Pithy aphorisms abound in all professions and practices. Whether you milk goats for a living or paint in oils, there’s something somebody somewhere says that’s intended to make your job more intelligible…or perhaps simply entreats you to do things their way.
Same is true for veterinary medicine. In vet school we’re exposed to a continuous stream of these alternately folksy and blackish-humored maxims. And they stick with you—whether you want them to or not.
Not all are specific to veterinary medicine, of course, but here’s a sampling of the things we were taught either in school or by those old-timers showing us the ropes early in our practice lives:
For all us perfectionists out there here’s one that really keeps things in perspective: The enemy of “good” is “better.”
To assuage the ego of those who, contrary to our expectations for stellar surgeons, make big incisions: They heal from side to side not end to end. (Though that’s not exactly true.)
Then there’s the surgeon’s mantra: A chance to cut is a chance to cure.
And here’s its corollary: The way to heal is with cold blue steel.
If you think about it, all the fun sayings I can remember are mostly applicable to the surgical component of the veterinary job. And that doesn’t seem quite fair, does it? That’s why I decided to seek some counsel on this.
The result? No good answer from the internal medicine crowd. A surgeon’s perspective on their close-lipped stance? “Internists need six paragraphs to say anything…and maybe a cardiology consult before they’ll commit to it.”
But this answer wasn’t good enough for me so we did a little research and dragged up three more great medical sayings:
This one’s my boss’s favorite, especially when he’s trying to placate an unruly owner impatient for results on a course of treatment: All it needs is some tincture of time.
Here’s my favorite, if only because the surgeons need a little comedown every once in a while: The pen is mightier than the sword: the case for prescription rather than surgery.
And then there’s the tried and true, even better in Latin than anything we could ever devise in our unwieldy English: Primum non nocere. (Above all do no harm.)
If you can come up with others, I’d love to add them to my list.
Add Comment32 Comments
If you hear hoof beats, look for horses, not zebras.
Elizabeth - from Nova Scotia May 29th, 2008 10:03:00 PM
oh yeah - that's a good one elizabeth. i'm a zebra-looker for-er. and cancer too - cuz when you go to vet school - all you see are the big baddies!
homeless parrot May 29th, 2008 10:10:00 PM
Ever hear this one regarding Ivermectin & herding dogs? My vet says in vet school they always said, "White feet, don't treat." It was because Collies, Border Collies, Shelties and Aussies often have white feet.
Tracy May 29th, 2008 10:56:00 PM
We have a few...
"The dumbest kidney is smarter than the smartest clinician."
"Surgeons- often wrong, never in doubt."
And the mantra of our awesome large animal therio professor: "The three things that you always must remember: gentle, with care, and lots of lube."
Our derm professor has the most fantastic sarcoptic mange dance to remember the common sites of alopecia associated with infestation, but you really have to see it to appreciate it. *sigh*
Megan May 30th, 2008 12:03:00 AM
What about "all bleeding stops eventually"?
I have heard that uttered in surgery on more than one occasion. Usually by me trying to calm a very stressed surgeon!
Meghan RAHT May 30th, 2008 12:34:00 AM
Never let the sun set on a pyo.
In regards to lactate levels,"over 7 go to heaven."
I'd give anything to be able to see the mange dance. :)
robyn w May 30th, 2008 01:24:00 AM
How about"When in doubt, cut it out"
Patty P May 30th, 2008 06:58:00 AM
I've heard almost all of these--I guess I'm going prematurely senile.
And one more: "Bleeding is not significant unless it's audible."
Dr. Patty Khuly May 30th, 2008 08:51:00 AM
Megan: you MUST film this. I will not accept NO for an answer. You can put it on Youtube and I'll link to it.
Dr. Patty Khuly May 30th, 2008 08:54:00 AM
Nothing dies without steroid first (or some variation there of).
Alli May 30th, 2008 09:28:00 AM
Patty P, the techs use one similar, "when in doubt, throw it out."
robyn w May 30th, 2008 01:16:00 PM
Alli
"No cat should ever die without the benefit of prednisone."
Meghan RAHT May 30th, 2008 01:38:00 PM
"Don't kill old rolling dogs" (idiopathic vestibular disease).
"With enough lube you can put anything anywhere" (I think that's from a large animal repro lecture).
"Transfer to Jesus."
And, of course, "real doctors treat more than one species!"
Deborah May 30th, 2008 05:03:00 PM
robin w, shouldn't phosphorus be added to over "7"----? wonder if lactate ever measures in "triple digits"?
Actually, most of the medically -oriented sayings are identical in the human field. My favorite that I have heard recited (by a vet) twice, is "above all do no harm"---isn't that applicable to everyone, every single day, regardless of field employed?
Barbara A. Albright/New Hampshire May 30th, 2008 05:53:00 PM
"It's a long way from the heart"
ralphsmydog May 30th, 2008 06:43:00 PM
IF you've got livestock, you've got deadstock!
white feat don't treat
when I am about to shoot an x-ray I alwasy say : Measure twice shoot once
bladder surgery: Leave no stone unturned (ha ha ha more of a joke my coworkers are sick of me saying)
Erin RVT May 31st, 2008 05:07:00 AM
A good surgeon knows when not to cut!
If you are not happy with my colleague,you likey be unhappy with me eventually. (to a client complaining unreasonably about their last vet)
Hobson June 2nd, 2008 03:03:00 PM
thank you sir
http://www.r4r8.com/
games September 7th, 2008 10:45:00 AM
thank
mms September 16th, 2008 10:28:00 AM
VHS to DVD Converter VHS Converter
natti June 10th, 2009 04:34:25 AM
AVI to MOV MAC
fewr ert July 23rd, 2009 03:17:42 AM
tiffany jewelry
tiffany cuff links
lily October 27th, 2009 12:07:13 AM
Links of London provides optimal Christmas gift for approaching festival!
TRACY December 10th, 2009 02:07:37 AM
The result? No good answer from the internal medicine crowd. A surgeon's buy nike shoes perspective on their close-lipped stance? "Internists need six paragraphs to say anything...and maybe a cardiology consult before they'll commit to it."
buy nike shoes December 20th, 2009 10:58:04 AM
If you want to watch MKV video on PSP, MKV to PSP Converter can help you convert MKV to PSP video at ease.MKV to PSP Converter, which is also called MKV to PSP Video Converter, can assist you to convert MKV to PSP intuitively. Apart from converting MKV to PSP, MKV to PSP Converter can also convert MKV video(s) to other popular devices such as iPod, iPhone, Xbox, Zune, Apple TV, PS3, Wii, etc. No matter you are a professional or not, you can master MKV to PSP Video Converter very soon. But how to convert MKV to PSP? Just click here to see the helpful tutorial.
cynthiachen December 27th, 2009 11:25:15 PM
Cheap Links of London sale jewelry for any special occasion, for instance, weddings, anniversary or birthdays. What's more, buy our cheap links of london jewelry for wholesale, and you could have access to a discount or even free gifts.
cheap Links of London December 29th, 2009 08:55:31 PM
Links of London silver may be the best presents for lovers. You can receive high quality and affordable price products at Links London Store. Links of London jewellery will make you interested and surprised.
Links london January 14th, 2010 12:12:52 AM
Links London silver with high quality are provided on links London store, which is optimal gift for weddings，anniversary or birthdays. Linksukstore is your best choice, come quickly here!
Candy January 20th, 2010 03:30:54 AM
Links of London Gift is the best choice for Valentine's Day. Wearing Links London Jewelry makes your lover out of ordinary in a crowd. Hurry up please! Go shopping for Links of London silver.
Nick February 2nd, 2010 03:54:09 AM
Fabulous Guys!
Pharmacy Online
Jamieee February 12th, 2010 05:18:42 PM
The color of the dial on this replica watches is Black, designed for easy viewing no matter what the lighting or time of day. The simple to open and close clasp is Deployant, ideal for anyone who's ever tried to get dressed in a hurry! No more bumbling and fumbling to get dressed when you're on the run when you buy this watch replicas.
swiss replica wathces March 11th, 2010 01:38:07 AM
[url=http://www.dearwatches.com/]watches replica[/url]<BR>[url=http://www.dearwatches.com/]replica watches[/url]<BR>[url=http://www.dearwatches.com/]cheap replica watches[/url]<BR>[url=http://www.dearwatches.com/]replica watch[/url]<BR>[url=http://www.dearwatches.com/bell-ross-c-17.html]Bell & Ross replica[/url]<BR>[url=http://www.dearwatches.com/tudor-c-64.html]Tudor watch for sale[/url]<BR>[url=http://www.dearwatches.com/omega-c-51.html]Omega watches[/url]<BR>[url=http://www.dearwatches.com/corum-c-194.html]replica Corum watches[/url]<BR>[url=http://www.dearwatches.com/oris-c-200.html]replica Oris watches[/url]<BR>[url=http://www.dearwatches.com/breguet-c-18.html]replica Breguet[/url]<BR>[url=http://www.dearwatches.com/ferrari-c-193.html]replica Ferrari watches[/url]<BR>[url=http://www.dearwatches.com/watch-accessories-c-70.html]replica Watch Accessories watches[/url]<BR>[url=http://www.dearwatches.com/bell-ross-c-17.html]replica Bell & Ross[/url]<BR>[url=http://www.dearwatches.com/tudor-c-64.html]Tudor watches[/url]<BR>[url=http://www.dearwatches.com/breitling-c-19.html]replica Breitling[/url]<BR>[url=http://www.dearwatches.com/patek-philippe-c-54.html]Patek Philippe watches[/url]<BR>
replica watches March 12th, 2010 02:34:18 AM
Add Commment