Idiopathic Issues

The Holiday Season is in full swing and I don’t know about you, but it is a struggle for me to make good food choices and find the time to exercise during all of the festivities.  Unfortunately for our pets there seems to be a correlation with our Winter weight gain and their Winter weight gain.  I had so many Spring Wellness exams that started out with, Fluffy has gained quite a bit of weight over the Winter and we will need to do something about that.  

In a way, I feel for the clients.  If you live in a cold climate it can be hard to take your dog out for a walk when it is freezing cold or freezing rain.  The sidewalks get clogged with ice and snow and it is dark out earlier so it really can be treacherous to take your pup out for a walk.  Unfortunately, if you are like me, you feel guilty when you don’t take your dog for a walk so you make up for it by giving treats.  Decreased calories out and increased calories in is a dangerous equation for weight gain.

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.

Vet school is undoubtedly one of the busiest and most stressful times in your life. With all that you’ve got going on, it’s important to stay physically healthy and mentally sharp to get you through it all. Here are some tips to help you stay healthy:

1. Exercise! Staying active and having a regular exercise schedule is helpful in many ways. Whether it’s running, walking, biking, yoga, volleyball, or turbo kickboxing, keeping a scheduled exercise routine will help you stay both physically and mentally fit. Getting your blood flowing and your heart rate up will keep you mentally alert and focused for studying and for sitting through long lectures. It’s also a great way to reduce stress and prevent some of the general lethargy and malaise that sets in around the middle of the semester. A short exercise break is also great during marathon study sessions to help you clear your mind and re-focus.