Brittney Kilgore

Reno and Tahoe are so pretty (and dry) and I learned so much here. Even though I went to work with only cats if I ever worked at a standard general practice, I would definitely want it to be somewhere like this! I was so impressed and if you’re a student I highly recommend externing here if you can! I got to practice so much of my acupuncture but also learn other holistic modalities like ozone! They’re double building practice is amazing and they have a beautiful property with individual cabins for exams and even outdoor exams! I can’t say enough good about them and everyone there. I appreciate everything I learned here and was glad to have stumbled across this clinic in my search for electives when making my schedule ✨ 🐾 #vetstudentlife #vetschool #futurevet #tcm #tcvm #acupuncture #chi #qi #reno #nevada #tahoe #desert #mvah #blackdoctors #blackdoc #lgbt #melaninpoppin #vetmed #vetstagram

Cats are honestly just my jam. My current rotation is at a clinic that has a holistic and western building. On the holistic side, I’d say 90-95% of patients are dogs so I get very amped up when I see a kitty patient on the schedule. I overheard here a conversation about another doctor who was offered a residency position in a brand new program in a very specific field to which the other doctors said she should take it because she is SO passionate about it and will never get that satisfaction and fulfillment in a standard general practice. And in listening I said YES - that’s me with cats. I love dogs and there are days I really enjoy seeing some of the dog patients, but I don’t feel satisfied and full with what I do like I do in cat only practices. I have less than 6 months till graduation and I’ve been interviewing different places. Most of my considerations are feline only even though I have looked at a few standard GPs. Some people tell me not to “limit myself” so early in my career but this is 100% what I want. Cats need an advocate too. They’re the minorities of the veterinary world when compared to dogs and someone has to be their voice. Plus if I start early - that just gives me an entire lifetime to be the best cat doctor for my patients ☺️ 🐱 #catmedicine #felineonly #catsonly #acupuncture #tcvm #sgu #vetstudent #vetscholl #medschool #tcm #futureveterinarian #futurevet #blackdvm #blackdoctor #blacklesbian #atlanta #roadtripping #lgbtq #vetmed #felinefriends

From the smell of the bladder contents to just the difference in surgical techniques - surgery on tortoises is definitely something that’s unique in vet med. #vetschool #vetstudent #tortoises #exoticvet #exoticmedicine #zoovet #reptilelove #futurevet #blackdoctors #lgbt #deserttortoise #vetschoollife

Chapter 25 ✨🥳 Sometimes sharing to my vet and personal Instagram gets old but couldn’t not share this here. For the record, getting my scuba certification was scarier in my opinion

Forgot to share: Finished my 4 week rotation at this fully exotic clinic in AZ. I learned SO much about reptiles and birds! I’ve had so much experience with mammal exotics and some here and there with birds but I really wanted to strengthen my bird and reptile knowledge. It has also definitely made me want a tortoise. Maybe oneday when I have my hobby farm. If anyone is looking for exotic experience, they have 3 locations (Tucson, Phoenix, and Mesa Arizona) and are soon opening one in Colorado. The Mesa location even has a CT machine. They have boarded reptile and avian specialist and are also one of 2 residency programs for reptile boards in the country! If you’re looking for experience, an internship, residency, or even job with exotics they’re a great place if you can handle the AZ heat. Next stop Reno, Nevada! 🦔🦜🐁🐢🐍🐓🐇🐾 #tortoise #deserttortoise #azeah #exoticvet #exoticanimals #zoovet #vetschool #vetstudent #vetresidency #reptiles #avianmedicine #arizona #arizonaveterinarian #futurevet #blackdvm #blackgirlmagic #blackdoctors #futuredoctors #lgbt #lesbiandoctor #exoticmedicine #zoomed #vetsofinstagram

Just thought I would share here because what kind of vet student would I be if I didn’t feed the feral donkeys on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. Toulouse was not happy these giant things were sticking their heads in his car. This driving around is getting tiring and expensive but the scenery and experiences Im getting are still priceless. 🚗 #vetstudent #roadtrip #donkey #traderjoesfinds #roadtrippingwithmycat #adventurecat #vetschool #deathvalley #middleofnowhere #womenwhotravelsolo #womenwhotravel

Fun facts about chelonians: 🐢 Turtle vs tortoise terminology often varies by continent and may also be referred to as terrapin. It often just varies by if it’s primarily terrestrial or aquatic. Chelonian is the broad term for shelled reptiles 🐢Their urine is not sterile! Reptiles have one common excretory exit called a cloaca where urine, feces, and reproductive secretions/organs/eggs are released. The way their urinary tract systems work, urine does not travel directly from kidney to bladder and therefore may be contaminated with other fecal material before being stored in the bladder. Chelonians also have the ability to uptake water from the environment and store it in their bladder. Honestly their urine smells like pond water 🐢 Their shells are not invincible! Dogs, coyotes, etc (even small dogs) can easily damage their shell and even puncture it. Deeper shell wounds lead to poor prognosis. Even if you see a wild turtle/tortoise, don’t let your dog “play with it” 🐢They, like most reptiles, require proper nutrition AND light. In chelonians without this, it can lead to soft shells or shell deformities. Even if you supplement calcium into their diet, without proper sun exposure or correct UV light, they will not absorb it. These are not “easy pets”. 🐢And lastly: Tortoises have quite the personalities! I want one haha. Maybe on my small farm oneday. Most of these tortoises are desert tortoises which are native here in Arizona (and California). The AZ Game and Fish take in hit by car, chewed/attacked by dog, etc tortoises and the clinic Im at gets them back healthy to be released. If not releasable, they are adopted out to AZ residents and are popular reptilian pets as this is the natural habitat and can be maintained in a backyard habitat. They’re not “legal” in other states. The last image is a box turtle native here. 🐢 #arizona #deserttortoise #deserttortoisesofinstagram #fututevet #vetstudent #vetschool #reptiles #exoticvet #exoticmedicine #futuredogtor #blackdoctors #futuredvm #futuredoctor #blackdoctorswhitecoats #lgbt #pridemonth

Since I’m in Arizona, me and my friend Priscilla crossed over to Mexico for dinner this weekend. Of course I saw puppies in the street for sale but Toulouse warned me he doesn’t want a puppy sibling. If I lived on the border I’d definitely be crossing all the time though. Also fun fact: Priscilla was my first friend I ever met at SGU! We also went hiking at Sabino Canyon here in Tucson earlier in the day. The desert heat is definitely different than the humid heat on the east coast! 🌵 #vetschool #futurevet #vetstudent #veterinaria #veterinarymedicine #vetmed #mexico #perritos #perrito #littledog #ontheborder #nogales #crosstheborder #tucson #sabinocanyon #arizona #sgu #travelingvet #roadtripping #solotraveling #crosscountryroadtrip

Me and Toulouse moved west…for the next 4 months of rotation. First stop: Tucson, Arizona 🌵✨. It took us 3 days to get here from Tampa, Fl. Already loving it here. 🌵 #vetstudent #vetschool #vetstudentlife #futurevet #catlady #crosscountryroadtrip #crosscountrytravel #lgbt #agirlandhercat

Another rotation completed at Temple Terrace in Tampa. I gained lots of surgical experience here and again got to up my canine knowledge since I’m always so feline focused. Everyone was so kind and welcoming and as always I was sad to go except this time I was also leaving Tampa too! Next stop is an all exotic practice in Arizona 🌵 🐾 #vetstudent #vetstudentlife #vetstudents #vetschool #veterinarian #futurevet #blackdvm #sgusvm #stgeorgesuniversity #sgu #surgerydays #spayandneuteryourpets #neuterediscuter #neuteriscuter #tampa #tampaflorida #templeterrace #lgbt #blackdoctors #lesbian #wlw #blackdoctor #veterinaria #vetlife🐾 #vetlife #vetstagram

Vet school is hard, but at the end of it all - did you die? 💪🏽 I get asked is vet school hard all the time and short answer is yes. Very. But it’s doable. You get through and look back on how far you have come. Taking care of yourself both mentally and physically is so important. I’ve been in Tampa for the last 12 weeks and making sure to stay fit at CrossFit Downtown Heights. Eating, sleeping, and working out consistently and enough makes such a difference in your everyday life. I’m a morning workout person. That serotonin boost definitely gets me going for the day. And I’m not saying that everyone should workout everyday or in the morning, but incorporating it regularly into your week can make a difference in your sleep, focus, and energy everyday. 💪🏽 I also tell everyone you HAVE to find work-life balance between school/studying and life/pleasure! In Grenada, I encouraged new students to explore the island, go to the beach and join clubs. You have to give yourself an outlet. ✨Regardless of what vet school (or any school for that matter) - take time for self, treat yourself, and remember that your life is more than school! The end is always in sight✨ #vetstudent #veterinaryschool #medschool #svm #cvm #medicalschool #futuredoctor #sgu #sgusvm #sgusom #stgeorgesuniversity @stgeorgesu @sgasgu #futurevet #futureveterinarian #veterinary #veterinaria #crossfit #gymmotivation #gymlife #crossfitwomen #melanincrossfit #melanindoc #melaninfitness #lgbt #wlw #blacklesbians #lgbtq #fitnessandhealth #worklifebalance #mentalhealth #nomv

Someone’s got to love all the kitties ✨ 🐾 I really like that fear free and feline friendly practices are becoming more recognized and popular even in standard general practice. Everyone knows I want to do feline only medicine, but I love that the clinic I’m at has a “cat hospital” with its own scale, exam table, and supplies as well as separate boarding for cats. I also like the concept of ear thermometers in all species. You wouldn’t like it stuck up your butt so neither do they 😅 this isn’t the first practice I’ve seen these things at, but just wanted to highlight them as the world of vet med changes ✨ 🐾 #catspecialist #felinespecialist #catvet #catdoctor #cats #vetstudent #vetstudentlife #vetstagram #futurevet #veterinary #veterinaria #veterinarian #vetmed #fearfree #sgu #sgusvm @stgeorgesu #stgeorges #vetschooladventures #blackdoctors #blackdvm #blackdoctor #blackgirlmagic #blacklesbians #lgbt #lesbian #blackdoc #gato #blackveterinarian