Sep 14, 2018
Tranq-kit
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Tranq-kit
Here is a photo of me holding a chicken. Two things about this photo. 1. The chicken has a super cute bandage on its foot coz it has a condition known as "bumble foot". 2. My hands are fucking huge. That's all.
An orphaned baby hare that i am hand rearing for release.
Emergency and critical care on monkeys
Today I assisted in a emergency surgery procedure on a monkey that was attacked by baboons. The baboons were able to grab into two vervet’s tails and pull them through the enclosure fence, pinning the vervets against the fence while they attacked the vervet. One vervet had a huge open gash on it’s right side as well as deep puncture wounds. Since we did not have a radiograph machine, we could not check to see if the puncture wounds reached any internal cavities. He also had wounds on his shoulder and the back of his hand. The baboons really got him good! I had the opportunity to place a catheter on him and manually administer IV fluids at a rate of 0.5ml per minute as well as any medications intravenously.
The procedure was pretty tricky. At one point, the anesthesia was pretty light and he was starting to wake up. It was a bit chaotic because two new volunteers were in the surgery room with us because they needed to be trained before I left. So with 4 pairs of hands on the patient, it gets cluster phobic, especially when the new volunteers are not use to taking heart and respiration rates and monitoring anesthesia. Also knowing that every minute counts is very because the monkey can wake up suddenly is very stressful. Plus it felt like a hundred degrees in the room from the humidity.
After the wounds were sutured up, we had to slowly wake up the monkey. Since the anesthesia was a little complicated and we had to administer addition sedatives, the recovery was a bit complicated as well. When he was put in the carrier for recovery, he started violently thrashing while mildly sedated. It wasn't a seizure but he wasn't fully awake nor was he fully asleep. We ended up having to take him out of the carrier and administering a medication rectally so he would fall asleep and not injure himself further. Overall the procedure took 2 hours and he currently still needs to be monitored.
Although I am use to stressful conditions and I am use to monitoring sedations for cats and dogs, being in Africa taught me to be resourceful and to be quick on my feet. You try to not waste any supplies but you also have to deal with supplies that are a few years expired. Also, since the animals are not completely sedated and incubated with a continuous supply of oxygen, keeping track of vitals and communicating the information to the vet is super important. You really need to improvise what is the best solution per case, and every case may be different. Usually you have a 30-40 minute window to do what you have to do. I also learned to whisper during recover and crucial times because any noise can startle them. You don't want them to jump up suddenly and hop off the table. Every minute counts.
I only have a few days left here since I am leaving next Tuesday. I am glad that I am doing a lot more clinic things and my skills are being put to good use and I am able to teach others. I can say that I placed a catheter, gave subcutaneous fluids, and placed ear tags on a monkey!
It's currently 12pm Monday afternoon and I already helped monitor anesthesia for two baboons- one a yellow baboon, and the other an olive baboon. Both had severe open wounds. It was super stressful and thrilling. I will make a formal post on it when I can and have access to internet on my laptop. But what an exciting morning it has been!
Looking for work in the Vet Industry?
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Odd phone calls.
Me: Hello Veterinary Dentistry, Rabbits and Exotics Olivia speaking.
Client: Er, hi, I dont think you'll be able to help me but I need some advice?
Me: No worries, what seems to be the trouble?
Client: Well, you see, its my pet shark, he has a growth on his face.
Me: A shark?
Client: Yes a shark, I don't know what to do you know? It's not like I can just pick him up, put him in my car and drive him to my local vet!
Oh the joys of working in an exotics clinic!
Guinea Pig update
Unfortunately all of the guinea pigs passed away naturally last night.
This profession can be so incredibly rewarding but at the same time so devastating.