Stabbed by an Acacia Tree

Mike McEntire - Texas A&M

Foot in Mouth Disease - Winner

Best Overall Submission - Winner

 

It’s not every day you fall victim to the excruciating schemes of a tree.  But then again, it isn’t every day that you are tasked with saving a Cape Buffalo from drowning.

Last summer I was fortunate enough to spend several weeks in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province on a study abroad working with some of the most amazing animals on the planet.  After days of lectures on capture techniques and immobilization pharmacology, our team of eager Texas A&M veterinary students were prepared for our first wildlife immobilization on four Cape Buffalo Bulls.

Because the Cape Buffalo of South Africa harbor many of the diseases that could decimate domestic cattle production such as Foot and Mouth Disease, Theileriosis,  Tuberculosis,  and Brucellosis all Cape Buffalo must test negative for these disease before being sold or shipped.  Our goal was to immobilize these four bulls so the State Veterinarians could carry out the testing.

The first two went down easy enough.  But the last two decided they’d go for a little swim before the drugs took their full effect.  That meant we had to run in and hold their heads above water to stop them from drowning. 

There really isn’t a lot of time for thinking in a situation like that.  You just run and that’s exactly what I did.  My extra-long coveralls hadn’t really proven to be too much of a problem until I got to the water’s edge.  That’s when they decided to act like little slip n’ slides.  They took me down – right into an acacia tree and then into the water hole. 

There it is. The tree on the left. Small, but deadly.Now just so you can fully understand what happened to me, acacia trees evolved thorns up to four inches long that cover their branches to protect them from all the browsers in Africa that think they are tasty - or in my case from blundering veterinary students moving too quickly for their own good.

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Reflections on Life in Vet School

Therese Gavin, Texas A&M

Life as A Vet Student, Entry

Not long ago, an old friend asked me what the theme of my life in veterinary school was. The question caught me by surprise, but what surprised me more was I honestly did not know the answer. So, I did what one typically does in such situations, and said something I knew wasn’t wrong, but also wasn’t quite right—“Contentment,” and hoped my answer wasn’t questioned. Yet, the question remained on my mind and I soon discovered why.

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Important Lessons from Your First Week of Vet School

Megan Murata, Texas A&M

Experiences, Entry

The first week of vet school is nothing less than enchanting, exhilarating, and ultimately overwhelming. Whether you are a first, second, third, or fourth year student (or perhaps even a practicing DVM), I am sure that you also remember your first week of school. 

Emerging from an undergraduate institution or post graduate job into a professional school is more than somewhat uncomfortable. Immediately you are aware of the unfamiliar setting of sitting in a room full of super smart people that are just as intelligent and studious as you (if not more). You begin receiving a FLOOD of emails every day and stress over reading, organizing, and remembering each one. Your calendar is in complete disarray due to the onset of new meetings scheduled and exam review sessions offered (who knew you would be reviewing for an exam during the first week?!), coupled with random clinical opportunities to further your veterinary knowledge. 

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Curious Looks

Tyler Cochran, Texas A&M University

Creative Corner

"Curious Looks"

"Local Fauna"

 "Texas Sunset"

Dad <3

Blair Dingler, Texas A&M University

Foot in Mouth Disease