Today was the first day at my new job. I'm still in awe over it!. I am so proud of myself for not panicing, fainting, or just plan embarassing myself today.
It was truely an amazing experience.
I was first shown around the hospital. Where the supplies are kept, the 3 different kennel rooms for the animals, the medicine supplies, etc. Soon afterwards we began checking in the new 'patients' for that day. 90% were to be neutered or spayed. A few had more serious conditions such as severe allergies or kidney problems. We prepped the animals for surgery. First administering a sedative with a huge name that I can't even remember and then shave and sterilize the areas where the doctors where to operate on. During the shaving and sterilizing we would clean the nasty gunk that built up in the animals ears. *gag* Then we prepaired the operating room for the doctors and set up the animals on the table for surgery. During these hours I experienced feline neutering, a few dental cleanings, how to draw blood and give shots, and how to take urine samples for testing and fecal samples for worm testing *yuck*.
The animal hospital shut down around noon for lunchtime. Before we could eat though we quickly cleaned the main level of the hospital for the next round of clients bringing in their animals for evening appointments. It was a little slow after lunch so I had some time to rewind and go over everthing I learned this morning.
At one point I was shown how to dispose of a euthanized kittie. It wasn't as bad as I had thought it would be. Guess because I was already used to seeing animals being drugged for surgery. So I just made myself think that this kittie was sleeping. This cat was 20 yrs old! I was shocked to hear that it had lived for so many years.
About an hour and a half before it was time for me to go home for the day, one of the local animal shelters brought in a deceased dog to have an autopsy performed on. This was a 5yr. old rottweiler that suddenly died at the shelter about 10 minutes after being walked. They thought it had choked on a bone that a shelter volunteer had given it. So they brought it in and one of the doctors began to perform the autopsy in our main kennel room, which doubles as an emergency examination room. The doctor and main vet tech kept asking if I wanted to leave the room but this was just to interesting for me to pass up on my first day. I won't go into any details for the faint at heart, so after a thorough examination the doctor determined this dog died of a heart attack. The left ventricle of the heart had an abnormally very thick wall to it. This dog had been at the shelter for a month and a half and had just been pre-adopted. So sad.
Well, that is how my first day went. I truely loved ALL the experiences I had today and can't wait to learn more. I really think I'm going to do well since I survived this first day.
Well, that was my wonderful first days experience at my new job.
Be forewarned though, some of the things you might witness will have you beggin' for that midnight shift again. (Trying not to bawl whilst reassuring a client that it's the right thing to do when euthanizing their pet is always a bit draining and vet techs get the ever so fun job of restraining said pet whilst vet administers the lethal dose.) Get used to various body parts lying around, as often does occur in a busy operating room, and beware the cats!!!!!!!! You would not believe how many silly "oh, she'll be fine. I'll hold her." owners got a nice chunk taken out of their flesh! Sedatives are your friend when dealing with cats. lol
Emergencies will come in due to hit by car or poisoned animals. The first time I had seen a video of a large dog euthinized it just broke my heart and I cried so hard. I hope I don't do that at my job or anything stupid like fainting. That would be so embarassing!! 
Thanks, Cloud darling. 
