Vet Stress An ode to Victoria’s Secret (and veterinary medicine) on Labor Day

Last week I extracted the sweetest little pair of Victoria’s Secret underwear from the innards of a beagle.

Though the pink had long since faded to gray, and I’m sorry to say the elastic had melted in the acids the teensy thong had marinated in for months, there it was: a sign of victory for me as it exited in two pieces (one directly out the stomach, another via a small incision in the intestines).

It’s never pretty, watching these goods exit (never mind the stench). But for me, it's always a great moment nonetheless. Because when a dog who’s been vomiting for months (it’s a long story) finally gets his day in the OR, it’s a joyous thing, indeed.

Nothing is quite as satisfying––OK, maybe a successful C-section for a struggling bitch. But otherwise, it’s strangely exhilarating to pull a string from a cat’s bowels or disgorge a tampon from a pug’s cecum.

These are momentous times: when you know survival is possible now that you’ve been given a chance to put things right.

But it isn’t always so glorious. For all the times I do manage to take things out of untidy spots, there are at least ten downright depressing episodes to deal with, as those of you who read Dolittler daily will doubtless attest to.

But it’s not all so bad...nor is the sum total of my veterinary experience as disheartening as it sometimes seems if you read me regularly. (Otherwise, I think I would’ve slit my wrists by now.)

That’s why I feel the need to reaffirm my love for this profession on this Labor Day with an ode to a pair of Vicky Secret panties and a big thank you to the gods of veterinary work. Because no matter what it is we do in this world, no matter how dirty, messy or demoralizing, there’s always a moment we can point to that makes it all worthwhile.

September 7th, 2009

Add Comment9 Comments

Thank you for being a vet! We live 10 minutes from our vet. We named one of our Scotties after him. I lost a Scottie years ago -- who had ingested a thermal blanket. So I am absolutely rigid about keeping things out of reach of their very strong jaws and huge teeth. My vet gets a call every time one of mine chews a hole in a sheet, eats a piece of newspaper, gets into a toad on the patio! No matter how careful, there is always something they can get to. He has told me about all the things he has removed from a dogs insides. I can imaging what a feeling it is to successfully save a life. You are all angels of mercy. Never underestimate the importance of your lifes work to those of us who build our lives around our furchildren.

Forever AnGUSmom September 7th, 2009 12:33:47 PM

Hooray & Amen! Yes, for sure those glorious moments are priceless & keep you going! The self satisfaction, the reward of a job well done, the patient's quality of life, and the owners gratitude & relief.

You are very blessed.

Barb A./NH September 7th, 2009 06:41:49 PM

Go, Doc! Two thumbs and paws up for veterinarians everywhere!

Sincerely, Cairn Terriers Fitzcairn and Tessa

Debra Hawley September 7th, 2009 07:39:02 PM

And yet another industry propped up by sexy lingerie..... <--dots signify biting my tongue....

Bob Jones September 8th, 2009 04:54:16 PM

Grrr... maybe the dog owner should consider wearing edible undies..

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"The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated."

- Mohandas Gandhi