"Very smelly flow of blood and pus from the below for over 2 weeks," the man in his late 30s told me. "I sent it to my vet (Vet 1) I trust, but he did not want to operate. He referred me to XXX (a brand-name vet surgery) but the vet fees would cost me more --- two thousand dollars. So, I checked out the internet and came to you."
The 9-year-old dog was no longer able to stand as there was at least 2 weeks of delay and the dog was not eating. Blood tests showed kidney disorder as well as high white cell count.
"How much is your operation fee?" the father asked me as I reviewed the dog's case with him and his son.
"$500," I do give discount to pet owners who are in need of lower vet fees for a pyometra surgery. Usually it would be nearer to $800 for the anaesthesia and surgery, excluding IV drips, medication and hospitalisation. There is no means testing in Singapore but this case appears to have been delayed considerably due to financial reasons.
"Can you reduce it?" the father asked me.
"It is as low as I can give to you," I replied. "This is not the normal cost. It would be around $800 - $1,000."
"However, you must know that the dog has around 40% chances of survival since she is very ill due to delays in seeking veterinary surgery." I had to be frank with the owners.
As I am responsible for the reputation Toa Payoh Vets, it is my duty to make sure that my associate vet handling this case do provide this risk assessment to the owner and not just to operate. If the dog dies, the owner will still be angry as he has to pay the bills when the outcome is not good. So I told my associate vet that I had given the 40% chances of survival to the owner and that the owner must be informed accordingly.
Any other options? I did not suggest euthanasia. The father said: "Since it is not 50:50, I will want the dog to be put to sleep."
If the dog had been operated 2 weeks ago by Vet 1, the chances of survival are very good. Unfortunately, the family vet did not want to operate on big dogs. I know Vet 1 always refers difficult cases to a brand-name veterinary surgery as a routine over the past century, without considering that his clients may not be able to afford the "Mount Elizabeth Hospital" type of fees. So some of his clients seek other practices.
Vets must understand their clients' financial situation and do what is good for them and their pets. A dog's life that could be saved was lost due to Vet 1's one-track mind to refer all cases to this brand-name veterinary surgery, on the erroneous assumption that he or she would not lose their clients as this brand-name surgery would not poach his clients.
In my opinion, once you refer to other vets, it is likely that you lose your client. Maybe, the client can't afford the brand-name veterinary surgery the second time and so you presume the client will return to you.
Why not find out what is the financial situation of your client, network with some vets who can perform the surgery competently but at "affordable" cost, get the quotations for your client. In this way, your service will be considered excellent. You will gain the gratitude and retain the loyalty of the client who has had used your services for many years? It is most likely your client will come back to you as he has had been doing for years.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
442. Vaccination queries from a Singapore girl
E-MAIL TO DR SING DATE MAY 5, 2011
2011/5/13...@hotmail.com>
To whom it may concern,
My name is ... and I am interested in keeping a dog. I understand that vaccinations against various infectious viruses and diseases are necessary for a puppy. I am also aware that the first vaccination should be administered at 6weeks old and the 2nd vaccination at least 1 week apart from the first vaccination.
I am Dr Sing from Toa Payoh Vets, www.toapayohvets.com. My reply is in CAPITAL LETTERS below.
FIRST VACCINATION CAN BE GIVEN AT 8 WEEKS IF THE PUPPY IS NOT IN A HIGH RISK ENVIRONMENT AND THEREFORE EXPOSED TO VIRAL INFECTIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, IN A DOG BREEDING FARM, I ADVISE 6 WEEKS TO VACCINATE.
THE INTERVAL BETWEEN VACCINATION 1 AND 2 WILL BE 3 WEEKS APART ACCORDING TO THE VACCINE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS IN ONE BRAND. GENERALLY SINGAPORE VETS ADVISE 4 WEEKS' INTERVAL.
I would like to enquire about the 8-in-one and 9-in one vaccinations. Are they suitable for puppies for their 1st and 2nd vaccination, or are they meant for yearly vaccinations ? THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES AVAILABLE AND APPROVED IN SINGAPORE. THEY HAVE BEEN USED IN lst and 2nd vaccinations with relatively very few deaths of puppies after vaccination in puppies at 6 weeks of age.
Also, would it be advisable to buy a puppy from a pet farm (say, in Pasir Ris) as compared to a normal pet shop (since the pets there would have already been vaccinated)?
IN MY OPINION, IT IS BEST FROM A TECHNICAL POINT OF VIEW, TO BUY A PUPPY 2 WEEKS AFTER THE SECOND/THIRD VACCINATION BUT THEY ARE NOT THAT CUTE AS THEY WILL BE OVER 3 MONTHS OF AGE. THEREFORE, IT CAN BE EITHER FROM A PET SHOP OR FROM A PET FARM.
IN ANY CASE, IN 2011, I WOULD SAY THAT ALMOST ALL PET SHOPS IN SINGAPORE GET THEIR PUPPIES SUPPLIED BY THE DOG BREEDING FARMS OR IMPORTED FROM AUSTRALIA NOWADAYS. YOU MAY BE ABLE TO BUY SOME PUPPIES FROM THE "ENDANGERED" HOME-BREEDERS BUT THE CHOICE OF BREED IS LIMITED.
I appreciate your time in reading and answering my queries.
IT IS INTERESTING TO GET QUESTIONS FROM THE PROSPECTIVE PUPPY BUYER'S SITUATION.
Thank you(:
Name
E-MAIL TO DR SING DATE MAY 12, 2011
Dr Sing,
Thank you for clearing my doubts. It helped me in deciding if I should get a really young dog around 2months plus. I was pretty worried. "Cuteness" isn't a big issue as long as the puppy is healthy (:
Thanks a lot again !
2011/5/13...@hotmail.com>
To whom it may concern,
My name is ... and I am interested in keeping a dog. I understand that vaccinations against various infectious viruses and diseases are necessary for a puppy. I am also aware that the first vaccination should be administered at 6weeks old and the 2nd vaccination at least 1 week apart from the first vaccination.
I am Dr Sing from Toa Payoh Vets, www.toapayohvets.com. My reply is in CAPITAL LETTERS below.
FIRST VACCINATION CAN BE GIVEN AT 8 WEEKS IF THE PUPPY IS NOT IN A HIGH RISK ENVIRONMENT AND THEREFORE EXPOSED TO VIRAL INFECTIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, IN A DOG BREEDING FARM, I ADVISE 6 WEEKS TO VACCINATE.
THE INTERVAL BETWEEN VACCINATION 1 AND 2 WILL BE 3 WEEKS APART ACCORDING TO THE VACCINE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS IN ONE BRAND. GENERALLY SINGAPORE VETS ADVISE 4 WEEKS' INTERVAL.
I would like to enquire about the 8-in-one and 9-in one vaccinations. Are they suitable for puppies for their 1st and 2nd vaccination, or are they meant for yearly vaccinations ? THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES AVAILABLE AND APPROVED IN SINGAPORE. THEY HAVE BEEN USED IN lst and 2nd vaccinations with relatively very few deaths of puppies after vaccination in puppies at 6 weeks of age.
Also, would it be advisable to buy a puppy from a pet farm (say, in Pasir Ris) as compared to a normal pet shop (since the pets there would have already been vaccinated)?
IN MY OPINION, IT IS BEST FROM A TECHNICAL POINT OF VIEW, TO BUY A PUPPY 2 WEEKS AFTER THE SECOND/THIRD VACCINATION BUT THEY ARE NOT THAT CUTE AS THEY WILL BE OVER 3 MONTHS OF AGE. THEREFORE, IT CAN BE EITHER FROM A PET SHOP OR FROM A PET FARM.
IN ANY CASE, IN 2011, I WOULD SAY THAT ALMOST ALL PET SHOPS IN SINGAPORE GET THEIR PUPPIES SUPPLIED BY THE DOG BREEDING FARMS OR IMPORTED FROM AUSTRALIA NOWADAYS. YOU MAY BE ABLE TO BUY SOME PUPPIES FROM THE "ENDANGERED" HOME-BREEDERS BUT THE CHOICE OF BREED IS LIMITED.
I appreciate your time in reading and answering my queries.
IT IS INTERESTING TO GET QUESTIONS FROM THE PROSPECTIVE PUPPY BUYER'S SITUATION.
Thank you(:
Name
E-MAIL TO DR SING DATE MAY 12, 2011
Dr Sing,
Thank you for clearing my doubts. It helped me in deciding if I should get a really young dog around 2months plus. I was pretty worried. "Cuteness" isn't a big issue as long as the puppy is healthy (:
Thanks a lot again !
Thursday, May 12, 2011
HDB flats
As the high cost of HDB flats has been a hot potato in the Singapore General Elections 2011, I will be writing some info about this category for the benefit of those taking the REA and RES examinations.
HISTORY (from the HDB Gallery at HDB Hub in Toa Payoh)
1960 Formation of HDB - builds HDB flats (public housing)
1964 Home Ownership For the People Scheme
1965 Toa Payoh Town is the first HDB development built. Known as the Chicago (gangsters were many there) of Singapore
1967 Land Acquisition Act to acquire land for public housing and infrastructure development
1968 CPF Act. Allows CPF savings to be used to buy HDB flat
1971 Resale of HDB Flats - allows HDB flats to be sold on the open market
(Only the CPF ordinary account is allowed to be used to pay for mortgage. CPF Special Account can be used if the Minimum Sum Scheme - MSS ? - is already inside the Special Account (as much as over $100,000)at the age of 55 when the person withdraws his CPF. To complicate calculations only 50% of the difference between the Excess over MSS and the MSS can be used to pay the mortgage if the 120% Valuation Limit is exceeded.....Another formula to be studied is needed!
1982 Multi-tier Family Scheme - priority for extended families to buy new HDB flat so that they can live nearby
1985 "Two bites of Cherry Concept". Singapore Citizens are allowed to buy 2 subsidized flats which they can resell in the opoen market. (In practice, they get two concessionary housing loans from the HDB. Subsidized flats are said to be 10-30% cheaper than resale flats)
1988 Town Council Act - manages and maintain public housing estates
1989 Ethic Integration Policy - EIP - prevents the formation of ethnic enclaves by ensuring a good racial mix in the HDB estates. (With effect from Mar 5, 2010, the NMPR (Non-Malaysian Permanent Resident) ethnic group is introduced as follows: Ethnic Proportion in the neighourhood is 5% subject to "above quota" and 8% in each block subject to "above quota" as elaborated below:
The Ethnic Proportion in HDB Estates are as follows:
Ethnic Group Neighbourhood Each block
Chinese 84% 87%
Malay 22% 25%
Indian & Others 12% 15%
NMPR 5% subject to 8% subject to
above quota above quota
1991 Design & Build Scheme - DBS - Allows private architects to design public housing
1992 Main Upgrading Programe - MUP - To improve the living conditons of residents in older estates and to make them on par with the new towns
1994 CPF Housing Grant Scheme - $30,000 to families buying resale flats (NOT new HDB flats) within a 2-km radius of their parents' or married children's home. (According to my REA lecture notes, the Family Grant is $30,000. The Family Grant to stay near parents is $40,000.
1995 Executive Condominium Housing Scheme - young professional couples who cannot afford the high prices of private homes. An income ceiling cap of up to $10,000. (Apparently it is $12,000 if they stay near parents). MOP 5 years. Can sell on to those eligible when MOP is 5-10 years and after 10 years, can sell on the open market. Has condo facilities. Any management corporation? I need to check on this.
Selective Enbloc Redevelopment Scheme - SERS - optimise land use by redeveloping old estates without diluting strong community ties. (Much details of the MOP 5 to 7 years etc to be memorised by the student for the exam!)
1996 Estate Renewal Strategy - ERS - systematically re-develop older estates & improving the living environment for residents
1997 Studio Apartments with elderly-friendly features as another housing option for the elderly. (Right-sizing replaces down-sizing as a term to be studied by the students!)
2000 40th Anniversary. 88% of the population live in public housing
Special Housing Assistance Program - SHAP - assist low-income household to own their homes
2001 Lift Upgrading Program - LUP - to provide lift access to every floor level in the HDB block. (In the old days, the HDB built some levels without access to lifts. You got to walk up or down two levels to get to the lifts. This is tough for the old folks.)
Build To Order Program - BTO - to match supply of HDB flats to actual demand
Rental Flat Upgrading Projects - improve the living environment for tenants
2006 Additional Housing Grant - AHG - to help the lower income to buy 2- to 3-room HDB flats
2009 Lease Buyback Scheme - LBS - low-income elderly Singaporeans who live in 3-room or smaller flats can opt to sell the tail end of the lease back to the HDB, leaving a shorter 30-year-lease for themselves. The sales proceeds will be used to buy a CPF Annuity that yields a monthly payout for life.
(Many RES and REA students will not understand what "tail end" means. The LBS starts when the person is 62 years old. As an example, at 62 years old, his remaining lease is 40 years. He keeps the last 30 years of the lease so that he can live in his own HDB flat. The difference is 10 years of lease to be sold to the HDB (40-30). This 10 years is the "tail end" of the lease.
HDB then uses the sales proceeds to purchase the CPF Annuity for him. The Annuity then pays him a monthly income till he dies. In addition, the Government gives him $5,000 cash upfront and another $5,000 to pay for the CPF Annuity too. I hope students of RES and REA can understand now.
In this example, the 62-year old would have to live to 102 years old (62+10+30) and will get a monthly income up to 102 years old!
2010 50th Anniversary
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The above info is from the HDB Gallery.
Feb 18, 2011 Low-income Special Housing Grant - SHG - is paid to lower-income families that have an average household income of up to $2,500 to help them to buy 2- to 3-room HDB BTO flats. This is in addition to the AHG and the Family Grant of $30,000 and Family Grant to stay near parents of $40,000.
The Design, Build & Sell Scheme - DBSS - to permit private developers to build the flats for sale to those whose household income is capped at $10,000. The HDB owns the land and HDB and the Town Council will manage the DBSS flats after completion. No condo facilities.
There are so many facts and figures to remember. It will not be a surprise that the HDB officers can't remember each and every one of them! It will be tough to pass the REA exam if one cannot remember the various HDB schemes and eligibility!
HISTORY (from the HDB Gallery at HDB Hub in Toa Payoh)
1960 Formation of HDB - builds HDB flats (public housing)
1964 Home Ownership For the People Scheme
1965 Toa Payoh Town is the first HDB development built. Known as the Chicago (gangsters were many there) of Singapore
1967 Land Acquisition Act to acquire land for public housing and infrastructure development
1968 CPF Act. Allows CPF savings to be used to buy HDB flat
1971 Resale of HDB Flats - allows HDB flats to be sold on the open market
(Only the CPF ordinary account is allowed to be used to pay for mortgage. CPF Special Account can be used if the Minimum Sum Scheme - MSS ? - is already inside the Special Account (as much as over $100,000)at the age of 55 when the person withdraws his CPF. To complicate calculations only 50% of the difference between the Excess over MSS and the MSS can be used to pay the mortgage if the 120% Valuation Limit is exceeded.....Another formula to be studied is needed!
1982 Multi-tier Family Scheme - priority for extended families to buy new HDB flat so that they can live nearby
1985 "Two bites of Cherry Concept". Singapore Citizens are allowed to buy 2 subsidized flats which they can resell in the opoen market. (In practice, they get two concessionary housing loans from the HDB. Subsidized flats are said to be 10-30% cheaper than resale flats)
1988 Town Council Act - manages and maintain public housing estates
1989 Ethic Integration Policy - EIP - prevents the formation of ethnic enclaves by ensuring a good racial mix in the HDB estates. (With effect from Mar 5, 2010, the NMPR (Non-Malaysian Permanent Resident) ethnic group is introduced as follows: Ethnic Proportion in the neighourhood is 5% subject to "above quota" and 8% in each block subject to "above quota" as elaborated below:
The Ethnic Proportion in HDB Estates are as follows:
Ethnic Group Neighbourhood Each block
Chinese 84% 87%
Malay 22% 25%
Indian & Others 12% 15%
NMPR 5% subject to 8% subject to
above quota above quota
1991 Design & Build Scheme - DBS - Allows private architects to design public housing
1992 Main Upgrading Programe - MUP - To improve the living conditons of residents in older estates and to make them on par with the new towns
1994 CPF Housing Grant Scheme - $30,000 to families buying resale flats (NOT new HDB flats) within a 2-km radius of their parents' or married children's home. (According to my REA lecture notes, the Family Grant is $30,000. The Family Grant to stay near parents is $40,000.
1995 Executive Condominium Housing Scheme - young professional couples who cannot afford the high prices of private homes. An income ceiling cap of up to $10,000. (Apparently it is $12,000 if they stay near parents). MOP 5 years. Can sell on to those eligible when MOP is 5-10 years and after 10 years, can sell on the open market. Has condo facilities. Any management corporation? I need to check on this.
Selective Enbloc Redevelopment Scheme - SERS - optimise land use by redeveloping old estates without diluting strong community ties. (Much details of the MOP 5 to 7 years etc to be memorised by the student for the exam!)
1996 Estate Renewal Strategy - ERS - systematically re-develop older estates & improving the living environment for residents
1997 Studio Apartments with elderly-friendly features as another housing option for the elderly. (Right-sizing replaces down-sizing as a term to be studied by the students!)
2000 40th Anniversary. 88% of the population live in public housing
Special Housing Assistance Program - SHAP - assist low-income household to own their homes
2001 Lift Upgrading Program - LUP - to provide lift access to every floor level in the HDB block. (In the old days, the HDB built some levels without access to lifts. You got to walk up or down two levels to get to the lifts. This is tough for the old folks.)
Build To Order Program - BTO - to match supply of HDB flats to actual demand
Rental Flat Upgrading Projects - improve the living environment for tenants
2006 Additional Housing Grant - AHG - to help the lower income to buy 2- to 3-room HDB flats
2009 Lease Buyback Scheme - LBS - low-income elderly Singaporeans who live in 3-room or smaller flats can opt to sell the tail end of the lease back to the HDB, leaving a shorter 30-year-lease for themselves. The sales proceeds will be used to buy a CPF Annuity that yields a monthly payout for life.
(Many RES and REA students will not understand what "tail end" means. The LBS starts when the person is 62 years old. As an example, at 62 years old, his remaining lease is 40 years. He keeps the last 30 years of the lease so that he can live in his own HDB flat. The difference is 10 years of lease to be sold to the HDB (40-30). This 10 years is the "tail end" of the lease.
HDB then uses the sales proceeds to purchase the CPF Annuity for him. The Annuity then pays him a monthly income till he dies. In addition, the Government gives him $5,000 cash upfront and another $5,000 to pay for the CPF Annuity too. I hope students of RES and REA can understand now.
In this example, the 62-year old would have to live to 102 years old (62+10+30) and will get a monthly income up to 102 years old!
2010 50th Anniversary
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The above info is from the HDB Gallery.
Feb 18, 2011 Low-income Special Housing Grant - SHG - is paid to lower-income families that have an average household income of up to $2,500 to help them to buy 2- to 3-room HDB BTO flats. This is in addition to the AHG and the Family Grant of $30,000 and Family Grant to stay near parents of $40,000.
The Design, Build & Sell Scheme - DBSS - to permit private developers to build the flats for sale to those whose household income is capped at $10,000. The HDB owns the land and HDB and the Town Council will manage the DBSS flats after completion. No condo facilities.
There are so many facts and figures to remember. It will not be a surprise that the HDB officers can't remember each and every one of them! It will be tough to pass the REA exam if one cannot remember the various HDB schemes and eligibility!
Fortune Favours The Brave
"I told my wife and my two daughters. Vote for the opposition party! We all voted for the opposition!" the self-employed businessman in his early 50s had invited me and another friend of his for lunch at Toa Payoh Crystal Jade Restaurant yesterday May 11, 2011.
This person whom I shall call Jeremy had gone to the MP for help as the URA wanted to evict him from a building which was not ready for enbloc development. So he rented without official licence from the government and used it to house foreign students' hostel. He had around 30 students from Vietnam and China. Due to some complaints, the URA wanted him to close down his business by threatening the Landlord for non-compliance with government laws. The MP wrote a letter and sent it to the URA. The URA replied but the subject of the letter was incorrect. He asked the MP to see his original letter. The MP refused to show him and that led him to believe that this PAP MP was not sincerely trying to help him. He got help from his contact for a breathing period of time to close his business as he needed to place his students to approved hostels.
The end of his business and income. His daughter was getting married soon. He was jobless. So he was not happy with the way the MP was handling his case. "Why don't you forward your case to PM Lee Hsien Loong and let him get the feedback as to the lack of care by his MP in your case? Writing incorrect letters and not wanting to show what he had written is just not what is expected of an MP" I had never approached MPs in my life but this act of the PAP MP would be one of the several that had cost the PAP a loss of the overall voting percentage in the 2011 General Elections. He shook his head. After all, he had cast his protest vote and his family had done so too.
"So you are pro-PAP," Jeremy deduced.
"I voted for the PM because he has performed well in his job to develop Singapore into a first-world country. Performance counts in real life and in business." I said.
"You too?" Jeremy asked his friend who is living in China doing some business.
"Yes," he said.
So, in this group of 3 citizens over 50 years of age, 1 in 3 voted for the opposition.
"You should thank the MP whose assistant wrote the incorrect subject to the URA," I said. "After you lost this job, your China contact asked you to handle a $1.3 billion oil deal by looking for oil terminals to buy and you have got one appropriate seller now in the midst of negotiations. How much is 1% commission if the deal closes?" I asked.
His friend said: "$1 billion is 1000 million. 10% is 100 million. 1% is $10 million. We should have more free lunches from Jeremy!"
Jeremy smiled. Life is certainly good for him, thanks to this PAP MP who did not show compassion by refusing to let him see what the MP had written to the URA.
"I am looking for an experienced property lecturer to give talks to a group of 30 foreigners coming to Singapore in July," he announced as he signed a bank loan document brought to him by a young lady banker to the restaurant. This bank had loaned 80% to his foreign buyer and he had to bring the option to purchase to the buyer in China personally to get it signed and delivered within 14 days. So he would be flying to China soon. He had sold a few condos to foreigners. "No point servicing Singaporeans," he told us. "Foreigners are better. Do you have any Singapore developer as I have a township to be developed in China?"
We don't have any. "I have a lecturer for your Seminar," I said. "He is 70 years old and is well qualified to talk about property investment in Singapore. He is licensed to teach RES and REA courses presently."
So he has what he wanted just by inviting me for lunch out of the blue.
Fortune Favours The Brave.
We talked about HDB flat prices in general as he is now a licensed RES property salesperson. "I advised my daughter to buy a 4-year-old Strathmore HDB flat by paying more rather than a 20-year-old flat in Holland Road. The piping would be new and the prices will appreciate more as she can see Orchard Road's Ion Shopping Centre from her flat. It costs $800,000," he said. "You know, the cash over value (COV) was $70,000 cash. I did not have money to help her as the government had closed down my hostel business. Fortunately, my in-law wrote a cheque for that."
I was happy for him as life is rough for a self-employed with this PAP government introducing new rules, new fee charges and new licensing requirements which can only benefit the more successful enterprises that have the money to comply with such stingent rules. The cost of living keeps going up yearly as the various government departments keep creating new licensing rules which need money to be paid for the new statutory boards and qualifying examinations and indemnity insurance.
"How come your daughter can buy a 4-year-old Strathmore flat when the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) is 5 years?" I asked, remembering my REA lecture notes as I will be taking the examination in May 25,26,27, 2011 soon.
"The MOP was 3 years for this flat at that time," he said. Now I recalled that the lecturer had stated some dates in which the MOP was 3 years but don't remember the exact period of time.
"She and her husband just exceeded the $8,000 household income ceiling as there was a promotion for her," he said.
"Well, what happened?" I asked.
"I wrote to the HDB to let them know that I was jobless. HDB checked me out and found it to be true. I would need to sell my flat as I would not be able to cope with payment of the $2,000 mortgage payment. So, the HDB permitted the purchase of the flat."
"So you see, the PAP government is compassionate," I tried to let him have a balanced view of the politics of governing Singapore. "Otherwise, your daughter and son-in-law should not qualify the resale flat. In other words, you have so much good fortune owing to the good performance of the PAP (in getting so many HDB flats built) and even giving your daughter a $30,000 housing subsidy as a first-time HDB resale flat buyer. Her father in law wrote a cheque of $70,000 for the COV. That is $100,000 cash for a purchase of a flat. Where does other fathers find such good fortune?"
He did not comment since he knew both of us did not vote for the opposition. Fortune really favours the brave. For lesser self-employed sole operator persons, a close down of his business by the government policies usually means the end of his working life. But Jeremy is the type who actively helps others and network quite extensively. You can see that he even got a qualified real estate practitioner and lecturer to give a talk to his group of 30 foreigners whom he has got from his bank.
In life, you have to be proactive by networking and helpful to others without being calculating and you can see why Jeremy is successful. With 30 foreigners qualified by the bank and interested in Singapore real estate and the sale of the oil tanker as a storage terminal in China, Jeremy is much more successful than many in their 50s.
This person whom I shall call Jeremy had gone to the MP for help as the URA wanted to evict him from a building which was not ready for enbloc development. So he rented without official licence from the government and used it to house foreign students' hostel. He had around 30 students from Vietnam and China. Due to some complaints, the URA wanted him to close down his business by threatening the Landlord for non-compliance with government laws. The MP wrote a letter and sent it to the URA. The URA replied but the subject of the letter was incorrect. He asked the MP to see his original letter. The MP refused to show him and that led him to believe that this PAP MP was not sincerely trying to help him. He got help from his contact for a breathing period of time to close his business as he needed to place his students to approved hostels.
The end of his business and income. His daughter was getting married soon. He was jobless. So he was not happy with the way the MP was handling his case. "Why don't you forward your case to PM Lee Hsien Loong and let him get the feedback as to the lack of care by his MP in your case? Writing incorrect letters and not wanting to show what he had written is just not what is expected of an MP" I had never approached MPs in my life but this act of the PAP MP would be one of the several that had cost the PAP a loss of the overall voting percentage in the 2011 General Elections. He shook his head. After all, he had cast his protest vote and his family had done so too.
"So you are pro-PAP," Jeremy deduced.
"I voted for the PM because he has performed well in his job to develop Singapore into a first-world country. Performance counts in real life and in business." I said.
"You too?" Jeremy asked his friend who is living in China doing some business.
"Yes," he said.
So, in this group of 3 citizens over 50 years of age, 1 in 3 voted for the opposition.
"You should thank the MP whose assistant wrote the incorrect subject to the URA," I said. "After you lost this job, your China contact asked you to handle a $1.3 billion oil deal by looking for oil terminals to buy and you have got one appropriate seller now in the midst of negotiations. How much is 1% commission if the deal closes?" I asked.
His friend said: "$1 billion is 1000 million. 10% is 100 million. 1% is $10 million. We should have more free lunches from Jeremy!"
Jeremy smiled. Life is certainly good for him, thanks to this PAP MP who did not show compassion by refusing to let him see what the MP had written to the URA.
"I am looking for an experienced property lecturer to give talks to a group of 30 foreigners coming to Singapore in July," he announced as he signed a bank loan document brought to him by a young lady banker to the restaurant. This bank had loaned 80% to his foreign buyer and he had to bring the option to purchase to the buyer in China personally to get it signed and delivered within 14 days. So he would be flying to China soon. He had sold a few condos to foreigners. "No point servicing Singaporeans," he told us. "Foreigners are better. Do you have any Singapore developer as I have a township to be developed in China?"
We don't have any. "I have a lecturer for your Seminar," I said. "He is 70 years old and is well qualified to talk about property investment in Singapore. He is licensed to teach RES and REA courses presently."
So he has what he wanted just by inviting me for lunch out of the blue.
Fortune Favours The Brave.
We talked about HDB flat prices in general as he is now a licensed RES property salesperson. "I advised my daughter to buy a 4-year-old Strathmore HDB flat by paying more rather than a 20-year-old flat in Holland Road. The piping would be new and the prices will appreciate more as she can see Orchard Road's Ion Shopping Centre from her flat. It costs $800,000," he said. "You know, the cash over value (COV) was $70,000 cash. I did not have money to help her as the government had closed down my hostel business. Fortunately, my in-law wrote a cheque for that."
I was happy for him as life is rough for a self-employed with this PAP government introducing new rules, new fee charges and new licensing requirements which can only benefit the more successful enterprises that have the money to comply with such stingent rules. The cost of living keeps going up yearly as the various government departments keep creating new licensing rules which need money to be paid for the new statutory boards and qualifying examinations and indemnity insurance.
"How come your daughter can buy a 4-year-old Strathmore flat when the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) is 5 years?" I asked, remembering my REA lecture notes as I will be taking the examination in May 25,26,27, 2011 soon.
"The MOP was 3 years for this flat at that time," he said. Now I recalled that the lecturer had stated some dates in which the MOP was 3 years but don't remember the exact period of time.
"She and her husband just exceeded the $8,000 household income ceiling as there was a promotion for her," he said.
"Well, what happened?" I asked.
"I wrote to the HDB to let them know that I was jobless. HDB checked me out and found it to be true. I would need to sell my flat as I would not be able to cope with payment of the $2,000 mortgage payment. So, the HDB permitted the purchase of the flat."
"So you see, the PAP government is compassionate," I tried to let him have a balanced view of the politics of governing Singapore. "Otherwise, your daughter and son-in-law should not qualify the resale flat. In other words, you have so much good fortune owing to the good performance of the PAP (in getting so many HDB flats built) and even giving your daughter a $30,000 housing subsidy as a first-time HDB resale flat buyer. Her father in law wrote a cheque of $70,000 for the COV. That is $100,000 cash for a purchase of a flat. Where does other fathers find such good fortune?"
He did not comment since he knew both of us did not vote for the opposition. Fortune really favours the brave. For lesser self-employed sole operator persons, a close down of his business by the government policies usually means the end of his working life. But Jeremy is the type who actively helps others and network quite extensively. You can see that he even got a qualified real estate practitioner and lecturer to give a talk to his group of 30 foreigners whom he has got from his bank.
In life, you have to be proactive by networking and helpful to others without being calculating and you can see why Jeremy is successful. With 30 foreigners qualified by the bank and interested in Singapore real estate and the sale of the oil tanker as a storage terminal in China, Jeremy is much more successful than many in their 50s.
439. The pug with the perforated ulcer at Day 42 - progress report
http://www.sinpets.com/dogs/20110315pug-male-7months-perforated-corneal-ulcer-deep-ulcerative-keratitis-toapayohvets.htm
has the full report. The perforated ulcer (long vertical red line) is healing slowly as blood vessels bring in the cells. This pug's eyeball will have ruptured and collapsed if the owners delay further treatment. The pet shop operator had been unsuccessful in selling this pug and probably has not wanted to pay for the veterinary treatment which can be quite costly.
3 images of the pug's eye at Day 0, 14 and 42 are shown here. More pictures are at the above-mentioned website.
DAY ZER0 BEFORE 3RD EYELID FLAP SURGERY
DAY 14 AFTER VET TREATMENT
DAY 42 AFTER VET TREATMENT
The 3 operating lights of Toa Payoh Vets can be seen in the upper part of the cornea. The lower left side of the cornea reflects part of the white e-collar
has the full report. The perforated ulcer (long vertical red line) is healing slowly as blood vessels bring in the cells. This pug's eyeball will have ruptured and collapsed if the owners delay further treatment. The pet shop operator had been unsuccessful in selling this pug and probably has not wanted to pay for the veterinary treatment which can be quite costly.
3 images of the pug's eye at Day 0, 14 and 42 are shown here. More pictures are at the above-mentioned website.
DAY ZER0 BEFORE 3RD EYELID FLAP SURGERY
DAY 14 AFTER VET TREATMENT
DAY 42 AFTER VET TREATMENT
438. How to succeed in the employment agency and veterinary business
DR SING'S E-MAIL TO A ROOKIE EMPLOYMENT AGENT
If you don't mind feedback from me (as a prospective employer) as to how to succeed in your employment agency business, the following is advised:
1. Open a case file.
2. Interview the applicants yourself.
3. Assess whether they can speak good English and give them a ranking e.g. Grade 1 (excellent) etc.
4. Qualify the applicants as to whether they meet most of the employer's requirements.
If they qualify at least 80%, then you contact the employer.
5. When you present the info to the prospective employer, they don't need to waste time downloading and reading resume as you have done the qualifications.
6. Just e-mailing resumes of prospects looking for the vacancy the employer requires is NOT the way to succeed in this employment agency business. You have to open case file, interview, record the characteristics and personality of the applicant, qualify and recommend to the prospective employer.
7. I am not an employment agent but the above are general guidelines in any real estate, recruitment and many other businesses.
Even for veterinary medicine too. Only that the vet must "qualify" the client and the pet as regards financial situation, anaesthetic risks, prognosis and outcome of treatment. For example, a woman who brings in stray cats will seldom want to pay for X-rays and blood tests. I have a case of such a woman (cat activist) who complains loudly to me and in front of other clients that $500 veterinary fees charged by a vet just to treat a stray cat are too high. She expected the vet to be compassionate as after all, the cat is a stray cat.
On examining the bill from the vet who treated her stray cat, the fees included blood tests and two X-rays. Therefore, in veterinary medicine, there is also the same guidelines as what I give to you. Therefore, please do not just e-mail resumes from various applicants you have not personally qualified if you want to succeed in this highly competitive world of business.
If you don't mind feedback from me (as a prospective employer) as to how to succeed in your employment agency business, the following is advised:
1. Open a case file.
2. Interview the applicants yourself.
3. Assess whether they can speak good English and give them a ranking e.g. Grade 1 (excellent) etc.
4. Qualify the applicants as to whether they meet most of the employer's requirements.
If they qualify at least 80%, then you contact the employer.
5. When you present the info to the prospective employer, they don't need to waste time downloading and reading resume as you have done the qualifications.
6. Just e-mailing resumes of prospects looking for the vacancy the employer requires is NOT the way to succeed in this employment agency business. You have to open case file, interview, record the characteristics and personality of the applicant, qualify and recommend to the prospective employer.
7. I am not an employment agent but the above are general guidelines in any real estate, recruitment and many other businesses.
Even for veterinary medicine too. Only that the vet must "qualify" the client and the pet as regards financial situation, anaesthetic risks, prognosis and outcome of treatment. For example, a woman who brings in stray cats will seldom want to pay for X-rays and blood tests. I have a case of such a woman (cat activist) who complains loudly to me and in front of other clients that $500 veterinary fees charged by a vet just to treat a stray cat are too high. She expected the vet to be compassionate as after all, the cat is a stray cat.
On examining the bill from the vet who treated her stray cat, the fees included blood tests and two X-rays. Therefore, in veterinary medicine, there is also the same guidelines as what I give to you. Therefore, please do not just e-mail resumes from various applicants you have not personally qualified if you want to succeed in this highly competitive world of business.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
437. xylazine + ketamine
I did a google search (xylazine+ketamine+dogs) and saw my blog posted in April 2010.
I reproduce below for my reference as I am doing a devocalisation surgery on a Cocker Spaniel (dog will be euthanased as a noise nuisance if not done). I rarely perform this surgery, always trying to educate the client first. But it is easier to educate when the problem is not in your backyard!
Monday, April 12, 2010
25. Xylazine:Ketamine IV sedation and anaesthesia in dogs
There are many methods of anaesthesizing the dogs. One of them is the use of xylazine and ketamine IV. I believe this is seldom used as each vet has his own preferences. For example, I use xylazine tranquilisation IM and halothane and nowadays isoflurane gas anaesthesia over the past 20 years of practice and I find it to be very effective and safe, with rapid recovery.
However, old dogs can learn new tricks and I always ask other vets what anaesthesia they use. There is a great variety.
My associate vet loves to use Domitor pre-anaesthetic dosage, isoflurane and then Anti-sedan reversal. Another vet loves the xylazine/ketamine combination for anaesthesia. Another one loves zoletil injectable anaesthesia. The principal vet my god-daughter is seeing practice with in Perth never uses mask anaesthesia at all and therefore he does not have anaesthetic mask.
The following is my observation of xylazine:ketamine IV anaesthesia I used in one 26-kg, 5-year-old Labrador Retriever yesterday to treat a lick granuloma of the LH D5 toe.
THE GENERAL GUIDELINE FROM ONE VET
FOR XYLAZINE:KETAMINE IV ANAESTHESIA IN DOGS
FOR ANAESTHESIA
26kg, 5-year old dog
Xylazine 2% at 2.3 ml
Ketamine 100mg/ml at 0.3 ml
In one syringe, the total is 2.6 ml, IV
FOR SEDATION, the dosage is reduced as follows:
26kg, 5-year old dog
Xylazine 2% at 1.3 ml
Ketamine 100mg/ml at 0.3 ml
In one syringe, the total is 1.6 ml. IV
This was what I gave to the dog
After 1 minute, the dog was sedated.
After 5 minutes, I injected prednisolone into his large LH 5th digit granuloma. Slick flicker of pain reaction. He was sedated well.
Recovery
He took more than half an hour to wake up and more than 1 hour to stand up. I did not given any anti-xylazine reversal as ketamine is involved.
CONCLUSION
I prefer dogs to be standing up within 2 minutes of the end of a procedure or surgery. So, I will not be using this method. It will be good for cases where there are no gas machines. This is why I am recording this case for the benefit of vets who may not have anaesthetic gas facilities.
P.S.
From this practitioner who is experienced in this method of anaesthesia, there is a general formula for xylazine:ketamine IV anaesthesia in adult dogs.
For example, 26 kg, 5-year-old dog
Xyalzine 2.3 ml + ketamine 0.3 ml = 2.6 ml in one syringe.
This is a general formula and must be reduced according to health, age and weight.
I reproduce below for my reference as I am doing a devocalisation surgery on a Cocker Spaniel (dog will be euthanased as a noise nuisance if not done). I rarely perform this surgery, always trying to educate the client first. But it is easier to educate when the problem is not in your backyard!
Monday, April 12, 2010
25. Xylazine:Ketamine IV sedation and anaesthesia in dogs
There are many methods of anaesthesizing the dogs. One of them is the use of xylazine and ketamine IV. I believe this is seldom used as each vet has his own preferences. For example, I use xylazine tranquilisation IM and halothane and nowadays isoflurane gas anaesthesia over the past 20 years of practice and I find it to be very effective and safe, with rapid recovery.
However, old dogs can learn new tricks and I always ask other vets what anaesthesia they use. There is a great variety.
My associate vet loves to use Domitor pre-anaesthetic dosage, isoflurane and then Anti-sedan reversal. Another vet loves the xylazine/ketamine combination for anaesthesia. Another one loves zoletil injectable anaesthesia. The principal vet my god-daughter is seeing practice with in Perth never uses mask anaesthesia at all and therefore he does not have anaesthetic mask.
The following is my observation of xylazine:ketamine IV anaesthesia I used in one 26-kg, 5-year-old Labrador Retriever yesterday to treat a lick granuloma of the LH D5 toe.
THE GENERAL GUIDELINE FROM ONE VET
FOR XYLAZINE:KETAMINE IV ANAESTHESIA IN DOGS
FOR ANAESTHESIA
26kg, 5-year old dog
Xylazine 2% at 2.3 ml
Ketamine 100mg/ml at 0.3 ml
In one syringe, the total is 2.6 ml, IV
FOR SEDATION, the dosage is reduced as follows:
26kg, 5-year old dog
Xylazine 2% at 1.3 ml
Ketamine 100mg/ml at 0.3 ml
In one syringe, the total is 1.6 ml. IV
This was what I gave to the dog
After 1 minute, the dog was sedated.
After 5 minutes, I injected prednisolone into his large LH 5th digit granuloma. Slick flicker of pain reaction. He was sedated well.
Recovery
He took more than half an hour to wake up and more than 1 hour to stand up. I did not given any anti-xylazine reversal as ketamine is involved.
CONCLUSION
I prefer dogs to be standing up within 2 minutes of the end of a procedure or surgery. So, I will not be using this method. It will be good for cases where there are no gas machines. This is why I am recording this case for the benefit of vets who may not have anaesthetic gas facilities.
P.S.
From this practitioner who is experienced in this method of anaesthesia, there is a general formula for xylazine:ketamine IV anaesthesia in adult dogs.
For example, 26 kg, 5-year-old dog
Xyalzine 2.3 ml + ketamine 0.3 ml = 2.6 ml in one syringe.
This is a general formula and must be reduced according to health, age and weight.
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