Surgery Day! (Warning: contains graphic images)

Monday was operation #1 for Maggie.  Surgery on her left leg to fix her luxated patella and torn cruciate ligament.  We arrived at RASCAL around 9:30.  Met with Dr. G and did a quick assessment of what would be going on (prior to Monday it was up in the air as to which surgery she would do-- both right and left legs needed to be worked on so it was time to pick the worst leg and operate).  Put Maggie in a kennel and got ready for a long day of shadowing.


Dr. G had a veterinary student with her that day-- just starting in with a surgical rotation.  I couldn't help but keep reminding myself "that's going to be me in a few years!!!"

Mondays are specialty surgery days for RASCAL.  Got to witness a few interesting cases-- removal of two mammary masses on a cat, another mass removal on a cat (the mass removed was about the size of my fist-- a growth right above the cat's tail....), a bad case of gingival hyperplasia on a boxer, an Australian greyhound that needed a punch biopsy on its nose for a bad skin condition (owner thought it was sunburn from over a year ago-- more than likely some kind of auto-immune issue), and my problem child, Maggie. There were a few spay/neuters that came in also.  (Have learned that, no matter how confident I am in my abilities, feral cats scare me.) 

There was a rescued cat that was to have a Femoral Head Osteotomy (FHO) but had a pretty bad respiratory infection (cat came in with goopy eyes... by the end of the day it looked like its eyes would be matted shut in a few hours) No surgery for that little kitty. 

(okay- in just writing this out, I'm super impressed with myself... that I remembered each case and a lot of what Dr. G and the staff had told me about each case... :) )

So here's my photo journal of surgery.  Tried not to be obnoxious with photos--although Dr. G understood my fascination/excitement and at times would pause and ask if I'd like a picture of this or that.... she also informed me that, in the event that I started bawling, I would be escorted out of surgery.  I was too excited to be upset....

Waiting for her turn... 

 Breathe deep, Maggie!

 Before the first cut.

 Gettin down to her bones.  Dr. G carved out the groove in her patella and showed me her cruciate ligament. 

 Didn't get pictures of her ligament... but here's Dr. G drilling to put in suture to complete the lateral suture stabilization. 

 Tightening the suture

 Surgery's done

 The Cone of Shame....

Doggie Depression

Now we get to spend the next few months working on puppy rehab.  She's doing fairly well (3 days out now).  The bandage has come off, she's loving her pain meds but isn't eating a ton.  Though I know nothing about my dog is 'normal,' hopefully she'll be back to her 'normal' self soon....

Big Wheel Keep on Turnin....

This past weekend, we went to an estate sale.  It was one of those 'if we happen to be home and the weather isn't horrible-- we'll go' situations.  You can tell a lot about a person just by the things they own.  Lots of antique furniture and glassware, tools and craft supplies.  In a strange, weird way I'd imagine you'd find a similar collection if my Grandparents on my father's side were to have an auction. 

I enjoy listening to the auctioneer.  My mother's side of the family used to run an auction-- though it wasn't in its glory days when I was little, I still remember spending time around the sale barn hearing the auctioneer doing the bidding. 

There were a few odds and ends at the estate sale that we were interested in-- a few old tools (can't beat the quality in older hand tools....), a few large glass measuring cups, some odds and ends, and two spinning wheels.

The woman that lived there had to have been crafty.  There were two wheels, a yarn winder and a set of hand cards (the latter two of these looked like they had seen better days-- which leads me to believe that she actually used them).  One was a small traditional wheel (I'm sure there's better terminology but my beginner spinning knowledge doesn't have me recognizing brands/styles 100% accurately yet) and the other was a wool wheel.  Both were absolutely beautiful-- all of the parts appeared to be there for the small wheel yet the wool wheel was missing a few key components. 

I'm never leary of trying to fix things or take on projects that need a few alterations.  In my arsenal of resources (or, as my sister jests-- individuals that have the word "sucker" permanently tattooed on their foreheads) are amazing individuals that know how to do woodworking, welding, machining metal parts, and leather work.  I'm forever grateful for these individuals and the fact that they don't discourage me from tackling random or obscure projects.  I know what I am capable of and am glad that I've got great creative problem solving skills (thank you to my parents and Destination Imagination). 

Back to this wheel.  I couldn't take my eyes off of it.  It's absoultely beautiful-- the history and character that you can see in the wood-- love at first sight.

The auction started.  After a little while, the auctioneer got to the first wheel.  There was a woman there that clearly was dead-set on leaving with that wheel.  I think she got it for around $170-- not bad for a spinning wheel (especially not bad if it is fully functional!).  The wool wheel was auctioned off after that.  I just couldn't let it go and, after a few minutes, ended up with the wheel for a third of what it's worth =)  I was on cloud nine for the rest of the afternoon.

I'm assuming it was one of the children of the individuals whose items were being auctioned that came up to me after I bought the wheel.  They asked me my intentions for the wheel and were glad that it was going to someone that was going to put work into it and actually appreciate one of their mother's prized posessions.

It's going to take a little bit of work but I'm the proud owner of two spinning wheels (thanks to the woman that introduced me to spinning-- you've definitely created a monster!  =)  ).  We'll have to do some digging to see what parts we need to build and how to get it functioning, but if nothing else-- the wheel is absolutely beautiful.  I will have to get the good camera out to take better pictures to show off the craftsmanship but here it is (disassembled).

Suicidal Hedgehog!

I've fallen in love with hedgehogs... or at least one in particular-- our hedgehog, China.  She's prickly and a bit moody but has quite an amusing little personality. 

Look at her go!

China recently got an addition on to her cage (okay, okay... so the addition has been there for almost a month but the angle of the ramp to the upper section was too steep for her to climb without some form of tread-- figured out a solution and now she can explore.  Shouldn't have found it as amusing as we did when we first put her on the upper level and she slid down the ramp). 

Hedgehogs have very poor vision and, if there are no railings or safeguards, they will walk right over the edge of the surface they're on.  The platform that was added to her cage had about a two inch lip that she could not easily walk over.  Thought it was perfect and felt better that she'd have more space to romp and well... do all things hedgehogs in captivity like to do...

Once the tread was added, we woke her up and placed her on the upper level. 

She sniffed around a bit and scurried down the ramp straight to her wheel.  Ran for a bit, ventured up the ramp... and then... well... 

....yeah... she jumped.  Ran on her wheel, ran up the ramp and jumped over the edge again.  (It's about a 1' drop... scary to witness, but she's unharmed-- and actually tried to do it again)

We now have a barrier that extends to the top of the cage so there will be no possibility for hedgehog suicide in the future....

Photo Shoot!

Felt like bustin out the camera and snappin a few shots....

   Junior-- working on my Masters....

Happy Birthday to Me

Yesterday was my birthday and, overall, I've had a good birthday weekend.... It was full of good times with great friends and also some time spent with the love of my life-- lots of laughs and a few tears.

Every year I take a moment on my birthday to reflect upon the things that have happened over the past year...  It's funny how life has a way of giving you what you hoped for in a way you never could've expected.  This time last year I never would have guessed that I would be where I am now-- part of an amazing family, living in a completely unfamiliar part of the state, and accepted to vet school.  I am an extremely lucky girl.

I've reached a lot of goals this past year and have started a lengthy list of things to accompish over the next year (we'll see how well that list goes when school starts!!)

I'm thankful for all of the opportunities I've been given and look forward to the continued journey of life.

Why Should PETA Neuter you?

I understand some of PETA's beliefs and desire to promote better care for animals.  I get that.  Who wouldn't?  Some of their bizarre antics (and even more-so the issue of where all their donations and funding goes) rub me the wrong way.  It's the whole animal rights vs animal welfare arguement (of which I could spend hours of my time arguing where I stand with my beliefs.... but I won't... at least not today)...

Their radical movements and beliefs are huge points of discussion-- from Breast Milk Ice Cream to their Sex with Vegetables Superbowl Commercials (couldn't find Youtube video, sorry!) to Ingrid Newkirk's will... now, a contest that takes balls... Literally!  Win a Vasectomy from PETA

Any takers?

Wound-up Wednesday

My first wool arrived the other week!!!  Super excited about it (although I have a feeling that I ruined some of it.  Oh wool, why must you felt?)

Our bathroom smelled like a sheep barn.... mmmm...

After wash #3.... still dirty

 

What it looks like all brushed out

...and the yarn!  Have been blending it with a little of the fiber from my Jersey Wooly rabbits :)

I now understand the joy and excitement that follows when you are able to take raw fiber and turn it into something other than pillow stuffing.

Never a Dull Moment....

This past weekend, we ventured to Columbus to do some yard work at my house.  Got to the house just before dark, put the dogs in the fenced-in backyard and unloaded the truck.  Wanted to do a survey of what all needed done so we joined the dogs in the backyard.  I don't precisely remember who noticed what was going on, but the dogs were barking and trying to attack something in the corner of the fence.

Got the four dogs in the house, grabbed a flashlight and went to investigate.

That's what the dogs were 'playing' with.  I'm quite respectful of animals that could be potential carriers of rabies (and upon discovering the opossum, my mind flashed back to the zoonotic disease class I had taken for my Masters....). 

I look back at various situations in my life and wonder how I didn't get rabies (e.g. removing the bat in our fireplace with no gloves on.... chasing a raccoon around my parents' front yard when I was about 10--ended up calling the police who came out, shot it and then told me to dig a hole and bury it with copious amounts of bleach poured on the carcass....).  Rabies isn't something to mess around with and upon further investigation of the opossum-- his tail was bloody.  Great.  The dogs somehow had gotten a hold of the thing.

The fence in my backyard is a 6' privacy fence... the boards are close together so there was no option of shooing this guy through the fence (plus, he was playing dead... so I don't really think we would have been successful in getting the thing to move). 

Could have let it go till morning but our fear was that he would hide out under the deck and become a permanent resident in the yard.

Unacceptable. 

Enter: creative problem sovling.  Went into the garage and grabbed my snow shovel and a rake.  Luckily the opossum was terrified and "playing 'possum" so he was easy to push onto the snow shovel with the rake.  The girls were standing on the deck and asked if they could see the critter.  With the fear of it running away being slim-to-none, we paused for a moment to show them the opossum.  After a few seconds of "gross!" and "that thing is so ugly!", we carried him to a wooded area near the house and 'released' him. 

My Dog, The Train Wreck...

I will never understand how veterinarians or veterinary students end up with animals that have major health issues.  I didn't go searching for a dog with health issues-- I actually had hoped that we wouldn't have any major health problems until at least mid-way through (if not completely through) vet school.... Maggie apparently didn't like that plan.

Yesterday we visited Dr. G at RASCAL Unit.  She's an amazing veterinarian that had allowed me to volunteer/shadow at her practice for the previous year-- it's that experience that brought me back to apply again after the frustration of rejection #2 from vet school....

I absolutely love the fact that she allows me to watch surgeries (and has extended an open invitation for me to come back whenever I have time....) and is super-informative with explaining procedures.  Yesterday, when I arrived, Maggie got kenneled and I found Dr. G-- standing over what looked to be a rottie/pitt mix that was having surgery to remove a mass from its rectum.  Talk about a real pain in the.... well... you know. 

We got to talking about my dog and what's been going on.  Between surgeries, she stepped out and did an exam on Maggie.  She explained what she was looking for and what to include/exclude.... (early ortho lesson!)  If I didn't have such a good relationship with Dr. G, I think I would've broken down in tears about the entire situation. 

Left rear leg: luxating patella-- ~grade 3

Right rear leg: tear in her cruciate ligament

My options: surgery on both legs at once or one at a time.  Since I didn't think making her completely immobile was a good option, we're spacing them out.

Surgery: April 25 on whichever leg appears worse at the time.  Surgery for leg #2 to follow.  In the mean time, a healthy supply of Novox and some Glucosamine....