Long week and it's still hot and humid AF here. I ran this morning and definitely felt it. Now I have a long day of surgery where I most likely won't get a break...generally I inhale some grapes and a protein bar when I have a second in between things. I'll have to remind myself to hydrate throughout the day too. The doctors office called me yesterday to let me know about the abnormal TSH results, and basically the plan is the same for now...I'll get the ultrasound on the 25th, and they recommend following up with my PCP about the thyroid. I have an appointment next month so I'll talk to them then. 

We had a rep come in yesterday from the company that owns a few of the area referral hospitals, including where I took VanGogh for cardiology. She's basically a community outreach person who checks in from time to time, so I told her about everything the cardiologist/hospital did after VanGogh passed away, and we were both almost crying lol. But I'm glad I got the opportunity to talk to someone higher up about how much it meant to me. Everyone likes to hear they're doing a good job, and I know in the veterinary industry that's even more important. (TW) The veterinary industry has the highest suicide rate of any profession...and that's been the case since I started working at a vet's office in college 20 years ago. Female veterinary staff are 3.5 times more likely than the general population to die by suicide...and honestly, that statistic has been around a while. I wonder if anyone has studied this post-covid...I'd bet money the number is higher now considering all the hate I see on social media. Generally it's people saying vets charge so much because of greed...I know vet care is expensive, but it's increasing in proportion with literally everything else; businesses are feeling that inflation too. I work in a privately owned and a corporate owned practice, and there's maybe a 10% price difference between them. At my full time job, we literally waited to raise prices until we were concerned about making payroll and affording supplies for multiple weeks. And vet staff make a fraction of what human medical staff make, despite the same amount of school and loans, and no loan forgiveness. Vet hospitals literally can't treat animals for free if they want to stay open- no government subsidies or anything go to us. There's also no good way to offer payment plans other than Care Credit or Scratch-sending to collections will take a huge chunk of the payment from us which would lead to more work for a net loss, plus ruining someone's credit. We also can't just take people's word for it and expect them to actually pay us...realistically, that doesn't happen 90%+ of the time. This is also why so many clinics sold to corporations during Covid (my view on corporations is mixed, some aren't so bad, like the one that owns my second job...some pay vets essentially on commission, which leads to medicine based around sales vs what's medically sound). There's an organization called "Not One More Vet" that works to raise awareness about the issues of mental health in veterinary medicine that's great. 

I'll get off my soap box now, but my point is, please be kind. Most people, in most jobs, are also just doing their best to get by. And you never know what anyone is going through on any given day. 

Leo, I hope you're getting good rest and starting to feel better!

Last week when I said Haco may have a high kidney value from being very muscular, this is what I meant. Showed this photo to the doctor yesterday and she was like "damn, that's crazy". He was neutered around 4 months, so probably just genetics. He's relaxed in this photo and still has muscles for DAYS..