Idiopathic Issues

Whether you are approaching your NAVLE or upcoming finals week, if you are a vet student then you know the temptation to start pulling all nighters and forgoing good sleep habits.  I understand the appeal of squeezing in a few more hours of studying.  When you are in classes or clinics all day you are under a lot of stress. Maybe you have a part-time job or perhaps some intense at-home responsibilities too, it can be hard to feel like you have put in enough time to prepare for your tests.  It’s a TRAP! Don’t fall for it, healthy sleep is important. REALLY IMPORTANT. Don’t sacrifice your sleep and here is why.

Our November Spotlight Veterinarian is Dr. Melanie Landry Church.  Dr. Church is a board certified ophthalmologist in Maitland, Florida. She is a 2008 graduate of North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed a small animal internship in Atlanta Georgia followed by a Comparative Veterinary Ophthalmology Residency in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Church is a lover of all species and divides her time between helping dogs, cats, exotics as well as marine patients.  

Idiopathic Issues: What is your current position?

Dr. Melanie Church: Veterinary Ophthalmologist at Animal Eye Associates with offices in Maitland and Orlando, Florida. I practice all aspects of medical and surgical veterinary ophthalmology. I primarily see dogs, cats, and small exotics but will see any non-human animal. One afternoon a month, I provide complementary eye exams to the marine animals at Sea World.

It is a good time to remind ourselves to be careful in the workplace and take the precautions needed to prevent injury from dog bites. It is also a good time to educate your children, family, and friends about how to avoid dog bite injury. More than 4.7 million people each year are bitten by dogs, and up to 1 million individuals seek medical treatment for dog bites.  While this may not be the most pertinent topic for your NAVLE prep, it is certainly important to the longevity of your career.

For years we have been touting the benefits of the human-animal bond.  Sharing your life with an animal can help reduce your blood pressure and improve your mood. There are studies showing that dogs help to calm children learning to read or undergoing cancer treatment.  Owning a pet can help the elderly stay engaged and active.  Let's not forget the countless ways that service animals enrich our lives. Now scientist are finding evidence that spending your early childhood years with a dog, or living on a farm may help to reduce your risk of developing asthma.

It is inevitable that you will encounter a methicillin-resistant staphylococcus (MRSA) case in practice. It is also likely that you will have a client with MRSA and be asked about transmission of this type of bacteria to their pet. Because these infections are becoming more common, knowledge of this subject is important to the health of your patients as well as your NAVLE review.