4043. VET CASE. PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS: A non-healing ear ulcer in an old cat.

VET CASE. PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS:  A non-healing ear ulcer in an old cat. 

Good photos are very important in a veterinary case study. Case studies are actually stories about veterinary events to be shared with people such as pet owners and veterinarians. 

However, better photos will enhance your story by eliciting interest in the viewer. Many vets are not aware of the need to present better photos. 

I share the following example of a photo of a vet case of a cat taken by a vet using iPhone 16.  The problem with this photo is that it is too closely cropped such that the average viewer or lay person does not know what it is.  

I share the following 3 tips:  

 

1. CLOSELY CROPPED IMAGE. The average viewer is unlikely to be good at anatomy of the cat. He will not know what the closely cropped image is about, without text explanations. It is an ulcerated ear of a cat.There should be more margins so that the photo can be closely cropped if necessary.

2. GENERAL VIEW OF THE ULCERATED EAR. The photo should have a general view of the EAR AND EYE if it is the sole photo taken. 

3. PORTRAIT OF THE CAT. This is useful as the viewer can see that the cat has no other lesions. It is best to put the cat on the table top for photography. Side view, front and back views.

 

The above 3 tips may apply to general photography too. 

 

EXAMPLE FROM DR SING KONG YUEN.
If only one photo is taken to show the lesion, take a wider view as in my example of a boy born with a birth mark in his hand.

 

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VIDEO PRODUCTION.
VET CASE. Expanding right ear skin ulcer in a cat in Myanmar

9-year-old male Domestic Short Haired cat.
Non-healing ulcer in the right ear for over a month.
Ulcer expanded over time. Dr Thet Hmue Kyaw from
a Yangon vet clinic was consulted. He suspected skin cancer
tumour such as squamous cell carcinoma.

Owner rejected his advice to amputate the right ear. Surgical

costs estimated to be 250,000 Myanmar kyats or USD 119
whereas consultation fee was 7,000 mmk. 

TESTS TO BE DONE:

1. FNAC. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology. Need laboratory examination of aspirated cells to confirm
whether the lesion is cancerous or not. 

2. Biopsy and histopathology.
Biopsy of the ear ulcer is more expensive. Need histopathology of lesion to confirm - ear portion sent

to lab for histopathology
after surgical removal. 

CONSEQUENCES OF NOT CONSENTING TO SURGICAL REMOVAL OF THE 

EAR SKIN CANCER

Spread of cancerous cell to vertical ear canal, bleeding, smelly discharge and death from 
bacterial infections and sepsis.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Dr Thet Hmue Kyaw for collaboration with
Dr Sing Kong Yuen of Toa Payoh Vets in this case study.

Date of report by Dr Sing Kong Yuen: 7 Sep 2025.

 

UPDATE:

https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2025/08/4043-vet-case-photography-tips-non.html

TO BUY PHOTO:

www.shutterstock.com/g/toapayohvets

 


 

 

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4042. PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS: Rule of thirds

 

 

 Use the rule of thirds to make your photo more interesting as in above image.

 

 

 

 Original image. The sun is below the 1/3 line of the frame. Hence the photo does not look as interesting as the one above, generally. Sometimes the rule of third is broken if the image will look great.

 

 

 

 

4041: Vet Case Study: Gigantic hamster chest tumour. Time is of the essence

Vet Case Study: Gigantic hamster chest tumour. Time is of the essence

This gigantic railway station clock in Beijing Railway Station seen by me during my China travel reminded me
of a hamster veterinary case where time is of the essence. What do I mean?

Time is of the essence. It means there is an urgent need to act quickly to avoid negative consequences. This 2-year-old female dwarf hamster is a pet.

She is family. When she developed a small chest tumour, the owner did not seek vet treatment urgently.
Delays caused the chest tumour to grow to a gigantic size, as big as her head. The veterinary costs of anaesthesia and surgery increased much more than if she was operated at an early stage.

This video shows an uncommon successful of the anaesthesia and surgery after the removal of a gigantic chest tumour. This was a very high risk anaesthesia case as the gigantic tumour needed a lengthy surgery and increased the risk of dying on the operating table.

The veterinary costs to remove a gigantic chest tumour is much more and the risk of the hamster dying on the operating table is very high. The owner consented to the anaesthesia and surgery.

Get tumour excised by your vet when it is small. There is no guarantee that the hamster with such a gigantic chest tumour will survive the lengthy anaesthesia. This hamster survived but not every one will.

In conclusion, time is of the essence when your hamster has a small tumour.  Seek early veterinary treatment. Costs will be much lower and the risk of dying on the operating table will be very low.  

Thank you for watching.

MORE EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS AT:
www.youtube.com/c/99pups

TO BUY STOCK PHOTOS:
www.shutterstock.com/g/toapayohvets - PHOTO:  CHINA - 3 MAR 2024: One of two large Polaris clocks in a tower is present outside the fringe of the exit of the Beijing West Railway Station. It looks like a vintage clock from the 1990s.

UPDATE:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2025/08/4038-photography-tips-large-clocks-in.html

4040. iPHONE 15 Pro Khoo Teck Puat Hospital

SINGAPORE -21 AUG 2025: 8am. The floor to ceiling louvred window of Ward 52A Room 4, Tower A, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital,  provides abundant natural daylight and lush greenery, promoting mental wellness. 

 

iPhone 15 Pro

 

 iPhone 13 Pro image

 

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5 Dec 2025   11.54am

tripod.  Canon R5 53mm, 1/400 sec, f/4, iso 100,  tv

Reflections of KTPH on Yishun Pond.

 

 

 

 

 

 

4039. VET CASE. A 6-year-old red-eared slider 'barks'.

TELE-CONSULTATION WITH DR SING KONG YUEN.

18 Aug 2025.

Hi doctor, my terrapin just made this sound. I didn't manage to get a recording in time, but found a similar sound on youtube. Is this cause for concern?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wAoDPWExdDU

Dr Sing:  If she is not producing the sounds frequently, no worries. I could not hear her sounds in your video. 

It is a croaking sound. You'll need to turn up the volume.

Dr Sing: I heard it. If appetite is good, not to worry.

Her appetite isn't good. We moved her to a relative's place yesterday so that they can look after her while we are on holiday. My relative informed me this morning that she had no appetite and hardly ate anything
Is this just stress from moving her to a new house?

Dr Sing: Stress is present when there is a new environment
Wait for a day

21 Aug 2025.

Dr Sing: Good morning. Has your slider recovered from throat sounds and is eating now?

The slider is doing better now. More relaxed, willing to eat, and making less of those barking sounds
The last time she barked was 2 nights ago, when she woke up in the middle of the night, walked around the room for a bit, then went back to sleep. 

 

UPDATE:

 https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2025/08/4039-vet-case-6-year-old-red-eared.html

 

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The slider laid two eggs on the apartment floor overnight on 15 August 2025 for the first time. She weighs 1.17 kg. 6 months old.

 

 Her food was pellets

 

 

 

 Other videos:

 

 

4037. RELIGION: Alms round - Nuns in Myanmar

Is Alms Round held once a year? 
Yes sir, it is held after Myanmar new year Thingyan festival.

 

Flags are “Buddhist flags” used as a symbol of faith and peace. It is used in every Buddhism events. It was first designed in Sri Lanka in 1885 by an American theosophist, Colonel Henry Steel Olcott.

 

 What are text on the gong?

 Names of the people who donate that gong

 

LOCATION:
 Location is Shwedaung township, West Bago region.

 

 

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In Myanmar, the alms round (Pindapata) is a daily practice where Buddhist monks and nuns walk through communities, collecting food offerings from laypeople. This practice is a cornerstone of Myanmar's Theravada Buddhist culture, symbolizing the interdependence between the monastic and lay communities. Monks and nuns rely on the generosity of the people for their daily sustenance, while the laity, in turn, gain merit (good karma) by offering food and other necessities. 

Significance of the Alms Round:

• Reliance on the Community:

  The alms round emphasizes the monks' and nuns' dependence on the lay community for their basic needs, fostering a sense of interconnectedness. 
• Merit Making:

  Giving alms is a way for the laity to accumulate merit, which is believed to bring good fortune and blessings in this life and future lives. 
• Preservation of Buddhism:

  The alms round supports the monastic community and the continuation of Buddhist teachings and practices. 
• Daily Ritual:

  In Myanmar, the alms round is a daily ritual, often occurring early in the morning, with monks and nuns walking through neighborhoods in a specific pattern. 
• Social Interaction:

  While primarily a religious practice, the alms round also provides opportunities for social interaction between monks/nuns and the lay community, strengthening the bonds of the religious community. 

Symbolism and Practice:

• Humility:

  Monks and nuns walk barefoot and with a humble demeanor during the alms round, signifying their detachment from worldly possessions. 
• Respect:

  The laity show respect by offering food and other necessities with reverence. 
• Gratitude:

  Monks and nuns express gratitude for the offerings, acknowledging the generosity of the donors. 
• Reciprocity:

  The alms round is a reciprocal relationship, where the monks and nuns offer blessings and spiritual guidance in return for the support they receive. 

Challenges and Changes:

• Economic Hardship:

  In recent times, Myanmar has faced economic challenges, which have impacted the availability of food for the alms round, according to Insight Myanmar.
• Impact of Conflict:

  The ongoing conflict and instability have also disrupted the alms round, with some communities facing difficulties in providing for the monks and nuns.
• Adaptations:

  Some monasteries and communities have adapted by organizing specific almsgiving days or seeking support from larger organizations to ensure the monks and nuns receive adequate sustenance, according to Insight Myanmar. 

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

4036. PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS. 200-800mm lens. Bird photography

 Javan Mynah, Singapore

Canon R6, 200-800mm lens, tv mode

800mm, 1/1000 sec, f/10, ISO 640. Brian Peck

 

 Good morning to all. A big thank you to Brian Peck for this photo. The 200-800 zooms lens is needed to take this photo. Also the experience due to years of practice.  The Javan Mynah in Singapore dominates the urban areas. The previously common Common Mynah is almost extinct now.

The Javan Mynah adapts to any environment including garbage food and food courts. Nettings in the Chinatown food court have had to be put up to prevent it from scavenging. Now, the "return food tray" regulation will have cut off its food supply.

No matter how adaptable, its numbers in the parks have had been considerably reduced to a handful at any one time. The government has had used pest control companies to exterminate it. Hence, Man is the top predator of the Javan and Common mynahs in Singapore.