Tails and Toes.

Before I begin, I would just like to take a moment to update everyone on Bosley/Boslyn's post-surgery recovery.

Unfortunately, his hyper obnoxiousness did not decrease in the slightest, which is why he is wearing the cone of shame. I've given him chances to prove that he can behave and not chew at his empty ball sack, but alas, only the cone will keep him from searching for his missing testicles. 

I'm a little jealous that my cat got a tattoo before I did. Not jealous of the gnarly cauterizing job on his sack, though (at least I think that's why it's like that.. I took him to a new vet, and they do things differently there).

So all is well in that department. Now onto the babies...

I've talked a little bit about euthanasia in some of my previous posts, and I've definitely talked about some of the nastier things I've done as a pre-vet student, but my absolute LEAST favorite thing to do, the thing that sends shivers down my spine and makes my inner child rock back and forth in a corner, is dewclaw removals and tail docking.  

I know what you're thinking. "That doesn't sound that bad. How could it be worse than euthanasia?" Well, in some cases it isn't worse, but usually (definitely not always) there is a legitimate reason for putting an animal down, and even when there isn't, it is done in the most painless, humane way possible. I can handle that. I can handle dewclaw removals and tail docking, too, but I don't like it. It takes all the strength I have to not whimper and cringe through every second of it. This is why:

Picture credit goes to dogbreedinfo.com

 Newborn freaking baby puppies. 3 days old tops. That's how old they are when their tiny, little, vestigial digits and tails are pinched, twisted, and ripped off of them. No pain killers or anything.

Honestly, the dewclaw removal I can kind of understand. They just kinda dangle there, and the puppies don't seem to be super bothered when those are removed (I mean, they still cry and shriek, but it's nothing compared to the tail docking). And there is some benefit to it, I guess, because when they get older, dewclaws do get caught on things easier and rip on their own (which heals a lot slower than purposeful removal). So there's that.

But ugh. Holding those squirming, squealing babies while you rip off their toes and cauterize the wound just feels horrible. (Picture credit goes to astraean.com.)

But tail docking? That's purely aesthetic. There is no reason for it at all except that people, for whatever reason, think it makes the breed look more appealing (some people argue that dogs sustain tail injuries, but honestly, it doesn't happen that often even to working dogs, and most of the dogs that go through this are ones that are fortunate enough to spend their lives being pampered.. like my spoiled, little turd, Otto). Much like ear cropping. And it hurts a hell of a lot more (than the dewclaw removal, I mean... ear cropping probably hurts worse than this because it's such a slow recovery). You can tell. You know, because there's this tiny puppy screaming bloody murder in your hands while its tail is being twisted off. It's the worst sound I have ever heard.

Sorry for the sad, puppy gore. (Picture credit to anti-dockingalliance.com.)

It's not like I despise people that get their dogs' tails docked or dewclaws removed or even ears cropped. I definitely won't be trying to talk anyone into it anytime soon, but this is just another one of those things I have to become accustomed to if I want to become a vet. Because I'll actually have to be the one ripping (not just the puppy holder). And it's going to suck.

I guess it gets to me so much because they're just babies, man. Just babies.

On a lighter note, here's a picture of my very own tail dockee staring intently at an apple core:

He likes to play with them and nibble on them. And guard them. Which is what he is doing here.

Removing testicles. Fun stuff.

The first surgery I ever got to assist with was a neuter, and I loved every second of it. Seriously, if I could just remove testicles from things all day, I would be completely happy. My boyfriend probably doesn't need to know that...

It's just awesome. How could anyone not think that is awesome?

I can't remember if the first one was a dog or a cat because all testicle removing surgeries are pretty much the same, and they are all really simple. Thus far in my career, I have gotten to assist with dog, cat, cow, pig, sheep, lemur, ferret, rat, and camel neuters (some of those are generally referred to as "castration", but whatever). I might have even missed a few animals in there.

Camel castration aftermath.

Anyway. This post is mainly just informative, so when you take your dog or cat or something to the vet to get neutered, you know what's happening (and this might not be 100% correct because all vets do things a little differently, but you'll get the basic idea).

So. Dogs. First, that puppy is popped (given a sedative shot). Then there is this hilarious waiting period when the dog is going down. Hilarious because they do some really weird things. Sometimes creepy things. I was a little disturbed the first time I saw it. Then I got all morbid and found the humor in it. Some dogs just start swaying back and forth and eventually flop over. Some puke. Some try to fight it by going on with their normal doggy business (trying to lick their balls for the last time or something) and then fall over in the middle of it. Some get super stiff and lay on the ground with their legs straight out (that's probably the funniest.. and most disturbing). It's all completely normal, though, I assure you. And on to the next step we go...

The dog is taken to the surgery room and put on gas anesthesia to completely knock them out (with gas mask/intubation). Then they are moved into position (on their backs with their legs spread wide), and their paws are tied down. Last step before the vet comes in (the prep is usually done by vet assistants or techs): prepping the incision area by shaving and scrubbing.

Then a single incision is made (on dogs; cats get one for each testicle, and their incisions are left open after surgery), and the vet pops one testicle out, ties it off, removes it, and then does the same with the other. Pretty easy. The incision is sewn up (usually treated with antibiotic ointment afterward), the dog is given some antibiotics and painkillers, and that's that.

Most vets use gloves, but since the testicles are just under the skin, there is much less chance of infection (at least the serious, fatal kind) than more internal surgeries (like spays, which I'll talk about in another post).

If you want to see the whole thing (because it is pretty cool to watch), here's a video I found on youtube (it's slightly different than the method I explained, but the end result is the same, and it's informative): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qHGm8mDQts