Should Have Been Gun-Shy
This case was exciting from a Vet Tech student point of view; but terrifying for the owner and animal. After working at Northwood Veterinary Hospital for about a year; our hours changed. It was everyone working 7:45-5:30 everyday; to 7-7 everyday. With the new change came a change in who was working; I'd covered for a co-worker on a Friday and ended up working side-by-side with Dr. J until 9:30 at night. Around 6:30pm a little Schipperke dog named Skipper was rushed through our doors with a GSW (Gun Shot Wound).
The bullet had gone through his metacarpal bones (wrist bones.) Now as exciting this was for me to be able to work on this with Dr. J; I realized quickly it would be just myself and the vet working on it. Which is a slightly overwhelming for a Vet Tech student; lucky for me, my co-worker Andrew stayed behind for as long as he could to help me. Working with Andrew we gathered IV, Catheterized, VetWrap, Fluids and prepped for the surgery.
The dog was rushed in with a homemade tournicot with a rubber band wrapped above the wound. We cut the homemade one and put our one on we had in the hospital. For the fact ours stops more blood from flowing out. We put a catheter and IV line in and set him in a cage to allow him to calm down. Once he had calm down Andrew helped me put the dog under anaesthesia and Andrew left because he wasn't suppose to work past 7pm.
So there I was left to monitor Skipper as Dr. J changed into surgery clothes. I clipped the hair around the wound, cleaned the area and waited for Dr. J eager but shaking. I brought over what she would use for surgery and a pair of gloves for her; and saucers. I asked if I could watch and she was fine with it. I watched as she pulled out the fragments of the bullet; and showed me the broken bones as she lined them up as well as arteries and veins.
I watched her snip away tissue that couldn't be used or saves. Than watch her start to stitch up the inner layers of skin; she answered any questions I had as she stitched. I grabbed her a stronger saucers for the outside layer of the skin. I then helped her splint the leg and woke the dog up. This was an awesome case to learn on; I learned what a tension release stitch was and how it's use. I still feel bad for Skipper though. But, what a cool thing to learn on my first late shift.
