Learning the Process of Suturing 

This week in class we learned about suturing and the process that goes along with it. One topic that we learned in class was the different stitches. There is the continuous stitch and the non continuous stitch. The continuous stitch is a stitch that gets tied at the top and continues down the wound and when you are done gets tied around the last stitch. The non continuous stitch is made up on individual tied off stitches.

Another topic that we learned about in class was the different materials needed for suturing. You need skin hooks, needle holder, a curved needle, and scissors. The curved needle makes it easier to suture the wound. The scissors is for cutting the material you are suturing with. The needle holder is to hold the needle to make it more precise and easier to help stitch up the wound. Lastly, skin hooks help to manipulate the skin and pull the edges. 

A third topic we learned about was how to care for a wound on an animal. You first have to cut/shave the hair around the wound. Then you have to clean it up with a sterile pad. Take your needle and thread and start to suture up your wound. Make sure your thread is a 1/2 inch away from the wound and the spacing is a 1/2 inch away from each other. After you suture up the wound clean it up and up an antiseptic on it. 

My favorite activity that we did this week was suturing a banana. I enjoyed this activity because we actually got to experience the whole process and see what it is like first hand. I liked this activity because it taught me to pay attention to detail and to actually think about what I am doing. It taught me that you have to have patience and that there is a specific process that goes along with it. 

This picture shows non continuous suturing on a banana