Last Blog of The Project, But Not Forever

I wanted to use my last blog posting to summarize what I have learned from this project. I researched further into my career, into topics of veterinary procedures, and animal diseases that pertain to companion animals. I believe this will assist me, and my prospective veterinarian readers on the interview process of veterinary school.  Most of ya’ll probably rolled yours eyes, when you read that; however during the series of short interviews it is necessary that you possess some background knowledge of controversial topics (declawing of felines).  I also wanted to address that just because my English project is over doesn’t mean that my blog site will come to an end. I have grown a deep appreciation for blogging, and I see myself as using this as a hobby to further my career in veterinarian medicine. In addition, I have began reading other peoples blogs, which I have never done before. I find that there are blogs for every subject matter, which are both informative and enjoyable to write. For my closing statement I want to thank my English professor, who pushed me into new technological territories, which I would never have entered before.

Job Outlook of a Veterinarian

I wanted one of my final blog postings to be about the projected job outlook of my future career. Surprise!!! A veterinarian. The overall outlook of the veterinarian career is positive; however for only certain specializations is where the money is. Most prospective vets seek to specialize with companion animals (including myself); as a result, there are fewer opportunities of growth due to an increased competition. The majority of job opportunities lie with veterinarians who specialize in farm animal work, or those who choose to work for a government agency. According to the Occupation Handbook, “veterinarian came in No. 30 on a list of occupations projected to have the highest percentage growth in jobs from 2010 to 2020. The bureau forecasts that the number of jobs for veterinary doctors will reach 83,400 by 2020, an increase of 22,000 over the course of a decade, a growth rate of nearly 36 percent.” ("Veterinarians") Even with these excellent figures, it is still a concern due to an increase in veterinarian school graduates, and competing colleagues from overseas that jobs may not be as plentiful in urban areas. The article continued to stress the rural specialization, because there are a vast amount of job opportunities still available. Only 2 percent of vet school applicants actually have a rural background, so this specialization is a gold mine for prospective veterinarians.

United States Department of Labor. Bureau of Statistics. Veterinarians. Washington: , 2012. Web. <http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/veterinarians.htm

Should You Declaw Your Cat?

I wanted to research about the controversy pertaining to whether you should have your cat declawed or not. I have a one-year-old Siamese cat, in which I had declawed at the age of seven months. Please don’t bombard me with hate emails; I believe it was the best measure for his situation. However, I wanted to read the opposing side of the argument to better understand this extremely controversial topic. A common misconception of the declawing procedure is thinking that it is simply trimming the cat’s nails; declawing actually involves the amputation of the last bone of each toe. If performed on a human being, it would be like cutting off each finger at the last knuckle. Many countries around the world see declawing as being inhumane, and should only be used for rare medical conditions. Some tips provided were to trim your cats claws regularly, provide stable scratching posts, or use special cat products like Soft Paws, and Sticky Paws to deter scratching. I do believe that having your cat declawed shouldn’t occur simply, because you don’t want your furniture scratched; however if it is necessary I find the procedure safe. My cat seems happy as he jumps from my bookshelves, and plays with his toys like if nothing happened to him. 

The Carelessness of an Animal Shelter

I stumbled across this report about an Animal Shelter that took in a rabid dog, when I think of the rabies virus I immediately picture Where The Red Fern Grows. One of my all-time favorites, I immediately knew this article was sad. This report summarizes the public health investigation, which used animal shelter records and public notification to identify possible human and animal contacts of the rabid dog. Among 32 persons who might have been exposed to the rabid dog at the shelter, 21 persons, including nine shelter employees and one volunteer, received PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis). In addition, the 25 dogs in the shelter with the rabid dog were euthanized. Among 25 other dogs without an up-to-date rabies vaccination that were adopted or claimed from the shelter and might have been exposed, 11 were euthanized, 13 were isolated for 6 months in their owners' homes, and one was unintentionally killed. I was horrified upon reading how so many animals lost their lives, due to the careless actions of this shelter’s employees. As a passionate animal lover, I strongly suggest that you get your pets vaccinated.

What Exactly is Feline Leukemia Virus?

As a personal lover, and an owner of the cutest Siamese cat ever,  I was devastated at the title, and devastation of Feline Leukemia Virus. When I first read about the FeLV virus, I immediately thought of cancer; however it is not exactly the same in how it affects our pet felines. First discovered in the 1960s, feline leukemia virus is a transmittable RNA retrovirus that can severely inhibit a cat’s immune system. It is one of the most commonly diagnosed causes of disease and death in domestic cats. (ASPCA) The FeLV virus is spread through many ways, such as: bodily fluids, including saliva, nasal secretions, urine, feces and blood. FeLV is most commonly transmitted through direct contact, mutual grooming, and through sharing litter boxes, food and water bowls. It can also be passed in utero or through mother’s milk. Outdoor cats that get into fights with other cats can transmit the disease through bites and scratches. Nevertheless, healthy cats over three months of age, and vaccinated for FeLV are highly unlikely to contract the virus from another cat. FeLV weakens an animal’s immune system and predisposes cats to a variety of infections and diseases, including anemia, kidney disease and lymphosarcoma, a highly malignant and fatal cancer of the lymph system. Sadly there is no cure for FeLV, and it is estimated that less than 20 percent of clinically infected cats survive more than three years of active infection. In the case of those cats that develop cancer, chemotherapy can help prolong life, but treatment often focuses on providing the best quality of life. The only preventative method is a vaccine, but even this method isn’t 100% full proof, and a vaccinated cat should still not make contact with an infected.

ASPCA, . "Feline Leukemia Virus." ASPCA. ASPCA, 03 Jun 2013. Web. 11 Jul 2013. <http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/feline-leukemia-virus>.