The College of Veterinary Medicine at UGA holds an annual open house.
It was so great last year that this time I picked Eli up early from school to attend. We didn't get a chance for Eli to participate in Teddy Bear Surgery last year, so that's where we went first. (My apologies for crummy photos. Rain threatened, so I relied on my phone rather than my good camera.)
Eli's borrowed raccoon got a thorough check-up in Pre-op. (His pupils were fixed and dialated, but brave Dr. Eli went ahead with surgery, sure of his skills to help his patient pull through.)
Dr. Eli suiting up for surgery...
Eli administered the anesthesia while his assistant wielded the scalpel.
It turned out this poor raccoon must have been eating styrofoam pellets because his belly was full of them!
After a partial foamectomy, the racoon's stomach was in better shape and the stitching began. When the patient was ready for the recovery room,
Dr. Eli snipped the surgical thread and removed the anesthesia mask.
Despite seeming just as listless and unmoving after the surgery as before,
the raccoon was in stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery.
We toured the animal hospital, saw live animals, and tried the hands-on exhibits. In particular, Eli loved helping a vet student use an ultrasound machine to detect a Hot Wheels car hidden inside a rubber glove filled with water. There was also a spiffy laparoscopic surgery exhibit where visitors could use the mini camera and long-handled forceps to move gummy bears hidden beneath fabric.
There were some amazing bones too. Below is a rhino skeleton.
And here's a tiger...
Want to see more? Click HERE for our post from last year.
I think next year we're just going to make a whole day of it. Eli and I both learned a huge amount while having fun. Kudos to the Vet School for such a wonderful educational event! (And it warmed my heart how patient and kind all the vet students were to the kids.)
