When given the assignment, I had imagined dispensing a gross of dog heart worm medicine to the vet’s office, but had also wondered what was in the job description at a warehouse for veterinary products for what I might be paid pharmacist’s wages, thinking that perhaps someone would need to count controlled drugs (as I recalled ketamine and fentanyl were developed as large animal tranquilizers), or check doses so that that animals would receive proper doses of pain medicine, or anesthetics, like on horse farms, or what might be supplied to dog kennels, or pet stores.

Little did I realize that a pharmacist might be necessary to maintain certain requirements for drugs to be used in animals basically for our nation’s food supply, working somewhat hand-in-hand with the FDA to to ensure meat wasn’t poisoned, by maintaining guidelines of antibiotic dosing (mastitis treatment in cows) and filling script with a line on the bottom listing how soon the drug should be discontinued before slaughter, checking on vaccination storage, and a few other prescription drugs; ceftiofur, ampicillin, amoxicillin (cherry and bubblegum flavor), some popular veterinary macrolide, sulfa/trimethoprim, prostaglandins, oxytocin (for milk letdown), etc.. I figured that a large majority of the vet’s practice was caring for unnamed animals used as a food source.

(As a hospital pharmacist, I had to chuckle silently as I saw that there was only one size and kind of 2% lidocaine injection on the shelf (100 mL) whereas on the hospital shelf we have every type of lidocaine known e.g. percentages, for use intrathecally, epidurally, topically, etc.), but the practice was rather sobering, sort of like in Charlottes’ Web, and the part about the spider writing ’some pig’ in her web. Put me off my breakfast bacon this morning.

Would I do it again? I think, perhaps, I would. This profession has been good to me and my family. That’s why I try to stay involved in my state Pharmacy assn. and with my school of Pharmacy. This profession is ever changing and many days I am concerned for it’s future. Other days, most days, I believe the future is bright. Yes, I would do this again. I’m sure of it. Ah, I dunno, ask me again next week.

My present hospital position has its drawbacks–it’s full of scut work that I think could be delegated to the now-licensed technicians–but, oh, how much worse it was! And, it isn’t the content, but the comrades, that make this job great. I am blessed with the most LIKEABLE and COMPETENT co-workers I’ve ever had in pharmacy.

Would I trade this job to become a starving author? I enjoy writing. My blog is a year old today, and I write in several other venues, too. Would I risk the entire status quo to go on an unchartered adventure, and do a Jethro Tull-style “skating away on the thin ice of a new day?” I just don’t have the guts. But I could be persuaded to do it, either by a brainstorm or by circumstance. It would have to be a real emotional paroxysm, i.e., a fit of rage, a fit of frustration. It would take real courage to look my life right in the eye and say, “I reject you. I am going out on a limb.” I’d need a flag, or an anthem, and a Bible, and much prayer. Well, I’ve got the Bible.