Auscultating : Course Take in Semester 10

Finally had the mood to sit(or rather lie) down to complete this post!

Completing the first clinical year was somewhat an instant swoosh, but definitely one year which is very much enjoyable. The second semester took our journey towards a much more medicine based curriculum, which we focused a lot more on seeing cases, diagnosing, treating, controlling and preventing them.

1) Veterinary Epidemiology

The course took us a little more on knowing how to look at disease pattern affecting a population more than an individual; and how statistics would help us in knowing efficacy of various testing methods in the market in confirming a disease. An example would be how positive a HIV test kit can be? All tests man made are subjected to errors, and the tests some way or another would have a high false positive or high false negative. Would HIV test kits be a better tool in ruling in or ruling out the disease? If the test has a much higher false positive; would be it more beneficial than it being with a higher false negative? Having higher false positive would give a false sense of infection in a person, while for those who can't really take the blow might just commit suicide upon testing. Having higher false negative would on the other hand give a false sense of security, for those who are more promiscuous and active in sexual lifestyle might not pay too much attention in safety precaution. So yes, apart from animal disease we too study a lot on human diseases this way too.

2) Public Health

This course was orientated a lot by the OiE(Officio Internationale Epizootic) for which veterinary graduates should or need to know about the food safety delivered to the public. It is an inevitable fact that our work encompasses providing viable protein sources to the population, in this case animal protein source which comes under our jurisdiction. We need to know protocols from pre-harvest, harvest and post-harvest safety of the food we produce, including all animal products like meat, offal, milk, cheese, seafood, eggs, basically anything made from animals. Pre-harvest would include the disease status of the animals providing products like raw milk; harvest would be the procedures and equipments in collecting the milk, while post-harvest includes the protocols and procedures in transporting and storage of milk up till processing; for which pasteurized, sterilized and ultra high temperature treated milk are 3 of different kind of milk available by law. It was a heavy subject, but an interesting one too. On top of that, we were too exposed to a lot of one health concept, to combine the idea of medicine as a huge umbrella with human, veterinary, environment and plant medicine as one.

3) Swine medicine

A species specific course, we learn about most of the common diseases affecting the pigs in the market, from newborn piglets, weaned pigs, growing pigs, sows and boars; how these diseases affect the production and economy; how we need to diagnose them from the clinical signs and post mortem lesions or even lab tests, treating them and prevention using various commodities. You'll be surprised on the type of disease affecting these little piggies; as well as the disease which they are able to transmit to us as well such as Nipah virus.

4) Equine medicine

Another species specific course, we learn more about the common diseases affecting the horses from reproduction, respiratory, musculoskeletal and neurological diseases. Most problems horses have are respiratory or musculoskeletal related due to their working nature as race horses or show horses; while sadly most retired horses who aren't able to perform usually will be put down due to the cost they inflict on the farm. Nevertheless, it was great to know more about the diseases which affect these majestic giants.

5) Population medicine

As cool as the course sounded, basically this course encompassed on managing how a disease outbreak in a population would look like; as well as the common diseases would require aggressive control within the country. Various issues on how the immune belt in borders should be managed, quarantine protocols, control measures to prevent or suppress an emerging or re-emerging disease in the country.

6) Feline Canine Medicine

Taking about 50% of the bulk of notes in the semester, I paid extra attention to this subject because of its infamous reputation of high failure rate. To my surprise, I've managed to secure a safe A throughout the 2 tests; let's hope it stays that way in the finals. The course is also a species specific course, targeting the common diseases affecting companion animals like dogs and cats; ranging much to very human-like diseases which are lifestyle related such as hormonal diseases-diabetes mellitus; cardiovascular diseases- congestive heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy as well as various cancers from prostate to bone. I thoroughly enjoy this course because I could apply the most in the wards and surgery rotation course in my cases and patients; unlike other courses which barely touched any of the cases or patients in large animal wards or even during rotation. The course brings us on a trip down on relevant history, physical examination, clinical signs, appropriate diagnostic tools, treatment symptomatically, supportive, and long term management of the disease. I guess I am much more inclined to practice companion animal medicine than farm animal medicine?

7) Rotations

Everyone would be wondering how on earth I can be this busy. Well, when you need to attend to warded cases everyday at 7am and be at home only at 9 or 10pm; you barely have the time to even go for gym to look great to fit into clothes or get a date. The rotation pushed us through 12 different departments in 12 weeks, including ruminant 1 and 2, equine, theriogenology, avian and lab animal; then small animal clinics, small animal medicine, small animal surgery, pathology, radiology and last but not least ICU. I've definitely learned a lot from the rotation; it's the only gateway for us to have hands on and learn how to do stuffs under supervision. It's somewhat like a Housemanship for vet students, just that we do it while needing to study and take tests plus joining events like Vetsport or M.Silaturrahim. The last week of rotation was rather most memorable because of us having the whole ward for ourselves without any seniors guiding us while we get the privilege to do most of the treatment and procedures to the vets' disposal. The experience allowed us to do more and learn more for sure.

Now that I've completed the 2nd semester for DVM 4, I'm officially a final year student. Man, that was a long ride wasn't it? It didn't feel like just yesterday I've stepped in as a first year, but it sure didn't feel that long till it come to the day I say I have one more year till I pop into the market. MY family is probably counting the years, but hey why bother when I've only just spent RM17,000 in my 5 years education right?

For now, Finals call!

Auscultating: Majlis Silaturahim 2016

If you don't know already or new to this blog, Majlis Silaturahim(MS) is  annual drama competition held by our faculty to initiate and instill skills apart from that of veterinary related to the students. In fact, it was initiated by one of the retired lecturer long time ago, for which the wining cup was named as Ali Rajion Cup after his name.

So our faculty literally drilled us all to excel not just in studies, skills, even in sports, managing of events heck and even drama skills.

This year, the theme was Bollywood. While originally we were all skeptical with the theme, but the organizers did a great job; from the trailers to the setting up of the background in the auditorium.

It was exceptionally hard for us the DVM 5 because we had to write up scripts, get outfits, create props, practicing and perfecting the whole performance while being in the final semester with our intensive rotation course. But we all do enjoy these out of the classroom get together sessions anyway so it was just another reason for us to spend more time before we, or actually they graduate.

While my preview snippet suggested me to be the milkman, but I was just a villager lurking around to dance and act as an extra; which I enjoyed thoroughly.

Here are few snippets of what other DVMs have had:

A little out of the norm from previous year, this time round we had our lecturers sportingly sang on the stage with very fun performance as well! It's definitely something different from the clinical department which all students would appreciate!

A common trend within the lower DVMs was the element of cross-dressing. While our DVM have too tried it in our lower DVMs, we have only used it during first year; while we progressively trying to incorporate everything else apart from cross-dressing in the subsequent years.

My academic batch definitely have put out a different kind of approach; putting Titani and Bollywood elements in their performance; with the title Titanus(any biological science background people would get the joke!)

Our DVM's performance came in as the last one in line to perform, with a high load of pressure because everyone had a high expectation from us; the consecutive winner for 2 years. With our reputation from cheerleading, we really couldn't imagine the type of expectation the audience have.

We have our stressful moments, but generally we just try to have fun on stage; trying to get into our characters and put more smiles on our dances.

The highlight of our performance is probably our snake genie who have managed to impressively grossed out everyone in the auditorium. His twists, twerks or whatever body language definitely have increased the odds of us winning.

Thankfully, we managed to nab the Ali Rajion cup one last time before we graduate; successfully being the first DVM is striking the champion for 3 consecutive years. I would say we really worked hard, because throwing performance and creating jokes for an audience are our forte; and MS is one of the few events we know we have the best chances to win. 

I'm really happy I did participate in the last MS with DVM 2016. It was a relief that my small animal ward rotation only have started a week after MS so I could have more time and energy for the practice. All in all, the event was a success and it's definitely a great memory in my DVM life!

PS: Here's something to look at if you wanna see how good our tech team is!

Auscultating: Vet Dinner 2016

Supposedly my last Vet Dinner but since I'm going to graduate a year later; it's the last one with my favorite batch.

As per usual, the theme comes in for Vet Dinner every year; while 2016 we collectively voted "Be Your Self".

Well me being me, guess what I've decided to pull off?

One of my lecturer who came back from Japan said she wanted to pull off her Yukata as well, but it was a little show off so she didn't. Guess who is the crazier attention seeker? *point at me*

The dinner over the 5 years were fun, and I missed out the one in 2015 simply because "Pastel" wasn't my cup of tea to dwell in for dressing up. 

Let's have a recap on the previous Vet Dinners should we?

2012:

Young and naive, boy I missed my body when I was at this age. The theme was Masquerade. But, I honestly couldn't feel the whole theme simply because the ballroom dancing didn't happen.

2013:

Finally it became my batch's turn to host the Vet Dinner 2013 with the theme of "Atlantis". It was supposed to be "Poseidon's Paradise" until some religious twarp said that we are worshiping another god. Well, the dinner turned out to be fine anyway, even had me performing on stage. 

2014:

It was my current batch's turn to host instead, with the theme of  Retro 80's dinner. Finally sometime for me to chill down and not do anything during events. The dinner was okay, honestly I went because I wanted to support a good friend who directed the dinner, as well as my need to be staged to get my certificate as Dogathon 2013 co-director.

Well in 2016, we pretty much did the same thing like previous years do; the speeches, the performances, overpriced food.

But the point was to celebrate with our own batch's perseverance in hitting the 5th year. Man it was a long ride from the first, and it wasn't easy to stay on board and not sink throughout the crazy curriculum

A little surprise this year, for I became too much of a showoff, I got myself the Best Dressed Male among the participants. It's an honor, provided I did not slip or drop any of my yukata pieces along the way to get the little plastic trophy.

All and all, it was a great night with extremely good company. The only pity was my current batch turn up population was, 0. A big fat ZERO.

Even my lecturer asked if my current batch boycotted my original batch together.

I don't know. Honestly. The only answer they had was, test is coming up.

one of my favorite pictures. Why? Because you have crazy lecturers like them makes vet life awesome.

But hey, I turned up.

Auscultating : Dogathon 2015

It happened in 2016 this time round due to a rabies outbreak last year, leading to a ban in dog activities by our dean in September.

However, the spirit still remains and the crowd we had this year was rowdier than ever!

Being my 5th year in Dogathon, I've finally jumped out the force labor bandwagon and get into skilled labor this year instead.

Medieval called this year with our furry friends, for the theme revolving all elements to make Dogathon 2015 a success; bravo to all decor, promotional leaflets, videos as well games!

Being the skilled labor, I volunteered in the Physical Examination booth for the event in the earliest slot. Plenty of people do not understand why I had to wake up at 5.30 am in that morning to help out; because I had to attend the shift for dog race participants come at 6 am!

I had to pair with a 5th year senior for her to guide me through the PE since she was the experienced one, but I basically work well with all DVM 5s so the whole day was a breeze~What we do as volunteers there basically is to check on the basic health of the dogs participating Dogathon to see if they are fit with criteria such as:

- not severely infested with tick
- puppies unvaccinated completely
- bitches on heat
- overly uncooperative dogs.

It was really fun being the PE labor because I get to see a lot of different owners and dogs, communicating with them as well as practicing history taking. While I need to be extremely careful to not make any suggestions to the owners as I am yet a licensed vet, I enjoyed the whole process despite the sweat and a dog bite from a 30kg German Shepard Dog.

This year, I even had the chance to help out in performing the PE for Malaysia's Fire Fighting Squad dogs, for they are the sweetest dogs around! They were Cockerspaniels and Labradors trained in UK to scent out flammables like kerosene when they work with their partners in missions. I didn't realize I was being filmed, despite that my senior managed to mask my face.

I only had till 10.30 am around the event bec

ause I had to attend cases in the Large Animal Ward under my ruminant rotation, but it was good enough for me to make a good stroll to meet people I know.

The event is a noble and fun one, hopefully it doesn't stop after this year's!

Auscultating : Back home

Taiwan was extremely fun, and plenty of adventures attained as well!

I didn't do any research for the whole trip this time round, because the 8 days of symposium plus 7 days of post-symposium traveling was all covered. All I needed was to pack and go.

There are quite a few number of Firsts this time round in Taiwan for me:

1- My first trip to Taiwan itself

2- My first International Veterinary Student Association (IVSA) Symposium


3- My first time meeting an European students dominated program

4- My first time bunking in with 7 other different boys
5- My first time falling sick in a foreign country(heck I was fine 2 months straight in Thailand and Japan)

6- My first time seeing a doctor in a foreign country
7- My first time drinking liquor from over 15 different countries and not getting drunk

8- My first time experiencing undying cold
9- My first time going around a whole country within 7 days in a bus

10- My first time experiencing earthquake
11- My first time extending my airplane ticket just to stay 2 more days
12- My first time sleeping at 3 am for 4 consecutive days

13- My first time trying so hard to squeeze sing-able Karaoke songs for Europeans in a Taiwan K-box
14- My first time being in a white shirt party.

Quite the crazy first times encountered in a foreign country isn't it?

But there are stuffs which are recurrent like,

Another Thai came in through the social media again. But I'm pretty sure this Thai is just trying luck in hitting random people, as people I know actually asked if I knew this person adding everyone else.

Despite numerous attempts, I'm glad this Thai stopped the game as of today.

CNY has been crazy, food and getting fat. I'm trying my best to control though.

On the other hand, I can't help to realize I've been getting a little close with a teacher figure. Maybe I'm over thinking and this figure is just being nice. But maybe it isn't.

Likewise, the date I had before slowly dwindled; probably because I'm showing a lack of interest. So and so when I talked about the date with some of my Taiwanese friends during a midnight sharing session it seemed to me like now its just not the right time for me to date, or think about long term.

So, the Thai, the figure, the date.

No no no, Japan and PhD come first.

I'll post official posts about Taiwan soon.

Buffetting : Majlis Silaturahim 2015

So this year's theme was Crime and Justice; and our batch nabbed another champion again! I guess we do have talents, which are pretty much performing arts related!

definitely have gained weight! everyone was saying I'm a "polis-kopi"! When will the determination begin?

I was too busy to be part of the cast this year, so let's hope I would be able to go for the final one next year!