Necropsy!

So now i'm back from the emergency center. It was a good rotation over all. I learned some things and got to meet a bunch of people. I also got to work with the only avian specialist in the state so that was awesome! The only downside is that it's mostly interns and residents, so I didn't get to do as many things as I did at the first center--because they're all learned too.

Now I'm back at school and on necropsy rotation. A necropsy is like an autopsy, but on animals. It's not something I get very excited about, and I wasn't enthused going into this rotation, but I did get to do a necropsy on a cockatiel and a whooping crane this week--so that was awesome!! I also helped with a cow necropsy and did most of a horse necropsy by myself! It's morbidly festive! haha It's kind of a rough adjustment--as students were used to being very careful when having an animal open for a surgery--delicate tissue handling, taking your time, etc. But here, it's all SLASH and RIP! literally! I had no idea was i was cutting but the clinicians kept telling me to keep going! Big knife in hand, horse leg up in the air, i'm hacking off the leg, ripping into the abdominal cavity, slicing up the spleen and digging out the brain.

At least this rotation is appropriate for the season;)