Sparky’s Surgery

December 13, 2010

The neglected calf that we recently rescued had his leg operated on today. He was given a drug to knock him out, as well as local anesthetic injected into the wound. Dead tissue was removed, and the infected raw area (the size of a $5 bill) was thoroughly cleaned. Then came the hard part: the dead bone had to be gripped with pliers and wrenched out. This left a deep gaping bloody hole, but I’m told that the blood supply was a good sign. It was pretty gory. Yes, I took photographs. No, I won’t put them on the website, as it might upset some people. The hole is has been packed with an antibiotic paste, and wrapped in a special bio-bandage which will discourage bacteria. Our hope is that now the hole will fill in with healthy bone and tissue. Sparky is still groggy. He’s been given 2 types of antibiotic injection as well as a pain killer. I’ll have to give him more injections over the next several days. It was nerve-wracking, and the next week will be painful, but I’m sure that the worst is now behind this dear calf. We look forward to him healing and living a happy life from this point on.