think...my friends are going to love this. 

You know, dear readers....I shake my head when the "kids" at work don't know who Harvey Korman and Tim Conway are....but at least they would have been on the highway 40 spectacular, sunny minutes before me!

To the Heart of the Matter

To me this is the saddest of cases!

A very nice man brought his 8 year old, female spayed, King Charles Spaniel to our practice. The history was that he previously lost a King Charles to cardiac issues, a problem that commonly effects this breed.  That experienced devastated him and he vowed to do everything in his power to avoid cardiac issues in this next dog if at all possible.

We had been providing care for this dog for a number of years and early on the veterinarian heard an innocent systolic click when listening to the heart.  It was mentioned and this client  sought a cardiac consult and an echocardiogram immediately and spend upwards of $400 on that evaluation annually by a cardiologist.  All was well.  He wanted the best for his baby and he went to any lengths to provide that.

We recommended dentistry for his dog and this brought up a whole host of fears about anesthesia. He was afraid he may lose his dog.  We tried to assure him that with frequent professional care, we could provide the shortest and ultimately safest anesthetic experiences for his sweet baby.  We showed him how we have state-of-the-art monitors and that we have a dedicated anesthetist for the procedure.

He said he would consider this carefully.  

What he did, in an attempt to safe guard his beloved was to seek a second opinion.  He went to another practice.  They witnessed his concern and they offered to provide anesthesia-free dentistry and told him that that would be ultimately safest.  He provided this level of care for his dog twice.  The second time, they told him that they got most of the work done but that Nala was not allowing all of it.

Fast forward to a couple weeks ago.  This client came in for his annual exam.  He related to our veterinarian that his baby was dropping food and was eating very carefully.  This very compliant, gentle dog allowed us to show him that there were multiple mobile teeth and that his baby needed to have a deep cleaning and full mouth radiographs.  

Once we anesthetized this patient and obtained a full set of diagnostic X-rays, we identified 27 teeth that we needed to be extracted because of either greater than 50% bone loss or tooth root abscessation.  This man was horrified.  The work was provided and the pet is doing wonderfully.

What breaks my heart is that this man wanted the best for his dog.  He was not stingy with his money in relation to this dog.  He was misled that providing anesthesia-free dentistry would provide the same care for the dog as we would provide with the aid and expense of anesthesia.  In the long run, this King Charles Spaniel experienced long term periodontal infection and we know that that can negatively affect the heart...the organ he was so worried about in the first place.

Good morning!  I woke up this morning and there was a notification on my PetED Facebook page.  The notification was informing me that someone that I have not met, "liked" the page.  Such a nice feeling. So, I was having my cup of "wake-the-heck up" and found myself staring at PetED's logo and day dreaming.

While in Las Vegas at the Western States Veterinary Conference, I gave a technician one of my cards after we chatted for a bit about dentistry and X-rays at the Technician Fair.  She politely took the card and innocently asked; "If you teach dentistry, why didn't you design a logo around that and why the briefcase?"  So, I thought I would share how I responded about the PetED logo.

First of all, the name of the company; PetED.  It is true that at this point, most of the business is centered around veterinary dentistry.  I am the president and that is my clinical specialty and main focus.  However, I envision a company that has a much larger scope. Having been invited into almost 50 practices to teach dentistry, I am aware that some practices have areas other than dentistry that they would appreciate help expanding or further developing.  One of the common issues that comes up whenever I teach dentistry is anesthesia.  Once practices start doing full mouth radiographs and finding additional pathology, the patients are under general anesthesia longer.  That often necessitates a good look at the practices' anesthetic protocols and practices.  

That led me to know that I wanted the company to be the resource for any of their educational and training needs.  I can't be an expert in all disciplines. Fully embracing that fact, PetED has technicians that I have had the honor and pleasure of getting to know, that are considered experts in other disciplines that can be scheduled to consult for the company.

Why the briefcase?  Well, that is to show that PetED trainers come with materials for you to keep as references when we leave your practice.  If I train technicians how to perform regional nerve blocks, I leave you with pre-calculated dosage charts.  If I teach intraoral radiographs, I leave the practice with a CD of images that show the proper position for each image.  

The briefcase also shows that we are mobile.  We pack up and come to you (although we do have a wet lab site).  The practice could be in our geographic area or we frequently travel to other states as needed.  PetED is not limited to any geographic area. As a matter of fact, I am scheduled to speak to a group in Modesto, California in a few weeks.

The paw prints are pretty self-explanatory.  This is a small animal veterinary resource (although PetED does have access to one of the leading equine technicians in the country).  

The colors?  I wanted to be memorable and that yellow jumps out at you, hopefully catching your attention.  I want you to think of PetED and our trainers when you see that yellow and blue.

And why cartoon-type imaging?  I intentionally chose images and a font that invokes a feeling of fun!  Practice life can get intense but the educational experience does not have to be.  PetED is serious about the materials and the information shared but the trainers PetED has chosen are intentionally ones that are respected but share the information in comfortable and relaxed way.  When a PetED experience is schedule, I want the staff to want to be present that day.  Education should be something to look forward to instead of something to avoid.

Well, as I look out the window and see the very early March buds on some of the trees, I marvel at the miracle of Spring.  This is a time of hope and rebirth.  The seed of PetED was planted in the fall and through the darkness of winter there was a lot of underground work done in preparation for its birth.  My hope is that the PetED trainers will be able to plant the seeds of understanding and inspiration to revitalize how you experience this profession you so passionately sought.

Have a spectacular day!

Vickie

Did I just say YES?

Thirty two years working as a veterinary technician and what an exciting journey that has been.  

In 1981, I first worked for a very small veterinary practice.  A mom and pop practice, if you will.  I thought I was happy.  I answered the phones, cleaned cages, ran stool samples and sterilized instruments.  I thought that was what a veterinary technician was supposed to do and not knowing differently, I did that with all my heart. 

Then I was in a bad automobile accident and suffered 2 fractured cervical vertebrae and was told I had to take 8 weeks off to heal.  As the only technician on staff, it became obvious that the practice would need help to function.  I needed to look elsewhere for a new job.

After recuperation  I saw an ad looking for a veterinary technician in a larger practice.  The name of the hiring veterinarian was Dr Fox. After the interview, he offered me the position. I believe my first bit of marketing secured the position for me.  I found a fox horn lapel pin and secured it to my tweed blazer.  The pin was noted and I had just gotten hired not only as a technician in this practice but as the supervisor of all in-patient care.  

Just between you and I, I was ill prepared for this position.  I had not anesthetized a patient since my externship and I had never supervised a soul.  But, I said "yes", knowing I had a lot to learn and I was ready for the challenge.

A few years later, Dr Patricia McManus, director of the Manor College Veterinary Technician program called and asked if our practice could be an externship site. We discussed expectations but I really did not know what I was getting into or if I really wanted to teach.  This would be a lot of work on top of a full time clinical position, but I said "yes".  

Not long after that, program directors changed.  Dr Beth Thompson asked me if I wanted a position as an adjunct instructor.  I really didn't know how much work was required of an instructor and what was involved in course creation and what leading people right out of high school would be like...but, again, I said "yes".

During this time, Dr Fox asked if I wanted to go with him to a dentistry wet lab at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine.  I had been performing crude dental cleanings but I had little to no training.  Always willing to learn and grow I said "yes".  

I began to read articles about veterinary dentistry and many were written by Dr Jan Bellows, DVM, Dip AVDC.  I called him and asked if I could work for a week for him for free in return for being able to learn as much as possible about dentistry.  He said "yes".

A few years later, Dr Bellows emailed me and informed me that there was a group of like-minded technicians meeting in Las Vegas to create an academy of veterinary dental technicians so that certified technicians could obtain training and credential as technician specialists in dentistry.  I had never been to Las Vegas and was not the savvy traveler.  Nervous and scared, I said "yes".

As a member of this group, it became obvious that we each would need to become speakers at the national meetings so that others technicians would have additional training in dentistry.  Public speaking was a greater fear for me than spiders and clowns (can't stand either).   Petrified, I said "yes".

After a number of public appearances, I realized that I loved the experience of speaking.  I was invited to speak at Harcum College and the event was sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health (now Zoetis).  Susan Weber, CVT, a former classmate was the attending Pfizer rep.  She approached me after the meeting and asked if I would be interested in teaching in-house for some of their key accounts.  I wasn't sure what all it entailed, but it sounded exciting.  I said "yes'. 

In my career, I have said "yes" many times.  That single word and passionate curiosity has enabled me to speak in 14 states, publish numerous articles and chapters of books, and has let me teach and interact with thousands of people in over 39 practices.  It has also taught me many things about myself I would have never known otherwise.  I have learned I love to teach.  I love to travel. I love to meet new people.  It also taught me that I love to write from my heart and not so much, clinically.  

Now, at this point in my career, there is another calling.  My heart is asking me to take a leap and expand on the joy experienced when I see the light of understanding turn on in another's eyes.  It is calling me to take all that I have learned about myself by the simple act of saying "yes" and expand the scope of my work.  Instead of helping a few pets a day in our dentistry department, I hope to teach many people to be able to help many pets.  

So, once more, I am going to say YES and make a leap of faith with PetEd Veterinary Education and Training Resources. At first, the plan is to provide dentistry training and hold the hand of practices hoping to expand their dentistry services.  But, the vision of PetED is to be the resource for respected  and experienced trainers in a wide range of educational and training needs for the general practice.