24 August 2010

It's Always Something

The thing I like most about Mapleton Veterinaray Clinic is that while a lot of the time we're doing routine things-vaccines, wellness exams, fecals, heartworm tests, spays and neuters-there never fails to be an interesting case at least once a day.

Today, sandwiched between all the DHLPPC vaccines and the cat spay was a elderly beagle with urinary troubles.  He hadn't eaten in a day or so and hadn't gone to the bathroom in as much time.  He was weak and despondent.  When we x-rayed him, the size of his bladder was unbelievable.  The poor little guy couldn't urinate for some reason.  It was then that I was reminded of the creativity required to be a veterinarian.

The dog was started on an IV catheter and given a little sleepy juice.  Then the doc put in a urinary catheter.  Right off the bat he pulled out 3 60cc syringes full of urine.  Wanting the dog to be able to continue to have the catheter to spare him any further discomfort, Doc needed to figure out a way to allow the urine to drain perpetually without making a mess.  So he found an old IV line, emptied the remaining contents from the bag attached to it, and hooked it up to the dog's catheter.  In went the urine; it worked like a charm!  Faced with the question of how he was going to get the cath to stay with the dog and not get pulled out, he gently stitched it to the dog's skin and voila!  Instant security.

Practicing veterinary medicine requires so much thinking on your feet and coming up with solutions that weren't taught in vet school.  Knowing this and seeing it demonstrated time and time again makes me hope that I have the creativity and clarity of mind to come up with solutions to problems which I've never faced before.  I guess that's a skill that comes with time.

Also, I was informed today that the low-cost spay/neuter clinic I volunteer for when I'm at school is in pretty desperate need of help right now.  Apparently they've just completed a rescue of over 200 pit bulls which will be requiring foster homes and eventually forever homes.  They are also accepting donations for the medical care of these dogs.  More information can be found here: Shelter Outreach Services of Ohio

Well, it's time to go to bed, seeing as I have to be up in 6 hours to get ready for an adventurous day of large animal work.  Hopefully I'll come home with good stories to tell =)

No comments:

Post a Comment