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MAY 29th, 2008

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...
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If you hear hoof beats, look for horses, not zebras.
# Posted By Elizabeth - from Nova Scotia | 5/29/08 10:03 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!
# Posted By homeless parrot | 5/29/08 10:10 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.
# Posted By Tracy | 5/29/08 10:56 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*
# Posted By Megan | 5/30/08 12:03 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!
# Posted By Meghan RAHT | 5/30/08 12:34 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. :)
# Posted By robyn w | 5/30/08 1:24 AM
How about"When in doubt, cut it out"
# Posted By Patty P | 5/30/08 6:58 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."
# Posted By Dr. Patty Khuly | 5/30/08 8:51 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.
# Posted By Dr. Patty Khuly | 5/30/08 8:54 AM
Nothing dies without steroid first (or some variation there of).
# Posted By Alli | 5/30/08 9:28 AM
Patty P, the techs use one similar, "when in doubt, throw it out."
# Posted By robyn w | 5/30/08 1:16 PM
Alli
"No cat should ever die without the benefit of prednisone."
# Posted By Meghan RAHT | 5/30/08 1:38 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!"
# Posted By Deborah | 5/30/08 5:03 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?
# Posted By Barbara A. Albright/New Hampshire | 5/30/08 5:53 PM
"It's a long way from the heart"
# Posted By ralphsmydog | 5/30/08 6:43 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)
# Posted By Erin RVT | 5/31/08 5:07 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)
# Posted By Hobson | 6/2/08 3:03 PM
thank you sir
http://www.r4r8.com/
# Posted By games | 9/7/08 10:45 AM
thank
# Posted By mms | 9/16/08 10:28 AM
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