Pheww!
Thanks for all your encouragement - I made it thru without throwing up or passing out, thank goodness! And my dog didn't die on me either, which was very polite of her
I did have an assistant so that took some pressure off, I did an abdominal exploratory and intestinal resection and anastomosis, with an ovariohysterectomy thrown in for good measure. Translation in English: I made a very long incision into her abdomen, looked at all her innards, cut out a section of intestine and sewed to 2 ends back together, and spayed her.
Everyone has said it, and now I know it's true (like alot of things in vet school) that the hardest part is 'getting in'. For some reason it is unbelieveably hard to cut in the direct middle of the abdomen so that you aren't cutting thru their abdominal muscles. It requires cutting in a straight line, and heck, I can't even draw a straight line!
So it was just getting started that was frustrating, I think the rest went really well. My next surgery will be a cruciate repair, which will have a whole new batch of frustrations.......
Cass, that's a really cool story about your husband's grandfather! Hope I get to visit the Melbourne Zoo someday...
You guys are awesome - thanks for cheering me on
s to you all