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Veterinary team does surgeries
Animal hospital delivers a decade's worth of clinics

Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, Oct 03, 2012

RANKIN INLET
Staff members from Winnipeg's Tuxedo Animal Hospital made their annual visit to Rankin Inlet this past month.

NNSL photo/graphic

Animal health technician Melissa Dziedzic, left, and volunteer Page Burt, right, calm a patient as animal health technician Leigh Weatherburn delivers a shot during the Tuxedo Animal Hospital's visit to Rankin Inlet this past month. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

The team of veterinarian Jonas Watson and animal health technicians Melissa Dziedzic and Leigh Weatherburn made the trip, marking a decade of Tuxedo visits to Rankin.

This year's clinic was sponsored by Nanuq Lodge, the Hamlet of Rankin Inlet, First Air and Kivalliq Air.

Volunteer organizer Page Burt said there were 32 surgeries performed in a little more than two days in Rankin, as well as a number of exams.

She said most of the surgeries were spays and neuters.

"We also had two people bring their dogs to the clinic from Arviat," said Burt.

"We have someone interested in organizing the same type of clinic in Arviat that we do here.

"We'd like them to come and observe how we do it, so, hopefully, we'll see them here next year."

Burt said she enjoys working with the Tuxedo Animal Hospital.

She said there's a real level of responsibility with the clinic, and she appreciates that.

"They always do their best to work with me.

"We see a lot of emergencies here and I'll take a photo of the wound, for example, and send it to them.

"They always get back to me quickly with good advice.

"We've become a real partnership and we're looking at an X-ray machine and, maybe, converting the office for the new Nanuq Suites to hold the clinic."

Burt said there were two emergencies while the team was in Rankin.

She said one involved one of Nanuq's own dogs.

"One of our dogs was in for a spay when we noticed she was vomiting prior to her sedative, and threw up pieces of a harness.

"Jonas (Watson) found five pieces of harness in her small intestine, and did three incisions in her intestine and stomach to remove about 18 inches of nylon webbing.

"She would have died a painful death if he'd not found it because we'd not have been able to help her in time.

"Another dog needed a few stitches after being hit by a car, but she's a difficult dog and I wouldn't have been able to stitch her face without being able to anaesthetize her."

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