Update: Shadowing!

[AspiringVTech]

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One of the programs I am looking to apply to recommends shadowing for 20 hours. I've been busy as heck but it's worth it.

I decided to shadow because it'll possibly boost my chances at getting into the program, I got assigned to a veterinarian and was introduced to a student finishing up her vet tech studies and also working as a tech at the same time. How good are chances to get tech work before graduation?

I got two lab courses this semester, some of my less studious pals are worried about my health due to the sheer amount of work involved. Pffft. If they're worried they can feed me.

I was invited by one of the surgeons to observe surgeries last week (dental and neuter), which I found exciting. There was also a rough case at the clinic recently, but this is something I'm probably going to devote a different thread to.

 

[AspiringVTech]

I posted a thread last night saying I was shadowing at a clinic. I go in on Sundays and also went yesterday. This is what happened this week:

2 y/o pit bull came in with vomiting Saturday night. According to the surgeon, had a history of eating balls and the X-ray showed a foreign body. It wasn't until he opened her up that we all found out how bad it was.

Apparently most dogs with Mesenteric Torsion don't even make it to the table, at least that's what the vet I'm shadowing told me. It's when the intestines twist on themselves.

Has anyone else seen or heard about this? It was a first for me.

 

[PrincessButterCup]

I posted a thread last night saying I was shadowing at a clinic. I go in on Sundays and also went yesterday. This is what happened this week:

2 y/o pit bull came in with vomiting Saturday night. According to the surgeon, had a history of eating balls and the X-ray showed a foreign body. It wasn't until he opened her up that we all found out how bad it was.

Apparently most dogs with Mesenteric Torsion don't even make it to the table, at least that's what the vet I'm shadowing told me. It's when the intestines twist on themselves.

Has anyone else seen or heard about this? It was a first for me.

It's pretty common on necropsy, but usually in horses. It's actually really satisfying to find, especially if it was only suspected and not confirmed prior to euth. It's so painful. It's crazy how messed up the GI can get.

 

[LetItSnow]

It is a real thing (msenteric torsion and colonic torsion both). Many/most mesenteric torsions die because of the time factor - by the time clinical signs develop, they get to the vet, get the dx, get to the table, and get fixed too much perfusion injury has occurred to too much of the GI tract.

Colonic torsions cause similar damage, but often not as widespread.

Neither is common in dogs, and I've never dx'd one in a cat (I dunno if it even happens in cats); I've seen .... maybe 3-4 mesenterics and 2 colonics (crazy coincidence - both colonics were in the same week). Both colonics did fine with colopexy, which is fairly straightforward. None of the mesenterics survived.

 

[LetItSnow]

By way of preaching: If you ever dx a mesenteric torsion, cut it immediately. Don't transfer it. The only way to save those is get them on the table immediately. No matter how uncomfortable you are with the explore, you are the dog's best chance.

 

[AspiringVTech]

I believe in the case I witnessed, the dog had 40-60% of her intestines removed. It's not something I'll soon forget.