Sometimes I think to myself what a unique career I have.  In what other job can a person ask you what happened at work today and you can say, “I got bit by a penguin?”  I love going to work every day not knowing what will cross my path that day.  I may have to do pediatrics, internal medicine, anesthesiology, dentistry, radiography, obstetrics, surgery, cardiology, dermatology, gastroenterology, respiratory, oncology, and neurology all in one day,  in a variety of patients ranging from 20 ounce canaries to 200 pound Great Danes.  As I’ve always said, REAL doctors treat more than one species.  And what challenge is it to examine and treat patients who aren’t trying to bite, scratch, kick, run (or fly) away, squirm, knock you down, release anal sacs, pee or poop on you, or otherwise kill you, all while trying to keep the patient and the owner from getting hurt?  Where’s the fun in that?  Not to mention fleas in the surgery field, but I won’t go there.

I know there’s a common misconception among people outside the veterinary field who believe all we do is play with puppies and kittens all day.  And yes, the joy of getting a wet kiss from a patient with “puppy breath” is a huge perk in this profession.  Plus, I can enjoy playing with the puppy for a few minutes and then send it home with the owner to housebreak and deal with chewing.  Alas, however, this is usually only a small part of my day.

In spite of the sometimes trying situations at work, I still say I have the best job in the world, penguin bites and all.

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