You should know that surgery is sometimes a bit extemporaneous, and often quite physical.  Orthopaedics comes to mind.  In some surgeries, deft digital manipulation is the key to good outcome.  Or, sometimes, ya’ gotta’ rip it out.

Back to our mouth mass.  Having determined that our mass wanted to exit the mouth, but was temporarily unyielding to use of surgical tools, I began to stretch the attachment of the mass to the gum.  The three students watching were slightly troubled by the sound of stretching connective tissue;  my camera-wielding student was in close by my right shoulder, when the mass abruptly exited the stage, and somewhat forcibly ricocheted off the left hand of my photographer (I thought I had a better grip on it, really!).

We proceeded to the spay with our students, and at the end of the procedure, used a laser to finish the removal of the mass’s stalk.  It looks like it will be good news for the doggie, best news of all is that this sweet little pit mix has a great home.