tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46457441266789536182024-03-14T17:06:00.129+08:00VET WITHOUT BORDERSDedicated to the hectic life of an ordinary vet trying to make this world a better place for animals to live in...Orbiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10635818940994024378noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4645744126678953618.post-84488955177354542412009-02-23T16:05:00.013+08:002009-02-23T18:07:11.326+08:00Having A Wild Animal For A Pet?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVy9lYf55CmOiRl0PUjFTwjO20aeTW7LH91MMfd9eVAfBdAxL841DXamAA0p8NBvutRaHWIYTc7477TTgVWGbUc_75xxJxHjtIW3TMVSrYf7weUE72944egfDiRD-d4_hS2wslznrKWyo/s1600-h/0,,6493296,00.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 204px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVy9lYf55CmOiRl0PUjFTwjO20aeTW7LH91MMfd9eVAfBdAxL841DXamAA0p8NBvutRaHWIYTc7477TTgVWGbUc_75xxJxHjtIW3TMVSrYf7weUE72944egfDiRD-d4_hS2wslznrKWyo/s320/0,,6493296,00.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305918839803189858" border="0" /></a><br />I read about this disturbing story a few days ago in the news:<br /><div style="text-align: justify;" id="ds-headline" class="headline">____________________________________________________________________<br /><h1 style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:100%;">TV star chimp shot dead by police after woman was badly mauled</span></h1></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <strong></strong>Published Date: 18 February 2009 </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;" id="ds-byline" class="byline"><br />By Stephanie Reitz </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;" id="ds-bylinetext" class="ds-bylinetext">in Hartford, Connecticut<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <!-- Article Start --> </div><div style="text-align: justify;" id="ds-firstpara" class="ds-firstpara">A 14-STONE chimpanzee who once starred in US television commercials was shot dead by police after a violent rampage that left a friend of his owner badly mauled.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br />Travis, who was 15 years old and domesticated, inexplicably attacked Charla Nash, 55, when she turned up at the home of the animal's owner, Sandra Herold.<br /><br />Ms Nash had gone to the house in Stamford, Connecticut, on Monday to coax the chimp back into the house after she escaped.After the animal lunged at Ms Nash when she got out of her car, Ms Herold ran inside to call the police. "She retrieved a large butcher knife and stabbed her pet numerous times in an effort to save her friend, who was really being brutally attacked," Richard Conklin, of Stamford police, said.<br /><br />After the initial attack, Travis ran away and started roaming Ms Herold's property. Police then arrived and set up a security cordon so medics could reach the critically injured woman.<br /><br />But the chimp returned and went after several of the officers, who retreated into their cars. Travis knocked the mirror off a cruiser, before opening its door and starting to get in, trapping the officer.<br /><br />That officer shot the chimp several times, Mr Conklin said.<br /><br />The wounded chimp fled the scene, but police were able to follow the trail of his blood: down the drive, into the open door of the home, through the house and to his living quarters, where he had retreated and died of his wounds.<br /><br />Ms Herold and two officers suffered minor injuries.<br /><br />Ms Nash is in a critical condition after suffering what the town's mayor, Dannel Malloy, called "life-changing, if not life-threatening" injuries to her face and hands.<br /><br />Her sister-in-law, Kate Nash, said yesterday that she underwent surgery on Monday night and came out of it "OK".<br /><br />Mr Conklin said police didn't know what had triggered the attack. "There was no provocation that we know of. One thing that we're looking into is that we understand the chimpanzee has Lyme's disease and has been ill from that, so maybe from the medications he was out of sorts. We really don't know," he said.<br /><br />He said Travis had been acting so agitated earlier that afternoon that Ms Herold had given him the anti-anxiety drug Xanax in some tea, which doctors say can stimulate aggression in unstable people.<br /><br />Mr Conklin also suggested the animal might have attacked Ms Nash because she was wearing her hair differently and perhaps wasn't recognised.<br /><br />When he was younger, Travis appeared in TV adverts, including one for Coca-Cola, and made an appearance on the Maury Povich Show. The chimp was well known around Stamford because he rode around in trucks belonging to the towing company operated by his owners.<br /><br />After Travis escaped from their car for two hours in 2003, the Herolds told how he was toilet-trained, dressed himself, took his own bath, ate at the table and drank wine from a stemmed glass. He also brushed his teeth, logged on to a computer to look at pictures and watched television using the remote control.<br /><br />Colleen McCann, a primatologist at New York's Bronx Zoo, said chimps were unpredictable and dangerous, even after living among humans for years.<br /><br />She said: "It's deceiving to think that if any animal is 'well-behaved' around humans that means there is no risk involved to humans for potential outbursts of behaviour.<br /><br />"They are unpredictable, and in instances like this, you cannot control that behaviour or prevent it from happening if it is in a private home."<br />____________________________________________________________________<br /><br />I feel very sad whenever I come across cases such as this.<br /><br />Travis was treated as a member of the family. Some domestic pets that I know of, such as cats and dogs, are not even treated like Travis.<br /><br />Yet he is a wild animal.<br /><br />It is tragic for the woman who was attacked.<br /><br />It is tragic for Travis' "owner"...and ultimately...<br /><br />It is tragic for Travis as he was killed.<br /><br />In reading the last part of the story, I was most struck by how Travis died in his room. He was simply torn between being a wild animal and being one of the family.<br /><br />It is my personal opinion that exotic animals should not be kept as pets, no matter how they have been tamed...or at least how one believes they have been tamed.<br /><br />It is my personal belief that exotic animals belong in the wild, with minimal human interference.<br /><br />I would love to hear what you have to say.<br /><br />Do feel free to comment on my blog.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp27IXZhy7n01W_ZphgT3h23XLz4oaHLCg0Uw4Xh9EDW4Y_Pd1koqlvn22P5QbFkdtfmdLiOpDLkGuL4puQL_kCxk8GHsQo6Am35Rulzzyvllb51YGXhWhc_E1lNwIErGEoLO6B-8Lks_i/s1600-h/travis+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp27IXZhy7n01W_ZphgT3h23XLz4oaHLCg0Uw4Xh9EDW4Y_Pd1koqlvn22P5QbFkdtfmdLiOpDLkGuL4puQL_kCxk8GHsQo6Am35Rulzzyvllb51YGXhWhc_E1lNwIErGEoLO6B-8Lks_i/s320/travis+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305924943719813762" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Orbiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10635818940994024378noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4645744126678953618.post-91448279982735164742009-01-29T16:48:00.007+08:002009-01-29T18:55:37.945+08:00Physical Examination For Pets<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZSqTg8dX6jr2SlGSgbcFTRv_k-2bLu4U4CZpzAVWt7MJmGtM0x9RhAe24l4mGwwvTObumGkIJhyZdLFBzmMJPU1mbvo56j1d-LLwq1Rzxs9L89wCKnVFwFtJkPYWIgfBExCN0o3X-z8Et/s1600-h/PE.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZSqTg8dX6jr2SlGSgbcFTRv_k-2bLu4U4CZpzAVWt7MJmGtM0x9RhAe24l4mGwwvTObumGkIJhyZdLFBzmMJPU1mbvo56j1d-LLwq1Rzxs9L89wCKnVFwFtJkPYWIgfBExCN0o3X-z8Et/s320/PE.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296666835047189394" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Your pet cannot tell you how it feels, where it hurts or what's wrong with them. Pets may mask their pain and this is a survival instinct in the wild. A comprehensive physical exam allows us to compile a list of clues that can help us in uncovering a disease. Early detection and treatment are essential to avoid undue suffering and to prolong the quality and longevity of your pet’s life.<br /><br />As a pet owner, it should be easy for you to detect any changes in your pet's behaviour or eating habits. If your pet is acting abnormally in any way, you should be the first to know about it. This may include such obvious signs as diarrhoea or vomiting, coughing or sneezing, watery eyes or a runny nose, difficulty or accidents during urination or defecation, difficulty in chewing food, difficulty going up and down the stairs or rising from a sitting position.<br /><br />It may also include acting more sluggish or lethargic than normal, not eating as much as normal, drinking less than normal or drinking more than normal. These signs are more subtle and need more time and careful observation to be noticed.<br /><br />Such information will allow your veterinarian to focus on specific body systems in order to reach a diagnosis regarding the cause of the abnormalities. A thorough physical examination is where any such diagnosis starts, although additional testing (such as blood tests, x-rays and ultrasonography) may be necessary to accurately diagnose certain conditions.<br /><br />Physical examination is an essential part of the routine healthcare for any pet. A thorough physical exam explores all parts of your pet's body, from the nose all the way to its tail.<br /><br />In addition to helping your veterinarian determine what is wrong with your pet when it is not feeling well, regular physical examinations may also help detect early signs of disease in pets which are still acting normally. Often, many painful conditions do not become obvious until they are in a seriously advanced stage. In this case, your veterinarian may be able to help you treat the problem before your pet begins to feel badly.<br /><br />Physical examinations are important for pets of any age. However, as your pet starts to age, they become even more important. Your vet may even advise more frequent physical examinations for your pet as it ages. Our pets age much faster than we do, so regular physical examinations will help you and your vet to detect any abnormalities which may affect your pet's quality of life.<br /><br />By finding these abnormalities early, it is often possible to make changes to your pet's routine activities, which eliminate or slow the progress of diseases such as heart failure, kidney failure, arthritic pain, dental disease and many more.<br /><br />A physical exam is a complete hands-on assessment of your pet’s health status. Veterinarians are trained to detect disease by listening (auscultation), feeling (palpation) and looking (visual observation and evaluation). First, we weigh your pet and measure its temperature, heart rate and respiration rate. After taking these basic measurements, your pet is examined from head to tail, during which all vital organs along the way are gently palpated. Every body system is checked for disease.<br /><br />During the physical exam, veterinarians assess the risks your pet has for contracting preventable diseases caused by internal parasites (heartworm and intestinal worms) and external parasites (fleas, lice, ticks and mites) and viruses. You will receive advice on how to prevent these disease-causing agents with medications and/or vaccinations.<br /><br />As a pet owner, you are responsible for periodically performing a physical examination on your pet. Such a physical exam is not difficult to learn, and most vets would gladly show an owner how to do it and what to look for.<br /><br />Here are step-by-step guidelines that I hope will help you understand more about physical examinations in pets and help to get you started:<br /><br /><b>1) EYES</b><br /><br />As a pet owner, you should be able to examine the eyes for any abnormalities. Once an abnormality is found, your vet should further examine the eyes with an ophthalmoscope for cataracts, glaucoma, corneal injuries and retinal disease. Some retinal diseases indicate systemic problems such as high blood pressure and infections. Glaucoma screening may be recommended for some animals.<br /><br /><b>2) EARS</b><br /><br />Your pet's ears should be examined to make certain they are healthy and that there is no evidence of infection, inflammation or other abnormalities such as polyps. Ear infections and parasites are quite common. Your vet can further examine the ears with an otoscope, an instrument used to see into the long and angled ear canal to the eardrum of dogs and cats.<br /><br /><b>3) MOUTH</b><br /><br />The mouth is visually checked for lesions and abnormal growths, which could be tumours. Teeth are examined for tartar build-up, abscesses, fractures and missing teeth. Gums are felt for how moist or dry they are and checked for signs of gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) or ulcers. Gum colour should be examined, making sure they a normal pink colour and not pale (from anaemia), yellow (as a result of icterus, often due to liver failure) or cyanotic (as a result of breathing difficulty). The gums should also be gently pressed and observed for capillary refill time. Do not forget to observe for bad breath.<br /><br /><b>4) HEART & LUNGS</b><br /><br />As a pet owner, you should learn to feel for your pet's pulse to check its pulse rate, to make sure it is not too fast or too slow and that there are no "missed" beats. You should also learn to check its respiratory rate. Find out from your vet what the normal range for the pulse and respiratory rate is for your pet. If you find anything amiss, your vet should be able to confirm this by auscultating the heart and lungs with a stethoscope and by rechecking its pulse rate. By using a stethoscope, your vet will be able to listen to your pet's heart and lung sounds, detect for heart murmurs, abnormal heart rhythms and abnormally harsh or abnormally quiet sounds in the lung fields.<br /><br /><b>5) ABDOMEN</b><br /><br />You should be competent enough to palpate your pet's abdomen to make certain you cannot feel any abnormal masses within the abdomen. Any indication of pain during abdominal palpation is also abnormal. Your vet should be experienced enough to palpate the abdomen for anomalies of organ size and character, such as enlargement of the liver or spleen, changes in kidney size, bladder stones, tumours and intestine abnormalities.<br /><br /><b>6) SKIN</b><br /><br />The skin should be examined for hair loss, lesions, redness, lumps, bumps or abnormal growths. Observe closely for skin parasites and for signs of itching, scratching, biting or even a dull, flaky hair coat.<br /><br /><b>7) LYMPH NODES</b><br /><br />The externally-palpable lymph nodes are palpated for symmetry, tenderness and to make sure they are of the normal size and not swollen.<br /><br /><b>8) NERVOUS SYSTEM</b><br /><br />The nervous system is evaluated by observing your pet’s behaviour and testing for reflexes.<br /><br /><b>9) EXTERNAL GENITALIA</b><br /><br />The external genitalia should be examined for abnormal discharge, colour, swelling or growths. Your vet should be able to further palpate the prostate gland for abnormal size and character.<br /><br /><b>10) STANCE & GAIT</b><br /><br />Your pet's manner of standing and walking is observed for signs of lameness. Joints are palpated to detect tenderness and inflexibility that may indicate problems such as arthritis.<br /></div><br /><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> </blockquote>Orbiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10635818940994024378noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4645744126678953618.post-37397699889845753862009-01-22T14:27:00.004+08:002009-01-22T16:04:01.131+08:00Animal Hoarding<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6p_jn2g-7QnzBiy1lYpz-fmVeXcswnw5kf3_BGs7rfV-5NBbK7N0HLe_2-5jdmG4GsAvL6qvHpBCoA1Rv5NuGl8Ykf_Uf0QDRKb3CFSnK2DPhXcIaABzWW5n-xvdpxEadmMI_OuWud9X/s1600-h/case1344_1135045923_688.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6p_jn2g-7QnzBiy1lYpz-fmVeXcswnw5kf3_BGs7rfV-5NBbK7N0HLe_2-5jdmG4GsAvL6qvHpBCoA1Rv5NuGl8Ykf_Uf0QDRKb3CFSnK2DPhXcIaABzWW5n-xvdpxEadmMI_OuWud9X/s320/case1344_1135045923_688.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294022947405717218" border="0" /></a><br />Can you count how many cats there are in this room? Sorry, no prizes for the correct answer!<br /><p style="text-align: justify;">Recently I was approached by two different friends on two separate occasions, who were faced with problems arising from their neighbour's many cats. One of these had nineteen cats and the other, more than twenty. These cats were entering into their gardens, their rooftops, sitting on and scratching the paintwork off their cars and creating a mess in their porch, not to mention the defecation, urination and spread of fleas and other parasites in their homes.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">My friends may not have known it then, but this was clearly a case of animal hoarding. </p><div style="text-align: justify;">Thousands of animals around the world suffer and some die in squalid surroundings, devoid of adequate food and water, yet their owners insist nothing is wrong. Standing in three inches of faeces, breathing acrid ammonia in the air, and in plain view of dead and dying dogs, one woman said, “I never hurt any dogs, I love my babies. The fact is I protect them.”<span class="article-text"><span id="10168_54031_1.0"> Can you see anything wrong with this picture?</span></span><br /><span class="article-text"><span id="10168_54031_1.0"></span></span><br /><span class="article-text"><span id="10168_54031_1.0">An animal hoarder is defined as someone who accumulates a large number of animals, fails to provide minimal standards of nutrition, sanitation and veterinary care and fails to act on the deteriorating condition of the animals (including disease, starvation and even death) or the environment (severely overcrowded and unsanitary conditions) or the negative impact of the collection on their own health and well-being. </span></span><br /><span class="article-text"><span id="10168_54031_1.0"></span></span><br />An animal hoarder must be distinguished from a person who keeps an unusually large number of pets, but who cares for them properly. A hoarder must also be distinguished from an animal breeder, who would have a large number of animals as a result of their business. The distinguishing feature is that a hoarder fails to provide the animals with adequate food, water, sanitation and veterinary care, and…is in <span style="font-style: italic;">denial</span> about this inability to provide adequate care.<br /><span class="article-text"><span id="10168_54031_1.0"></span></span><br /><span class="article-text"><span id="10168_54031_1.0">Animal hoarders are well-known to vets. Collectors exist in almost every community, large or small, rural or urban. They are in a state of denial that prevents them from seeing the filth or understanding that their animals are sick, dying or dead. As animal hoarding is linked to psychiatric problems such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), addiction, dementia, attachment disorder and focal delusion, animal hoarders need help, often psychiatric in nature but also emotional support.</span></span><br /><span class="article-text"><span id="10168_54031_1.0"></span></span><br /><span class="article-text"><span id="10168_54031_1.0">According to statistics, </span></span><span class="article-text"><span id="10168_54031_1.0">most animal hoarders either collect cats or dogs. Men more often collect dogs and women are more prone to collecting cats. Nearly two-thirds of animal hoarders are women and 70 per cent are unmarried. </span></span><span class="article-text"><span id="10168_54031_1.0">A large proportion are 60 years of age or older, most are single, divorced or widowed and almost half live alone.</span></span><span class="article-text"><span id="10168_54031_1.0"> Social isolation is common but appears to result from the hoarding behaviour rather than causing it. Most animal hoarders start their collecting even from childhood. Many have no telephone, public utilities or plumbing, and many hoarded inanimate objects as well.</span></span><br /><span class="article-text"><span id="10168_54031_1.0"></span></span><br /><span class="article-text"><span id="10168_54031_1.0">Animal hoarders often adopt a parental role towards their animals. This results in their reluctance to remove any animals, even when adequate homes become available. Many of them will emphasise that their animals give them "unquestioning and unconditional love." They tend to personalise and anthropomorphise their pets and view themselves as rescuers of suffering or unloved animals</span></span>.<span class="article-text"><span id="10168_54031_1.0"> Other characteristics included the beliefs that they have special abilities to communicate or empathise with animals, that their neighbours or the public fail to recognise the care they give to their animals and that saving animals is their life's mission. </span></span><br /><span class="article-text"><span id="10168_54031_1.0"></span></span><br /><span class="article-text"><span id="10168_54031_1.0">Dead or sick animals are often discovered in reported cases, yet in most of these cases the hoarder would not acknowledge the problem. Most of the time, animal faeces and urine are found accumulated in living areas and often on the hoarder's very own bed. Their justifications for their behaviour includes an intense love of animals, the feeling that the animals are their surrogate children, the belief that no one else would or could take care of them and the fear that the animals would be euthanised.<br /></span></span><br />The problems that arise from animal hoarding are not only confined to the animals, but also extend to humans and the community surrounding these hoarders. Animal hoarding is at the root of a string of human health problems including horrendous sanitation, fire hazards, zoonotic diseases and neglect of oneself and dependants.<br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Close friends, families and neighbours are generally the first to know when the act of ‘loving animals’ changes to ‘hoarding animals’ but seldom have the information and understanding needed to effectively intervene. Learning about animal hoarding, understanding its characteristics, how it develops, interventions and preventions can help both the people involved and the animals.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"> Early intervention is the key to preventing the suffering caused by animal hoarding, yet relatives, friends, and neighbours who see the neglect in its early stages often misunderstand it and fail to report it until conditions become tragic. Obsessive hoarding consumes all available resources of time, money and emotion and eventually squeezes family and friends out of the picture. Once this happens, social isolation sets in as acquaintances eventually become exasperated and give up their failed attempts to help.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you know an animal hoarder, or live beside one, take action early on, while the door is still open!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>Orbiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10635818940994024378noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4645744126678953618.post-81221403017490906642009-01-20T15:23:00.005+08:002009-01-20T18:19:51.939+08:00Saving Money On Your Pet<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxf9GDXFM-B50Oa-hA_6RmJHwgQILIybP7kCjJFNhjIXY1t7mJMqXAbwb8SKHxpw8VPFY0Ikk64ZxnLROeE_b74a4AZ_37SKX6dQKpiOxZ1BBBD3OgYfVbnubWeCuVOUi1YOwHQAamMjK/s1600-h/Money+Dog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 209px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxf9GDXFM-B50Oa-hA_6RmJHwgQILIybP7kCjJFNhjIXY1t7mJMqXAbwb8SKHxpw8VPFY0Ikk64ZxnLROeE_b74a4AZ_37SKX6dQKpiOxZ1BBBD3OgYfVbnubWeCuVOUi1YOwHQAamMjK/s320/Money+Dog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293297277859259186" border="0" /></a>To quote the famous Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)<span class="title">, "</span>Can anybody remember when the times were not hard and money not scarce?"<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">But with the present global financial crisis currently affecting almost all countries across the globe, the numbers of people experiencing job losses and financial difficulties are still steadily rising everyday. Unfortunately, pet owners are not spared in this respect. In their attempts to make ends meet, every extra expenditure on their pet is now a concern. By wanting to save some money, they have become penny-wise, pound-foolish and have cut down their spending on all the wrong things.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">In my professional opinion, below is a list of what they are doing wrongly.<br /><br />The WRONG way:<br /></div><ol style="text-align: justify;"><li>Feed cheaper quality pet food simply because it costs less per kg.</li><li>Neglect your pet because you have to work harder to sustain your job and income.</li><li>Avoid smaller problems that occur to your pet (ignorance is bliss)...until something really serious happens.</li><li>Ask friends and search the internet for answers when your pet gets sick and hope that whatever suggestions that you find will eventually work.</li><li>And finally when your pet is very ill, end up spending hundreds on emergency veterinary care and therapy.</li></ol><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> A recent example is of a dog that had a mild case of acute moist dermatitis or what is more commonly known to most pet owners as a "hot spot." After reading up a little on the particular problem from the internet, its owners got advice from a neighbour to try applying an antimicrobial ointment called Polysporin, which contains polymyxin B sulfate and bacitracin zinc. They also self-prescribed a regular dosage of ibuprofen to treat the inflammation and the pain. Very soon, the hot spot spread to over a third of its body and the ibuprofen caused serious diarrhoea and vomiting with blood.<br /></div><div id=":2c1" class="ArwC7c ckChnd"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"> The outcome? They rushed the poor animal to the vet and their veterinary bill ran into the hundreds.<br /></div><br />The RIGHT way:<br /></div><ol style="text-align: justify;"><li> Feed your pet a premium quality food, but lower some costs by making some of your pet's food at home.</li><li>Ensuring that you are regularly exercising your pet...and yourself!</li><li>Performing weekly pet health exams at home - get comfortable with examining every part of your pet, section by section, so that you are able to quickly detect and get on top of any health problems early.</li><li>If your pet does become ill or injured, assess if it needs veterinary care. If you are not sure, at least get veterinary consultation or a physical exam. When you do consult a vet, at least you will be aware of all your options, have all your questions answered, get to know if further diagnostic tests are needed and if there are alternative treatments. At the same time you are receiving valuable owner education from your vet. Make notes if you have to so that you remember everything your vet has told you. Do further research on certain topics if you feel you need to. All these easily justifies the minimal costs you have to pay for a veterinary consult.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Acquire at least basic veterinary skills so that you are able to examine, diagnose and treat common pet health problems at home. It is not as hard or complicated as you think, but make sure all information comes from reliable sources. Most vets are willing to show you how to perform a basic physical examination of your pet. Just 10 minutes spent every week could be crucial, as early detection of a potentially serious problem can really help you save lots of money spent on emergency veterinary care. As the saying goes, a stitch in time saves nine.<br /></li></ol><div style="text-align: justify;">There are many ways to cut down on pet expenses, but we have to be discerning, wise and practise good judgement. There are various other aspects of our own lives we can choose to save on, such as our personal food/beverage/shopping choices, means of transportation, water/energy wastage, high-maintenance lifestyles and such. Why choose to compromise on the health of your beloved pet? As I always advise my clients before they decide on buying or adopting that cute, adorable pup or kitten, a pet is a lifetime of commitment! Above all, I personally think spending money to help your pet lead a healthy life or to save an animal's life is <span style="font-style: italic;">still</span> money well spent.<br /></div></div>Orbiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10635818940994024378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4645744126678953618.post-61489351004676721902008-09-24T20:11:00.004+08:002008-09-24T21:04:46.164+08:00Euthanasia<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioj4Cr6qrx_KPFolZLrRxYEYR2GjHnvrumQ2J1b25_wHU0wp6CX1R9yuxOdzt0610hUfOZTNJHaLXpagTRn3yLPuFtJHarLM-1jWbZ9UT_zKuCMq29wXBkrjtEruJglKZs39jusMemyoit/s1600-h/euthanasia.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioj4Cr6qrx_KPFolZLrRxYEYR2GjHnvrumQ2J1b25_wHU0wp6CX1R9yuxOdzt0610hUfOZTNJHaLXpagTRn3yLPuFtJHarLM-1jWbZ9UT_zKuCMq29wXBkrjtEruJglKZs39jusMemyoit/s320/euthanasia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249562839578743154" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The very word "euthanasia" is derived from the Greek terms "<span style="font-style: italic;">eu</span>" meaning good and "<span style="font-style: italic;">thanatos</span>" which means death. A “good death” would be one that occurs with minimal pain and distress.<br /><br />Veterinary euthanasia is the act of inducing humane death upon an animal. It is our responsibility as veterinarians to ensure that if an animal’s life is inevitably to be taken, it is done with the highest degree of respect, with an emphasis on making the death as painless and distress-free as possible.<br /><br />When I was a vet student, we had a whole chapter during our clinical years to learn up on the topic. We were taught that euthanasia techniques should result in rapid loss of consciousness followed by cardiac or respiratory arrest and the ultimate loss of brain function. In addition, the technique should minimize distress and anxiety experienced by the animal prior to loss of consciousness. There is nothing worse than having to witness an incompetent veterinarian failing to execute a professional euthanasia technique and instead bringing even more suffering upon an already dying animal.<br /><br />Not only do we need to be competent in our professional judgment in making the decision, the special considerations that need to be taken on a case-to-case basis and the administration or technique of euthanasia itself, but we also had to learn how to handle owner grief upon loss of their pet. For many small animal practitioners, this remains a very delicate and challenging subject matter indeed - something the textbooks don't always teach you.<br /><br />We usually allow the owners to spend the last few moments with their pets alone before euthanasia is carried out.<br /><br />Many pet owners have asked if they could help to hold their pet and sometimes even have the pet in their arms at the time of euthanasia. As a veterinarian, we would usually try our very best to accommodate their wishes, just as long as the owner does not obstruct or interfere with the actual procedure itself. We often have to gently remind our clients that it is imperative that the solution be injected swiftly within the vein for the procedure to unfold in a quick and proper manner.<br /><br />On the other side of the scale, there are a few pet owners who are more comfortable not having to observe their pet's final moments, and would rather be in the waiting room throughout the entire procedure. These type of owners usually choose to be with their pet in private for a few moments after it has passed away. As a vet, we have to deal with different types of owners with varying requests - but all with the same amount of respect.<br /><br />Once the procedure is completed, it is at this point when vets have to show great empathy and support for the pet owner. Every vet with a passion for animals would recognise and understand that this is most important and very much needed in order to help the grieving owner through one of the saddest points of life - the recent loss of a faithful companion and friend.<br /><br /></div>Orbiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10635818940994024378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4645744126678953618.post-48656356242763485392007-06-12T23:29:00.000+08:002007-11-22T20:53:56.896+08:00Praying Mantis<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb11s7sSPCvLCNefRfzt3s34N_ZKxteCZjRrtF6dugo4J7sj9v79lUfjTP3_PHEJlCSD-K2WiBglAe-MK3WZpuj1lsYS59FlBZj78FhLk2N9oxTXFucOU_uti0yMFqpAZL3Ury2PPh5nnf/s1600-h/Praying+Mantis.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb11s7sSPCvLCNefRfzt3s34N_ZKxteCZjRrtF6dugo4J7sj9v79lUfjTP3_PHEJlCSD-K2WiBglAe-MK3WZpuj1lsYS59FlBZj78FhLk2N9oxTXFucOU_uti0yMFqpAZL3Ury2PPh5nnf/s320/Praying+Mantis.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075203510362312274" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />I caught a praying mantis last night on a leaf of one of the very few plants I have in my garden. Not knowing much about this unique species of insects, I feared it would consume the little sunflower seedlings I had painstakingly planted in my garden and which I had cared for for about a month now.</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I put it together with a few wet leaves into a little carrier bag punched with a few tiny holes overnight and this morning, freed it into one of the secondary jungles in Shah Alam. I stopped my car by the side of the road, right in front of a police road block and surprised the many policemen there when I walked out with the carrier bag.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Apa tu?!" (What is that?!) They exclaimed.<br /><br />"Oh, mentadak mentadu" (praying mantis), I explained.<br /><br />"Boleh goreng, makan..." (you could fry it and eat it), they replied.<br /><br />Fry and eat a praying mantis?! Unthinkable!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjRM5WZNlZzcniNQ9huks9SAEtKSN7QVjlJwfv7dWIOR1FofP6AsCDqsX8p0QQ_EXcenmFCaavrZU8Ds-Mx3_h0VlruAenuaqJlKxD4uT5wU9wjOB4PgPbQqwlxQJKdHs2DdQzX5N8vrL/s1600-h/praying_mantis.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjRM5WZNlZzcniNQ9huks9SAEtKSN7QVjlJwfv7dWIOR1FofP6AsCDqsX8p0QQ_EXcenmFCaavrZU8Ds-Mx3_h0VlruAenuaqJlKxD4uT5wU9wjOB4PgPbQqwlxQJKdHs2DdQzX5N8vrL/s320/praying_mantis.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135644302351649874" border="0" /></a><br />With my curiosity quite aroused, I later researched this very interesting insect from the internet. Some rather astonishing facts I learnt about praying mantids are as follows:<br /><br />1. The word <i>mantis</i> derives from the Greek word which means prophet or fortune teller and they were in fact named for their typical prayer-like stance.<br /><br />2. They are able to turn their heads 180 degrees for excellent vision and hearing.<br /><br />3. Their antennae are used for smell.<br /><br />4. Being a carnivorous insect, the mantis feeds primarily on other insects. However, it is not uncommon for larger mantids to consume small reptiles and even small mammals or birds!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6geECK8Nlp_wLZwWzuURVGYt-gC-cUuZ-QDT4P8jRoGg4EKdCmLcDNqwfEKTt2ZhwNagWm8kC-RN7S3qlOnGkv4YZwMYP0HY0SbgjNuNrLQ1AJqv-4M4vdAEsJPXwkWb9vEAGCEAYadju/s1600-h/Mantis_hummingbird.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6geECK8Nlp_wLZwWzuURVGYt-gC-cUuZ-QDT4P8jRoGg4EKdCmLcDNqwfEKTt2ZhwNagWm8kC-RN7S3qlOnGkv4YZwMYP0HY0SbgjNuNrLQ1AJqv-4M4vdAEsJPXwkWb9vEAGCEAYadju/s320/Mantis_hummingbird.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135643679581391938" border="0" /></a><br />5. To capture their prey, mantids use their camouflage to blend in with their surroundings and wait for their prey to be within striking distance. They then use their raptorial front legs to quickly snatch the victim and devour it alive!<br /><br />6. Praying mantids will also prey on each other, usually during the nymph stage and during mating!<br /><br />7. When threatened, praying mantids stand tall and spread their forelegs with their wings fanning out wide and mouths open. The fanning of the wings is used to make the mantis seem larger and to scare the opponent, with some species having bright colors and patterns on their hind wings and inner surfaces of their front legs for this purpose. If the harassment persists, the mantis will then strike with their forelegs and attempt to pinch or bite.<br /><br />8. Since praying mantids feed during the day, they do a considerable amount of flying by night. The night, however, is when bats feed, using ultrasonic sound waves to pinpoint their prey. The frequency of these sound waves indicates the location and distance of the bat's prey. According to Yager and May, praying mantids are able to hear these ultrasonic sounds and when the frequency begins to increase rapidly, indicating an approaching bat, mantids will stop flying horizontally and begin a direct, high speed nose dive towards the safety of the ground. Often this descent will be preceded by an aerial loop or spin. Other times, the entire descent will consist of a downward spiral.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRRXeGqm47hFsyw3GarZ_Ck4nU4On2SPCFC9Y4t7Ez0NSkCw_xHc68XiMdVxnv0aL-W4McXVTS4R5AUi5EHkSVMPKq50rfKkx6QM1LF2X1TmK-aHAyh8zOACYgH_A79ljKqRB1y2rCa8j/s1600-h/mantis1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRRXeGqm47hFsyw3GarZ_Ck4nU4On2SPCFC9Y4t7Ez0NSkCw_xHc68XiMdVxnv0aL-W4McXVTS4R5AUi5EHkSVMPKq50rfKkx6QM1LF2X1TmK-aHAyh8zOACYgH_A79ljKqRB1y2rCa8j/s320/mantis1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135646939461569650" border="0" /></a><br />No wonder Wong Long of Shaolin was inspired to create the Praying Mantis Kungfu! While studying his books on Buddhism in a meadow near the temple, he witnessed two insects engaged in a deadly duel - a praying mantis attacking a cicada. Within moments the praying mantis had killed the cicada. Holding it in its strong front legs, it began to devour the cicada.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswxMpGX1iT0LI3t5cB0PGgs_C8H_4fljMrQjbCSjH1VYNUb3DxAFlS1SyeaUcddhtU-oV8Ok-60PodBBuFBc2rzuGKzdhIt6LaxLfBFKeWs4oEPTE_m1FuGYN3uRVL694ImNLWruE5yI1/s1600-h/PrayingMantis06.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswxMpGX1iT0LI3t5cB0PGgs_C8H_4fljMrQjbCSjH1VYNUb3DxAFlS1SyeaUcddhtU-oV8Ok-60PodBBuFBc2rzuGKzdhIt6LaxLfBFKeWs4oEPTE_m1FuGYN3uRVL694ImNLWruE5yI1/s320/PrayingMantis06.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135644873582300258" border="0" /></a><br />Wong was intrigued by the fierce attributes of the praying mantis. He was impressed by the way it had moved in and out and used its front legs to trap and draw in its prey. He saw in the fierce insect's predatory ability, a way to improve his own combat adeptness. Wong used a small stick and played with the praying mantis, observing how it used its skill as a predator to escape harm. It was these very observations that initiated the founding of this powerful martial arts form.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSf0wfAatGKNi9lMsKL0wc4Azh22jElRUdqsmz9jAkvB50SW6GnIuj-vmcImQ6_zuvCyOkR4XEobB635ByQfRDLb7TvKOsoEgvlU16RQ27bRibgsc_WJOQbVAfmv23HVwQxkPeSK_MHhCK/s1600-h/mantis-6g.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSf0wfAatGKNi9lMsKL0wc4Azh22jElRUdqsmz9jAkvB50SW6GnIuj-vmcImQ6_zuvCyOkR4XEobB635ByQfRDLb7TvKOsoEgvlU16RQ27bRibgsc_WJOQbVAfmv23HVwQxkPeSK_MHhCK/s200/mantis-6g.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135642249357282354" border="0" /></a><br />Soon, the Praying Mantis Kungfu was taught as a higher level of kungfu to all the monks of the Shaolin Temple, and it went on to aid the Shaolin monks in their quest in opposing the Manchurian takeover of China.<br /><br /><br /></div>Orbiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10635818940994024378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4645744126678953618.post-37073793563394220092007-06-11T15:55:00.000+08:002007-06-11T18:59:50.936+08:00Blue-Eyed White<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7F-zg7cgmU-Rx7CQxXfLwEd2u7r5qyi1qClpsVxMh1o9WxzwsJauguh7muwbV0CSrsvDPVBBOnf28_B5M32lWpDDWm5Q9H7IcOiVl_UsB4HpLnDZSR7TQJ3GDkbJV01KR-uPEKi2hgjc/s1600-h/220px-WhiteCat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7F-zg7cgmU-Rx7CQxXfLwEd2u7r5qyi1qClpsVxMh1o9WxzwsJauguh7muwbV0CSrsvDPVBBOnf28_B5M32lWpDDWm5Q9H7IcOiVl_UsB4HpLnDZSR7TQJ3GDkbJV01KR-uPEKi2hgjc/s320/220px-WhiteCat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074753758566944290" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">A client once brought in a white coated cat with blue eyes, complaining that she couldn't get her new pet to come to her when she called, even after frequently making various noises in attempts to attract its attention. Staring perceptively at the textbook blue-eyed white combination on the playful, lively creature on the examination table, I asked her a few more questions, and managed to establish that her cat didn't come to the door to meet her when she came home like most cats do, but continued to sleep on contentedly.<br /><br />Because I had no means to perform the Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) hearing test, I resorted to conducting my own, self-designed "vacuum cleaner" test. I cautioned the surprised owner as I plugged in a vacuum cleaner and switched it on to 'low', all ready in case the cat should fly off in fright at the sudden noise the machine created...but instead, as I anticipated, it looked curiously at the hoover and started to play with the intake nozzle!<br /><br />Yes, blue-eyed cats with white fur are commonly deaf! <span style=";font-family:Arial,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" >Dominant white, denoted by the gene symbol 'W', is the colour associated with deafness in cats. Dominant white masks all other colours and cats may have blue, orange or odd eyes. Those with blue eyes have a high chance of deafness. Odd-eyed cats with only one blue eye have a high chance of unilateral deafness on the blue-eyed side. Those with orange eyes are far less likely to be deaf. Some dominant white kittens are born with smudges of coloured fur on top of their heads where the colour is incompletely masked by the gene. This smudge of colour usually disappears by adulthood, but kittens with colour smudges are more likely to have normal hearing.</span><br /><span style=";font-family:Arial,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >The tapetum lucidum, which literally means 'bright carpet' in Latin, is </span>a layer between the retina and choroid of the cat's eye that reflects light back to the retina, causing the eyes to glow at night when struck by light. It is made up of several layers of flattened cells covered by a zone of doubly refractive crystals. It serves to increase the quantity of light caught by the retina, granting excellent night vision to nocturnal animals such as cats. The tapetum is <span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >generated from the same stem cells as melanocytes. The blue eyes in a piebald or epistatic white cat indicates a lack of tapetum. Deafness is caused by the absence of a cell layer in the inner ear that originates from the same stem cells as the tapetum.</span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >However, it is important to note that not all blue-eyed whites are deaf, as there are several different genes causing the same physical attributes, so it all depends on the cat's genotype and not its phenotype. </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >Blue-eyedness and whiteness can both be caused by different genes.</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" > In odd-eyed white cats, the ear on the blue-eyed side may be deaf, but the one on the orange-eyed side usually has normal hearing.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">In some animals, the blue-eyed white trait is sex-linked, which means it is carried on the X chromosome. It is also found in males more often than in females. However, in cats, the gene for white is carried on an autosome, which is a chromosome other than the X or Y sex chromosomes. The trait occurs equally in both male and female cats. Blue-eyed white is not sex-linked in cats.<br /></span><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">"What should I do?!" asked the anxious owner, now obviously upset. "Nothing!" I replied, "A cat deals with its deafness very well and compensates for the lack of hearing with its other senses. So well, in fact, that it is almost impossible to distinguish a deaf cat from cats with normal hearing. Naturally you can't command your deaf cat by yelling, but do even hearing cats obey all the time?"<br /><br /><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >I however advised her not to breed her cat, as this trait could potentially be passed down to her kittens. Deafness can cause problems when a mother cat cannot hear her kittens crying and may neglect them. </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >Deaf kittens cannot hear their mother calling to them and may get lost. </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" > Deafness may also affect free-roaming cats because they cannot hear danger approaching.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span>Apart from these disadvantages, I see nothing much that is glaringly lacking in a deaf cat.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6Iyp-5NGjmj4mgqOiiufh1UmU-k_7VahFoABL5BMQ9YxWiXk-sX772VlQxVh2yttIubpBXkR2IWEBVJHDnO-prUrnNN3MsJHXNziwFjy0rxGazY6SK0nLguV6jtWvDnfrXbW75E_QVp6/s1600-h/blue-eyed-white-cat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6Iyp-5NGjmj4mgqOiiufh1UmU-k_7VahFoABL5BMQ9YxWiXk-sX772VlQxVh2yttIubpBXkR2IWEBVJHDnO-prUrnNN3MsJHXNziwFjy0rxGazY6SK0nLguV6jtWvDnfrXbW75E_QVp6/s320/blue-eyed-white-cat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074755197380988466" border="0" /></a><br />Deaf cats are more people-loving cats than those who can hear. However, these cats may have louder voices, presumably because they can't hear how loudly they meow!<br /><br /></div>Orbiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10635818940994024378noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4645744126678953618.post-26800216600653863802007-05-31T21:14:00.000+08:002007-05-31T23:01:41.762+08:00Alien Teeth!<div style="text-align: justify;">While they were playing in the garden recently, a friend's kids dug up and found what they thought were the jaws of alien creatures from outer space!<br /><br />Have a careful look at these pictures...<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3uWykQ3RzW-Lkn2MDpxecp3NhZMkIvRgefJ7Xqr-ApXw3MNU6r3jE_N36d74ijb5FM5HAg9kcwKG6YYoIUGwxO49o0x6KG9aTjQytnLedRTcI36uA62GyPTSbDH0y-lTlH_0D_55bjyBR/s1600-h/front+view+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3uWykQ3RzW-Lkn2MDpxecp3NhZMkIvRgefJ7Xqr-ApXw3MNU6r3jE_N36d74ijb5FM5HAg9kcwKG6YYoIUGwxO49o0x6KG9aTjQytnLedRTcI36uA62GyPTSbDH0y-lTlH_0D_55bjyBR/s320/front+view+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070726039761447762" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKbiPR-A8syoZDrG6WZFYGKoK9evq-h3_Bmmf1EZHmsPcRv4R_Zr3wkFMGndP1xbLVna61HCJADS0w2-6yYkNZpLU-19I8rLZztNRprdcRvR3KYKf8CmdaSN2s6h_auXQeRyxX0VTFYCK/s1600-h/front+view+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKbiPR-A8syoZDrG6WZFYGKoK9evq-h3_Bmmf1EZHmsPcRv4R_Zr3wkFMGndP1xbLVna61HCJADS0w2-6yYkNZpLU-19I8rLZztNRprdcRvR3KYKf8CmdaSN2s6h_auXQeRyxX0VTFYCK/s320/front+view+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070725631739554626" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8Ij52gMMWoGg6XxXE1acYkQ9I3ZrOpWt7y8sjWIZizATrWnLCrRWM-XxNtdZQYe0p1GRIfzYSjSBH8ZlHuYJXGE_M3kJZ5o0dtKl1jMfjReiYNtgeU_1EAS1IrQ83xrjYVowWijJwT-J/s1600-h/top+view.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8Ij52gMMWoGg6XxXE1acYkQ9I3ZrOpWt7y8sjWIZizATrWnLCrRWM-XxNtdZQYe0p1GRIfzYSjSBH8ZlHuYJXGE_M3kJZ5o0dtKl1jMfjReiYNtgeU_1EAS1IrQ83xrjYVowWijJwT-J/s320/top+view.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070724562292697906" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUGi-ZuuVENF_XGZ7kZzkUE68MZSec9KIFBTRMPlXLcqjrJR3fk9rBxhaoU98GSnIfLYrgFzhAI6L6GTTIhjcXLkB2OZTws_AtrWs_pnJI0jKMde2i_UQ51hAxWKHSjAJKByh-OsfNUdr/s1600-h/jaw+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUGi-ZuuVENF_XGZ7kZzkUE68MZSec9KIFBTRMPlXLcqjrJR3fk9rBxhaoU98GSnIfLYrgFzhAI6L6GTTIhjcXLkB2OZTws_AtrWs_pnJI0jKMde2i_UQ51hAxWKHSjAJKByh-OsfNUdr/s320/jaw+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070727010424056690" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOeVU9f-J0LqMJ498CdQMw-9MPW1Uq0sPvgpY2Xja4NxgA3LA5b320xzVAo5bYiNjHpHCXVPEswfeRg_cocv_22H3AtjyuBe0JDHuHYE6zMGb46qBqYvBPDOybPSH-VW1ZRFif01w03ufh/s1600-h/bottom+view.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOeVU9f-J0LqMJ498CdQMw-9MPW1Uq0sPvgpY2Xja4NxgA3LA5b320xzVAo5bYiNjHpHCXVPEswfeRg_cocv_22H3AtjyuBe0JDHuHYE6zMGb46qBqYvBPDOybPSH-VW1ZRFif01w03ufh/s320/bottom+view.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070727792108104594" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Nasty looking, aren't they? What do you think they are?!<br /><br />I was baffled. I discussed these pictures with my veterinarian coursemates, colleagues, friends and even lecturers from my university. Nobody could even guess. Initially, I thought they must have been part of an abandoned toy or a replica of some dinosaur model. But the parents of these kids assured me that they were real...and not made of plastic or some synthetic material. To me, this bone and teeth structure resembled nothing mammalian, avian, amphibian or even reptilian. That left me to think of those creatures that live under the sea.<br /><br />These very pictures were then forwarded to marine biologists and experts in tropical and marine life of Asia and much in-depth discussions ensued. They passed through the hands of fish researchers from Australia and Hawaii, right into those of marine experts from the Smithsonian Institute of the National Museum of Natural History located in Washington DC.<br /><br />Finally, a research fishery biologist named Dr. Walter R. Courtenay, Jr. (Ph.D.) and his colleagues from the USGS Florida Integrated Science Center in Gainesville managed to identify the bony structure...as the lower jaw of a parrotfish! This inner, enameloid jaw contained pharyngeal teeth that functioned to grasp, tear, grind or comb, depending on prey type, but were mostly used to crunch corals to feed on the algae. These are not the teeth you usually see on the outer jaw but are found on a second jaw hidden inside its throat.<br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmpMAFxod3-2xZ2g-UJC5XPF_AM-REzxqLYXoyp0vllvLeKwrNGseobkEtUNyQDVWxek3DkcQjI_EP2xFD4g47WZxYmgSxZAzs6u7M-EoMzqo_V3kkyBfe_v2ps5ubGC6G1AfPw91_BCK/s1600-h/Pharyngeal+Jaw.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmpMAFxod3-2xZ2g-UJC5XPF_AM-REzxqLYXoyp0vllvLeKwrNGseobkEtUNyQDVWxek3DkcQjI_EP2xFD4g47WZxYmgSxZAzs6u7M-EoMzqo_V3kkyBfe_v2ps5ubGC6G1AfPw91_BCK/s320/Pharyngeal+Jaw.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070728221604834210" border="0" /></a><br />So thanks to our team of experts and specialists, the mystery is solved...no alien teeth! Any fishhead curry lover would have been able to tell! The parrotfish head was probably consumed by a neighbour for dinner and tossed into the garden afterwards, only to be found by the kids a few weeks later. The poor bunch of young forensic detectives must have been quite disappointed on what would have been a most enigmatic and momentous archaeological discovery!<br /><br />But don't forget to look inside the throat of a parrotfish the next time you happen to eat fishhead curry...to discover these mystical alien teeth!<br /><br /></div>Orbiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10635818940994024378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4645744126678953618.post-30329976762289685782007-05-08T16:38:00.000+08:002007-05-08T18:54:28.182+08:00Milk For The Kitty<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedEu9XpZeC_rM63JX4-4QqnLMuifnm9rpjfXbwTNq-cf0Y-t_b775NMnRdkV7ZoWpudyvaydrlC8z92QIz0vniAzGneVSAFUOOcVEUzWA3BCHRDPnS3YfEn-E7Ta1ZzHpo1VzvWsl5hAM/s1600-h/milk.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedEu9XpZeC_rM63JX4-4QqnLMuifnm9rpjfXbwTNq-cf0Y-t_b775NMnRdkV7ZoWpudyvaydrlC8z92QIz0vniAzGneVSAFUOOcVEUzWA3BCHRDPnS3YfEn-E7Ta1ZzHpo1VzvWsl5hAM/s320/milk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062116907268845682" border="0" /></a><br /><div> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">I have often been asked by new owners of cats and kittens, "Must I feed it milk everyday?"<br /><br />This is one of those cat questions that confuse not only new cat owners but also the general public at large.<br /><br />Kittens need to drink their mother's milk while they are nursing. Milk produced by the queen at the beginning of her lactation contains colostrum or what some vets call "first milk." Colostrum is an important source of maternal antibodies that provide a passive resistance towards infectious diseases, until the kitten's immune system is fully developed and functioning. When the kittens suckle, they absorb these antibodies through the gut, a process which is only possible during the first 16 hours of life. Colostrum is also very nutritious, full of the fat and protein that kittens need to support rapid growth and weight gain, especially during the vital early stages of life.<br /><br />Apart from that, I wonder why and how cats ever became so closely associated with milk, just as mice are supposedly linked to cheese. In fact, scientists have found that mice don't really like cheese very much at all and would prefer foods with higher sugar content such as chocolate! As part of a wider study into animals and food, they found that a mouse's diet is primarily made up of grains and fruit, and that it would generally reject something as strong in smell and rich in taste as cheese.<br /><br />Milk for the kitty? Perhaps it has been subliminally disseminated into our minds from infancy by Enid Blyton's various accounts of "serving a saucer of warm milk to the cold and wet puss to make it feel better, while it curls itself up to dry on a woolly rug by the fireplace."<br /><br />Don't get me wrong. Cats and kittens can drink cow's milk occasionally, but they do not <span style="font-style: italic;">need</span> to drink it. A cat can easily live its whole life without ever having cow's milk. Most feral or wild cats never have cow's milk anyway. Ever seen a stray cat milking a cow or drinking out of its udder?!<br /><br />Kittens, of course, are able to produce ample quantities of an enzyme called lactase, which is necessary to help them digest lactose, a sugar present in their mother's milk. However, similar to humans, many kittens eventually develop lactose intolerance upon weaning or at about 3 months of age. They therefore cannot digest cow's milk properly thence, as their bodies stop producing this enzyme. As undigested lactose passes through the intestinal tract, it draws water along with it. In addition to that, the undigested sugars are fermented by bacteria present in the colon and volatile fatty acids are produced. This almost always results in diarrhoea and gastroenteritis.<br /><br />If your cat or kitten comes down with diarrhoea as a result of drinking cow's milk, stop giving it milk and it should pass. Some 'milkoholic' cat owners who have lactose-intolerant cats still insist on occasionally giving their cats lactose-free milk, which can be purchased from most pet stores and veterinary clinics. If your cat digests milk without a problem, then you are safe to give it the occasional milk treat.<br /><br />However, it is important to note that cow's milk should never be given as the primary or basal food source for any cat or kitten since it lacks many essential nutrients required to keep your feline companion healthy. If a cat consumes a nutritionally complete and balanced commercial diet, it will not require any of the nutrients found in milk and therefore, there is no need or reason to give it milk.<br /><br /></div>Orbiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10635818940994024378noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4645744126678953618.post-21081609636195551272007-04-04T19:10:00.000+08:002007-04-05T16:44:14.740+08:00Can Chickens Swim?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnr0sQEaLl5uh6F5T_BNisUrO0K0f5Ja4JUqbuTu9A_BrI3BSKPcaflbpR1pdOiLFdaw5bZvx7qvOj7r7bI44Eaf5Yz1DIUFFJPNgnhCYhxeIgW8dP-vd3_SQ1kj7UqOmKLzADrGWXVqo/s1600-h/updateA.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnr0sQEaLl5uh6F5T_BNisUrO0K0f5Ja4JUqbuTu9A_BrI3BSKPcaflbpR1pdOiLFdaw5bZvx7qvOj7r7bI44Eaf5Yz1DIUFFJPNgnhCYhxeIgW8dP-vd3_SQ1kj7UqOmKLzADrGWXVqo/s400/updateA.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049534747761330482" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">The theory that chickens can swim will probably stir up a debate when discussed amongst any group of intelligent human beings. Some will say that it is absolutely unbelieveable to think a chicken can swim and others will argue why not?<br /><br />Some of the arguments I have heard people use to dispel this theory are as follows:<br /><br />1. They don't have webbed feet.<br />2. They don't have waterproof feathers.<br />3. They are too heavy and will sink.<br />4. They lack the ability to right themselves in a water environment.<br /><br />It would be a formidable question to attempt, simply because it wouldn't be easy to find answers to. Chickens are naturally averse to any huge expanse of water such as lakes, rivers, ponds and the ocean. A chicken would never attempt to swim on its own, and when dropped into any form of deep water, would exit the water with a mere flapping of its wings. Hence, it would be quite arduous and prohibitive to put this theory to the test.<br /><br />Then the time came when I had the very opportunity to put this theory to the test. That was when I was working as the resident veterinarian of a poultry farm. So decided to find out once and for all if chickens could indeed swim. One fine sunny afternoon, I tucked a 5 week-old chicken under my arm and I climbed up to the water tank situated above the poultry house. I then deftly placed it into the water. I then quickly covered the lid of the tank but left a space of about half a centimetre and peeped through the gap to see what would happen next.<br /><br />The much awaited outcome? *drum roll please* The chicken swam round and round the tank happily! No signs of distress, anxiety or struggling throughout the whole half hour as I stood there observing it closely. It remained afloat, buoyant as a duck!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6FP2qmVEnt8sLGTA141GU7-gDN0V-tY8QxgtkhT7c9pdH0EMLYF1y-YzRbEuaEMouCMJsKnUrbq28LuxWdwK0txouwxb3EnbMrT-C54m09p8E44jZJky9ov70NZKn-CFFiNE-YGCRWSY/s1600-h/CKSWIM.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6FP2qmVEnt8sLGTA141GU7-gDN0V-tY8QxgtkhT7c9pdH0EMLYF1y-YzRbEuaEMouCMJsKnUrbq28LuxWdwK0txouwxb3EnbMrT-C54m09p8E44jZJky9ov70NZKn-CFFiNE-YGCRWSY/s400/CKSWIM.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049536525877791042" border="0" /></a><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Yes, chickens can swim very well, just as horses, cats and rats can too! Yes, so the folklore of the Pied Piper of Hamelin was both fictitious and delusory! The only species that probably needs to be taught how to swim would be humans. We would otherwise drown quite naturally. How's that for superiority in the animal kingdom and what we consider the most intelligent animal species on this planet?!<br /><br /></div>Orbiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10635818940994024378noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4645744126678953618.post-29168037422014576162007-04-02T18:04:00.000+08:002007-04-08T23:21:25.379+08:00Could Not Keep It Up!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW29y2ysDrgfrP4ODY40-1y_NA6TaGITf1PnT4zKSudETJY-4PLA3Ow8H3hXQ42MxU4EMRBC34THOcPWB-wVry5iele5OtiNdH2xNN4kLzKeMnO6xiKYMwD4dK_d986SysDk-vC4L0CL_S/s1600-h/x-veterinarian-casey.jpg"></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048789273769665922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguGeN6nxAvXfWsW2Oo0qdwplIkztg8p87awWXf0qUpPweVSDhry1Cp4oZ-duE5YnjOmS3NBAqOtpQGOtxUW8JkkPO8W0SXQPERKUu9kL56PMPVSzw5YznpFH6BB0wD9D4HCIpLokaFQTB/s320/semencollection.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">The early years in clinical studies draws my memory back to a time when my female lecturer-cum-clinician excitedly called my entire class of eager third year students to the large animal surgery room. Sitting quietly at her feet was a handsome German stud...an Alsatian as some may call the breed. My lecturer, who taught us small animal reproduction, was considered a specialist on the subject. She had recently taught us artificial insemination (AI) for pet animals at length but only in theory, and was eager to inaugurate the practical, hands-on side of the course. She was now intent on teaching us how to perform <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">canine digital manipulation</span>. That is of course, the polite veterinary term for masturbating a male dog to collect its semen for AI.<br /><br />Spermatozoa can also be collected from dogs using electroejaculation and pharmacological methods. However, the most common method of semen collection in the dog is still via digital manipulation, or what some vets may call digital stimulation. Under ideal conditions, this procedure is performed in the presence of a bitch in heat. However, there happened to be none available that morning, so we had to carry on in good faith. After all, our lecturer was young and atractive...which we thought would be a good substitute for the stud!<br /></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Canine digital manipulation is a rather straightforward procedure and not as tricky as it sounds. Initially, the dog's penis is vigorously massaged through the prepuce at the level of the bulbus glandis, which is the caudal-most aspect of the prepuce. This is continued until a partial erection develops, where there is initial engorgement of the bulbus glandis. The prepuce is then quickly retracted past the bulbus glandis and firm constant pressure is applied to the penis behind the bulbus glandis by squeezing the penis between the index finger and the thumb. Pelvic thrusting may occur following application of pressure behind the bulbus glandis during the development of a "full" erection. Ejaculation, which follows shortly after, is composed of three fractions of ejaculate: first (sperm-poor), second (sperm-rich) and third (prostatic fluid).<br /><br />After quite a lengthy speech on the procedure she was about to engage, my lecturer began massaging our Shepherd boy. She rubbed and she rubbed as she knelt beside it, one hand grasped firmly around the length of its penis while the other held a collection tube. As the small crowd gathered around these two action heroes, I could hear sniggers and whispers from my cheeky male coursemates at the back as to how experienced she seemed for a young, single female. It took her quite some time, but she eventually got him aroused and rock-hard. But she needed the ejaculate...and it hadn't come! Soon, the stroking action was wearing her out slowly but surely, and she was switching hands due to aches and cramps in both arms due to muscle fatigue. We admired her ambidexterity at the moment as this had never been described in any of the textbooks we had read on digital manipulation!<br /><br />As we continued to wait impatiently for the orgasm to occur, our enthusiasm started to die down slowly, and along with it went the virility of the dog. We literally saw its reproductive tool shrink in her vigorously undulating hand. Whether it was due to crowd pressure, inability to perform in public with the many pairs of eyes fixated on it, or because it had simply lost interest, we could only guess. She motioned for it to continue standing, calling out its name every now and then as she continued to massage its doghood, but to no avail. She just could not resurrect its limp member! We stayed with lecturer and dog throughout the entire length of an hour-long period in what soon became an awkward circumstance for both demonstrator as well as students. Watching in silence, no one dared to even make a single sound or remark.<br /><br />The demonstration on canine digital manipulation did not come to its intended end that fateful day...and our lecturer tried to offer a few reasons as to why the dog had failed to produce semen for us, but the highlight of our day was the look on our young lecturer's face - crimson with humiliation and completely frustrated...simply priceless!<br /></div>Orbiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10635818940994024378noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4645744126678953618.post-24384435265072642682007-03-26T23:22:00.001+08:002009-01-20T15:23:20.388+08:00The Veterinarian Oath<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHz19QE43A1hZqUQ6qu5mX3J9oscRuHWxlBnA5sdWWgmyPfmQArc_t54HfMQPhRx2w_FDZMm83I6E083Cy-pEF1DBapvxsgq2563W_KeFJHSBEuhMBL7c-oRj4ANSVIoe9jTGg7QV_1Dj6/s1600-h/Veterinary+Oath.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHz19QE43A1hZqUQ6qu5mX3J9oscRuHWxlBnA5sdWWgmyPfmQArc_t54HfMQPhRx2w_FDZMm83I6E083Cy-pEF1DBapvxsgq2563W_KeFJHSBEuhMBL7c-oRj4ANSVIoe9jTGg7QV_1Dj6/s400/Veterinary+Oath.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046282553343443330" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The very first few words that escaped from my lips upon graduating as a vet happened to be a lifetime promise and a pledge to God and to all of mankind which sealed my new responsibilities and fate in my career and life.<br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Even though they were recited off a parched piece of paper hidden in the palm of my right hand, the solemnity and obduracy of the moment was overwhelming, as we declared and dedicated our lives to be good and ethical veterinarians.<br /><br />As the representative of my entire class of graduating vets, in the quiescence of the cavernous hall despite it being flooded with proud and excited parents, before we had the chance to toss our mortarboards high up into the air as we shouted out victoriously and in triumph, I could hear the echoes of the microphone before my lips and the resounding voices of the awkward bunch of my coursemates and friends gathered behind me, as I led them through this solemn promise:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: center;">"Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine,<br />I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills<br />for the benefit of society<br />through the protection of animal health,<br />the relief of animal suffering,<br />the conservation of livestock resources,<br />the promotion of public health<br /><span style="font-size:100%;">and the advancement of medical knowledge.</span><br /><br />I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity<br /><span style="font-size:100%;">and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics.</span><br /><br />I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement<br /><span style="font-size:100%;">of my professional knowledge and competence."</span><br /></div> <span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br />In the modern rat race of a commercialised world, I silently wonder to myself how many of us vets actually continue to hold fast to the very oath we made so many years past. The harsh reality of a material world sinks in fast coupled with a dire lack of time and over the years of hardship, we lose ourselves to greed and complacency, which rob us of the valour, the devotion and the steadfast fealty to our code of veterinary conduct and ethics. We lose the simple joys in helping animals that we once discovered when we were impassioned and enthusiastic veterinary students.<br /><br />I sometimes look back at the days when we were together as students in class, so eager to make a difference to this world as a vet. Those were times when we found so much fulfillment in applying our knowledge and skills to simply helping a poor, helpless lifeform placed into our hands. I draw myself back to the memories of squatting beside our patients after 3-hour-long surgeries, stroking and massaging them, turning them over now and again, calling out their names gently, nursing them back to consciousness as they paddled and struggled to overcome the fading effects of anaesthesia. It didn't matter so much to us back then if we were the last ones in the wards, or if the sun had set many hours ago, or if we hadn't had any dinner and our stomachs were rumbling from hunger. We were part of this struggling animal's healing process, its one last feeble attempt at life and its fighting desire to be well again, and that mattered most of all. If there was even the slightest chance we could make a difference, we would not hesitate to go all the way.<br /><br />Do we remember what it was like? Have our attitutes changed ever since? Have we all forgotten what it was all about? I hope not. I pray not. And I think not. The Veterinarian Oath reminds us time and again of our calling and of our passion.<br /><br /></div> </div> <p style="text-align: center;"> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"> </p>Orbiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10635818940994024378noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4645744126678953618.post-60747304001496204962007-03-26T21:34:00.000+08:002007-04-02T19:56:11.701+08:00It's A Vet's Life!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4IGkgxb6KV-BW4oCZdbeTj3wOgx-7pf_CSwBW9r3J4SERoDgNq1oARCRlWzX4xIS1q-KD4h2-WtRAPu8li3XjWeeZR16q6QaK2YTJAzkAai56qJGyQ69CR1wqsQzXMYifPQwfgoRomHw/s1600-h/mortarboard.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4IGkgxb6KV-BW4oCZdbeTj3wOgx-7pf_CSwBW9r3J4SERoDgNq1oARCRlWzX4xIS1q-KD4h2-WtRAPu8li3XjWeeZR16q6QaK2YTJAzkAai56qJGyQ69CR1wqsQzXMYifPQwfgoRomHw/s320/mortarboard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046280758047113570" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Having spent 6 gruelling years in university studying to be a vet, I've just realised that it has also been 6 long years since I graduated as a vet. There have been many precious and memorable moments, most of which I simply cannot recall upon desire to do so. One of my biggest regrets since graduation is not documenting these magical memories and unique encounters with the different animals I have come into contact with!<br /><br />I've realised that the private life of a veterinarian can be quite interesting to many, and having been urged countless times by my closer friends, I've decided to create this blog to share with you bits and pieces of my life and what it is like living the life of an animal doctor. I will never be as famous as James Herriot, but I sincerely hope and believe that some of you may still enjoy what you will read from my humble postings here.<br /><br />For me, it has been a childhood dream and destiny's end to be a vet. I've loved animals from infancy, having my fair share of pet dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, mice, chickens, ducks and tropical fish. My closest friends are my patients, the very animals I tend to. My gift to this world is in bringing better health to animals, and bringing sick animals back to health. However, this blog was not set up with intentions of extending free consultation and services to clients; I will not rob your local vet of his hard day's work. It was set up to generate kindness, understanding, patience, tolerance and love towards animals, which I find very lacking in many humans and pet owners alike. It was created to share the simple joys of interacting with the very creatures created by the Creator Himself.<br /><br />As Mahatma Gandhi himself said, "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." What a wise man to have such thoughts, for what progressive civilisation and great peoples of the earth do not love the very animals it shares its existence with?<br /><br />Animals are a gift from God to mankind - for food, companionship, protection and toil. In the book of Genesis, God gave man the authority and dominion over the fish of the sea, over birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth. Let us then recognise the value of our relationship to these creatures we share our world with.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">"All things bright and beautiful<br />All creatures great and small<br />All things wise and wonderful<br />The Lord God made them all"<br /><br /></div> </div>Orbiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10635818940994024378noreply@blogger.com0