Telcos all over the world confuse clients. Below is a excellent report on the situation in Singapore in April 20910 from one lady. She should be in the consulting and research field. All the time, I had the perception that Starhub who was the first mover in providing free in-coming calls was still the best value-for-money of the 3 telcos in Singapore.
Telcos rely on the "inertia" of people. People who have subscribed to the line will usually not want to switch to the better deal and they start giving various packages to confuse comparisons. Unless one has the time to research on this.
E-MAIL FROM DR SING
On Sun, Apr 11, 2010 at 4:24 PM, Kong Yuen Sing <99pups@gmail.com> wrote:
96640404 is not available. Can you recommend me whether I should subscribe to Starhub or Singtel and what plans? I will do it on Monday and get for you the tel no
E-MAIL TO DR SING
You can subscribe to corporate SunSaver Plus plan from M1 for a 3-months subscription period without handset.
Below is the details of this plan:
Corporate SunSaver Plus
- monthly subscription $48.15
- free local outgoing mins cap at 300mins
- free local sms cap at 500sms
- M1's free incoming calls is valid till 31 Dec 2012
- Excess local outgoing mins are charged 16.05¢ flat per min. Excess local sms-es are charged 5.35¢ per sms.
I estimated that the business calls usage would range from 400mins to 500mins so the monthly phone bill incurred is likely to ranged from $64.20 to $80.25. If one day you find that the monthly phone bill consistently exceeds $82.95 for months due to the business call usage exceeding 516mins and I would suggest an upgrade to SunMax plan (scroll down for details on SunMax plan). Meanwhile, you can subscribe to SunSaver Plan plan first.
Pls: scroll down below for explanation to the choice.
Thanks.
Regards,
Ling
------
Note: Though you told me to choose the plan, I think it's still right to explain to you the choice. Below is the rather lengthy explanation if you are free to go through:
The monthly subscription pricing of the free incoming calls corporate plans of the Starhub, M1 and Singtel are essentially the same. But Starhub's and M1's free incoming calls corporate plans comes with per second billing, which is more economical than Singtel which charges by an initial block of 1min and subsequent blocks of 6secs. For the validity date of the free incoming call, M1's free incoming call is valid till Dec 31, 2012 while Starhub's and Singtel's free incoming calls are valid till Dec 31, 2010.
The minimum subscription period without purchase of handset is 3-months for all the three mobile service providers.
If you plan to subscribe for 3-months or 6-months, for which the subscription would end before Dec 21, 2010, it wouldn't make a difference whether you choose to Starhub or M1. However, if you plan to subscribe for 1-year, I would suggest that you sign under M1 as Starhub's free incoming calls are not valid after Dec 31, 2010.
I estimate that the business calls minutes can range between 400 to 500mins.
If you intend to subscribe to Starhub, you can choose
- Corporate PowerValue 300
monthly subscription $48.15
free outgoing mins cap at 300mins
free sms cap at 500sms
- Corporate PowerValue 700
monthly subscription $82.93
free outgoing mins cap at 700mins
free sms cap at 500sms
If you intend to subscribe to M1, you can choose
- Corporate SunSaver Plus
monthly subscription $48.15
free outgoing mins cap at 300mins
free sms cap at 500sms
- Corporate SunMax
monthly subscription $82.93
free outgoing mins cap at 700mins
free sms cap at 500sms
To simplify, you can subscribe the corporate SunSaver Plus plan from M1 first. If you plan to renew the subscription in the future, you can still enjoy the free incoming calls which is valid till Dec 31, 2012. If one day you were to feel that the corporate SunSaver Plus plan is insufficient for your business calls usage, you can upgrade to the corporate SunMax plan.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
23. Biosecurity in poultry farms - Part 2
E-MAIL TO DR SING
2010/4/11 ...@hotmail.com>
Hi Dr Sing!
Thank you for your comments. I have re-written my essay but i'm still not very sure if i'm on the right track. Should I put it as "I am the farmer" point of view, or a general point of view? And how do i link the different farm systems? Have i done it correctly?
Poultry Assignment 2010
“It is difficult for people to catch H5N1 bird flu, but when they do, it can be deadly, (Reuters, 2010).” Bird flu is one of the main concerns of the poultry industry leading to massive economic losses in farms. For example, in December 2008, authorities found H5N1 in a chicken at a poultry farm in Hong Kong, prompting the slaughter of more than 90,000 birds (AFP, 2009). Such diseases can be prevented by implementing biosecurity measures.
WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF BIOSECURITY? Is it just purely disease prevention?
Diseases can be introduced to poultry farms through people, poultry, contaminated premises or equipment and vectors. The type of biosecurity measures to be implemented depends on whether I am operating a free range farm, barn layer system or a conventional caged farm. Some preventive procedures can apply to all systems, while others are specifically to one or two.
For any type of the three farm systems mentioned above, the following measures must be implemented. Firstly, newly arrived or sick birds must be quarantined to prevent transmission of diseases to the healthy flock.
Secondly, routine vaccinations will be given to all chickens to prevent a particular disease by triggering the bird’s immune system to produce antibodies that in turn fight the invading causal organisms (PoultryHub, 2009). For example, vaccines such as live (V4) vaccine and in ovo Mareks Disease Vaccination are commercially used.
Thirdly, I will oversee that visitor hygiene measures are strictly abided by. Signage and gates will be put up to discourage unauthorized individuals from entering the farm (PoultryHub, 2009). Visitors and service providers must wear overalls and boots that will be provided and foot washing baths will be available at the entrance of each shed for disinfection prior to entry (PoultryHub, 2009). I will also ensure that movement of people will be scheduled such that the youngest flocks are visited first and the oldest last (PoultryHub, 2009).
Fourthly, minimizing fear and anxiety in the birds to reduce their stress level will help the birds’ natural protective mechanisms to function optimally (PoultryHub, 2009). Also, using good quality feed is particularly important as bacteria and mould may be present in poor quality feed (PoultryHub, 2009).
Fifth, I will ensure that daily inspection is done on the birds; any sick or dead birds must be removed immediately to prevent the spread of bacteria or virus.
The following are measures related to specific farm systems. If I were to operate a conventional cage or barn layer systems, thus I will ensure that a good ventilation system is installed as birds are confined to a very small area and are thus very susceptible to any air borne diseases.
If I were to operate a free range farm system, I will wire net the barns to make them bird proof (PoultryHub, 2009), discourage wild birds from visiting by removing any spilled feed immediately (deGraft-Hanson, 2002) and by sanitizing water for bird consumption (Commonwealth of Australia, 2010). I will also ensure good fencing to prevent rodents from gaining access which may contaminate poultry feed.
In conclusion, it is important to know what type of farm system is used and implement the right measure to protect the birds against potential sources of diseases.
REFERENCES
E-MAIL REPLY FROM DR SING
Excellent report. Easy to understand and I don't fall asleep reading it. I think you have a gift for research writing.
You should look at the question and you will know the answer. I believe the question was "What aspects of the biosecurity program would you put in place to protect my poultry farm against the 4 potential sources of diseases? I don't know how many poultry housing systems there are in this world as I am out of the poultry line for at least 30 years. The only birds I see recently are those common black and white ones and crows in Perth.
I believe poultry has two types of housing systems - the indoor and outdoor (free ranging systems). How to link them? You have had done it.
I remember some points which may be relevant to biosecurity too.
1. Good record keeping of biosecurity measures and writing manual of standard operating procedures for hygiene controls.
2. Review of breaches of biosecurity and learn from them, sharing knowledge with managers.
3. Regular education program for new employees and staff on biosecurity measures
4. CCTV and alarm systems for expensive breeding stock?
5. Veterinary post-mortem of sick birds, blood test to check effectiveness of vaccination, health surveillance of random samples regularly.
6. Keep up research and good writing. Be hands on. Go and visit real poultry farms! Dog farms, fish farms, alpacca farms etc and you will see biosecurity in action. Study hard. Best wishes.
2010/4/11 ...@hotmail.com>
Hi Dr Sing!
Thank you for your comments. I have re-written my essay but i'm still not very sure if i'm on the right track. Should I put it as "I am the farmer" point of view, or a general point of view? And how do i link the different farm systems? Have i done it correctly?
Poultry Assignment 2010
“It is difficult for people to catch H5N1 bird flu, but when they do, it can be deadly, (Reuters, 2010).” Bird flu is one of the main concerns of the poultry industry leading to massive economic losses in farms. For example, in December 2008, authorities found H5N1 in a chicken at a poultry farm in Hong Kong, prompting the slaughter of more than 90,000 birds (AFP, 2009). Such diseases can be prevented by implementing biosecurity measures.
WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF BIOSECURITY? Is it just purely disease prevention?
Diseases can be introduced to poultry farms through people, poultry, contaminated premises or equipment and vectors. The type of biosecurity measures to be implemented depends on whether I am operating a free range farm, barn layer system or a conventional caged farm. Some preventive procedures can apply to all systems, while others are specifically to one or two.
For any type of the three farm systems mentioned above, the following measures must be implemented. Firstly, newly arrived or sick birds must be quarantined to prevent transmission of diseases to the healthy flock.
Secondly, routine vaccinations will be given to all chickens to prevent a particular disease by triggering the bird’s immune system to produce antibodies that in turn fight the invading causal organisms (PoultryHub, 2009). For example, vaccines such as live (V4) vaccine and in ovo Mareks Disease Vaccination are commercially used.
Thirdly, I will oversee that visitor hygiene measures are strictly abided by. Signage and gates will be put up to discourage unauthorized individuals from entering the farm (PoultryHub, 2009). Visitors and service providers must wear overalls and boots that will be provided and foot washing baths will be available at the entrance of each shed for disinfection prior to entry (PoultryHub, 2009). I will also ensure that movement of people will be scheduled such that the youngest flocks are visited first and the oldest last (PoultryHub, 2009).
Fourthly, minimizing fear and anxiety in the birds to reduce their stress level will help the birds’ natural protective mechanisms to function optimally (PoultryHub, 2009). Also, using good quality feed is particularly important as bacteria and mould may be present in poor quality feed (PoultryHub, 2009).
Fifth, I will ensure that daily inspection is done on the birds; any sick or dead birds must be removed immediately to prevent the spread of bacteria or virus.
The following are measures related to specific farm systems. If I were to operate a conventional cage or barn layer systems, thus I will ensure that a good ventilation system is installed as birds are confined to a very small area and are thus very susceptible to any air borne diseases.
If I were to operate a free range farm system, I will wire net the barns to make them bird proof (PoultryHub, 2009), discourage wild birds from visiting by removing any spilled feed immediately (deGraft-Hanson, 2002) and by sanitizing water for bird consumption (Commonwealth of Australia, 2010). I will also ensure good fencing to prevent rodents from gaining access which may contaminate poultry feed.
In conclusion, it is important to know what type of farm system is used and implement the right measure to protect the birds against potential sources of diseases.
REFERENCES
E-MAIL REPLY FROM DR SING
Excellent report. Easy to understand and I don't fall asleep reading it. I think you have a gift for research writing.
You should look at the question and you will know the answer. I believe the question was "What aspects of the biosecurity program would you put in place to protect my poultry farm against the 4 potential sources of diseases? I don't know how many poultry housing systems there are in this world as I am out of the poultry line for at least 30 years. The only birds I see recently are those common black and white ones and crows in Perth.
I believe poultry has two types of housing systems - the indoor and outdoor (free ranging systems). How to link them? You have had done it.
I remember some points which may be relevant to biosecurity too.
1. Good record keeping of biosecurity measures and writing manual of standard operating procedures for hygiene controls.
2. Review of breaches of biosecurity and learn from them, sharing knowledge with managers.
3. Regular education program for new employees and staff on biosecurity measures
4. CCTV and alarm systems for expensive breeding stock?
5. Veterinary post-mortem of sick birds, blood test to check effectiveness of vaccination, health surveillance of random samples regularly.
6. Keep up research and good writing. Be hands on. Go and visit real poultry farms! Dog farms, fish farms, alpacca farms etc and you will see biosecurity in action. Study hard. Best wishes.
22. The girl with the clicking car
Undergraduate days are frugal days and possessing a car in the 1960s was a big thing as most Singapore undergraduates then and now cannot afford ownership of a car. Not in Perth. A$3,000 will buy you a moving car and many undergraduates drive.
But this small car was clicking every time the girl shifted gears to drive. "Click," she shifted to gear 1. "Click," she shifted to gear 2 and so forth for the rest of the journey to see the principal vet.
"Are you sure your car is safe to drive?" I asked the girl. "Will it crash?"
"The mechanic says there should be no problem," she clicked again. "The mechanic needs to dismantle the gear box to solve the problem." The girl has no priority for a clickety car and was too busy.
I have my doubts about the safety of a clicking car. Must do some research. Will not the clicking cause friction. Friction causes sparks. Sparks cause the car to catch fire? I mean, if a dog is coughing, will persistent coughing lead to some serious illness? Does this not apply to a car too? Prevention is better than cure.
I did not mention this to the girl's mother in Singapore. Otherwise, the mother would worry more.
But this small car was clicking every time the girl shifted gears to drive. "Click," she shifted to gear 1. "Click," she shifted to gear 2 and so forth for the rest of the journey to see the principal vet.
"Are you sure your car is safe to drive?" I asked the girl. "Will it crash?"
"The mechanic says there should be no problem," she clicked again. "The mechanic needs to dismantle the gear box to solve the problem." The girl has no priority for a clickety car and was too busy.
I have my doubts about the safety of a clicking car. Must do some research. Will not the clicking cause friction. Friction causes sparks. Sparks cause the car to catch fire? I mean, if a dog is coughing, will persistent coughing lead to some serious illness? Does this not apply to a car too? Prevention is better than cure.
I did not mention this to the girl's mother in Singapore. Otherwise, the mother would worry more.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
21. TRAVEL STORIES. A 79-year-old war veteran with agile mind in Perth, Australia in 2010. KINDLE STORIES
TRAVEL
STORIES.
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), April 2010.
This one-week in Perth, Australia, far away from my practice in Singapore, gave me time to reflect and see life and matters in a new perspective.
Be
proactive is the topic I had been thinking.
Inertia is
preferred as it is troublesome and uncomfortable to start something
new. The status quo is what most people wanted and therefore, the
"opt-out" system of organ donation is being used by
governments. If you don't "opt-out" in writing, the law
states that you have agreed. Being proactive may lead to undesirable
consequences.
Two
days ago, I asked a young man to drive me to visit a veterinary
practice at 10 am as I would like to educate myself on how vets in
other countries were managing their business.
This practice was equipped with laboratory equipment to test for cortisol and thyroxine, blood pressure monitoring, ECG and a breath-rate-monitoring alarm system during anaesthesia. I sat on the bench in the waiting room.
Within 1 minute, the receptionist attended to me. "He's out," the receptionist said. So, I was surprised. He came back soon. This vet was a dynamic successful man in his 40s as he has 2 practices. I was surprised that he has no anaesthetic masks in his practice.
"No need," he said. "I induced them with drugs." This was a new perspective to me as face masks are part and parcel of practice. For example, I used anaesthetic mask in dogs in shock in emergency Caesarean sections without giving sedation injections. However, each vet has his own successful methods of anaesthesia.
I
was surprised that he was allergic to rabbits. "How about
horses?" I asked. "Yes," he said. I considered myself
fortunate in not being allergic to animals for the past 30 years.
I checked out the ambience of the surroundings as this was necessary for me to assess for the mother of Alice, a vet student who would be doing internship in this practice, as to whether this neighbourhood was relatively safe. It was a typical suburb but unlike my rental unit in Willeton with its manicured lawns and rose gardens and overwhelming one-storey bungalows, this suburb has apartment blocks and low rises. Willeton is said to be a middle to upper class residential area of Perth.
I
visited a beautiful lake near the veterinary practice. Many children
and families were present on this weekday morning. Pelicans and water
fowl were abundant. This was a surprise to me as most parks were
quiet.
A 79-year-old war veteran passed by. He was a strong-looking tough man in dark sunglasses, walking a medium-sized Boxer-like dog in this beautiful park. I asked him about the plant with cones of yellow, white, pink, brown and black colours, so commonly seen in parks. It appears on the logo of Murdoch University too.
"You can suck the nectar from the small flowers of this banksia plant," he said to me and asked whether I wanted to do it. "No, thanks," I said. He walked dogs every morning and boarded them for people. "Do you charge for your services?" I asked. "No," he said. "Just whisky at the end of the walk."
He was 79 years old, had both eye lens replaced, a not so strong heart. But his mind was very active and alert. Many men in their 60s become senile, but he was so mentally alert and could tell me the species of various birds in the park and the whole history of coin-collecting.
"How do you safeguard your coins?" I asked. I presume he was living alone. "I don't put all my coins in one place," he said. "Some in the bank, some in a safe."
I asked him, "The thieves can just cart away your safe when you are out exercising the dogs." "My alarm system is connected to the security and in 5 minutes they will come."
"A clever thief will deactivate the system," I said. He had the answers, "My safe is underground and it will take a long time to haul it out."
"The thief will just clear the safe by blowing it open," I said. "Not so easy," the war veteran who is an expert in explosives for the Australian army told me. "I have a steel door to the room." This was one man who was well prepared for all contingencies. He was an expert in old coins and all his expertise is inside his brain.
"How do you sell your coins?" I asked. "There is a Phoenix auctioneer who charges a fee on successful sale," he said. This is a 79-year-old average man on a pension, but he certainly was not "one foot in the grave." He has daily exercise by taking dogs out for people free of charge.
On knowing that I am a vet, he said, "In Australia, vets make a lot of money."
An immigrant who owns the Bull Creek Hawker told me the same thing. "Why do you say that?" I asked the war veteran. "See the skin lump on this miniature pinscher," he pointed to a 1-cm lump on the left chest of the dog. "The vet charges A$50 just to tell me it is a skin lump."
The
successful boss of Bull Creek Hawker told me that it cost over A$100
to consult a vet when the dog has flu while a human being paid
$27.00. "So, a man with no garden don't walk a dog," the
boss referred to some Cantonese idiom, meaning that a poor man should
not own a dog.
While back from the park to Willeton, my driver who was an undergraduate at Murdoch University switched lanes from the right to the centre to the left suddenly, as he was on the wrong side of the road.
"What
to do?" he asked me as a police car had flashed him to stop.
"Get onto a side road," I said. "And stop the car."
He was having hand tremors. He was intimidated by the Australian
police as they looked physically twice as big as him. The policemen
were friendly and gave him a warning not to repeat the incident.
It
is 17 Nov 2022 today as I read my article. Twelve years had passed.
Was I proactive in the past 12 years of life? I would say I was, but
not in the materialistic sense in that I don't own two veterinary
clinics. I still have the original one at Toa Payoh Vets.
UPDATES
AT:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2010/04/21-79-year-old-war-veteran-with-agile.html
---------------------
BANKSIA
Banksia is an Australian genus of shrubs and small trees that occurs on a wide range of soils including those that are so infertile, wet, or dry, that other woody species do not grow.
Banksias for the Garden
Banksias usually grow best in well drained soils in a sunny position. Most respond to light pruning, and those which form a woody rootstock (lignotuber) can be heavily pruned. Only low phosphorus fertilisers should be used.
Species
native to Western Australia are prone to root-rot fungus and
generally do not grow well in parts of Australia which experience
high humidity and rainfall in the summer.
Banksias range from
low-growing shrubs to trees up to 25 m tall. Some species, for
example Banksia ericifolia and Banksia
menziesii , are known for their spectacular flower heads.
The flower heads produce large volumes of nectar and attract many
birds and small mammals to feed on them. Banksias are excellent
plants to encourage native animals to the garden.
Friday, April 9, 2010
20. Red rice yeast to lower cholesterol?
Apr 9, 2010. perth. last day of visit.
Julia had high total cholesterol over past many years. Statin caused muscle ache and rapid heart beat. So, the doctor recommended lipantol for the past 3 years. Cholesterol reading never went below 200. Latest reading was 230 and liver enzymes were raised, indicating liver disorder after so many years of taking of drugs to lower cholesterol and high blood pressure. What to do?
"You can try nicotinic acid," the good doctor had diagnosed that Julia's high cholesterol was hereditary. No hope of reducing. Cholesterol continues to plug her arteries. But nicotinic acid has adverse side effects and may not work. "You can try red rice yeast," the doctor suggested. "But it is not scientifically proven nor arre the ingredients standardised or declared. It is like taking herbal medicine. You take it at your own risk."
Is there a solution for Julia's high cholesterol? The doctor had run out of drug options. "Dr Chua has excellent bedside manners," I said to Julia. "If I were him, I would tell you to stop eating fried food, oily noodles and go on a 90% vegetable and fruit diet. And a serious program of exercise daily." Julia disliked exercise. TV and movies in air conditioned rooms and her office manager's job were her sedentary life-style. She lives to eat and good food is definitely not vegetables, fruits and rice. She was not particularly worried about high cholesterol. So far, no sickness.
Many mothers in their late 40s and 50s start putting on weight. It is the mother's sedentary lifestyle but they seem not to be able to reduce their weight. How about red rice yeast? I went to Boorangoon in Perth. Only 2 bottles were available for sale. I bought them. I went to Southmall in Willeton. None available. "Why?" I asked the health food shop operator. "The demand spiked last 2 months when the red rice yeast was advertised on TV," he said. "TV advertisement sells the product very fast." That was why I could not locate any bottles for Julia. There must be many people in Perth allergic to the statins and/or using the herbal alternative.
I bought glucosamine and chrondition brand for the mother of another student studying in Perth. This particular brand was on sale in Sydney at A$49.00 for 200 capsules. But in Perth's Boorangon shopping centre, it was more. The girl did not want to buy it. It is again the lifestyle of the mother. She just could not reduce weight and now her knees were painful. "You know," I said to the gierl's mother, "You just reduce 10 kg over 1 year and your knees would not need to bear so much weight." Since this was not what she wanted, I bought the 200 capsules which was what she wanted.
Lifestyle changes seldom appear in intelligent women in their 50s. They are proficient and good in their careers. But good oily meat and salty food is so much tastier. And deadly for them. It is such a pity. As for red rice yeast, I did a bit of internet research at: http://www.cholesterolcholestrol.com/red-rice-yeast-cholesterol-cholestrol.html
It was statin in low doses! The statin is deadly to Julia. So in fact, julia has no herbal alternative. Two bottles down the drain.
Julia had high total cholesterol over past many years. Statin caused muscle ache and rapid heart beat. So, the doctor recommended lipantol for the past 3 years. Cholesterol reading never went below 200. Latest reading was 230 and liver enzymes were raised, indicating liver disorder after so many years of taking of drugs to lower cholesterol and high blood pressure. What to do?
"You can try nicotinic acid," the good doctor had diagnosed that Julia's high cholesterol was hereditary. No hope of reducing. Cholesterol continues to plug her arteries. But nicotinic acid has adverse side effects and may not work. "You can try red rice yeast," the doctor suggested. "But it is not scientifically proven nor arre the ingredients standardised or declared. It is like taking herbal medicine. You take it at your own risk."
Is there a solution for Julia's high cholesterol? The doctor had run out of drug options. "Dr Chua has excellent bedside manners," I said to Julia. "If I were him, I would tell you to stop eating fried food, oily noodles and go on a 90% vegetable and fruit diet. And a serious program of exercise daily." Julia disliked exercise. TV and movies in air conditioned rooms and her office manager's job were her sedentary life-style. She lives to eat and good food is definitely not vegetables, fruits and rice. She was not particularly worried about high cholesterol. So far, no sickness.
Many mothers in their late 40s and 50s start putting on weight. It is the mother's sedentary lifestyle but they seem not to be able to reduce their weight. How about red rice yeast? I went to Boorangoon in Perth. Only 2 bottles were available for sale. I bought them. I went to Southmall in Willeton. None available. "Why?" I asked the health food shop operator. "The demand spiked last 2 months when the red rice yeast was advertised on TV," he said. "TV advertisement sells the product very fast." That was why I could not locate any bottles for Julia. There must be many people in Perth allergic to the statins and/or using the herbal alternative.
I bought glucosamine and chrondition brand for the mother of another student studying in Perth. This particular brand was on sale in Sydney at A$49.00 for 200 capsules. But in Perth's Boorangon shopping centre, it was more. The girl did not want to buy it. It is again the lifestyle of the mother. She just could not reduce weight and now her knees were painful. "You know," I said to the gierl's mother, "You just reduce 10 kg over 1 year and your knees would not need to bear so much weight." Since this was not what she wanted, I bought the 200 capsules which was what she wanted.
Lifestyle changes seldom appear in intelligent women in their 50s. They are proficient and good in their careers. But good oily meat and salty food is so much tastier. And deadly for them. It is such a pity. As for red rice yeast, I did a bit of internet research at: http://www.cholesterolcholestrol.com/red-rice-yeast-cholesterol-cholestrol.html
It was statin in low doses! The statin is deadly to Julia. So in fact, julia has no herbal alternative. Two bottles down the drain.
19. To publish*****: Veterinary stories. Head tilt in a rabbit
Report written at Toa Payoh Vets: Feb 16, 2010. Chinese New Year (CNY) 3rd day. Still a holiday. I wrote the following since I was quite free.
CNY reviews of interesting cases.
During Chinese New Year, almost all Singapore small animal vets close. Feb 14, 2010 was Chinese New Year and also Valentine's Day. Toa Payoh Vets do open half days during Chinese New Year. During last Chinese New Year, I had no cases and so I thought the same would happen this time. However, there were a few cases. Vomiting and diarrhoea in dogs accounted for 3 cases. The following were some interesting cases for dog lovers.
Case 1. Hypersexuality in the male dog.
The career lady was in charge of a regional publishing operation and had no time to take leave. She planned one month ahead and took several days' leave to care for her Miniature Schnauzer after neutering as advised by me. Her dog had inflamed areas in his groin region due to humping and licking.
The dog was groomed first. Multiple rashes on his lower body. Treatment for 4 days. Then I neutered him and sent him home 4 hours after neutering. He would be given Tolfedine 60 mg at 1 tablet per day. I phoned the lady and she said that the dog felt no pain and was just normal. I told her that the urine analysis showed that the dog has no urinary crystals unlike the previous test in which some triple phosphate crystals were found. The dog had spermatozoa in the test, as in previous test. Why? This male dog had an anti-social habit of humping onto legs and pillows, injuring his groin area. I hope neutering would help as he is already 4 years old. Neutering before 1 year of age would be best. This owner slims her dog down now as she cooks for him. No more dry dog food. She takes good care of him and I expect this dog to live up to 20 years. He is only 4 years now and may outlive me as I am 15 times older than him.
"You can't shout at him," the gentle lady boss told me. When I commanded the Schnauzer in a firm voice to be still on the examination table, the dog suddenly turned around and opened his mouth to bite me. I just withdrew my fingers in time. No tough love for this dog. But no gentle kind words from me. I muzzle him instead.
Case 2. Medial Entropion. Shih Tzu, 7 kg, Male, Neutered, 1 year, 39deg C. Persistent eye tearing since puppyhood.
The Shih Tzu is well known for medial entropion causing life-long tearing and irritation but few owners are aware of a simple surgery to resolve the problem. Seldom does the owner bother to take the surgery. A case is recorded below for the benefit of vet undergraduates. Name of surgery: Nasal fold excision. I didn't know there is such a surgery.
Admitted: Feb 2, 2010
Surgery 1: Feb 5, 2010
Surgery 2 (left eyelid tearing on day 6, right eyelid has no tearing): Feb 11, 2010. Excised a bigger elliptical skin area below and lateral to the medial canthus. Rolled out the left eyelid more. Took out stitches of right eye area to review. Wound opens up as the area is under tension and has not healed firmly as it was 6 days only. Has not healed 100%. Re-stitch. Tolfedine 60 mg (1/2 tab/day) x 10 days
Baytril 50 mg (1/2 tab/day) x 6 day
e-collar, eye drops
Daily cleaning of eyelid area is necessary for the next 10 days
Nylon 5/0 stitches to be taken out on Feb 25, 2010
Goes home on Feb 17, 2010 (pictures taken on Feb 16, 2010. Phoned owner at 10.30 am wakening him up.)
Case 3. Anal sacculitis or circum-anal tumour.
Miniature Pinscher, male, 5 years with hard lump on left anal sac area. Anal sacculitis/circum-anal tumour surgery. Heals well. Goes home on Feb 16, 2010. Is this a circum-anal tumour? Still Alive And Kicking - Circum-anal tumours. Should the dog get a second anti-androgenic injection and be neutered? Many owners are against neutering deeming it to be a cruel act.
Anal sacculitis (left)
Anal sac and surrounding tumour excised. Neuter advised
Or in this case, the dog is deemed too old and a anaesthetic risk. So I do not pursue the matter further as the owner may think that I am soliciting business from her and from the owner's point of view - this is patently obvious. Update: 2004 tips for young and older dogs
Case 4. Torticollis (head tilt) in a rabbit.
CNY 1st day. Rabbit, female, 2 years, 1.7kg
Feb 14, 2010 (Chinese New Year).
Head tilt to the right. Rolling and rolling as the rabbit could not stand up. Sudden onset at 1 am (loud noises heard). Left eyelid wide open. Nystagmus. Right eyelid injured as rabbit lies on right face. Keeps rolling to try to get up. Ear canal - A bit of blood stain was seen in the cotton bud seen from deep inside the ear canal. No ear pain. Irrigated ears. Prednisolone, Meloxicalm oral, Biolapis, Fiberplex. SC dextrose saline and baytril.
Sent home the 2nd day as she could stand but with head tilted. Less Nystagmus. The lady owner to nurse and hand feed at home as economics was a big concern. Floor mat. No blood test or X-rays for the time being as this would increase vet costs. Possible causes are: trauma (cage too low), otitis media or externa (X-rays needed), encephalitozoonosis, neoplasia, toxicity and cerebro-vascular diseases. Antibiotics given.
Vestibular Disease is common dogs and cats. Rabbits too. Clinical signs are NOT dependent on the localisation of the lesion within the peripheral or central pat of the vestibular system. The peripheral system is the balance organ (semicircular canals) and distal Cranial Nerve 8. The central is vestibular nuclei and proximal CN8 and part of cerebellum (flocculonodular node).
1. Head tilt, falling and rolling: peripheral and central and sometimes cerebellum affected.
2. Circling: peripheral (ipsilateral). central affected. cerebellum: not affected.
3. Nystagmus: yes for peripheral and central. eye oscillations (tremor) if cerebellum affected.
4. Nystagmus changes direction: no for peripheral. yes for central. N/A for cerebellum.
5. Vertical nystagmus: no for peripheral. yes for central. N/A for cerebellum.
6. CP and postural deficits: no for peripheral. yes for central. no for cerebellum.
7. Paresis: no for peripheral. yes for central. no for cerebellum.
8. Horner's syndrome & CN7/5 signs: often for peripheral. rare for central. no for cerebellum.
Horner's syndrome is caused by disruption of the sympathetic innervaton from the hypothalamus to the eye and periorbital region and clinical signs are miosis, ptosis, enopthalmos and 3rd eyelid prolapse. Causes usually idiopathic but common ones are brainstem disease, cervical spinal cord disease (disc prolapse, embolism, trauma), C8-T2 brachial nerve root avulsion, C8-T2 spinal nerve or brachial plexus nerve sheath tumour, large anterior mediastinal lesions (thymoma, lymphoma), neck injuries or disease, otitis interna/media, skull fractures, trauma, retrobulbar neoplasia or infection.
CNY 2nd day.
Case 5. Suspected high fever in a hamster.
White dwarf hamster, Male, 14 m,
Eyelids closed. Not eating 2 days. Sleepy for 2 days
Young teenaged boy was upset that his pet became sick when he was in China for 9 days.
SC dextrose and Baytril and eye drops.
Day 2 - conjunctivitis and tearing esp. right eye (photography) and dehydration - will need electrolytes. Eating. Stools passed but only a few pieces. Not a good prognosis.
Owner to disinfect hamster cage, feed bowl and water bottle.
CNY 3rd day. Still a public holiday.
Case 6. Deep ulcerative keratitis in a Chihuahua.
Chihuahua, 2.6 kg, 38.8. adopted for 2 months. Abandoned. Eye cataracts. Possibly >8 years old. Male. 2.65 kg. Heart disease.
Right corneal eye ulcer very deep. Blood spots. Past 2 weeks. Why the delay? The owner thought it was a small matter.
Anaesthesia is high risk as dog has heart disease. Bad teeth. Eats only wet food. Big right flank abscess > 4cm x1 cm. 3rd eyelid flap on day 2 planned. As the dog has serious heart disease and would die under general anaesthesia in 90% of probability, I decided not to operate and let the dog go home later.
Case 7. Poodle, Male, 2 years. Dental scaling. I was surprised that the lady owner made an appointment for dental scaling for a young dog. Rarely do Singapore owners bother at this age. Grooming 3-monthly and regularly yes. The external beauty is a priority.
Tartar in the back teeth
Dental scaling removed tartar and plaques
But teeth check up once a year? No. This young dog eats home-cooked food and no dry food. So plaque and tartar form in the back teeth. Daily brushing will resolve all problems. Some dogs don't like teeth cleaning. This lady may be one of those more sophisticated ones who know the importance of dental health to enable her dog to live longer.
Case 8. A tele-conversation with a pet owner. One owner complained that his dog had been losing weight since being warded. His vet prescribed many types and sizes of capsules containing nutrients and vitamins for his old dog to "prolong his life". Yet the dog lost weight while he was warded. He said he was not given progress reports. The dog would not eat when brought home as he was force-fed. I don't make comments in this case as I only get one side of the story. Just provide a listening ear as I am sure that there will be owners with grievances against me as a vet.
Case 9. A tele-conversation with a new vet undergraduate. Young people prefer texting. I prefer phoning to thank Daphne for her help in producing 2 educational videos for vet students recently. Creating educational videos to bring veterinary surgery alive. She had been an intern at Toa Payoh Vets. I gave her my very best wishes for her new adventure as a veterinary undergraduate in Australia. She saw 5 beautiful Miniature Schnauzer puppies at a practice and was saying how cute they were. New-born puppies always tug's a lady's heart strings. I told her I did not perform the Caesarean section but was taking pictures. Oxytocin injection and wait or an elective Caesarean section?
This 2010 CNY was not a quiet day unlike 2009 CNY. My main lesson is from the feedback in Case 8. It is important that the vet does daily rounds of in-patients and check records of weight loss and appetite as a routine no matter how busy they are. Phone the owner to update and to phone the owner to visit the pet if the pet is dying. Before the pet dies so that the owner can pay the last visit. I wonder whether this is taught at veterinary schools for the 5th year students.
CNY reviews of interesting cases.
During Chinese New Year, almost all Singapore small animal vets close. Feb 14, 2010 was Chinese New Year and also Valentine's Day. Toa Payoh Vets do open half days during Chinese New Year. During last Chinese New Year, I had no cases and so I thought the same would happen this time. However, there were a few cases. Vomiting and diarrhoea in dogs accounted for 3 cases. The following were some interesting cases for dog lovers.
Case 1. Hypersexuality in the male dog.
The career lady was in charge of a regional publishing operation and had no time to take leave. She planned one month ahead and took several days' leave to care for her Miniature Schnauzer after neutering as advised by me. Her dog had inflamed areas in his groin region due to humping and licking.
The dog was groomed first. Multiple rashes on his lower body. Treatment for 4 days. Then I neutered him and sent him home 4 hours after neutering. He would be given Tolfedine 60 mg at 1 tablet per day. I phoned the lady and she said that the dog felt no pain and was just normal. I told her that the urine analysis showed that the dog has no urinary crystals unlike the previous test in which some triple phosphate crystals were found. The dog had spermatozoa in the test, as in previous test. Why? This male dog had an anti-social habit of humping onto legs and pillows, injuring his groin area. I hope neutering would help as he is already 4 years old. Neutering before 1 year of age would be best. This owner slims her dog down now as she cooks for him. No more dry dog food. She takes good care of him and I expect this dog to live up to 20 years. He is only 4 years now and may outlive me as I am 15 times older than him.
"You can't shout at him," the gentle lady boss told me. When I commanded the Schnauzer in a firm voice to be still on the examination table, the dog suddenly turned around and opened his mouth to bite me. I just withdrew my fingers in time. No tough love for this dog. But no gentle kind words from me. I muzzle him instead.
Case 2. Medial Entropion. Shih Tzu, 7 kg, Male, Neutered, 1 year, 39deg C. Persistent eye tearing since puppyhood.
The Shih Tzu is well known for medial entropion causing life-long tearing and irritation but few owners are aware of a simple surgery to resolve the problem. Seldom does the owner bother to take the surgery. A case is recorded below for the benefit of vet undergraduates. Name of surgery: Nasal fold excision. I didn't know there is such a surgery.
Admitted: Feb 2, 2010
Surgery 1: Feb 5, 2010
Surgery 2 (left eyelid tearing on day 6, right eyelid has no tearing): Feb 11, 2010. Excised a bigger elliptical skin area below and lateral to the medial canthus. Rolled out the left eyelid more. Took out stitches of right eye area to review. Wound opens up as the area is under tension and has not healed firmly as it was 6 days only. Has not healed 100%. Re-stitch. Tolfedine 60 mg (1/2 tab/day) x 10 days
Baytril 50 mg (1/2 tab/day) x 6 day
e-collar, eye drops
Daily cleaning of eyelid area is necessary for the next 10 days
Nylon 5/0 stitches to be taken out on Feb 25, 2010
Goes home on Feb 17, 2010 (pictures taken on Feb 16, 2010. Phoned owner at 10.30 am wakening him up.)
Case 3. Anal sacculitis or circum-anal tumour.
Miniature Pinscher, male, 5 years with hard lump on left anal sac area. Anal sacculitis/circum-anal tumour surgery. Heals well. Goes home on Feb 16, 2010. Is this a circum-anal tumour? Still Alive And Kicking - Circum-anal tumours. Should the dog get a second anti-androgenic injection and be neutered? Many owners are against neutering deeming it to be a cruel act.
Anal sacculitis (left)
Anal sac and surrounding tumour excised. Neuter advised
Or in this case, the dog is deemed too old and a anaesthetic risk. So I do not pursue the matter further as the owner may think that I am soliciting business from her and from the owner's point of view - this is patently obvious. Update: 2004 tips for young and older dogs
Case 4. Torticollis (head tilt) in a rabbit.
CNY 1st day. Rabbit, female, 2 years, 1.7kg
Feb 14, 2010 (Chinese New Year).
Head tilt to the right. Rolling and rolling as the rabbit could not stand up. Sudden onset at 1 am (loud noises heard). Left eyelid wide open. Nystagmus. Right eyelid injured as rabbit lies on right face. Keeps rolling to try to get up. Ear canal - A bit of blood stain was seen in the cotton bud seen from deep inside the ear canal. No ear pain. Irrigated ears. Prednisolone, Meloxicalm oral, Biolapis, Fiberplex. SC dextrose saline and baytril.
Sent home the 2nd day as she could stand but with head tilted. Less Nystagmus. The lady owner to nurse and hand feed at home as economics was a big concern. Floor mat. No blood test or X-rays for the time being as this would increase vet costs. Possible causes are: trauma (cage too low), otitis media or externa (X-rays needed), encephalitozoonosis, neoplasia, toxicity and cerebro-vascular diseases. Antibiotics given.
Vestibular Disease is common dogs and cats. Rabbits too. Clinical signs are NOT dependent on the localisation of the lesion within the peripheral or central pat of the vestibular system. The peripheral system is the balance organ (semicircular canals) and distal Cranial Nerve 8. The central is vestibular nuclei and proximal CN8 and part of cerebellum (flocculonodular node).
1. Head tilt, falling and rolling: peripheral and central and sometimes cerebellum affected.
2. Circling: peripheral (ipsilateral). central affected. cerebellum: not affected.
3. Nystagmus: yes for peripheral and central. eye oscillations (tremor) if cerebellum affected.
4. Nystagmus changes direction: no for peripheral. yes for central. N/A for cerebellum.
5. Vertical nystagmus: no for peripheral. yes for central. N/A for cerebellum.
6. CP and postural deficits: no for peripheral. yes for central. no for cerebellum.
7. Paresis: no for peripheral. yes for central. no for cerebellum.
8. Horner's syndrome & CN7/5 signs: often for peripheral. rare for central. no for cerebellum.
Horner's syndrome is caused by disruption of the sympathetic innervaton from the hypothalamus to the eye and periorbital region and clinical signs are miosis, ptosis, enopthalmos and 3rd eyelid prolapse. Causes usually idiopathic but common ones are brainstem disease, cervical spinal cord disease (disc prolapse, embolism, trauma), C8-T2 brachial nerve root avulsion, C8-T2 spinal nerve or brachial plexus nerve sheath tumour, large anterior mediastinal lesions (thymoma, lymphoma), neck injuries or disease, otitis interna/media, skull fractures, trauma, retrobulbar neoplasia or infection.
CNY 2nd day.
Case 5. Suspected high fever in a hamster.
White dwarf hamster, Male, 14 m,
Eyelids closed. Not eating 2 days. Sleepy for 2 days
Young teenaged boy was upset that his pet became sick when he was in China for 9 days.
SC dextrose and Baytril and eye drops.
Day 2 - conjunctivitis and tearing esp. right eye (photography) and dehydration - will need electrolytes. Eating. Stools passed but only a few pieces. Not a good prognosis.
Owner to disinfect hamster cage, feed bowl and water bottle.
CNY 3rd day. Still a public holiday.
Case 6. Deep ulcerative keratitis in a Chihuahua.
Chihuahua, 2.6 kg, 38.8. adopted for 2 months. Abandoned. Eye cataracts. Possibly >8 years old. Male. 2.65 kg. Heart disease.
Right corneal eye ulcer very deep. Blood spots. Past 2 weeks. Why the delay? The owner thought it was a small matter.
Anaesthesia is high risk as dog has heart disease. Bad teeth. Eats only wet food. Big right flank abscess > 4cm x1 cm. 3rd eyelid flap on day 2 planned. As the dog has serious heart disease and would die under general anaesthesia in 90% of probability, I decided not to operate and let the dog go home later.
Case 7. Poodle, Male, 2 years. Dental scaling. I was surprised that the lady owner made an appointment for dental scaling for a young dog. Rarely do Singapore owners bother at this age. Grooming 3-monthly and regularly yes. The external beauty is a priority.
Tartar in the back teeth
Dental scaling removed tartar and plaques
But teeth check up once a year? No. This young dog eats home-cooked food and no dry food. So plaque and tartar form in the back teeth. Daily brushing will resolve all problems. Some dogs don't like teeth cleaning. This lady may be one of those more sophisticated ones who know the importance of dental health to enable her dog to live longer.
Case 8. A tele-conversation with a pet owner. One owner complained that his dog had been losing weight since being warded. His vet prescribed many types and sizes of capsules containing nutrients and vitamins for his old dog to "prolong his life". Yet the dog lost weight while he was warded. He said he was not given progress reports. The dog would not eat when brought home as he was force-fed. I don't make comments in this case as I only get one side of the story. Just provide a listening ear as I am sure that there will be owners with grievances against me as a vet.
Case 9. A tele-conversation with a new vet undergraduate. Young people prefer texting. I prefer phoning to thank Daphne for her help in producing 2 educational videos for vet students recently. Creating educational videos to bring veterinary surgery alive. She had been an intern at Toa Payoh Vets. I gave her my very best wishes for her new adventure as a veterinary undergraduate in Australia. She saw 5 beautiful Miniature Schnauzer puppies at a practice and was saying how cute they were. New-born puppies always tug's a lady's heart strings. I told her I did not perform the Caesarean section but was taking pictures. Oxytocin injection and wait or an elective Caesarean section?
This 2010 CNY was not a quiet day unlike 2009 CNY. My main lesson is from the feedback in Case 8. It is important that the vet does daily rounds of in-patients and check records of weight loss and appetite as a routine no matter how busy they are. Phone the owner to update and to phone the owner to visit the pet if the pet is dying. Before the pet dies so that the owner can pay the last visit. I wonder whether this is taught at veterinary schools for the 5th year students.
18. How to ace the surgical practical?
A team of 3 classmates from the 4th year will be assessed on their surgical skills. One will be the surgeon, one the anaesthetist and one the recorder for the forthcoming test. The students would have theoretical knowledge from lecture notes and a video of the surgery prior to the practical. For a student who wants to be in the top 2%, this test is very important as every mark counts.
The surgery. Anastomosis of the small intestines in a pig. None of the students had performed this surgery. I assume none have seen it done when they see practice as it is an uncommon surgery. It is not a simple surgery. Poor stitching will lead to leakage of the intestinal contents and septic peritonitis. The stress is extremely high if one wants to ace this first-time difficult surgery.
How to ace this practical test?.
1. Don't be the surgeon. Unfortunately, none of the 3 volunteered. A lucky draw picked out one girl to be the guinea pig. The other 2 can relax.
2. Get hands-on practice after knowing the theory and watching the video. This is what differentiates an "A" student from the rest of the pack. None of your classmates will bother. Why should they? They are not interested in being top 2%. This will be to your advantage as you will shine in the sea of mediocrity.
3. Know the competition. The 80:20 rule in life says that 80% of a cohort will not be interested in excellence. The 20% contributes to 80% of the production. So, in a team of 3, one may be interested in scoring the highest mark in surgery. The sample is too small for the 80:20 rule. I did a bit of research into the motivations of this group.
Surprisingly, the 80:20 rule does not apply to your group. I know there is another girl who wants to excel and is in the top 2%. I don't know about the 3rd person who may be influenced by the competitiveness of both of you. At least 2/3 wants to ace this practical. That exceeds the 20%.
4. Pass the buck to your competitor. "Let the other girl be the surgeon", I advised this girl. "She has had worked more in seeing practices and is older. "It is not fair," the prospective student-surgeon said. "But is life ever fair? My question is 'Will she rise to the challenge and accept this position?"
5. The competitive edge I doubt it. Why volunteer to be a pioneer to blaze the trail and suffer personal damage? "Is she agreeable to be the surgeon?" I asked again. "Not really." the girl replied. Well, this competitor is very smart. Very sharp. Yet she is magnanimous in giving this unlucky pioneer-surgeon some fishing line to practise surgery. She knows she has the advantage of seeing practice. I don't think she has had the practice of anastomosis. In any case, she is in an enviable position of not being required to perform the most stressful task of the group. Fate has had chosen you. Yet, Fate has given you a mentor if you have been able to read the stars accurately. That mentor is me.
6. Correct tools needed. Know your stuff. "Fishing lines are nylon. "No teacher is going to teach you to use nylon in the anastomosis of the jejunum," I asserted. I may be mistaken but I am quite sure that it is not the correct way to teach students in this particular type of surgery. Fishing lines are too thick if I am correct. Inserting a fishing line into a suture needle to stitch up the intestines should never be taught. This will lead to big holes in the intestine and seepage of intestinal fluids. The suture should continue from the end of the needle instead of being inserted as in a clothes sewing needle. So, you must understand and know the tools of the trade.
7. Where to get such tools? You just buy the absorbable suture packs from the practising veterinarian.
8. Where to get the pig intestines? "Don't they have the small butcher shops in Australia selling pig intestines?" I asked. I graduated from Glasgow University in 1974. There were small butcher shops selling such intestines. At that time, I never was given a similar task nor did I perform any practical surgery. It was almost 30 years ago and 4th year vet students didn't do practical surgery on live animals. There were no surgery videos nor the internet.
7. Practice, practice, practice. You just got to spare the time to stitch and stitch at least 100 anastomosed intestines if you want to be confident and get top grades. No easy way out.
8. Get a mentor A vet who had performed surgery for many years to monitor your surgical stitching. Not necessary pig intestines. Dog intestines will do if he or she is in small animal practice. Nothing beats having somebody to show you how it is done and then supervising you doing the anastomosis.
7. Seize the moment. I was available for the last 5 days and had advised that you buy the pig intestines and get on with the surgery practice. Today will be my second last day in Australia.
8. Be Proactive Overcome your inertia. Just go out to buy the intestines and practise, practise, practise on a hundred jejunums yourself. Devote time to it. On the day of the trial, you will just do it with two eyes closed and get 100% score. In countries like Taiwan and India, I hear that vet undergraduates have lots of surgical experiences, but in the Western education model, animal welfare prohibits such undertakings.
But there are other alternatives like the butcher shop. It is as easy as that, but the vast majority of the 4th year vet students will never do it. They have better things to do. They don't want academic excellence nor do they have great passion in veterinary medicine and surgery. All these factors work to giving you the competitive edge. Just be proactice and just do it. If you want to achieve something, plan ahead, research and work very hard by practising a lot. There is no short cut to academic excellence and a Medal of excellence from the University.
The surgery. Anastomosis of the small intestines in a pig. None of the students had performed this surgery. I assume none have seen it done when they see practice as it is an uncommon surgery. It is not a simple surgery. Poor stitching will lead to leakage of the intestinal contents and septic peritonitis. The stress is extremely high if one wants to ace this first-time difficult surgery.
How to ace this practical test?.
1. Don't be the surgeon. Unfortunately, none of the 3 volunteered. A lucky draw picked out one girl to be the guinea pig. The other 2 can relax.
2. Get hands-on practice after knowing the theory and watching the video. This is what differentiates an "A" student from the rest of the pack. None of your classmates will bother. Why should they? They are not interested in being top 2%. This will be to your advantage as you will shine in the sea of mediocrity.
3. Know the competition. The 80:20 rule in life says that 80% of a cohort will not be interested in excellence. The 20% contributes to 80% of the production. So, in a team of 3, one may be interested in scoring the highest mark in surgery. The sample is too small for the 80:20 rule. I did a bit of research into the motivations of this group.
Surprisingly, the 80:20 rule does not apply to your group. I know there is another girl who wants to excel and is in the top 2%. I don't know about the 3rd person who may be influenced by the competitiveness of both of you. At least 2/3 wants to ace this practical. That exceeds the 20%.
4. Pass the buck to your competitor. "Let the other girl be the surgeon", I advised this girl. "She has had worked more in seeing practices and is older. "It is not fair," the prospective student-surgeon said. "But is life ever fair? My question is 'Will she rise to the challenge and accept this position?"
5. The competitive edge I doubt it. Why volunteer to be a pioneer to blaze the trail and suffer personal damage? "Is she agreeable to be the surgeon?" I asked again. "Not really." the girl replied. Well, this competitor is very smart. Very sharp. Yet she is magnanimous in giving this unlucky pioneer-surgeon some fishing line to practise surgery. She knows she has the advantage of seeing practice. I don't think she has had the practice of anastomosis. In any case, she is in an enviable position of not being required to perform the most stressful task of the group. Fate has had chosen you. Yet, Fate has given you a mentor if you have been able to read the stars accurately. That mentor is me.
6. Correct tools needed. Know your stuff. "Fishing lines are nylon. "No teacher is going to teach you to use nylon in the anastomosis of the jejunum," I asserted. I may be mistaken but I am quite sure that it is not the correct way to teach students in this particular type of surgery. Fishing lines are too thick if I am correct. Inserting a fishing line into a suture needle to stitch up the intestines should never be taught. This will lead to big holes in the intestine and seepage of intestinal fluids. The suture should continue from the end of the needle instead of being inserted as in a clothes sewing needle. So, you must understand and know the tools of the trade.
7. Where to get such tools? You just buy the absorbable suture packs from the practising veterinarian.
8. Where to get the pig intestines? "Don't they have the small butcher shops in Australia selling pig intestines?" I asked. I graduated from Glasgow University in 1974. There were small butcher shops selling such intestines. At that time, I never was given a similar task nor did I perform any practical surgery. It was almost 30 years ago and 4th year vet students didn't do practical surgery on live animals. There were no surgery videos nor the internet.
7. Practice, practice, practice. You just got to spare the time to stitch and stitch at least 100 anastomosed intestines if you want to be confident and get top grades. No easy way out.
8. Get a mentor A vet who had performed surgery for many years to monitor your surgical stitching. Not necessary pig intestines. Dog intestines will do if he or she is in small animal practice. Nothing beats having somebody to show you how it is done and then supervising you doing the anastomosis.
7. Seize the moment. I was available for the last 5 days and had advised that you buy the pig intestines and get on with the surgery practice. Today will be my second last day in Australia.
8. Be Proactive Overcome your inertia. Just go out to buy the intestines and practise, practise, practise on a hundred jejunums yourself. Devote time to it. On the day of the trial, you will just do it with two eyes closed and get 100% score. In countries like Taiwan and India, I hear that vet undergraduates have lots of surgical experiences, but in the Western education model, animal welfare prohibits such undertakings.
But there are other alternatives like the butcher shop. It is as easy as that, but the vast majority of the 4th year vet students will never do it. They have better things to do. They don't want academic excellence nor do they have great passion in veterinary medicine and surgery. All these factors work to giving you the competitive edge. Just be proactice and just do it. If you want to achieve something, plan ahead, research and work very hard by practising a lot. There is no short cut to academic excellence and a Medal of excellence from the University.
17. Biosecurity in poultry farm
Poultry Assignment 2010
The implementation of a well planned biosecurity program is important in maintaining bird health on poultry farms. The four potential sources of diseases are from people, poultry, contaminated premises or equipment and vectors, though there are other possibilities that will not be covered. Measures must be taken to prevent or control the introduction and spread of infectious agents to a flock (Commonwealth of Australia, 2010).
People are considered to be the most common source of carrying poultry diseases into poultry farms and measures must be taken to minimize these risks (PoultryHub, 2009). Firstly, using signage and gates prevents unauthorized people from entering the farm. Visitors and service providers must wear overalls and boots provided by the farmers and footwear must be disinfected before entering the sheds (PoultryHub, 2009). Lastly, movement of people should be scheduled such that the youngest flocks are visited first and the oldest last (PoultryHub, 2009). This measure is especially important in conventional cage systems as birds are confined to their cage and are susceptible to any infections.
Another common source of infection is from poultry. Routine vaccination should be done at specific ages to prevent diseases by creating immunity in the bird’s system. Daily inspection for dead or sick birds should be done and removed immediately to prevent the spread of bacteria or virus. Sick or newly purchased birds should be quarantined from the flock. Also, giving a nutritionally balanced diet, proper ventilation and minimizing fear and anxiety in the birds will help the birds’ natural protective mechanisms to function optimally (PoultryHub, 2009). This measure is important for all types of systems.
Contamination can also come from the air, water supply and feed. Especially for conventional cage or barn systems, ensure that good ventilation systems are installed to as air borne diseases spread very quickly. Water supply should be changed regularly to prevent contamination with faeces from contact with avian or other animal species (Commonwealth of Australia, 2010). Using good quality feed is particularly important as bacteria and mould may be present in poor quality feed. Feed can also be contaminated by the raw materials used, post production and during transport or by exposure to rodents and birds on the property (PoultryHub, 2009) if not kept properly.
Wild birds, rodents and insects can be carriers of diseases and this aspect is especially important in free range farms as they have easy access to the birds’ living quarters. Possible measures to be taken are to wire net the barns to make them bird proof (PoultryHub, 2009), to discourage wild birds from visiting by removing any spilled feed immediately (deGraft-Hanson, 2002) and by sanitizing water for bird consumption. Farmers should also ensure good fencing to prevent rodents from gaining access which can contaminate poultry feed and good parasite control programs should be implemented.
In conclusion, different production systems inclusive of the type (conventional cages, free range, barn layer, household), species (chicken, ratities, etc.), and product emphasis (meat or egg) have emphasis on different aspects of their biosecurity program. However, it is still important that all aspects are covered to maintain good bird health for greater production and economical value.
MY OPINION
Your article is very dull and boring to read.
If I write, I will give an introduction (hook), middle (main answer) and a conclusion as follows:
1. A Hook - Some current concerns of biosecurity in the poultry industry leading to massive economic losses in poultry farms e.g. H1N1 viral infections in hong kong? Some references.
2. Answer the question directly --- What aspects of the biosecurity program would I put in place to protect my poultry farm against the 4 potential sources of diseases?
This depends on what type of poultry farm I am operating. Free range or indoor housing?
Free range
Caged indoor housing
Some disease prevention procedures will apply to both. Some will be particular to free ranging birds.
1. Quarantine of new arrivals or sick birds
2. Visitors hygienic measures - procedures
3. Vaccinations. Give some examples of commercial vaccines used.
4. Good nutrition.
5. Anti-stress measures.
6. Rodent control, parasite control, wild bird control etc.
7. I have not included all you had mentioned.
You have all the facts in your report. It is just that you are not answering the question directly as a farm operator. Re-write and good luck.
P.S. The question is as follows:
Assignment question for 2010
On poultry farms, to maintain bird health the emphasis is ‘Prevention is better than cure’. Prevention involves having a well planned and implemented biosecurity program.
Diseases can be introduced to your poultry farm by
People
Poultry
Contaminated premises or equipment
Vectors
What aspects of a biosecurity program would you put in place to protect against these four potential sources of disease.
The implementation of a well planned biosecurity program is important in maintaining bird health on poultry farms. The four potential sources of diseases are from people, poultry, contaminated premises or equipment and vectors, though there are other possibilities that will not be covered. Measures must be taken to prevent or control the introduction and spread of infectious agents to a flock (Commonwealth of Australia, 2010).
People are considered to be the most common source of carrying poultry diseases into poultry farms and measures must be taken to minimize these risks (PoultryHub, 2009). Firstly, using signage and gates prevents unauthorized people from entering the farm. Visitors and service providers must wear overalls and boots provided by the farmers and footwear must be disinfected before entering the sheds (PoultryHub, 2009). Lastly, movement of people should be scheduled such that the youngest flocks are visited first and the oldest last (PoultryHub, 2009). This measure is especially important in conventional cage systems as birds are confined to their cage and are susceptible to any infections.
Another common source of infection is from poultry. Routine vaccination should be done at specific ages to prevent diseases by creating immunity in the bird’s system. Daily inspection for dead or sick birds should be done and removed immediately to prevent the spread of bacteria or virus. Sick or newly purchased birds should be quarantined from the flock. Also, giving a nutritionally balanced diet, proper ventilation and minimizing fear and anxiety in the birds will help the birds’ natural protective mechanisms to function optimally (PoultryHub, 2009). This measure is important for all types of systems.
Contamination can also come from the air, water supply and feed. Especially for conventional cage or barn systems, ensure that good ventilation systems are installed to as air borne diseases spread very quickly. Water supply should be changed regularly to prevent contamination with faeces from contact with avian or other animal species (Commonwealth of Australia, 2010). Using good quality feed is particularly important as bacteria and mould may be present in poor quality feed. Feed can also be contaminated by the raw materials used, post production and during transport or by exposure to rodents and birds on the property (PoultryHub, 2009) if not kept properly.
Wild birds, rodents and insects can be carriers of diseases and this aspect is especially important in free range farms as they have easy access to the birds’ living quarters. Possible measures to be taken are to wire net the barns to make them bird proof (PoultryHub, 2009), to discourage wild birds from visiting by removing any spilled feed immediately (deGraft-Hanson, 2002) and by sanitizing water for bird consumption. Farmers should also ensure good fencing to prevent rodents from gaining access which can contaminate poultry feed and good parasite control programs should be implemented.
In conclusion, different production systems inclusive of the type (conventional cages, free range, barn layer, household), species (chicken, ratities, etc.), and product emphasis (meat or egg) have emphasis on different aspects of their biosecurity program. However, it is still important that all aspects are covered to maintain good bird health for greater production and economical value.
MY OPINION
Your article is very dull and boring to read.
If I write, I will give an introduction (hook), middle (main answer) and a conclusion as follows:
1. A Hook - Some current concerns of biosecurity in the poultry industry leading to massive economic losses in poultry farms e.g. H1N1 viral infections in hong kong? Some references.
2. Answer the question directly --- What aspects of the biosecurity program would I put in place to protect my poultry farm against the 4 potential sources of diseases?
This depends on what type of poultry farm I am operating. Free range or indoor housing?
Free range
Caged indoor housing
Some disease prevention procedures will apply to both. Some will be particular to free ranging birds.
1. Quarantine of new arrivals or sick birds
2. Visitors hygienic measures - procedures
3. Vaccinations. Give some examples of commercial vaccines used.
4. Good nutrition.
5. Anti-stress measures.
6. Rodent control, parasite control, wild bird control etc.
7. I have not included all you had mentioned.
You have all the facts in your report. It is just that you are not answering the question directly as a farm operator. Re-write and good luck.
P.S. The question is as follows:
Assignment question for 2010
On poultry farms, to maintain bird health the emphasis is ‘Prevention is better than cure’. Prevention involves having a well planned and implemented biosecurity program.
Diseases can be introduced to your poultry farm by
People
Poultry
Contaminated premises or equipment
Vectors
What aspects of a biosecurity program would you put in place to protect against these four potential sources of disease.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
16. urinary stones in dogs
The Death Sentence for Producing Urinary Stones - How to prevent recurrences in struvite and other urinary stone formation
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), MRCVS
Updated: 08 April, 2010
Many times, it is a death sentence when the pet dog produces urinary stones again as the average Singaporean dog owner feels that the diagnosis by clinical signs and diagnostic imaging, the surgical treatment, hospitalisation, nursing care and medication from around S$800 to over $2,500 are "expensive". Unfortunately, urinary stones do recur in some dogs such as the Miniature Schnauzer.
Stones are usually found in the bladder and urethra. Less than 4% of urolithiasis cases are found in the kidneys or ureter (hydronephrosis, acute renal failure).
TREATMENT AND PREVENTION
1. Accurate analysis. Stone analysis by Hills Pet Nutrition using optical crystallography or infra-red spectrometry or a laboratory able to analyse stones. Crystalluria or urine analysis may not be accurate. Characteristic shapes on radiographs and by visual examination is not a reliable guide to their composition. Oxalates are said to be highly radiodense and silica are radiodense with jackstone shape. Struvites are moderately to highly radiodense but is associated with urinary tract infection (urease production) and alkaline pH. Calcium oxalates are associated with hypercalcaemia.
2. Treat UTI e.g. struvite stones.
3. Surgical removal by cystotomy (calcium uroliths) or medical dissolution by dietary manipulation of the urine pH (applies only to struvites, urate and cystine). Ureteroliths and urethroliths cannot be dissolved and should be surgically or manually removed. All uroliths dissolve at the same rate, so it is not the number. But largest stones dissolve slower than smaller ones. The owner may not want to pay for the regular X-rays to monitor dissolution of the stones in real life. The owner must be warned that it is possible that bladder stones may obstruct the urethra when they get dissolved to smaller size. In practice, I have a case where a vet suggested feeding home cooked food but the female Miniature Schnauzer had a stone as large as a quail's egg. The stone did not dissolve. I suspected that the vet just advised home-cooked food and gave antibiotics. I don't think the owner gave the acidification tablets after some days or were not given any. In any case, the dog kept peeing blood. I had it surgically removed and the dog was OK for the past years. It is said that it takes as long as 7 months to get the large struvite stones dissolved. When you see the large quail egg stone (in one of my case studies), you will wonder whether it can be dissolved medically at that size.
4. Lithotripsy or sonic dissolution. Not available in Singapore.
5. Prevent or reduce recurrence by getting the dog to pee less concentrated urine (target at USG <1.020).
How to do it? No dry food. Add water into food. Pet fountain, multiple water bowls around the house, ice cubes in water, add something inside water to encourage drinking. I would advise milk if the dog is lactose tolerant.
6. Monitor by regular imaging. Few Singapore owners spare the time or money to get this done. They just seem to have no time.
Some of my tips to prevent recurrences of struvite stones are:
1. BREED. Breeds like the Miniature Schnauzer are prone to producing urinary stones. Urinary examination at least 3-monthly will be ideal. If not, during the half yearly wellness examination or yearly vaccination, ask your vet to do a urinary analysis.
2. DIET. No dry dog food definitely. No canned foods or treats. Special low stone prescription diet or home-cooked food.
3. URINE pH to be acidic if struvite stones have formed. USG to be less than 1.020. Red and White Blood Cells measured weekly using dipsticks in collaboration with your vet.
4. WATER INTAKE. Measure diligently and scientifically 24-hourly water drunk in collaboration with your vet. Some sedentary dogs need to be encouraged to drink by more exercise or supervision.
5. ACIDIFICATION OF THE URINE if the urine pH is 7.0 and higher in collaboration with your vet.
6. BLADDER PALPATION. If stones or a crackling gassy sound are felt, it is bad news. Consult your vet promptly.
2 female dogs with blood in the urine. Both had dry dog food. The Schnauzer, peeing out stones, was fed home-cooked food at the same time as another dog (Golden Retriever) was fed dry food by the maid 8 months ago after consulting me about "no surgery". She was given acidification tablets and C/D diet for 1 month and had no longer produced stones. She might have eaten some dry food and produced stones 8 months after my consultation.
The Cocker Spaniel had fish-based dry dog food for 8 years and was observed to have haematuria 2 months ago. A vet advised medication to dissolve the stones in view of the high anaesthetic risk of operating on a senior dog.
The objective is to prevent struvite crystal formation by ensuring that the bladder is free from bacterial infections and that the urine pH is alkaline. The dog owner has to be educated in prevention and to take good care post-surgery in collaboration with their vet keeping proper records. Unfortunately, few owners bother. A recurrence means a death sentence usually during times of recession. The guidelines apply to the prevention of struvite (triple phosphate) urinary stones only.
INCIDENTAL FINDINGS OF A CALCULUS. Many Singapore owners are not interested in medical management by regular abdominal radiographs or surgical removal as the dog seems not to have any urinary problems after antibiotic treatment.
URINE pH required to form struvite stones is alkaline. Calcium oxalate and ammonium urate or urates (Acid to Normal). Cystine, silica and xanthine (acidic).
Struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate) are most amenable to medical dissolution. Calculolytic diets have low protein, phosphorus and magnesium but high sodium content to produce diuresis and they acidify urine. Antibiotics based on bacterial culture. Dissolution may take 4 months or as long as 7 months. Surgical removal if urethral obstruction not relieved by retropulsion.
Calcium oxalate. Increased urinary calcium excretion may be due to increased GI calcium absorption, renal-leak hypercalciuria (tubular defect), hypercalcaemia or hyperadrenocortiicism. Surgical removal only. Correct hypercalcaemia, reduced protein, calcium and oxalae diet for absorptive hypercalciuria. urinary alklisation with potassium citrate. thiazide diuretics in dogs with recurrent cases eg. hydrochlorothiazide 2mg/k q 12 hr PO). No treatment for renal-leak hypercalciuria.
Ammonium urate. 96% Dalmatians. Dogs with liver disease of portosystemic shunts 4%. Calculoytic diets by urinary alkalisation e.g. Hills u/d but this takes many months. Allopurinol 30 mg/kg q 24 hr PO to reduce urate production by inhibiting enzyme xanthine oxidase WITH protein restricted food. Prolonged allopurinol treatment may result in xanthine crystalluria and urolithiasis.
Cystine
acid urine. renal tubular disorder. surgical removal. medical management said to work. Alkalisation and protein restriction diet e.g. u/d. PLUS N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)-glycine (2-MPG) at 15-20mg/kg, 12 hr with diet for dissolution, then 15 mg/kg q 12 hr for prevention.
References:
Bladder Stone case studies
The Vet's Best Is Not Good Enough
webpage: www.toapayohvets.com
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), MRCVS
Updated: 08 April, 2010
Many times, it is a death sentence when the pet dog produces urinary stones again as the average Singaporean dog owner feels that the diagnosis by clinical signs and diagnostic imaging, the surgical treatment, hospitalisation, nursing care and medication from around S$800 to over $2,500 are "expensive". Unfortunately, urinary stones do recur in some dogs such as the Miniature Schnauzer.
Stones are usually found in the bladder and urethra. Less than 4% of urolithiasis cases are found in the kidneys or ureter (hydronephrosis, acute renal failure).
TREATMENT AND PREVENTION
1. Accurate analysis. Stone analysis by Hills Pet Nutrition using optical crystallography or infra-red spectrometry or a laboratory able to analyse stones. Crystalluria or urine analysis may not be accurate. Characteristic shapes on radiographs and by visual examination is not a reliable guide to their composition. Oxalates are said to be highly radiodense and silica are radiodense with jackstone shape. Struvites are moderately to highly radiodense but is associated with urinary tract infection (urease production) and alkaline pH. Calcium oxalates are associated with hypercalcaemia.
2. Treat UTI e.g. struvite stones.
3. Surgical removal by cystotomy (calcium uroliths) or medical dissolution by dietary manipulation of the urine pH (applies only to struvites, urate and cystine). Ureteroliths and urethroliths cannot be dissolved and should be surgically or manually removed. All uroliths dissolve at the same rate, so it is not the number. But largest stones dissolve slower than smaller ones. The owner may not want to pay for the regular X-rays to monitor dissolution of the stones in real life. The owner must be warned that it is possible that bladder stones may obstruct the urethra when they get dissolved to smaller size. In practice, I have a case where a vet suggested feeding home cooked food but the female Miniature Schnauzer had a stone as large as a quail's egg. The stone did not dissolve. I suspected that the vet just advised home-cooked food and gave antibiotics. I don't think the owner gave the acidification tablets after some days or were not given any. In any case, the dog kept peeing blood. I had it surgically removed and the dog was OK for the past years. It is said that it takes as long as 7 months to get the large struvite stones dissolved. When you see the large quail egg stone (in one of my case studies), you will wonder whether it can be dissolved medically at that size.
4. Lithotripsy or sonic dissolution. Not available in Singapore.
5. Prevent or reduce recurrence by getting the dog to pee less concentrated urine (target at USG <1.020).
How to do it? No dry food. Add water into food. Pet fountain, multiple water bowls around the house, ice cubes in water, add something inside water to encourage drinking. I would advise milk if the dog is lactose tolerant.
6. Monitor by regular imaging. Few Singapore owners spare the time or money to get this done. They just seem to have no time.
Some of my tips to prevent recurrences of struvite stones are:
1. BREED. Breeds like the Miniature Schnauzer are prone to producing urinary stones. Urinary examination at least 3-monthly will be ideal. If not, during the half yearly wellness examination or yearly vaccination, ask your vet to do a urinary analysis.
2. DIET. No dry dog food definitely. No canned foods or treats. Special low stone prescription diet or home-cooked food.
3. URINE pH to be acidic if struvite stones have formed. USG to be less than 1.020. Red and White Blood Cells measured weekly using dipsticks in collaboration with your vet.
4. WATER INTAKE. Measure diligently and scientifically 24-hourly water drunk in collaboration with your vet. Some sedentary dogs need to be encouraged to drink by more exercise or supervision.
5. ACIDIFICATION OF THE URINE if the urine pH is 7.0 and higher in collaboration with your vet.
6. BLADDER PALPATION. If stones or a crackling gassy sound are felt, it is bad news. Consult your vet promptly.
2 female dogs with blood in the urine. Both had dry dog food. The Schnauzer, peeing out stones, was fed home-cooked food at the same time as another dog (Golden Retriever) was fed dry food by the maid 8 months ago after consulting me about "no surgery". She was given acidification tablets and C/D diet for 1 month and had no longer produced stones. She might have eaten some dry food and produced stones 8 months after my consultation.
The Cocker Spaniel had fish-based dry dog food for 8 years and was observed to have haematuria 2 months ago. A vet advised medication to dissolve the stones in view of the high anaesthetic risk of operating on a senior dog.
The objective is to prevent struvite crystal formation by ensuring that the bladder is free from bacterial infections and that the urine pH is alkaline. The dog owner has to be educated in prevention and to take good care post-surgery in collaboration with their vet keeping proper records. Unfortunately, few owners bother. A recurrence means a death sentence usually during times of recession. The guidelines apply to the prevention of struvite (triple phosphate) urinary stones only.
INCIDENTAL FINDINGS OF A CALCULUS. Many Singapore owners are not interested in medical management by regular abdominal radiographs or surgical removal as the dog seems not to have any urinary problems after antibiotic treatment.
URINE pH required to form struvite stones is alkaline. Calcium oxalate and ammonium urate or urates (Acid to Normal). Cystine, silica and xanthine (acidic).
Struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate) are most amenable to medical dissolution. Calculolytic diets have low protein, phosphorus and magnesium but high sodium content to produce diuresis and they acidify urine. Antibiotics based on bacterial culture. Dissolution may take 4 months or as long as 7 months. Surgical removal if urethral obstruction not relieved by retropulsion.
Calcium oxalate. Increased urinary calcium excretion may be due to increased GI calcium absorption, renal-leak hypercalciuria (tubular defect), hypercalcaemia or hyperadrenocortiicism. Surgical removal only. Correct hypercalcaemia, reduced protein, calcium and oxalae diet for absorptive hypercalciuria. urinary alklisation with potassium citrate. thiazide diuretics in dogs with recurrent cases eg. hydrochlorothiazide 2mg/k q 12 hr PO). No treatment for renal-leak hypercalciuria.
Ammonium urate. 96% Dalmatians. Dogs with liver disease of portosystemic shunts 4%. Calculoytic diets by urinary alkalisation e.g. Hills u/d but this takes many months. Allopurinol 30 mg/kg q 24 hr PO to reduce urate production by inhibiting enzyme xanthine oxidase WITH protein restricted food. Prolonged allopurinol treatment may result in xanthine crystalluria and urolithiasis.
Cystine
acid urine. renal tubular disorder. surgical removal. medical management said to work. Alkalisation and protein restriction diet e.g. u/d. PLUS N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)-glycine (2-MPG) at 15-20mg/kg, 12 hr with diet for dissolution, then 15 mg/kg q 12 hr for prevention.
References:
Bladder Stone case studies
The Vet's Best Is Not Good Enough
webpage: www.toapayohvets.com
15. How I was appointed a Godfather
The mum informed me that her daughter got top 2% in Murdoch University examinations. What does it mean? Top 2% of the cohort or top 2% of the veterinary faculty of 100 students? Well, I was happy for the single mother. How did she motivate her child to excel academically? There is no simple answer.
Academic excellence opens doors to top professional practices all over the world. But male classmates in general don't seem to care two hoots about being top dog in the veterinary faculty, from my survey. Straight As mean nothing to many of them. If vet professors want to be stringent and permit only one repeat re-examination, I suspect many males will need to repeat the year and that the graduates produced will be reduced by some 30%, assuming the male:female ratio is 50:50.
How to be a straight A student?
1. Hard work mainly as there is a lot to memorise. Time must be spent in the actual studies.
2. Hands-on experiences by seeing practice with vets during the spare time or live-in.
3. Sacrificing time with family and friends. You can't have the cake and eat it.
The mum was very worried when the daughter was offered a vet practice accommodation. She would save money on her accommodation which can be as much as A$700 as month in Australia. The practice would benefit its employees who need not be present overnight at the practice. The mum was so worried that she wanted to fly over to see the practice and Quantas Airways was offering cheap S$700 return fare for Easter.
"No," the daughter said. "I would be busy moving and besides, I needed to entertain my friends during this time." There seems to me to be not the right thing to do and I told the young girl accordingly. I found that the friends stayed in her place since they did not want to pay for hotel accommodation at A$90.00 a night. I mean, what is an additional person who loves you very much - the mum since you got to entertain friends for 3 days?
I guess the daughter was worried that the mum might embarass her. After all, she was an adult. But to mums, 20+ year girl is still a baby. So, she asked me to check out the vet practice. "What will I say about my relationship to this young girl if the principal ask me?" I said to the worrier. "Just tell him you are the Godfather."
That's how I became a Godfather although I am not Catholic. I have yet to meet the principal vet and have only 2 days left in Perth. I had seen the location of the vet practice some 3 days ago only at night. The impressive practice is a bungalow, located off the main road, at a corner of a side street. The street lights were bright and the road was clean. The neighbourhood of low rise houses and one apartment block appeared serene, with warm yellow lights in the apartment at 9 pm. It looked safe as there were no drug addicts or gangs roaming about. There was a brightly lit liquor shop across the road with no drunkards lurking about. I better not say anything about this store to the mum as it would cause her unnecessary worries. Maybe I should take a taxi and go and see the place in daylight myself. It is not as easy to take a cab as in Singapore. I should drive as most students have a car and I can borrow one. Time is short. The real Godfather with the actor Marlon Brando acting as the Godfather would just send in the lieutenants to check the place inside out. I need to be proactive.
Academic excellence opens doors to top professional practices all over the world. But male classmates in general don't seem to care two hoots about being top dog in the veterinary faculty, from my survey. Straight As mean nothing to many of them. If vet professors want to be stringent and permit only one repeat re-examination, I suspect many males will need to repeat the year and that the graduates produced will be reduced by some 30%, assuming the male:female ratio is 50:50.
How to be a straight A student?
1. Hard work mainly as there is a lot to memorise. Time must be spent in the actual studies.
2. Hands-on experiences by seeing practice with vets during the spare time or live-in.
3. Sacrificing time with family and friends. You can't have the cake and eat it.
The mum was very worried when the daughter was offered a vet practice accommodation. She would save money on her accommodation which can be as much as A$700 as month in Australia. The practice would benefit its employees who need not be present overnight at the practice. The mum was so worried that she wanted to fly over to see the practice and Quantas Airways was offering cheap S$700 return fare for Easter.
"No," the daughter said. "I would be busy moving and besides, I needed to entertain my friends during this time." There seems to me to be not the right thing to do and I told the young girl accordingly. I found that the friends stayed in her place since they did not want to pay for hotel accommodation at A$90.00 a night. I mean, what is an additional person who loves you very much - the mum since you got to entertain friends for 3 days?
I guess the daughter was worried that the mum might embarass her. After all, she was an adult. But to mums, 20+ year girl is still a baby. So, she asked me to check out the vet practice. "What will I say about my relationship to this young girl if the principal ask me?" I said to the worrier. "Just tell him you are the Godfather."
That's how I became a Godfather although I am not Catholic. I have yet to meet the principal vet and have only 2 days left in Perth. I had seen the location of the vet practice some 3 days ago only at night. The impressive practice is a bungalow, located off the main road, at a corner of a side street. The street lights were bright and the road was clean. The neighbourhood of low rise houses and one apartment block appeared serene, with warm yellow lights in the apartment at 9 pm. It looked safe as there were no drug addicts or gangs roaming about. There was a brightly lit liquor shop across the road with no drunkards lurking about. I better not say anything about this store to the mum as it would cause her unnecessary worries. Maybe I should take a taxi and go and see the place in daylight myself. It is not as easy to take a cab as in Singapore. I should drive as most students have a car and I can borrow one. Time is short. The real Godfather with the actor Marlon Brando acting as the Godfather would just send in the lieutenants to check the place inside out. I need to be proactive.
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