We're surgeons!

Well, we're surgeons in the mildest sense of the word. I mean, we did do a dog neuter today, so I guess that counts; however, we still have a long way to go. Nevertheless, it was exciting and fun.
Below is a run down of all the steps we take to learn surgery and take care of our patient.
-Shirin

This is where we set up everything for the day of surgery. We did this last night, since our surgery day is Tuesday.

Tammy was the anesthetist this lab, so she was doing all the drug calculations last night. (Beth was the main surgeon and I was the assistant surgeon--we all rotate in the three positions throughout surgery lab).

After we thoroughly palpated, poked, and prodded our doggie to assess his health and possible problems, we had to write up our records in the computer. It took us a long time!! (We were there a total of 3 hours and at least 1/2 was all the record-keeping stuff. Yuk).

This is Rocket. He is a shelter dog and needs his testicles removed to get adopted more quickly. He is a bit wild but very nice. He's a pointer mix. I chose him b/c of his black head.

Beth, Tammy, and me before surgery this afternoon. You can't tell, but we're smiling.

After inducing, intubating, and prepping our patient, we started the neuter. Beth started off by exteriorizing one testicle and tying it off (before she cut it).

As the assistant, I helped her by dabbing away blood with a 4 x 4 (gauze).

Tying off the testicle.

Now it was my turn. I did the other testicle the way Beth did. It wasn't hard at all, actually.

It was funny how suturing came back to me after all this time. Being in surgery also reminded me of being pregnant, since last time I was in there I was quite pregnant with Cyrus.

Now Beth is back on duty to suture up Rocket's skin.

Yay! The best part of this is that we got to wake Rocket up. Yay! Tammy is still on anesthetist duty--here she is counting his heart rate.

Rocket all wrapped up in towels and heating pads to help him wake up comfy.