I'm a senior in highschool planning on attending college for Nursing next year...and I was wicked excited until today.
We had a blood drive at school, and I was volunteering as an escort. I was talking to one of the donors and distracting him while a Nurse put the needle in his arm...then I looked at the needle and fainted. BAM! I hit the gym floor pretttty hard...the vice principle ran over...and I woke up on the floor with about 20 people looming over me.
Is a weak stomach something people can get over, or should I just start looking for a new career? AH. Help, please.
You do, actually. The head is boxed up and picked up by the city. Then, the brain is disected and results are reported back to the clinic.
You never said that the dog was already dead. You made it sound like a living dog suspected of having rabies must have its head cut off to check... maybe I don't fully understand rabies. Do they kill anything that is suspected to have rabies?
They are all correct. It does get easier. It is also different each time. I have seen many cannulations, wounds and procedures but sometimes just one or two can make me feel queasy or faint.
I currently work in a vet clinic and I also almost fainted the first time I saw a routine surgery and the first time I saw a dog's head getting cut off.
I think what messed us up is the phrase "routine surgery" . . . . sounds like on a live dog that will live after the surgery.
You never said that the dog was already dead. You made it sound like a living dog suspected of having rabies must have its head cut off to check... maybe I don't fully understand rabies. Do they kill anything that is suspected to have rabies?
Oh my gosh!!! Yes, the dog is euthanized, first. I would never get used to a live dog's head being cut off.
Biters aren't always euthanized, but if the bite is treated by an MD, it's required to be reported to the city. People with untreated bites can also call and report to the city. It's usually required, by the city, that the reported dog be put in rabies quarantine for about 10 days. It can get expensive and some people would rather see the dog dead.
There are also people who euthanize because they're concerned their dogs will seriously injure someone and they'll get sued. Sometimes people chose to euthanize because the dog bit or even scratched their child. If a dog is euthanized less than ten days after it bites or scratches someone, we're required to send the head off for testing whether or not the dog is current on it's rabies vaccination. I've never seen one come up positive in the past 3+ years.
Oh my gosh!!! Yes, the dog is euthanized, first. I would never get used to a live dog's head being cut off.
Biters aren't always euthanized, but if the bite is treated by an MD, it's required to be reported to the city. People with untreated bites can also call and report to the city. It's usually required, by the city, that the reported dog be put in rabies quarantine for about 10 days. It can get expensive and some people would rather see the dog dead.
There are also people who euthanize because they're concerned their dogs will seriously injure someone and they'll get sued. Sometimes people chose to euthanize because the dog bit or even scratched their child. If a dog is euthanized less than ten days after it bites or scratches someone, we're required to send the head off for testing whether or not the dog is current on it's rabies vaccination. I've never seen one come up positive in the past 3+ years.
Holy Cow! I can see it now... I was looking at it from the wrong angle. 1st I was assuming that a rabies check could be done with a dog still alive, maybe by bloodwork... again, I know nothing of rabies (I have never owned a dog so IDK) ... 2nd I couldn't find a reason why anyone would let their dog get checked for rabies if it meant euth. It still seems a bit weird but with the reasons you gave, it makes sense.
Yes it gets easier, I'm still a student, I'm a senior and I do still have moments! Puke is probably my biggest issue...ewwwwwwwww and having to measure it b/c of I/O was really tough!!!!
Yes it gets easier, I'm still a student, I'm a senior and I do still have moments! Puke is probably my biggest issue...ewwwwwwwww and having to measure it b/c of I/O was really tough!!!!
eeewwwwwwww!!! Measure it? I haven't gotten to that point, yet. That'll gross me out, for SURE!
I'm sure it is a typo. . . 
I haven't gotten to that point, yet. That'll gross me out, for SURE!
Soup Turtle
411 Posts
It's not every day, but it's not rare, either. It's done when the dog has to be tested for rabies because it bit someone.