I've added a few things to the comment editor that should make things easier to work with.

For one, there's a spell checker built in. After you've finished typing, you can just click the spell check button and it'll check everything for you. Hopefully all of you won't feel it necessary to open up Word or any other text editor in order to spell check. :)

I've also implemented (and am still working on to an extent) enhanced paste functionality that will automatically remove extra junk when pasting from an editor such as Word, which should, I hope, fix bugs with posting comments that have been pasted in where the comment simply doesn't post, or comes out entirely wrong.

Hope this helps!

James Riley April 15th, 2009 09:55:56 AM

A male vet tech was leading a mare back to her stall after an exam. He'd only

been at our surgery for a few days. Anyways the mare caught sight of a Stallion

spun and BAM. Now this wasn't a little wee this was a soaker.  Poor guy was

just covered. Don't think will ever let him forget that one lol.

LC April 15th, 2009 10:10:10 AM

What a fun blog today, Dr. K!

As an OTJ vet tech, and current vet tech student at Miami Dade, I have had my fair share of embarrassing mishaps.

Several years ago, when I first started working in a veterinary clinic, I was speaking candidly and comfortably with the owner of a delightful Saint Bernard, Dofus. As I was taking Dofus' temperature, I lowered his tail so he would be more comfortable. (I am dating myself here, because we did not have one digital thermometer in the entire hospital-they where all mercury glass thermometers back then!)

I wasn't holding the thermometer tightly enough,because Dofus had a sphincter contraction, and the lubricated thermometer just slipped through my fingers and completely disappeared into a very dark hole. I did not want to alarm his owner, so I nonchalantly had to glove my hand and using the excuse that I wanted to get a fresh fecal sample, I went finger fishing. Thankfully, I easily found said thermometer, but removing it was slightly challenging, because of the tight space & slippery device. 

Just recently, during my current vet tech rotation at a local animal clinic, I was drawing blood from a patient for laboratory testing. For years, I had been using the tubes incorrectly for blood draws-I would always insert the needle through the plastic tops and allow the vacuum to extract the contents of the syringe. We learned that this can lead to hemolysis, and incorrect lab results. So,after drawing 12 cc of blood from said patient, I opened the tubes and removed the needle form the syringe, and depressed the plunger to put the sample into the tubes. I then gently agitated the tubes to mix, and handed them to the young veterinarian to take to the lab while I continued to care for the patient. As he rounded the corner, I heard a string of obscenities.The doctor returned, with blood all over his nice Oxford shirt,Khaki pants, and leather shoes.

I had neglected to place a needle through the plastic top of the tubes to equalize the pressure, and the tops of all 4 tubes had exploded off with such force that they sprayed the entire hallway! I was very embarrassed and now the good doctor won't take samples I collect to the lab for me! (although I learned a valid lesson and will not ever forget to equalize the pressure of blood tubes for the remainder of my career!)

p.s.-finals start next week! I am 1/2 way thought he program! YAY!

Roxanne

Roxanne April 15th, 2009 10:49:54 AM

I have a memory of a colleague which still amuses me to this day - his grace and good humour still makes me smile.

He had helped me lift a nervous dog on to the ultrasound table when the dog let forth a spray of anal sac juice which copped him fair square in the mouth.

He commented that it was an acquired taste.

AlexH April 15th, 2009 11:11:49 AM

Pacing the exam room floor back and forth saying "where in the F is the vet? The appointment was 10:00!! It's 5 after 10!! Whats so difficult about punctuality! What is so popular about being late!! My times important too! WTF is it going to take to get that into their . . . . "

Few deep breaths, relaxing, going deeper, and deeper, calming down now, good, relaxing, deeper, excellent . . . . .

Evet April 15th, 2009 11:31:58 AM

As a vet tech one day I was reapplying a fentanyl patch to a at cat with a broken pelvis, as I was talking to the owner I applied a bit of surgical glue to the patch to make sure it didn't travel, I applied pressure to the patch, and glued myself to the cat, right infront of the client. Talk about embarrassing.

Erin April 15th, 2009 11:51:17 AM

This isn't from the exam room, but from vet school -- a story that has stayed with me for many years. One of my classmates had invited a beau over for a romantic dinner. As they were dining, her dog decided to share in the fun by bringing out some items from the bathroom trash (use your imagination here) -- all clearly visible through the glass-top table they were dining on! Ewww.

Janet Tobiassen DVM April 15th, 2009 12:52:13 PM

I hate coming back in to a room after I've taken a few drops of blood from a cephalic for a heartworm test - and having the client wonder why the heck there's a huge hematoma on their dog's limb if it was "just a few drops"...really embarrassing, so I've taken to bandaging ALL limbs with a cotton ball and co-flex for those few (always white-haired!) dogs where several seconds of pressure after withdrawing the needle isn't adequate. My coworkers think it's overkill.

anna April 15th, 2009 02:00:06 PM

Oh, I'd like to agree that it can be REALLY difficult to find where you're supposed to stick that thermometer in very hairy, matted, wiggly dogs...I get funny looks from owners, too, when the temperature-taking takes longer than it should, so I make some crack (ha!) about a "moving target", and that usually gets them laughing. And holding their dog tighter.

anna April 15th, 2009 02:05:19 PM

No story of my own, just thank you for a good laugh on a day I really needed one!

Susan April 15th, 2009 04:25:13 PM

Also no story to share, just a huge guffaw at the anal gland stories.

As an owner of a gland-challenged dog, who also happens to "expel" violently when frightened, I've worn my own fair share of the funky brown stuff.

Is it a bad sign that one of the funniest things I do each week is squeeze anal glands while laughing hysterically at my (otherwise macho) husband dry-heaving in the corner?  We have a deal worked out - I squeeze one bum, he handles ALL bathing, ALL the time.  He considers it a great deal... so do I.  ;O)

After you've been 'juiced' a few times, it becomes not such a big deal - or at least that's what I think.  Perhaps it's like so many other nasty things in the world.  It's different when it's your own/your dog's/your child's.  When it's a stranger's... ewwwwwwwww....

Kim April 15th, 2009 05:57:30 PM

Good laughs for today!

James Riley, I luuuuuuv you!

PJBoosinger April 15th, 2009 07:23:10 PM

I have an anal gland story too.  I was restraining a whippet for the doctor while he expressed the glands.   He shifted a bit because he was having a hard time getting them cleared out.  Yep, suddenly, they exploded, right in his face.  Luckily his mouth was closed.  I started laughing hysterically, while the client started apologizing, aghast.  The doctor calmly wiped his face with a paper towel, and as he cleaned up the dog, I stopped laughing long enough to point out that the wall had a man-shaped outline framed in anal gland juice.  Then he started laughing too!  And went and washed his face and hair and changed his clothes!

Another one.  This one not in front of the client, luckily.  I was assisting the doctor while he removed a perianal cyst, a rather large one, from a labrador.  He finished the skin sutures, then commented, "I need to do an rectal exam before you turn off anethesia."  He then, uh, did a rectal exam, and commented again, "Oh, yeah, that's gooooood!"  Then turned crimson and hid his face while I tried not to laugh.  Then he looked at me and we both laughed so hard my stomach hurt!  I had fun telling everyone about that at rounds that afternoon!

Sassy April 15th, 2009 07:52:09 PM

lol. i can't believe the one with the cleavage! oooops! when i worked in the clinic, it amused me that clients always got embarrassed when i'd open the exam room door and their crazy dogs would run over and attempt to knock me down and give me kisses (much preferred to opening the door to find that the dog would like to rip me to shreds!). i had said "why thank you, i was hoping for a kiss!" at least 250 times and the clients would smile and we'd move on to history, etc. one day much to my surprise i got an "i'm sure you were! but not from the dog!"!!!!!!!!!! i stood there stunned before i decided to pretend i hadn't heard...

sarah April 15th, 2009 08:30:16 PM

There was the already-rehomed four month old miniature poodle puppy whose new owners called me because the pup refused to be put on a leash.  Seems it was beneath her poodley dignity to soil her pawsies with outside potty calls. So she would snap when anyone reached for her collar.  (Gee, can't imagine why she'd gone back to her breeder -- whose poodles all had trays with newspaper in the corners of every room in the house.)

Owner demonstrated the snapping at the first in-home training session, and it certainly was a nasty bluff, worked well.

So I explained how I was going to simply hold her collar and not let go no matter how hard she tried to get me to jerk my hand back and squeal.  I mean, four-month-old puppy, right?  How bad could it be?

Oh, there was squealing all right.  Sounded like I was murdering a poodle, as I tried to sound calm while shouting over the dog-siren that I wasn't hurting the puppy at all, just refusing to let her back me down.

After the round-eyed, gape-jawed client helped me clean off the poodle-chewed back of my hand, I helped her clean up the blood (all mine) shit, piss, and anal gland dressing from the nicest rug in a very nice house.

Thus I learned, if there is any chance the dog is going to liberate any kinds of fluids for any reason (that normally means an excited piddler), the lesson takes place on the tile.

To my own astonishment, the owner reported that the lesson took very well, and the pup never snapped at anyone again, and learned to use the icky outdoor latrine promptly after that.

I, on the other hand, had three more appointments that day, and no change of clothes.

H. Houlahan April 15th, 2009 09:48:32 PM

I am a vet tech, and a few years ago I was in the exam room with a client and a very excited lab puppy. The pup was there for a simple vaccine.  I was having a hard time aiming my "quick" poke of the needle at the squirming mass of puppy.  Being the stubborn person I am, I refused to go for help.  Instead, I stuck the syringe into my mouth to get a better grip on the pup.  Unfortunately, I had not recapped the needle and poked myself right in the lip.  It bled like nobody's business and I had to leave the room.  I was so embarrassed but trying not to laugh at the same time.  Needless to say, I do my best to ask for help with those crazy puppies now!

jennysb April 15th, 2009 10:36:25 PM

I try and utilize a bit of soft food as a distraction for those squirming puppies so I can poke them......I should also mention that I have a bad habit of pulling the cap off the needles with my teeth (you might see where I am going). Instead of the needle I put the tongue depressor loaded with a big glob of soft mushy puppy food right in my mouth. I tried to act all sauve but looking at the owner who had look somewhere between horror and trying not to laugh her butt off; all I could do was hold it in my mouth while I finished the injection. I was speechless and she was doing her very best not to laugh, I can only imagine what story she would have to tell her friends.

Lets just say that I don't recommend it at all. Not that I would want to stick my lip with a needle but that food really did not taste good at all, or maybe it was the texture, or maybe that it was cold.......

J.C. April 15th, 2009 11:15:53 PM

J.C. Yes, I've been known to draw blood from my own lip after forgetting that I'd already uncapped the needle. Mouth tricks are not in OSHA's playbook. What can I say? Someday I'll be called an old-timer for my outdated habits. God knows they die hard.

Dr. Patty Khuly April 16th, 2009 07:24:22 AM

And almost forgot this one: When I was slicing off a large-ish wart in the exam room I once swiped my scalpel with a fluorish (to impress the watching client?) only to slice myself (not very deeply). 

I also know of a surgeon who drilled right through his thumb after finding it difficult to position the plate for a tiny bone. I imagine the staff was not amused. 

Dr. Patty Khuly April 16th, 2009 07:27:07 AM

When I worked at a day practice I had several little 'jokes' I would say to owners as I was going about getting fecals/temps/etc. You know all those little things we say to keep the owners smiling and happy as we violate their precious pooches. One day a sweet pair of Dachshunds came in for bordatella boosters and fecals. As I was attempting to get a fecal on the wigglier of the two I jokingly said "Oh I know I know, nobody likes something going in <i>there</i>, it's very rude!" 

Right after I said it I remembered it was a very nice male couple. Thankfully they started laughing, but man was I embarrassed. 

Raquel April 16th, 2009 10:55:57 AM

Ack. I'll never be able to control for all of these possible mishaps! Now that I know about them, something is bound to happen. (I don't use my teeth to hold needle caps anymore - let's just say that being a farm animal vet averted that potential habit.) One Saturday morning at the clinic I had a sudden episode of vestibulitis (or possibly labyrinthitis) and started feeling increasingly dizzy with nystagmus. Last appointment, I was just barely hanging on, was a 160-pound Great Dane. When I got around to taking the temperature, I began poking around in the anal area like I was drunk, and finally the dog decided he'd had enough of this nonsense and gently took my head in his jaws and removed me from his backside. I kind of toppled over onto the floor and said "wow, my head fits into your dog's mouth." I suspected the poor dog had osteosarcoma, which was confirmed on the X-rays I ordered (luckily there were enough techs hanging around so I didn't have to participate in taking them).

brebis noire April 16th, 2009 01:14:46 PM

Ooh, Brebis Noire, you reminded me of another one. The time I was as pregnant as a Weeble Wobble and I fell over when a Great Dane slurped at me. I was sitting on my heels at the time so you'd think I'd have been stable--but let's just say that pregnancy is not a time when one's coordination is in tip top shape. No harm done, though--just a tiny injury to my pride. ;-)

Dr. Patty Khuly April 16th, 2009 03:51:34 PM

Once I was handed the wrong chart - I was given the chart for Shadow, who needed his incision checked post neuter. Supposedly there was some redness and swelling goin on. Instead, the dog that was in the room was actually Hailey, who needed her spay sutures removed. Imagine the owner's confusion when I asked:

"Well how are your parts doing today, little sweetie?"

Of course, I was the idiot who mistook a yellow golden retriever as being named "Shadow", who was in actuality, you guessed it, a black lab.

Oh, and her "parts" were just fine.

Michelle S April 17th, 2009 04:38:08 PM

I had an embarrassing moment this past week.  I was discharging a spayed dog post surgery, and when I went back to get 'Torie', was asked to check on 'Tasha' as well.  Checked on her, then took 'Tasha' up front and tried to give her to the client.  He informed me coldly that this was NOT his dog - OOOOPS! 

Sassy April 19th, 2009 11:01:56 AM

To all of you who use the mouth as an extra hand: I sympathize. As a pediatrician, I have used mouth, elbows even knees for this purpose. OSHA or no, it will never go out of style and at least vets don't need to worry about HIV or hepatitis.

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amal_ May 22nd, 2009 09:58:21 AM

I ordered (luckily there were enough techs hanging around so I didn't have to participate in taking them).

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