2 months ago, I operated on a 165 pound Great Dane for an emergency twisted stomach in the rolling hills of central New York. It was raining outside, somewhat cold, and the countryside was as lush and green and wet as Ireland. Today found me treating a dog for an acute reaction to a rattlesnake bite in southern Arizona. It was sunny outside, very dry and dusty, and hotter than a snake’s butt in a wagon rut. What a difference 2 months can make. I felt the same trepidation and excitement in both cases. Both were life and death situations. Both required extensive treatment, and both dogs were innocent, loveable bystanders whose lives were in my hands. It’s not a responsibility I take lightly. I treated my first case of rattlesnake bite 2 weeks ago, and lay awake all night tossing and turning, wondering if I had done all I could to save her. We saw her again the next day to make sure she was progressing as expected, and I called today to check on her and she has made a full recovery. The dog that came in today, had been bitten a few hours longer before treatment was initiated than the one last week, and required more extensive wound treatment, along with the antivenin given iv amongst other iv treatments. The antivenin alone costs $800 per vial. The smaller dog 2 weeks ago required 1 vial iv. The larger of the two that came in tonight required 2 vials IV, intravenous fluids and steroids, pain medication and antibiotics, along with general anesthesia to open several areas of the skin where extreme swelling was a reaction to the bites, to allow for drainage. The swelling was in and around the neck, so to ensure adequate oxygen under anesthesia, I had to pass an endotracheal tube and keep her on oxygen and gas anesthesia while we treated the affected areas. And so, at the age of 64, after 40 years of veterinary medicine, the adventure continues. Nothing is easy in this job. But nothing is as rewarding. At least not for this student.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 06:46:02 +0000
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