Yesterday I nursed a very sweet dog through a splenectomy (surgery to remove the spleen), and spent the rest of the day monitoring him and keeping him comfortable. Since our hospital is not open and staffed at night, we transferred the dog to the emergency animal care facility for overnight monitoring. This morning I went to work expecting to see my patient, but instead was greeted with the news that he had died at the emergency facility last night. It wasn't anyone's fault, just that any surgery is risky under normal circumstances, and this elderly dog had anemia as well as cancer.
Even though we always know that our patients may not make it, I can't help feeling sad when they pass away. I feel sorrow for this dog's people; they loved him very much. I feel frustration because we tried so hard to help the dog, and he tried hard to pull through. Many of the technicians I've worked with are able to deal with this type of news without showing any emotional response; unfortunately, I can't seem to keep my tears in check. Maybe someday I'll develop a “tougher skin”. I'm not so sure I want to.