378. Sunday Case. "My Jack Russell suddenly can't see"

I HOPE THIS REAL CASE WILL HELP THE 5TH YEAR VET STUDENT WITH THOUSANDS OF SUBJECTS TO REMEMBER AND BE EXAMINED BEFORE GRADUATION!

One look from my reception counter and I could see that this Jack Russell was suffering from Canine Lymphosarcoma. Some vets prefer to call it Canine Lymphoma. The two lumps of the size of ping-pong balls on the right and left lower jaws were too obvious to miss.

The owners were a young couple in their early 30s and an older woman and there was great emotions involved. The mum was distressed that the 8-year-old male Jack Russell walked into chairs and just could not see on this fine Sunday morning. Only the day before, the dog was zipping here and there when exercised outdoors. No accidents. No falls. No injuries. The dog just couldn't see! Why? What happened?

I decided to handle this case as the leading vet responsible for the outcome and together with my associate vet. Working as a team is a pleasure of veterinary medicine as we share our workload. I asked if she objected as she was on duty, but this was not her client. My associate said: "I am OK."

HISTORY
"What did Vet 1 say?" I asked when the owner showed me the report of a pre-scapular lymph node biopsy sent to the AVA lab.
"Vet 1 said that the AVA lab cannot confirm that the dog is suffering from lymphoma."

I read the report. It stated that it needed at least 2 biopsies from 2 lymph nodes and to relate to clinical signs. The presented biopsy cells could not confirm lymphoma.

So the owners must have concluded that the dog was not suffering from lymphoma!
No further treatment.

EYES
Blood inside both eyes preventing vision.
Note: In canine lymphoma, eye involved in 25% of cases). This can lead to bleeding within the eye, uveitis, glaucoma, retinal detachment and blindness.)

BLOOD TEST RESULTS OF DOG WITH LYMPHOMA OVER AT LEAST 1 MONTH
I was checking for infection (high WCC) or immune suppression (low WCC and platelets) or cancer (e.g. leukaemia with very high WCC), liver and kidney disorder.

Results are as follows:
Haemoglobin 13.9 (12-18)
Total WCC 11.8 (6-17)
Neutrophils 70.51 Abs 8.32
Lymphocytes 16.44 Abs 1.94
Monocytes 11.19 Abs 1.32
Eosinophils 0.09 Abs 0.01
Basophils 1.95 Abs 0.23

Red cell count 5.5 (5.5-8.5)
PCV 0.38 (0.37-0.55)
MCV 69 (60-77)
MCH 25 (20-25)
MCHC 36 (32-36)
RDW 14.1%

Platelets 90* (200-500). No platelet clumps seen.

LIVER PROFILE
ALT/SGPT 169 (<59) AST/SGOT 138 (<81) BONE/JOINT FUNCTION Calcium 2.58 (1.5 -3.6) Uric Acid 0.05 (<0.13) KIDNEY PROFILE Urea 8.3 (4.2 - 6.3) Creatinine 54 (89-177) WHAT STAGE OF LYMPHOMA IS THE DOG IN? I palpated the abdomen. There was mild anterior abdominal pain as the dog hunched but did not bite me. The liver and spleen were enlarged. The dog was eating and active. This is now Stage 4a (generalised lymph node involvement with liver or spleen involvement). It is developing into Stage 5a (Stage 4a with blood or bone marrow involvement - see low platelet counts in blood test but no anaemia or low white blood cells yet). Central nervous system involvement (bleeding in two eyes) but no seizures Guideline. Stage 5a means the dog is eating normally. Stage 5b means the dog is not eating. 4047 - 4049. Bleeding inside the eye in canine lymphoma. Blood test shows low platelet count WHAT THE OWNER ASKED ME 1. How long will the dog live without chemotherapy treatment? I said it would depend on which stage and infections. 2 months had been quoted in some reports. 2. How long will the dog live with chemotherapy? It depends on the disease and drugs. Remission (no enlarged lymph nodes) may be present for several months, prolonging the life of the dog. 3. Is there a permanent cure? No. 4. What's the cost? Varies with the type of treatment. Cost of blood monitoring. WHAT HAPPENED ON SUNDAY? There were free blood inside both eyes. The sclera were very red and from my experience the dog had rubbed his eyes vigorously due to pain in the abdomen. (From my cases of acute pancreatitis and reading other vet reports, the dog rubs his eyes to relieve his intense abdominal pain) causing bleeding. HOW DID I SOLVE THIS PROBLEM OF BLEEDING EYES AFFECTING VISION? 7 kg. BW. Domitor 0.1 ml, Ketamine 0.2 ml in one syringe IV. Dog stopped pacing and slept. Eye sclera became normal white (the owners could see this and were quite impressed). It is highly risky to give sedation in this situation. Give the lowest dose. Next day, the owner said the dog could see. The owner has to decide on whether to do chemotherapy.

376. Sunday case. No ringworm on post-purchase health check 3 weeks ago

INTERESTING CASES ON A SUNDAY
Sunday Mar 27, 2011

"My Jack Russell runs into chairs. He can't see today," I answered a phone call from a young lady on this unusually busy Sunday afternoon. "I wish to make an appointment." I usually don't work on Sunday afternoons and this was a bright sunshine day for photography. I have an associate vet on duty and that gives me time to smell the roses.

For some reasons, I decided to work this Sunday afternoon. The appointment system does not work in practice when patients bunch up their visits on Sunday afternoons. Some cases take longer (e.g minor surgery) and some patients don't come on time. The delays make several Singapore pet owners who come on time for their appointment very unhappy. The human medical hospitals have the same problem too. It is just not possible for the vet to see every patient punctually at the appointment time.

The best is no appointment. First come first served. But I prefer the appointment system as Toa Payoh Vets do perform surgeries even on Sundays.

So, on this particular Sunday afternoon, I skipped lunch and manned the reception counter to get a feel of the front-line phone calls and assess the waiting times. If my associate vet has to take some time in a case, I would step in. Otherwise, she would handle the cases as part of her working hours.

I usually arrive at 9.30 am on Sunday and weekday mornings to handle some cases while my associate comes at around 11 am. Sunday mornings seem to be quieter and I presume most Singaporeans are sleeping late or doing their own things.

At 10 am, a Caucasian couple in their late 30s came in with a cat. "My cat has ringworm and I also had ringworm," the lady said that she had her newly purchased cat examined 3 weeks ago by Vet 1 and was given a clear bill of health. Now she had ringworm and she diagnosed her cat with having ringworm.

I reviewed the medical record of Vet 1. I said: "There was a microscopic examination of the hairs and nothing abnormal was seen. It is possible that the ringworm takes time to develop and now 3 weeks later, the signs can be seen. The armpit and groin are big red circular patches of ringworm measuring at least 1 cm in diameter."

This is one of those post-purchase health-check for situations all vets will encounter. The animal is healthy at the time of examination to be free from signs and symptoms of contagious and infectious diseases. This must be stated in the form. In addition, I always draw the locations of the skin disease areas in the dog illustration in my case sheet and this is good practice so that the clients do not dispute that I have not checked the area and in cases of litigation.

As for Vet 1, the owner had complained to her about a small scab in the right armpit during her post-purchase examination 3 weeks ago. Vet 1 had checked it out by doing a microscopic examination of the hairs. No ringworm was reported by her.

Now, this is obviously a case of ringworm in the right armpit and groin area. The owner had now done her own diagnosis and she was spot on. "Ringworm can be transmitted from people to cats," I said. "It is not possible. I don't have ringworm before I purchased this cat 3 weeks ago. My kitten had a scab in the right armpit 3 weeks ago when I bought the cat to Vet 1."

The complainant was a lawyer by profession and it seemed she had evidence in her favour if this case goes to court. After all, she was a lawyer in a high flying firm and she can sue for failure to diagnose ringworm. The case for the defendant vet would be that she had done a competent job as what had been reasonably expected from a vet. This was the microscopic examination of the scab in the right armpit.

As Vet 1 did not record the location of the hairs she had taken for microscopic examination, I asked the lady owner.

When I asked the lady where the vet had plucked hairs for microscopic examination, she lifted the hairs from the spinal area indicating this area. This area was free from any skin disease!

Yet she told me she had complained about the scab in the right armpit area to Vet 1. So this would naturally be the area the vet had checked.

It is important for the vet to record in writing or by illustration or both locations of skin diseases.

As for this case, the treatment was the standard. I advised clipping of all hairs from the cat as there seems to be a generalised ringworm of the ventral part.

The lady did not want it and this was OK with me. If I had not advised and ringworm grows in the upper part of the body later (due to vigorous brushing and contamination of the upper body), I would suffer the same unhappiness of the owner.

"It is not nice to see a bald cat. I advise that the lower body of the cat be clipped bald so that you can apply the anti-fungal wash directly and then rinse off that infected skin area. The cat dislikes the whole body shampooing of the anti-fungal wash as there is a strong medicine smell."

The lady agreed to the lower body clipping and bathing and I advised her how to give the oral anti-fungal medication and to let me know if the cat had reactions to the drug.

One consultation would make an owner very happy as owners don't like repeat visits for ringworm! Happy owners usually are loyal clients. Therefore, be vigilant of a small scab in the armpit of the kitten, cat, puppy or dog during post-purchase examinations!

TIPS
POST-PURCHASE HEALTH CHECK
Ringworm may appear as a scab of 2 mm. I would advise that the area be thoroughly clipped and exposed. Then give it a wash and prescribe anti-ringworm wash. A microscopic examination negative for ringworm does NOT mean there is no ringworm. Veterinary medicine is always full of surprises.

PS
As for the Jack Russell that suddenly can't see, I will write the story in another report as it is 6.31 am on this Tuesday morning and I need to do other things.

375. Sunday Case. Informed Decisions in veterinary medicine compared to real estate

Yesterday, Sunday, Mar 28, 2011, I saw the owner of the one-nose sneezing Miniature Schnauzer with his dog coming in for consultation with Dr Vanessa. I was present at Toa Payoh Vets from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm to help out and ensure that clients don't have to wait too long to consult Dr Vanessa who handles almost 100% of the caseload daily during her work hours. I would handle a case to shorten the waiting time on Sunday or if the client insists on seeing me.

The appointment system in human or veterinary medicine is not really efficient as clients don't come on time and vets can't complete cases on time too. Clients who make appointments and come on time may need to wait and they get angry.

I can't help them. Much depends on the complexity of the case and the number of clients and the need to force those without appointments to wait till the end of the day or to get lost as was a complaint to me by one client who went to a Chua Chu Kang practice without appointment! That is also not good for new clientele.

Now that I was stationed at the reception counter, I could see that some clients were quite annoyed at coming on time but having to wait. Yesterday was a busy Sunday for some reasons and I skipped lunch. My assistant Mr Saw needs to go out for lunch as his stomach cannot skip meals and so I manned the receptionist counter when he went for lunch. I would still be at the receptionist counter but Mr Saw would handle the payment if he was around. In this way, I could feel the pulse of the waiting room and supervise the associate vet as a licensee responsible for my licence to operate a veterinary clinic.

Some vets issue a ticket number and make sure that clients with no appointments are attended to last. But this is not practical as there are clients with appointments coming late.

3 incidents on this Sunday were memorable. I shall mention one here as I have not much time this Monday morning 7.28 am.

This was a matter related to INFORMED DECISIONS as related to real estate and veterinary medicine and I shall show the comparisons. I am studying the REA course (minimum 75% attendance at class of 12 weeks, 3x/week) which, if I pass will license me to be a KEO (Key Executive Officer) of www.asiahomes.com. In other words, a licensee to operate a real estate agency. Presently all vets with over a year of practice experience (supervision) can become a KEO or licensee when they want to open their own veterinary clinic or hospital. No exams are required. To be a KEO of a housing agency, the person must have 3 years of experience and handles at least 30 real estate cases. If not, he just become a salesperson after passing the RES examinations.

INFORMED DECISIONS IN REAL ESTATE
In real estate, the URA has mandated that the developers do the following:
1. Developers to issue price listings 2 days before a property launch. A price list 2 days before a property launch.
2. Developers to issue transacted prices weekly (compared to 2-6 weeks previously). Weekly transacted price list.
3. Developers to give accurate depictions of show flats (compared to fanciful and incorrect floor areas, knocked down walls to con the buyers).
4. URA extends control over web advertisements of developers.
I may get an exam question about the above in the REA exam in late May 2011!
INFORMED DECISIONS IN VETERINARY MEDICINE
1. Vets to issue a price list of common operations and procedures. This is mandated by the AVA. A list is displayed on the reception area. But no need to issue price list 2 days before the operation or consultation!

2. Vets don't have to show a price list weekly as regards new operations! A quotation is usually given by me.

3. Vets don't have to give accurate depictions of surgeries to be done! I do some illustrations and drawings of certain operations or refer some clients to my www.toapayohvets.com webpages for those operations so as to give them INFORMED DECISIONS.

4. Web advertisements by vets? This is a matter that is being studied by the AVA to the best of my knowledge. There is the code of ethics which the AVA may adopt from the SVA but I don't have the full details yet.
CONCLUSION
Informed decisions are the best way to build up the trust of the client. In the case of the one-nose sneezing Schnauzer, the owner first consulted me in Nov 2009 after he had been to a brand-name vet practice which had been too expensive for him. He had been to Toa Payoh Vets around once in 2 months to treat the sneezing or runny nose (one-sided).

I said to him yesterday again: "You know, a surgery to remove the infected fungal lump at the back of the nose will most likely resolve your dog's problem." He and his wife did not want the operation and after some days of anti-fungal drugs, the dog would recover. Then the dog would sneeze and a one-side runny nostril would be present. The brand name vet had quoted $4,000 for the surgery. In any case, his wife did not want the surgery and so, the dog comes in every 2 months from November 2009 to yesterday Mar 28, 2011.

I had given him an informed decision. It is up to the owners to decide. There is danger of the dog dying or getting infected from the surgery to open up the back of the nose and extract the fungal lump (seen on the X-ray from the brand-name Vet practice in Nov 2009) in one nostril.

Since he was well informed about the outcome without surgery, there would be no animosity or complaint should the dog fail to recover after some time on medical treatment as the fungal or nasal growth becomes enlarged. So far, he is satisfied and happy with treatment from my associate vet. I am happy for him too. For best practice, I ought to write down in the case sheet that I had spoken to him about the prognosis and surgical treatment.
.

Consumer rights websites in Singapore

Straits Times Mar 20, 2011
"Click and gripe" Hot 5

All Deals Leak, Redress.me and Boo-n-Bouquet (blog) champion Singapore's consumer rights. The Consumer Association of Singapore CASE is the main official channel for Singaporean complaints but it is quite a hassle to write to them. Now with these online service and product consumer rights websites that are not worried about being sued by the affected parties as they permit two sides of the story and also it is costly and impossible to get adverse posts removed, many service providers will receive bad publicity for services not up to expectations.

IMPLICATIONS FOR VETERINARIANS
I don't go around reading such websites and blogs although I have had seen one or two bad reviews of services of Toa Payoh Vets in a pet website called www.petschannel.com

This pet website just publishes all complaints and ratings. Competitors could just publish with impunity. The website just publish "Any opinions expressed are those of the individual reviewers. See disclaimer statement."

RIGHT OF REPLY
However one of the 3 above online posts say they e-mail the affected party and publish their replies.

PREVENTION
Prevention is best and as a licensee of Toa Payoh Vets, I have to ensure and check that my associate vets provide the standard of services expected from a "reasonable" man. It is just too much time consuming to surf the internet to read about complaints although they are excellent feedback to improve my veterinary services and care.

ANONYMOUS POSTINGS. There is much more power to the consumer since the one posting the complaints usually are anonymous.

One brand name vet practice had postings saying that their vets are bad and that their dogs die during treatment or anaesthesia there. Another reader would write to say he or she has better not go to this practice. "What is the name of the vet or the practice?" another writer would ask.

Sometimes I wonder whether it is the work of the competitors to run down the other party.

UPDATES AS AT MAR 28, 2011
I just log onto www.petschannel.com now at 3.46 am since I am writing this article on consumer rights online. I had not been to this website for several months. Some years ago, it publishes the good and bad comments of going to various vet clinics listed in this website. Now, it wants money from vet owners to write about the business and publish all members' reviews without limit.

I don't subscribe to this service and I note most of my competitors don't bother to do so.

As at Mar 28, 2011, Toa Payoh Vets has 15 reviews written.

I was surprised to read the latest two reviews (part published) by jologflg on Jan 10, 2011 and by samanthayap on Nov 10, 2010.

1. For jologflg, I can see his photo and he is a genuine client. He published in Jan 10, 2011 in Shoppe Place reviews as follows:

5 stars shown. Jan 10, 2011. Toa Payoh Vets>>Dr Sing-experienced, treats disease ot symptoms, good surgeon (2 ne...

If you click on the hyperlink above, you will get no more info as I don't pay to this website to get full reviews!

2. For samanthayap, there is a graphic photo of a young lady. In the Shoppe Place reviews, she wrote as follows:

4 stars shown. Nov 10, 2010. Toa Payoh Vets >>Dr Vanessa attended to me today and I would say, she's friendly and ca...

Well, since I didn't pay up, I can't read what the lady who has a picture of Hammie born Oct 2010 say about Dr Vanessa!

It is just like reading the opening paragraph of a page-turning novel. You got to buy it to know what is going to happen next! Well, I don't know as I don't subscribe to this website to get the good and the bad reviews!

The website used to give marks using a formula for reliability, frequency of postings etc. Since I don't pay, I don't get the grades. It is just too time-consuming to surf to consumer rights websites unless one has a lot of staff but they exist and so the vets must provide the best service and be street-wise as well. You don't want to end up with one comment about a competitor in this website. The comment is as follows:

2.5 stars. Mar 2, 2011>>XXX (name listed)>>I urge all of you not to go to thi...

CONCLUSION
The above can be a lesson in good writing. When you write a resume or look for a publisher, your cover letter should have a good "hook" to catch the reader's attention and consider reading your letter or buy your book.

373. Continuing education - Veterinary Anaesthesia - sharing tips

The following tips from fellow vets were given to me at the Veterinary anaesthesia continuing education of Mar 26, 2011 by Dr Kieren Maddern, European Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia:


1. INJECTABLE ANAESTHESIA from a practice in Malacca.
According to the vet who runs a practice in Malacca, the UPM professors had been using the following formula safely and effectively for the past 15 years. He had been using it for the past 10 years.

1.1
Zoletil 100 (don't use the diluent provided).
Add in the bottle 8 ml of ketamine
Add in the bottle 2 ml of xylazine
Dose: 0.04ml/kg IM. 0.03ml/kg very slow IV.
Use isoflurane gas if needed or top up 1/2 to 1/3 dose IM when the dog wakes up.

1.2
Zoletil 50 (don't use the diluent provided).
Add in the bottle 4 ml of ketamine
Add in the bottle 1 ml of xylazine
Dose: 0.04ml/kg IM. 0.03ml/kg very slow IV.
Use isoflurane gas if needed or top up 1/2 to 1/3 dose IM when the dog wakes up.

1.3 For CATS
Be careful. Use the IV dosage for IM injection. That is 0.093 ml/kg for IM.
Top up if necessary.

Zoletil is an expensive drug and therefore the above combinations is less expensive and effective and safer.


2. Lecturer's tips
Ketamine & ACP - excellent for cats. Ketamine alone makes the cat's body
rigid. Seldom use atropine (makes throat dry).

3. A Singapore's vet's tips
Xyalzine + Atropine + Ketamine. Then use isoflurane gas.

Each vet has is own method. If he uses new drugs e.g. N2O, the dog may die.

372. Continuing education - Veterinary Anaesthesia & tarsorrhapy advice

Yesterday, Saturday March 27, 2011, I attended a continuing education lecture by a veterinary anaesthesia specialist, Dr Kieren Maddern, BVSc (Hons), MACVSc, Dip ECVAA, European Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia. The topic was "Overcoming the odds - Anaesthesia for difficult situations."

It was a very well attended lecture - some 70 people there. An excellent lecture. I caught up with a senior vet who has done a few thousand dog and cat surgeries over the last 40 years and asked his advices about young vets referring corneal ulcer cases to other practices.

He said: "The young vet may find that it is a difficult case or that the owners are the type liable to sue. So, just refer the case out. Or the young vet thinks that you can't do the surgery! He or she does not usually ask for advice but just refer!

"When the case goes from Toa Payoh Vets to the other vet, the other vet will just laugh and say 'Dr Sing does not even know how to operate a simple corneal ulcer case! What's wrong with him?' Maybe you should give instructions that all cases that your younger vets want to refer to others should go through you!"

I was not alone in having this problem of the younger vets doing their own thing without consulting the senior vets in the practice.

The senior vet told me: "Tarsorrhapy is very effective in corneal ulcer cases. Even in cases where the eyeball collapses. Just sew up the two eyelids and the outcome is usually very good. I find that the eyeball is seldom infected even with perforated ulcers."

I listened attentively for the free advice. The senior vet is 5 years older than me just in case but he puts in the very long hours and do the after hours emergencies. High energy and therefore he has more caseload experiences.

"By the way, how do you treat corneal ulcers in the dog?" my mentor asked.

"I am more kiasu," I said. "I do the 3rd eyelid flap and tarsorrhapy." Not all the time, but sometimes.

The pictures of my case in a Jack Russell are shown below.

371. Studying vet in the USA after A levels? Not possible?

Dr Sing Kong Yuen

Dear Sir,

I am involved with recruitment for the Freeman Scholarship Program at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut in the US. We did a recruitment session recently for our finalists. One is a lady with a strong interest in becoming a veterinarian.

I believe we are badly-positioned to help her realize her dreams. Specifically, vet schools in the US are graduate programs, requiring the applicant first complete four years of undergraduate study …. Then take the MCAT exams and go through the entire school admissions process again!

I suggested to her school systems that work on the British system, such as Glasgow. I also suggested the AVA scholarship program. I noted from your website that you attended Glasgow on the Colombo Plan, served with the SAF Provost Dog Unit, tended race horses for the Bukit Timah Club, started your own clinic, and are now headed into happy retirement.

You have walked the path that she is considering. Might you have a moment to take a call from her and give her the wisdom that comes from real experience?

I am an ex-infantry officer who spent his life as a civil engineer building prisons, police compounds and the coastal barrier for the Singapore government. My ability to guide her is terribly limited.

Thank you so much for any help you can give.


With best regards,
Name given


REPLY FROM DR SING DATED MAR 24, 2011


Hi

Thank you for your email. I can always spare more than a few minutes to meet one-on-one to the young lady who wants to be a veterinarian. Phone calls are a waste of time if the persons are sincerely interested in knowing more about veterinary medicine and surgery. During the meeting, I can assess whether the young lady is really passionate about veterinary medicine and surgery. Phone calls and text messages and emails are preferred by the younger generation who don't have the real interests or passion and merely wants to go fishing.

Let me know as soon as possible. I don't know where you get the impression that I am into "happy retirement". I have an associate veterinarian who is younger and takes care of many of my old clientele as there is insufficient rooms for 2 vets at any one time. I still consult and yesterday I spayed a Fox Terrier as the owner wanted me to do it. I am even busier than before in veterinary medicine, travel and real estate.

I hope we can meet one day and not just e-mail. Best wishes.




E-MAIL FROM DR SING DATED MAR 25, 2011
To: ....
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2011 12:44 AM
Subject: Re: Fw: For Dr Sing Kong Yuen

Hi

Yesterday, I told a prospective intern who had straight As (except one B) in her A levels to go home since she could not work the hours required of an intern. Her father had objected to her working "long hours" and she had phoned me yesterday wanting to negotiate to shorter hours. This young lady, about to venture overseas to study in the U.S and accepted by US vet school is still tied to the apron's strings. Can excellent "A" level results open a place to study vet medicine in US universities as apparently is the case in this lady.

REPLY TO DR SING DATED MAR 26, 2011


Dear Dr. Sing,

Thank you very much for taking so much time with me.

What that perspective/rejected intern told you does not make sense to me. I pulled the below off the Veterinary Medical College Application Service website:


Major- Choose a major in an area that interests you. You do not have to be a science major to go to osteopathic medical school. However, you must complete certain course requirements. Most osteopathic medical schools require the same courses as allopathic medical schools, listed below:

1 year of physics with lab
1 year of general chemistry with lab
1 year of organic chemistry with lab
1 year of biology with lab
1 year of english

Requirements do vary between schools. Many schools require biochemistry and genetics in addition .



As you can see, the American system requires one to take a four year undergraduate liberal arts curriculum before they even apply to vet school.

Might that prospective intern have been mistaken in her assumption she could apply directly to an American vet school?


P.S
On your second query: No I have never met Gerald of .... Properties! I train with a guy named Gerald at the NUSS gym, but I believe he is a teacher.

I am actually ex-US Army and ex-civil engineer (retired).

I was involved in a recruitment exercise for my old university held down in the (location given).

We got the usual collection of arts-stream types who all want to be writers or artists. But we got one applicant who stood out; this lady was math/science, wanted to be a vet, and seemed to have her priorities straight.

Our admissions officer made some ... comments about this student's career plans (apparently they wanted her to study political science!).

I had an ugly confrontation with the admissions officer after the meeting, then I went on the computer and started googling information on proper vet programs and veterinary career paths.

Your name stuck with me because you had been commander & veterinary officer of guard & tracker dogs with the Provost Guard Dog Unit. I also noted you had worked with race horses at Bukit Timah and now had your own clinic. You had been a government scholar.

I wrote you because you had the right background. I can tell this student not to waste her time with political science. But only you can set her on the right path.

If you have a moment, I can bring her by your clinic. She wrote me asking whether next Tuesday would be okay. If that day is convenient, I will bring her to:
Block 1002, Toa Payoh Lorong 8
#01-1477

Just let me know what time is convenient.

I will disappear during the meeting and you will be free to give her the good, the bad, and the ugly of her career choice.

Thanks so much.

Name given


-----------------
UPDATE MAR 27, 2011 FROM Dr Sing
Will meet prospective vet student on next Tues Mar 29, 2011 11 am at Toa Payoh Vets