u/NoSite3062

Hi there, I am a veterinarian and I grew up in a small rural community, dirt poor. At school, I'd often be in lunch debt even on free/reduced lunch, and so would my husband. We want to find a way to meaningfully give back to our high school. He suggested donating yearly to pay off student lunch debt. I want to be able to create a yearly fund or something to do this but my concerns are: would this be better allocated as a scholarship? Do you think it is wrong to worry this debt could accumulate more due to the school becoming dependent on these funds? That's a horrible thing to think I know, but I just want to do the best thing.

New grad, third day of working in a clinic. I work with a wonderful and kind veterinarian. I ask questions when I'm not sure, and I feel nervous but excited about working my first job in a GP clinic.

Over the last three days, my schedule is packed. I'm not saying that's wrong, but my classmate groupchat has pointed out that it's a lot for a new grad. At times I agree. I feel like I would like more time to step away and work up a case better. But I also have worked in fast-paced ERs before and enjoy efficiency.

An issue I'm running into when I break down complicated cases my mentor asks me about is differing treatment plans. For example, I am judicious with my antibiotic use. In a geriatric feline with unilateral nasal discharge/cannot breathe out of nostril, otherwise unremarkable physical, I did not prescribe antibiotics. The doctor asked why.

I explained that 1. A previous trial of antibiotics was done and it did not improve the issue. 2. The clear discharge was not indicative of a bacterial infection. 3. I was much more concerned with a polyp or neoplasia, and that required referral for a rhinoscopy or CT. The owner wanted to focus more on QOL than diagnostics. I instead prescribed an anti-inflammatory dose of prednisolone. The doctor seemed disappointed in me for not prescribing antibiotics.

This happened in a similar case with a dog with a mildly stenotic ear canal, with a chronic ear infection. This one I found some research to back up use of systemic antibiotics in these cases, but was still not thinking of doing that right off the top of my head.

I guess my question to the void is - what do you do when your treatment plans clash? Not necessarily that they are wrong, but just not what someone else would do?

Edit: let me add that not prescribing the antibiotics made me feel bad. Like I was doing something wrong. But all my schooling and training has told me to be judicious with my antibiotics. It's not that I don't prescribe them (I have!), I just don't prescribe them for things they are not indicated for. Once I explained that at an externship. Their response was, "you'll see that out in clinical practice, the clients always want a fix. You'll want to prescribe the antibiotics always."

Vacation is over after graduating. I start Monday with wellness appointments only. I am shaking in my boots. That is all. What's one piece of advice you wish you had on your first day?

New grad, dad lives a few hours away and is disabled. I'd like to help by vaccinating his pets for rabies. I know the legal requirements for my state, but has anyone done this before? I felt silly even calling in a prescription the first time when they gave me pushback for not having an NPI number. If it helps, I am a USDA accredited vet for my state as well.

Edit: I guess let me make it a little more clear - I have a rabies cert form, tags, and I'd just order my own Rabies vaccine from a reputable online pharmacy for his two dogs. I don't begin work at my new clinic yet and idk it just seems weird to be like, yeah...let me buy two rabies vaccines...for reasons