Dead Seal! (Warning: grossness)

[xFenrir]

While I'll admit this kind of stuff grosses me out (one of the few times I can be a stereotypical girl; "EEEEW DEAD THINGSSSS"), as a vet tech I get to see the insides of (living) animals more than I thought I ever would. And the other day we had a dog come in for a leg amputation (he had a birth defect where one of his back legs was permanently extended) and I got to be the one who took pictures of the whole thing. They cut through each muscle, artery and such separately, and the whole time I was going "what's that one and what's it do? What's THAT and what's it do?" It was actually really fascinating to see just how many muscles and other things are just making ONE leg work.

And then we got to gross out the weaker-stomached people by going "hey look at this" and then poking the detached leg. xD (We kept it til the end of the day because we ran x-rays on it for practice and to see the exact effect of the birth defect).

[Anya]

hahaha, oh man. Sounds like a fun day.

[sorraia]

Luckyyyyyy. **pouts** Would you put in a good word for me at the permit getting place?

Cal WILD seems to be stream-lining their process now. For awhile it took FOREVER to get the permits through, whether it was a new application or a renewal. When I say "forever", I mean more than 6 months! This last time I renewed, I think it only took a couple weeks, or a month at most, I was amazed! Unfortunately the cost for a permit has also gone up. (I renewed mine when it was still less than $70, now I'm hearing it's over $300!!!)

Only down-side to my permit is it's for work, so I technically am not allowed to keep anything I collect.
(But "technically" what the authorities don't know.... )

While I'll admit this kind of stuff grosses me out (one of the few times I can be a stereotypical girl; "EEEEW DEAD THINGSSSS"), as a vet tech I get to see the insides of (living) animals more than I thought I ever would. And the other day we had a dog come in for a leg amputation (he had a birth defect where one of his back legs was permanently extended) and I got to be the one who took pictures of the whole thing. They cut through each muscle, artery and such separately, and the whole time I was going "what's that one and what's it do? What's THAT and what's it do?" It was actually really fascinating to see just how many muscles and other things are just making ONE leg work.

And then we got to gross out the weaker-stomached people by going "hey look at this" and then poking the detached leg. xD (We kept it til the end of the day because we ran x-rays on it for practice and to see the exact effect of the birth defect).

I would be doing that! lol
I've done a few dissections outside of school, and have helped butcher a few chickens. It's gross and interesting at the same time.

[Schaub]

Any chance of getting the skull?? I'm wanting to start a skull collection, and a seal/sea lion skull would be pretty awesome to start with

I'm glad to know this was someone else's first thought too! My family thinks I'm weird enough just for having snakes, I can't imagine what they'd think if I had a skull collection. And I really don't think my other half would appreciate it too much. He is surprisingly tolerant of my weird obsessions tho, so idk...

[Otolith]

Awesome/sad. What species do you think it was? Looked kinda small... juvie elephant maybe?

[Anya]

It seemed reeealy big to me. My hand in the one pic is only about an inch away, for size comparison...then again, I'm no seal expert, haha.