Graduation present for veterinarian friend?

[j*east]

Hi all. Maybe this should be in gifts, but I thought it would get more traffic here from vet-minded people. My friend Josie is graduating from vet school in a couple weeks, and I'd like to get her a gift.

Background: This has been a long road for Josie. She grew up with a psychotic mother (literally psychotic) and is now overseeing the care of her schizophrenic brother, who's been in and out of jail and institutions. Josie was raped by family members as a child and adolescent, and has suffered PTSD since then. She also has some kind of autoimmune illness (drs aren't sure what, exactly) that has caused chronic migraines and other bizarre symptoms, such as vertigo and severe hair loss.

Due to all these issues, Josie has never been a straight-A student (we went to college together) and it was a major feat for her to get into vet school, let alone pass her courses. Despite all these challenges, Josie is upbeat, cheerful, happy, funny. She is, beyond a doubt, the kindest, most compassionate person I have ever met, both toward humans and animals. She has, as you can imagine, a menagerie of animals that no one else wanted, all with varying health issues. Her most recent addition is a seven year old Australian shepherd mix with severe hip displasia and compressed discs in his spine--the poor guy can barely move, yet has tons of energy. Josie commented wistfully to me that she'd love to buy Cosequin for him, but has to go with a lesser brand of glucosamine, since his other meds cost close to $500 a month already.

I have two gift ideas--either a large quantity of Cosequin, or...something else, more dignified, permanent, and commerative.

Which do you think I should choose? And if I go with "something else," well, what? I'd like to spend around $100.

[skyblu]

I suck at gifts, but wanted to say, "WOW" to your friend Josie and all she's overcome in life. Please tell her she's my new hero and inspiration in my own pursuit for higher education! :)

Anyway. I think the medicine for her furbaby would be the best gift. But then again, maybe when she's working as a vet she'll get samples or discounts? :confused:

Do you have a beautiful photo of her and her pets? Maybe you could have it blown up and framed beautifully. Or have a portrait of her pets done? (not sure how practical that would be).

[jesvet]

I get Cosequin for cost at my work...at retail $100 won't go too far. Though the idea is a lovely one.

A pet portrait is a great idea, or a really nice pen (that seems like it is less personal than you would like though), something with "Dr Josie" on it since that is always exciting to have the "doctor" thing by your name :D. I'll think on this more.

[j*east]

Thanks for the suggestions, jesvet and skyblu. I'll keep thinking about it. :)

[rileyandfredsmom]

My sister isn't a vet but she does animal rescue and has her own petting zoo of animals with problems (one dog is diabetic and takes insulin shots 2x day, he has also had both eyes removed due to blood clots in them, he also has irratable bowl syndrome another dog has something wrong with her intestines or something and occasionally has to go into the hospital for fluids and is also having eye problems....which my sister has to drive 3 hours to an eye specialist, another dog that has some skin dysfunction or other - can't quite figure out what is going on with this one...her oldest cat just got diagnosed with mammary tumors last week....) anyway, you get the idea. So whenever we are at a gift-giving holiday I send her packets of frontline or call her vets office and pre-pay for some medication that one of them will be having so that when she goes to check-out, it's already paid for.

Maybe you could call one of the local animal shelters and see if they allow kennels to be named after someone or you could make a nice donation to a shelter in her name?

I'm awful at gifts as well. I like the pet portrait idea (except I was given one of my dog and cat when I was in college and I always feel guily when I look at it because I don't have one of my current animals and I think they feel shafted :o ).

Oh, what about a 'the vet is in' sign with her name on it or something?

Here is a website I found where they have veterinarian cartoons...maybe get a couple of these and frame them in a collage? I thought this one was cute:

http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/V/Veterinary_gifts.asp

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/215/522585039_587edd1675.jpg?v=0

[j*east]

That's a cute idea! Thanks!

[Foley42]

Is Josie going to be opening her own practice? If so then so animal artwork to hang in the office would be nice.

[j*east]

Right now, she still has a rotation to finish (that she couldn't before, due to health reasons) and then I think she's likely to work at a primate center, or with another vet's practice to start.

I ended up going with rileyandfredsmom's idea and ordered a framed cartoon for her office/whatever. It has two dogs, one dressed as a dr and one the patient, and the dr is saying, "Yeah, just keep licking it, I'm sure it'll get better." The caption says, "Why dogs need vets." It's kind of silly, but I'll write her a sappy card as well, and maybe throw in a bottle of Cosequin for good measure. It's hard to go wrong b/c Josie always loves everything!

I like the idea of "Dr Josie" stuff...maybe for another occasion. The shelter donation is great, too.

Thanks, all, for your help. :) It made me feel good just telling people how great she is! Also, I now have enough ideas for birthdays and Christmas for the next few years. Thanks again!