Video update

COW KISSES

EVERY DAMN DAY. HARD TO STUDY.

JEPP, MY WEIRDO FRIEND.

Yesterday we had the last exam before the Christmas break, and it went good! So we went out for dinner to celebrate Ida (her birthday is on Wednesday but she left for Norway today). Then Agathe and I went to meet Linnea, Kattah, Alex and Margret (Previously our teacher haha).

Of course at Bierhallen, when you ask for a large beer you get 1 l!!! 

Break from studying!

On Friday after the trip there was a big party at the guys house, one guy was turning 21 y and another is graduating. It was a nice break from school!

On Saturday the girls came over, we baked gingersnaps, made Glögg (mulled wine), had frosting fight (thank god I already had cleaning equipment out) and watched Love actually. Such a perfect night!

We kind of live on busses now... This is from last Fridays trip to The veterinary research institute in Pulawy. As I said before, we have been doing a lot of trips this semester. 

Everyone is always ready for a trip; Snacks, drinks, lunch, candy, study material and music!

My pretty elfs

Last week the gang went to old town for some mulled wine and the Christmas market. We didn't really have time but everyone was exhausted so we had to get ourselves off our butts! 

Prof. C. Hanzen. 3 days - 20 hours.

1-3 December we had a guest-lecturer from Belgium, Prof- C. Hanzen. In 3 days, he had 20 h of material teaching us about the cattle reproduction physiology and pathology. Usually a whole subject has 15h of lectures. So after 3 days we were all exhausted, and still are. He was a great teacher, so there was a lot of information going in to my little brain.

Day 1: Reproductive physiology and anatomy + usg examination (theoretical)

Day 2: Started out at the school farm (Obory), where a few of us did rectal reproexamiantion and usg. Then we went to the slaughter house (the second one I wrote about in the post before this) for rectal examinations.

Day 3: Postpartum reproductive pathologies.

On an internal diseases lab we got to do vaginal examination and put urinary catheters. (+rectal exams)

During other labs we have also got to treat piglets for diarrhea with antibiotics, done tuberculin tests in cattle and pigs, treat calves for diarrhea, treat calves for respiratory diseases, debudd calves, castrate piglets, and so on. It has been a hands on semester!

Blossom and Possum - The twin parturition

During our internal diseases labs we usually go around at the farm treating sick animals. Mostly with fluid therapy and some supplements. Last lab we had there was one cow that was supposed to have her calf a few hour before we arrived, but when they moved her to the birthing pin she had stopped contracting. So at the end of class they decided to assist the parturition. 

The veterinary, teacher and 2 student got to do the repro-palpation, and it turned out to be twins!

So then the teacher pulled out the calves one at a time (I'll try to get the video from someone and post it!). We all had to rub the calves with straw to dry and stimulate them. It was an amazing experience. 

There was a female and a male, sadly enough 90% of twins born different sex are Free martins. So the little girl will probably not be able to reproduce.

Slaughter house trips

We have been taking a lot of farm trips this semester (1-4 times a week). It is because this semester is about livestock animals, next is about horses. 

Most of my evenings were spent like this, even if i was being productive or not.

We went to 2 different slaughter houses with reproduction class. 

The first was horrible; the conditions where bad, the cows where being abused, it was really unsafe and extremely stressful for the cattle. So I refused to do the vaginal and rectal examination, because it felt like rape and horrible abuse. Of course got in trouble, but it seems okay now. 

The second slaughter house was much better. The cows were in good condition, it was safer environment. BUT but they still used the electrical-sticks to move the cows, which was bad. 

"I wish the meat tasted bad when the animals had been stressed at the slaughter house." 

The examinations where better too, when an animal had been examined by a few people, there was a switch of animal. At the precious place they had been examined until there was blood running out of there rectums.

So it was a much better experience at the second place. That is where the pictures are from.

We where doing rectal palpation of cattle for reproduction evaluation.

You can feel the cervix at the bring of pelvis, then you pull it up a bit and try to follow the uterine body, horns and eventually palpate the ovaries.

France

A few weeks ago I traveled to visit Julia in France. The first 2 days we spent in Lille and the next 1 ½ in Valenciennes, where she lives. She is taking an Erasmus year, doing her masters in France, and will be done in Spring 2015. 

We mostly walked around sightseeing and catching up!

 The Christmas market in Lille was open, so cosy!

The blog is back!

I am sorry for the break. It has been a hectic and hard semester, I have barely checked my email. I will try to be better now, because it is Christmas break!
Firstly, Doggy update:
Daisy
Daisy is healthy and happy.
During one walk she ran away and was gone for almost 15 min, so I got her a flexi-leash and will not have her off-leash any longer.

Ärtan
Ärtan is very happy, playing everyday.
She has a persistent conjunctiva inflammation (conjunctivitis). She gets it everytime we come to Poland, so it is probably some allergen in the environment here causing it. Got new eyedrop-therapy today though, so hopefully it will be fine.