Idiopathic Issues

Dear Vet Student,

I’m writing today to send you best wishes and good luck! After years of veterinary education, and several months of studying, you are about to take the most important exam of your life, the NAVLE!

I’ve been where you are. I know you may be feeling overwhelmed, stressed out and even a little scared. But rest assured, you will survive!

I promise that you know more than you think you know. You didn’t make it this far by accident or sheer luck! You have worked your tail off, maybe using our VetPrep Navle study prep, and you have earned the opportunity to sit for the exam. Be confident!

In 2015 and 2014, over 90% of students who took the NAVLE for the first time during the November/December test window passed the exam. There is no reason this can’t be you!

The Business Insider ranked the top 27 jobs that are most damaging to your health, and veterinary related jobs ranked #4.  Dental careers, fight Attendant careers, and  anesthesia careers were the only jobs found more dangerous. Check out the article to find out why we ranked so highly.  Be sure to check out our other links.

Here is our latest infographic on common fracture types that veterinarians and veterinarian students should know about.

Virtually all bones are susceptible to fracturing whether you are a human or an animal- we all break! The most common long bones that are prone to fracturing are the humerus, radius, femur and tibia.

Veterinary surgeons categorize these fractures into different categories: Closed (simple), Open (compound), comminuted fracture, epiphyseal (growth plate), greenstick (hairline), or pathologic fracture.

A closed fracture is contained within the skin. The bone is broken, but the skin is intact. An open fracture is pierces through the skin and is exposed. Comminuted fracture- the bone is splintered, crushed, or broken into pieces Epiphyseal fractures are (commonly) seen in young dogs- these happen most often on the growth plates or epiphyseal plates.

In young animals the growth plate fractures because it’s the weakest part of the bone. Veterinary surgeons use the Salter-Harris system to categorize these fractures into grades or types.

Greenstick (hairline)- Is a small crack/partial fracture in which the bone is essentially left intact, the bone isn’t completely broken. Pathologic fracture- is a fracture caused from a disease that weakens the bone.