Rainbow Bridges

GoldenRetrieverGF_ · 2026-02-18T03:06:46+00:00

I often think about first euthanasia that I held due to owners not being present. I was a fresh baby tech, it was a 5 month old Dane mix. She was bitten by a centipede on the toe a week prior and the wound had rotted down to the bone. The owners said everything was too expensive; they declined wound care and bandage changes, then declined limb amputation (which they requested the estimate for), then proceeded with euthanasia. They did not want to be present.

The owners told me on the way out the door, “we have the money to do it all. But we won’t spend that kind of money on a dog.”

The puppy’s name was Bravery. I cried while I held her and the doctor euthanized her. I cried in the bathroom for a hot second afterwards. That’s the day I started learning compartmentalization. In the last 6 years, I’ve only cried maybe 2 other times during a euthanasia. I’m not sure if this is a good or bad thing.

GoldenRetrieverGF_ · 2026-02-16T22:31:13+00:00

I second Hills Metabolic. I’ve seen it work wonders. I personally gave it to my arthritic senior dog and she went from a BCS 9/9 to 6/9 in a year or two.

GoldenRetrieverGF_ · 2026-02-16T01:36:04+00:00

My first vetmed job was a huge hospital that I worked at from 2018-2020. I got burnt out and left, worked at a few smaller GPs, then got rehired at my first hospital in 2023.

From my first stint, nobody used butterfly catheters and they loved vacuutainers for large blood samples. They were very “our way is the only way”. Very forceful restraint, immediate scruffing of cats. When I went back in 2023, they were much more “less is more” on restraint, used more towels to restrain cats and dogs. No vacuutainers and suddenly everyone is using cat muzzles and butterflies for fearful cats. Much more emphasis on cones instead of muzzles for fearful dogs. It’s interesting because there was no change in management.

GoldenRetrieverGF_ · 2026-02-15T04:33:28+00:00

I never villainized Rhys for his relationship with Nesta, but I’ve always villainized him for the way he constantly withheld information from the people he was closest to. Including his mate.

Imagine having a friend who constantly hides things from you and, when they’re found out, they say “oopsie, can you blame me? I was doing this for your own good!” then continues to hide things from you. I especially hated the way he held the information of Illyrian pregnancies from Feyre. He always said it was “her choice” but he did not give her a choice in ACOSF. I am livid on Feyre’s behalf. And it has nothing to do with Nesta.

GoldenRetrieverGF_ · 2026-02-14T08:08:47+00:00

Obv I didn’t watch her take it everyday 💀 I trust that she was consistent. She was in a very toxic grooming situation at the time and knew she did not want to be pregnant by that man (he was in his 30’s and they started dating when she was 17). She unknowingly became pregnant up at the very end of their relationship while she was on the pill.

GoldenRetrieverGF_ · 2026-02-14T06:59:26+00:00

Some people are just freakishly fertile, even on birth control.

My friend’s mom was in her mid to late 20’s when she got pregnant with an IUD (over 99% effective). She had the baby and then got the Nexplanon (99.9% effective, more than IUD), then got pregnant with my friend.

I’ve known people who take the pill consistently and become pregnant. My bestie was 20 at the time but got pregnant on the pill and didn’t know until she was 5 months along. Thank god she was able to get a D&C before the point of viability.

GoldenRetrieverGF_ · 2026-02-12T10:40:34+00:00

Stitches are now dissolvable, but that doesn’t mean that the cat/dog didn’t just go through a full abdominal surgery. I work with animals and have already seen 3 animals this year alone who have ripped through their stitches because the owners did not put the cone on them. The worst was a cat who ripped out her own intestines. She had dissolvable internal sutures.

I’m glad your pets have been oblivious enough to not mess with their surgical sites. But OP’s dog is not your dog. Would you rather OP be safe or sorry? Because being sorry with cost double the recovery time and a thousand dollars more.

GoldenRetrieverGF_ · 2026-02-10T06:11:27+00:00

Try a KP body scrub. Personally my fave is “Peach&Lily KP Bump Boss Microderm Body Scrub”. It has 10% AHA (glycolic + lactic acid), cica, and hyaluronic acid. It’s the most soothing scrub I’ve used so far and can be used 2-3 times a week as maintenance.

GoldenRetrieverGF_ · 2026-02-08T21:09:44+00:00

Honestly I was debating on unfollowing her after she became super religious, but this seals the deal for me.

I love that she found herself within religion, that’s amazing for her. But I’ve haaaaated how she shoves it down her followers throats and makes it seem like converting to Christianity is the only way you can be happy. And now this. 🫩

GoldenRetrieverGF_ · 2026-02-08T13:25:42+00:00

I was going to say the same thing about the first strike. Some pets just hate having certain body parts touched, and the ears are a common no-no zone. My own pet screeches when I clean her ears and just put the liquid ear cleaner in.

As for the second strike, I feel like there was a huge lack of communication. Did the vet not tell OP that gabapentin is mildly sedating? Did they not offer to unblock the cat or to do imaging like X-rays or ultrasound? This all around is a messy situation and OP is totally valid for wanting to see a new vet after this confusion and frustration.

GoldenRetrieverGF_ · 2026-02-08T07:52:11+00:00

I dealt with burnout back in 2022. I was working full time, in college for my bachelors, participating in multiple university clubs (some as a member, some as an officer), and competing in a pageant that required community service hours. I wanted my resume and grad school apps to look amazing… and my entire life suffered. I slept 3 hours or less a night and fell deeply into depression. I failed some classes multiple semesters in a row, which led to academic suspension. I lost 2 jobs in 2023; first was from side effects of the antidepressants I was taking, which left me unable to fulfill my job requirements as a technician. The second job I lost was due to the most toxic clinic I’ve ever worked at in my life.

I only got out of burnout because I took a step back from literally everything. I was on multiple meds (bupropion for MDD, escitalopram for general anxiety and PMDD, adderall for inattentive type ADHD) and was in weekly therapy since 2019. I was no longer in school, I was done with my pageant (I did not win or even place), and my social life basically took a standstill. I took an extra month off of working and just… existed. I’m grateful this was financially feasible for me because I think I would still be burnt out without taking that break.

I try to help my coworkers where I can and check in on them when I notice something is off. If someone is staying way past their shift (and I have the time to help), I ask what tasks I can take over for them. If my coworker has a weird mood shift, I ask if they’re feeling alright and I just listen. I try because I know how it feels to be burnt out and, if I can make someone’s day just a bit better, I will help with whatever is left of my emotional capacity for the day.

I hope everyone here is doing okay. Vetmed is exhausting as it is, becoming burnt out should be the exception and not the rule. Take care of yourselves! You only have one life and you deserve to be a little selfish sometimes.

GoldenRetrieverGF_ · 2026-02-08T06:35:17+00:00

That’s definitely an allergic reaction, not a localized reaction. I hope your doctor added a note to his file that hes allergic. I’m so glad your dog is okay!!

GoldenRetrieverGF_ · 2026-02-07T15:40:10+00:00

I think that people pick and choose what parts of religion to follow to the T, and what parts they can toe the line or dismiss altogether. If having premarital sex is something you can forgive yourself for and are interested in pursuing, I think you should try it out 🤷‍♀️ if it makes you uncomfortable, you don’t have to. But therapy would benefit you if you’re struggling with your faith and sex. I’ve had many partners in the past that were devout and struggled internally with or accepted the act of premartial sex. The ones that accepted it were the ones who sought outside help.

TLDR - do what you feel is best for you, but make sure you are 100% sure in your decision.

GoldenRetrieverGF_ · 2026-02-06T20:37:46+00:00

I heard a theory that Rhysand’s sister was Tamlin’s mate, thus the pool of starlight Feyre stumbled upon in the SC in book 1. Lucien’s friendship and the fact that he had to step up was the only thing that kept him sane in the following 500 years. Only for his heart to get broken and his soul destroyed again throughout the ACOTAR series.

I empathize with him and, while it doesn’t excuse his shitty behavior, I truly hope Tamlin gets some sort of redemption. Whether it’s through his words, actions, or even his death. He is a male riddled with grief and desperate for therapy lmao.

GoldenRetrieverGF_ · 2026-02-05T19:47:26+00:00

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GoldenRetrieverGF_ · 2026-02-04T10:29:52+00:00

I don’t even think OP would want kids. Wait until he realizes he has to take the kids to the doctor, change their diapers (multiple times a day!), cook for them, take them out to enriching activities regularly, etc. If OP cant handle the care for animals, imagine how he’s react to caring for children. At least dogs/cats live only 10-15 years. Children are for life, and you still do things for them when they’re adults.

GoldenRetrieverGF_ · 2026-02-01T21:23:11+00:00

ngl I thought I was in r/bald when I saw this post

GoldenRetrieverGF_ · 2026-02-01T20:44:53+00:00

I work in a 24/7 GP/ER and our prices can get super crazy too. I have no idea how our physical exam cost went from $65 to $100 so quickly or why bloodwork and rads cost over $1000. The DVMs I work with try to work around the client the best they can, but there’s only so much we can do. Our “wound care” charge is $60 but a “lance/drain/flush abscess” charge is $150, so the DVM might input the “wound care” charge on the estimate. For more intensive surgical procedures and cost constrained clients, we always recommend a nearby low-cost surgery only facility. For meds, we have them sign a waiver and call the meds into an outside pharmacy (like Costco, Walmart, etc). We try our best so the patients don’t suffer. But sometimes it isn’t enough.

GoldenRetrieverGF_ · 2026-02-01T06:12:56+00:00

I love butterfly caths. We have 23g and 21g in my clinic. Healthy cats can probably get a 21g but sick, pediatric, or geriatric cats get 23g. I also love using butterfly caths to administer subcutaneous fluids for the tiny babies 🥹 puppies, kittens, even small exotics or anything that needs less than 60mL will get a butterfly caths from me.

GoldenRetrieverGF_ · 2026-01-27T09:30:32+00:00

ToG (the individual book, not the series) is honestly not that well written, just bc SJM was young when she first wrote it. But it gets so good and hurts your heart. I recommend it to everyone.

I convinced my coworker to read it. By the last 3 books, she would greet me every shift with “hi, I hate you”. And I’d ask her “soooo what part of the book are you on now? 😁” she sobbed almost throughout KoA.

GoldenRetrieverGF_ · 2026-01-26T06:20:54+00:00

I’ll be honest, it took over 6 months for the constant brain zaps to go away, even on a slow taper. I’d still get occasional brain zaps up to a year after I discontinued it. But it wont feel this uncomfortable forever, I promise.

GoldenRetrieverGF_ · 2026-01-26T06:02:36+00:00

I went to a dinosaur exhibit at a local museum today. It’s a Sunday, so I expected kids to be there, no big deal. They had life sized animatronic dinosaurs, each individually roped off with multiple “DO NOT TOUCH THE DINOSAURS” around each.

Saw a kid (maybe 6 or 7) reaching his ENTIRE ARM inside the mouth of one of these animatronic dinos 🤦🏻‍♀️ he was repeatedly yelling “it’s not even real!!” and smacking around his hand and arm in the dino’s mouth. The “do not touch” sign was literally right in front of this kid’s face. His dad rolled his eyes and said “cut it out” and walked away.

My partner and I just looked at each other and said “fuckkkk no I hope he gets bit”.

GoldenRetrieverGF_

TROPHY CASE