Surgeries - Day One

This morning, we went to our "clinic", a mostly empty building that was not being used for anything else this week. Since our day was scheduled to begin at 8am, we started out with an early breakfast and van ride.
We lost no time setting up our 4 surgery tables, using bricks underneath to raise/level them.


and began checking in patients as soon as they started showing up. Most of the girl dogs were named either Princessa or Lazy (pronounced "Lassie"). There were several Bobbies and Robbies among the male dogs, and a few Diegos. This photo shows me checking in one Diego, to the backdrop of our "lobby" and several other patients/owners.


Since we had 5 vets available, 4 performed surgeries, while the fifth saw appointments. Many of the locals refused to spay/neuter (especially neuter) their pets, but wanted parasite control or other care. We blame the macho machismo culture for the lack of neutering. Most of our patients were dogs, but (crazy cat lady alert!) I got to handle all 4 cats we "fixed" today - including our smallest patient, a 1.3# kitten spay!
In addition to spays and neuters, we also did an ear hematoma repair surgery (way to go Dr. Steele!). The ear had filled with blood and fluid and was very uncomfortable for the poor dog. Dr. Steele drained it out and sewed it back together all in the right order. Our other non-sterilization surgery was an eye removal. A poor poochie had injured itself and the eye was infected. Li'l guy's going to be fine now though, just with a constant wink.
Speaking of sterilization, our surgical instruments had to be chemically sterilized, as we did not have an autoclave (or modified pressure cooker) to steam them. Each "pack" was scrubbed out, and then bathed in fun chemicals, before being handed to another surgeon. Cute baskets, huh?


After surgery, the animals were brought to the Recovery area, where a few hardcore volunteers sweltered it out in a muggy, dark room, with very little foot space, monitoring the patients, counting out meds, documenting additional medical issues, etc. I was surprised at how calm this area was, especially since the dogs often clambered over each other in a drug-induced stupor.

As the dogs and cats came to, they were brought out to the light of day, where most of their families had waited for them in our "lobby" of folding chairs out in the yard. Owners got their pet back, care instructions, any needed medications, and in several cases, brand new collars and leashes, as we'd had some donated and didn't like to see the critters walk out on a rusty chain.

Word on the street is that we did 41 surgeries and saw 18 appointments today! We met some great people too - including one owner who did our grocery shopping for us, since we couldn't leave the clinic before the Mercado would be closed. She got us some great vegetables, which we brought back to the villa for dinner. While that was getting prepared, and since everyone was hot, sweaty, dirty, and covered in grime, and other people got to the showers before I did, well...