Happy Belated Groundhog Day, Bloggers!
It has been a very interesting week full of many interesting creatures in the wonderful world of veterinary medicine. Wednesday, I unfortunately had the duty of euthanizing a 19 year old captive mountain lion named Sheela. Although extremely sad, the procedure went very smoothly and humanely. The old girl purred like a small engine as we approached her cage. Though she seemed sweet through the chain-link fence, I had to sedate her with a blowdart so that I could get venous access to finish the procedure. Some of her primary caregivers were there to help me and be with her in her last minutes. It was a very emotional and sobering scene, but the caregivers were very appreciative as to how smoothly the procedure went.
Friday provided a more pleasant and humorous story. If you were not aware, last Friday was Groundhog Day. Friday at lunch, I recieved a call about a sick groundhog. I thought surely this was a joke from one of our receptionists who likes to play on my habit of being gullible (or extremely trustworthy as I like to think). But to my surprise, this was for reals, ya'll. Around 1pm, "Smith Lake Jake", the channel 6 groundhog, waddled into my clinic with a huge abscess under her chin. Now, I have never seen or treated a groundhog, but I have treated tons of abscesses none of which are very pleasant to the senses. I took Jake into my arms, and she made the funniest high-pitched chirping sound. The owner informed me that if only I support her bottom, she would desist this vocal protest. We had a time getting Jake to go to sleep for the procedure. Take home point for all of you who may have to treat an abscess in a groundhog: apparently, they are highly resistant to gas anesthesia. Long story short, we successfully drained the abscess, and Jake is doing well. I just found it very funny to see my first groundhog on groundhog day.
4 comments:
How come we never see groundhogs, except on TV on groundhog day? They are not like possums or armadillos that you see dead on the side of the road. I just wonder where in the world do groundhogs actually live? In the northeast?
Smith Lake Jake - Thanks so much for treating me, Doc. Now I can smile again. I feel great! Although my Mom says I have a little nose cold, and I'm a little bit congested. She is going to bring me back to see you. Last night my Mom made my favorite food (Spaghetti)I ate myself into an ablivion! But I'm cool. I also love Key Lime pie too!! I don't get to eat it too much because Mom says it's too rich for me. And . . . Milos Tea yum yum!!!! Hope you can see me soon. . .and you can see me on Suzuki infomercials every day. I'm also featured in February's Birmingham Parent Magazine.
PS May you jaws be full of Key Lime pie and your burrows warm and dry.
I don't know how I missed this post.
Lucky you, I've never seen a groundhog on groundhog day.
However, I am sure you saved America by draining Smith Lake Jake's abscess... And if not the entirety of America; then you are surely partly responsible for the seasonal salvation of the B-ham.
Smith Lake Jake is doing great, and now has a little 5 week old cub groundhog named " Smith Lake Jake JR. We call him Smitty, for Smith
Post a Comment