In the past, I used to be very strict towards the young interns as they would arrive late for work and find excuses to take time off. Recently, one polytechnic lady told me she had been accepted at Glasgow University and wanted to work one week.
Previously she had worked as a kennel maid cleaning up kennels at a bigger practice but had no exposure to veterinary work. In any case, the practice did not want her after one week as the full-timer had "returned". This was a red flag as regards work performance but I had an open mind.
In the first few days, she would turn up late or not at all. I got her to see some cases with Dr Daniel and did not ask her to do kennel work as she was supposed to study to be a vet. "Is $300,000 worth of vet education be justified?" she asked. "The money can be earned back if the vet works very hard," I said. "It may take 5 years to recover the full amount based on average salaried income. You are better off studying banking or accountancy if you want money."
Yesterday, she took a Golden Retriever for a walk to pee. This dog was lethargic but after the IV drip, Vit K1 of 8 ml and antibiotic and anti-spasmogesic, she was full of energy. She had not peed and I asked her to continue patiently. The dog's mouth started to show blood. She called me and literally instructed me to hold the dog's lease. I told her to wait while my assistant Naing would come and Naing did come and said the bleeding was due to tongue biting.
After that, I asked her what was the cause of bleeding?"
She shouted: "How do I know? I am not a vet!"
This outburst seemed to be a pent-up anger. I asked her to my room and spoke to her.
"Many young people have this anger for some reason," I said. "A excited energetic dog with fresh blood in the mouth could be due to injury and many owners can find out the cause. It does not need a vet to do so."
"I asked you earlier to hold the lease but you did not!" she had this outburst.
"I was busy but I had asked Naing who came immediately," I could not understand what was she angry about.
This behaviour is very unpredictable and I had a chat with her. She said she would finish her internship on Sunday. I had to ask her to go immediately as I don't know what will happen if she stayed and in any case, she was not paid unlike Intern Clara.
Intern Clara was the other intern and I have only good comments about her work attitude from the others. Clara is 16 years old and she does not display such anger although she has her video production targets to met, without success!
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Friday, January 10, 2014
The lady who googled "ear abscess terrapin"
Jan 9, 2014
The IT lady sms to me an image of her terrapin with ear abscesses, but I could not download it as my 2nd Samsung phone 9668 6469 which receives calls from my surgery is very basic and has no 3 or 4 G plans. I apologized to her and estimated $150-$200 for the surgery to lance the abscesses.
It is always good to quote upfront to avoid surprises to clients. One Singapore dentist was fined $15,000 for professional misconduct as he told his client that she would be able to claim from insurance the dental implant. This was misrepresentation and she had to pay a lot and so complained to the dental association.
This terrapin seemed to be hyperactive, banging against the container to get out. After the surgery to lance the abscess by Dr Daniel using Zoletil 50 0.01 IM and isoflurane gas. The terrapin behaved calmer after the surgery. The above image showed his ears 4 hours post op. A video is to be produced.
Nowadays, the young people uses social media a lot esp. google. I asked how she found the Toa Payoh Vets.
"I googled for ear abscess," she said.
"Then you would have seen a lot of dogs and cats with ear abscess?" I said,
"I googled for ear abscess terrapin and there was your video."
I checked google for ear abscess terrapin using chrome and indeed there was a youtube video done by my interns as shown below:
About 114,000 results (0.49 seconds)
Ad related to ear abscess terrapin
Ear Pain / Infection - Specialises in Ear Pain/Ear Block
www.entheadneck.com/Medisave_Clinic
Dr Soh -23 years Senior Ear ENT
Contact Us - Ear Treatment
Search Results
A terrapin has a painful right ear abscess - YouTube
► 9:23► 9:23
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtbQ0ZJDoCo
Sep 4, 2013 - Uploaded by Kong Yuen Sing
How to treat an ear abscess in a red-eared slider (terrapin). A "Be Kind To Pets" Veterinary Educational ...
I have a terrapin which i think has an ear abscess . O - JustAnswer
www.justanswer.com/pet-reptile/2fgpj-terrapin-think-ear-abscess.html
Question - I have a terrapin which i think has an ear abscess . O - K7. Find the answer to this and other Reptile questions on JustAnswer.
You've visited this page 2 times. Last visit: 8/15/13
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Ear abscesses before operation
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Follow up: Sat Jan 11, 2014
"He won't take medicine," the lady phoned me back when I sms her "Is Turtle eating food?". She wanted to bring him to the Surgery so that we can give him medication. It is extremely difficult to medicate terrapins as they don't open their mouths voluntarily.
"Smear the pellets with medication and put the pellets with a small amount of water, separately from the usual tank," I advised since this terrapin ate hungrily.
Another method will be to close his nostrils and he will open his mouth (sometimes). Syringe the medication inside his mouth.
The other concern is that the ear swelling is present though smaller in size. "Are you sure that all the pus had been taken out?" she asked.
"90% of the pus," I replied. "The abscess is quite large and deep. The swelling is due to inflammation of the tissues under the skin. It will disappear with time."
A video of the pus drainage would be useful to show her.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
A Cavalier King Charles suffers ear pain for over 6 years
Many floppy-eared dogs need not suffer several years of pain and ear scratching due to lack of ventilation and drainage. However, the average Singaporean dog owner is now sufficiently educated to know that this lateral ear canal resection surgery is a solution to such a problem. A video is produced.
1291. Videos for Jan 8, 2014
Video: The Golden
Retriever has a painful left shoulder
Video: The hamster is irritated by two toe warts
Video: Ear surgery resolves painful infected ears of the Cavalier King Charles
Video: The bullied vomiting cat has painful rib cage and back
Video: The wealth prophecy came true on New Year's Day
Video: The hamster is irritated by two toe warts
Video: Ear surgery resolves painful infected ears of the Cavalier King Charles
Video: The bullied vomiting cat has painful rib cage and back
Video: The wealth prophecy came true on New Year's Day
Monday, January 6, 2014
1290. An old cat can't pee after boarding
This was the first time the old cat was boarded for 6 days. A younger cat was boarded. But only the old cat could not pee after boarding. The old cat, around 11 years old had never been boarded.
A blood and urine test showed high white blood cell count and bacteria in the urine respectively.
Dr Daniel unblocked the bladder with the urinary cathether, irrigated the bladder and stitched the catheter for 2 days of hospitalization.
"The cat is meowing whenever I pass by," I said to the happy older couple who visited on Day 2. "He can go home today with medication and special canned food. No more boarding for him!"
As at Jan 6, 2014, some 10 days after treatment, no news from the owner. No news is good news in this situation. Not all cases of FLUTD have happy endings. Early treatment results in better chances of success. Do not wait for several days if your cat cannot pee.
Video of the cat at Day 2 of hospitalization is at:
http://youtu.be/EOcpGnSzZBg
The cat is catheterized for 2 days and went home on Day 3 to his familiar environment. No news from the owner so far.
A blood and urine test showed high white blood cell count and bacteria in the urine respectively.
Dr Daniel unblocked the bladder with the urinary cathether, irrigated the bladder and stitched the catheter for 2 days of hospitalization.
"The cat is meowing whenever I pass by," I said to the happy older couple who visited on Day 2. "He can go home today with medication and special canned food. No more boarding for him!"
As at Jan 6, 2014, some 10 days after treatment, no news from the owner. No news is good news in this situation. Not all cases of FLUTD have happy endings. Early treatment results in better chances of success. Do not wait for several days if your cat cannot pee.
Video of the cat at Day 2 of hospitalization is at:
http://youtu.be/EOcpGnSzZBg
The cat is catheterized for 2 days and went home on Day 3 to his familiar environment. No news from the owner so far.
Sunday, January 5, 2014
1289. A prophecy of wealth comes true in the New Year.
"Wealth will flow to those who stayed back for the New Year's prayers and countdown," my hostess said to me. All her guests and family members left before midnight after arriving at 8 pm for the New Year's Eve dinner.
I wondered what she meant. One of her family members had told me that I had no luck after he had bought $12 bets on my behalf for my car number "8131" for the Sunday Dec 28, 2013. That was before the New Year Eve which fell on a Tuesday and the family members do buy 4-D and so I gave $12 to this member who suggested that I buy 4D bet on my car number since I visited my hostess on Sunday Dec 28, 2013 as invited by her. She had wanted some business writing help from me and was free on that day.
4-D bets in Singapore can be purchased on Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday and the results come in the next day. So, I could have place a $10 bet on "8131" on Wednesday Jan 1, 2014 after the prayers and countdown on Tuesday. I would have won $10,000 for 2nd prize or $1,000 for a combination bet. Wealth did come to me, but I did not bet as I don't buy 4D at all! My hostess said she won $15,000.
An incredible but true story of divine blessings. Unfortunately the family member who suggested I could follow up buying the 2nd time also did not buy this number!
I wondered what she meant. One of her family members had told me that I had no luck after he had bought $12 bets on my behalf for my car number "8131" for the Sunday Dec 28, 2013. That was before the New Year Eve which fell on a Tuesday and the family members do buy 4-D and so I gave $12 to this member who suggested that I buy 4D bet on my car number since I visited my hostess on Sunday Dec 28, 2013 as invited by her. She had wanted some business writing help from me and was free on that day.
4-D bets in Singapore can be purchased on Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday and the results come in the next day. So, I could have place a $10 bet on "8131" on Wednesday Jan 1, 2014 after the prayers and countdown on Tuesday. I would have won $10,000 for 2nd prize or $1,000 for a combination bet. Wealth did come to me, but I did not bet as I don't buy 4D at all! My hostess said she won $15,000.
An incredible but true story of divine blessings. Unfortunately the family member who suggested I could follow up buying the 2nd time also did not buy this number!
1288. Videos
An itchy Schnauzer passes blood in the urine
http://youtu.be/x1iB9WMWjCY
The hamster 2 days after nose abscess lancing operation - Part 2/2
http://youtu.be/JCsUFQWJAT0
The hamster 2 days after nose abscess lancing operation - Part 1/2
http://youtu.be/I6V9v572t6s
The hamster has a nose abscess lancing operation
http://youtu.be/y-onI8CyhsY
Armpit abscess Part 1/8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL8sEkuNYbA
Armpit abscess Part 2/8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD88yD-AmEI
Armpit abscess Part 3/8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub4H6Oys5p0
Armpit abscess Part 4/8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fI9WVy-EgCI
5/8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvfIQUOgucg
6/8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drtmLfcie2I
7/8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6sH6bRY3f4
8/8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJAwkmgO7B0
Social media is not so important if the product sells like hot cakes - Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32G-hiiIkcc
Social media is not so important if the product sells like hot cakes - Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44ww3B5ZY4U
How to treat a large hardened-nosed dwarf hamster
Saturday, Jan 4, 2014
A father with 2 lovely little daughters aged 8 years and a younger one, brought this 14-month-old female dwarf hamster to Toa Payoh Vets on Dec 28, 2013. The nose swelling was a gigantic inflamed swelling of 1.5 cm x 0.8 cm x 0.5 cm. Incredibly large and hard. She has wet tail too.
She was hospitalized for treatment with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and fluids.
Only on Jan 2, 2014 was the abscess softened and the hamster could eat. Pus could be seen lying inside the bridge of the nose as a swelling. The hamster was given isoflurane gas anaesthesia and the abscess lanced. There was a lot of bleeding after expressing the pus. The tip of the nose had a circular scab which concealed caseated balls of pus. These were removed.
The hamster was in shock after the surgery and I thought she would die. Subcutaneous fluid and medication were given for 2 days. The blood clots were cleared on Jan 3, 2014.
On Jan 4, 2014, she looked better (image above) and was sent home for owner to nurse her. It is not easy to treat a hamster with a gigantic hard inflamed nose as the bacterial infection inside the bridge of the nose spreads extensively. The principles of treatment is similar as that for the dog or cat but in the dwarf hamster, the risks of anaethesia in a sick hamster is much higher.
Vets must perform too and a hamster is expected to be alive and cured at the end of hospitalization. This hamster survived and everybody is happy.
Some Youtube videos have been posted.
A father with 2 lovely little daughters aged 8 years and a younger one, brought this 14-month-old female dwarf hamster to Toa Payoh Vets on Dec 28, 2013. The nose swelling was a gigantic inflamed swelling of 1.5 cm x 0.8 cm x 0.5 cm. Incredibly large and hard. She has wet tail too.
She was hospitalized for treatment with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and fluids.
Only on Jan 2, 2014 was the abscess softened and the hamster could eat. Pus could be seen lying inside the bridge of the nose as a swelling. The hamster was given isoflurane gas anaesthesia and the abscess lanced. There was a lot of bleeding after expressing the pus. The tip of the nose had a circular scab which concealed caseated balls of pus. These were removed.
The hamster was in shock after the surgery and I thought she would die. Subcutaneous fluid and medication were given for 2 days. The blood clots were cleared on Jan 3, 2014.
On Jan 4, 2014, she looked better (image above) and was sent home for owner to nurse her. It is not easy to treat a hamster with a gigantic hard inflamed nose as the bacterial infection inside the bridge of the nose spreads extensively. The principles of treatment is similar as that for the dog or cat but in the dwarf hamster, the risks of anaethesia in a sick hamster is much higher.
Vets must perform too and a hamster is expected to be alive and cured at the end of hospitalization. This hamster survived and everybody is happy.
Some Youtube videos have been posted.
Thursday, January 2, 2014
1286. The lab retriever puppy has a painful swollen shoulder
3 days after purchase, the 2-month-old lab retriever's left shoulder swells. Why?
This case was seen by Dr Daniel a day earlier, when the owner complained of the $2,500 pup being unable to bear weight on the left fore leg. The shoulder was X-rayed but no fractures were found. The "growth plate" was abnormal.
On Day 2, I spent some time talking to the owner and videoed the puppy whose elbow is now swollen. Blood would have gone down from the shoulder to the elbow now, in my observation.
"It is best to get a veterinary check up after purchase," I advised. The gentleman had purchased the last of the litter from the private home breeder.
"He said he did not want to sell as this is the last puppy left," the owner showed me a video that the breeder had sent to his mobile phone.
The short clip showed this puppy climbing up the playpen fence and jumping down from the top of the fence to meet the dam.
"The pup landed on his left front paw which is hidden from view," I said to the owner. "This could be the evidence that he had injured his shoulder which swells 3 days after purchase since you said that the puppy was walking and running about normally during the day of purchase."
The owner kept the puppy and it appears to be bearing weight on the left fore limb when I phoned 3 days later.
This case was seen by Dr Daniel a day earlier, when the owner complained of the $2,500 pup being unable to bear weight on the left fore leg. The shoulder was X-rayed but no fractures were found. The "growth plate" was abnormal.
On Day 2, I spent some time talking to the owner and videoed the puppy whose elbow is now swollen. Blood would have gone down from the shoulder to the elbow now, in my observation.
"It is best to get a veterinary check up after purchase," I advised. The gentleman had purchased the last of the litter from the private home breeder.
"He said he did not want to sell as this is the last puppy left," the owner showed me a video that the breeder had sent to his mobile phone.
The short clip showed this puppy climbing up the playpen fence and jumping down from the top of the fence to meet the dam.
"The pup landed on his left front paw which is hidden from view," I said to the owner. "This could be the evidence that he had injured his shoulder which swells 3 days after purchase since you said that the puppy was walking and running about normally during the day of purchase."
The owner kept the puppy and it appears to be bearing weight on the left fore limb when I phoned 3 days later.
1285. A dwarf hamster has a painful swollen red nose
Videos on progress of treatment at Toa Payoh Vets
DAY 1
DAY 4 OF HOSPITALISATION. EATING NOW
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