First, introduce the main character with whom the reader will bond. You estabish the main problem which captures the reader's interest and creates curiosity and anticipation as to how the protagonist will solve his dilemma. The opening hook is an essential emotional element in this act.
Several types of opening:
1. Hero in action. Introduce the protagonist in the middle of conflict (most common opening, most effective---character bonding and drama). This hero in action opening gives you a choice to focus on e.g. character's uniqueness or character empathy (misfortune or mistreatment).
2. Villain in action.
3. Backstory/prologue eg. traumatic prologues
4. Spectacle e.g stunts, special effects, over-the-top events generate thrill for the reader. Joyous occasions like a wedding (The Godfather).
5. Mystery. Intriguing event that arouses curiosity in the reader, making him wonder what is going on, is also a great way to open a script. Alien, The matrix,E.T. --- where are we? Who are these characters, what are they talking about, what's going on?
6. Unique world. World of the mafia (The Godfater), world of aliens on earth (Men in Black), the Amish world, panoramic bird's-eye view of a future Los Angeles - Blade runner.
7. Exposition. As long as the basic information about the world of your story is intereswting and crucial to the understanding of the plot e.g. the scrolling exposition (Star Wars).
8. Breaking the fourth wall. A rare but effective way to open a story with a character speaking directly to the reader which creates immediacy and connections. e.g. voice-over eg. American Beauty or Sunset Boulevard or having the character speak directly into the camera, thus "breaking the fourth wall", e.g. High Fidelity, Ferris Bueller's Day off or Annie Hall.
9. Book-ended flashback A popular device or structure to open period pieces or detective stories that involves investigation of a past event. Eg. Titanic, Amadeus, Citizen Kane, The Bridges of madison County or Double Indemnity. Make sure the past is more important than the one in the present.
10. STORY TELLING USING THE 3D's to sell a product or service
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In this case, this rabbit has
been diagnosed with malocclusion, which means misaligned teeth. As we can see
in this video, the 4 upper jaw teeth (2 maxillary incisors and 2 peg teeth)
were overgrown and grew sideways. The 2 lower jaw teeth (2 mandibular incisors)
were overgrown and broke off. Therefore, it appeared very small.
What is Malocclusion?
Malocclusion means misaligned
teeth and a rabbit with misaligned teeth cannot eat
hay and other food easily.
How it is developed?
A rabbit’s teeth
are constantly growing and it is crucial that the normal process of chewing
wears down a rabbit’s teeth. When the teeth are not worn down, they overgrow.
The top incisors grow inwards towards the mouth and the bottom ones grow
outwards. This can lead to the rabbit at risk for jaw infections causing pain
and discomfort.
Why is it important?
If left
undetected, your pet will eventually stop eating. Rabbits need a continual
supply of roughage moving through their digestive system to prevent gut stasis.
Even 12 hours without food can cause serious digestive disorders and further
health complications like death. The rabbit dies if he is not
treated as he becomes malnourished and dehydrated over time.
How it is diagnosed?
Malocclusion is
diagnosed by the physical examination of the rabbit’s mouth and X-Ray of the
jaw and tooth root. The treatment will depend on the severity of the
malocclusion.
Reasons for Malocclusion?
Rabbit
malocclusions can be either hereditary or acquired. Hereditary malocclusion are
observed more in dwarf breeds due to their shortened heads and jaw
developments. However, majority of malocclusion are acquired when the teeth are
not ground down properly over time and are often due to poor feeding practices.
It’s recommended the majority of a rabbit’s diet comprises hay (80%), with a
limit to vegetables (10%), fruits (5%) and pellets (5%).
Preventions for Malocclusion?
Malocclusion
can be easily prevented by the correct diet advised by veterinarians. Hay is a
crucial ingredient in a rabbit’s diet as it helps trim the constantly growing
rabbits teeth. Routine health check every once to twice a year ensures that the
rabbit’s teeth are not overgrown. When abnormal growing of the teeth is
observed during vet visits, the teeth are trimmed before it gets overgrown.
Treatment for malocclusion?
The overgrown teeth are being trimmed by the
veterinarians.
In severe
cases, surgery to remove the affected teeth may be an option. Any tooth with
deep pockets, mobility and purulent debris is subject to extraction, especially
if an abscess is present. Extraction of the
overgrown front teeth will have prevented the development of molar spurs and dental abscess which are expensive
treatments.
In this case, the extraction of the 6 front teeth enables
the rabbit to eat properly. Rabbits without
their incisors use their lips and tongue to pick up food and move it to the
back of their mouth, where it's ground by the molars. However,
Rabbits cannot live without any teeth. Therefore, it is
important to detect malocclusion earlier or even better to prevent it. Is it crucial to remove the teeth or trimming is sufficient
and a better choice?
Other dental problems (Is it needed to include molar spurs?)
Molar spurs are
sharp edges developed by the overgrown molars. They are present when the
incisors are overgrown and causes difficulty in chewing the food properly. The
inability to grind the food properly leads to the sides of the molars to get
worn out abnormally.
The developed
sharp edges cut into the inside of the cheeks causing cheek ulcerations and
entrapment of the tongue, making it difficult for the rabbit to move its tongue
to eat properly. Molar spurs causes incorrect positioning of the molars,
leading to bacteria entering the roots of the molars causing dental or jaw
abscess.
Complications
of dental problems are very painful and expensive treatment. Therefore, it
is very important to bring your rabbits for regular dental exams every once to twice a
year. Prevention is always better than cure.
https://www.ufaw.org.uk/rabbits/netherland-dwarf-dental-malocclusion
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BE KIND TO PETS VETERINARY STORIES
DO DOGS SUFFER FROM TOOTHACHES?
The Carnassial Tooth Abscess
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow)
DETAILS
Dogs do suffer from toothaches. I will say that the most painful one must be the carnassial tooth
abscess. The canine carnassial tooth is the 4th premolar tooth. When there is chronic gingivitis or tooth fractures, the bacteria destroys the periodontal ligaments attaching the tooth to the gums. Bacteria destroys the tooth and forms a carnassial tooth abscess. An abscess is a collection of pus.
Carnassial tooth abscess is a common disease in the older dog that has poor dental care. It is very painful. The presenting sign is a festering facial wound below the eye. Pus and blood seep out daily like an active volcano spewing hot lava and ash daily. Home remedies like antibiotic powder and silver cream or antibiotics are ineffective. Most owners think this is just a traumatic wound. But this open facial wound never heals, despite medication and cleansing as shown in this case of a 4-year-old Pomeranian seen at Toa Payoh Vets in 2007.
DIALOGUE
“I am sick and tired of cleaning this wound for the past many weeks,” Mrs Jaswant Singh pointed to the wound below the Pomeranian’s left eye. “I pour antibiotic powder and also gave antibiotics, but the wound keeps discharging dirty blood daily! My cat could have scratched my naughty baby causing this wound or something sharp had poked into his face!”
“This wound is a result of a tooth root infection,” I took out the Hills’ illustrated drawings of this common dental disease in dogs in Western countries. It is easier to show than to tell. I lifted the dog’s left upper cheek, but the carnassial tooth showed thick tartar and an inflamed gum. No pus and blood leaking out from the gums. “The permanent cure is to extract the rotten carnassial tooth. Antibiotics will not resolve the problem.”
“Just get on with the tooth extraction,” Mrs Singh showed me her dog’s discharge stain in her silk black sari with big red flowers. “My saris are very expensive as I buy them from New Delhi in India, not from the shops in Little India here! My baby keeps soiling them. I have to clean the soiled bed, sofas and mop the floor to remove her discharges for the past weeks! I have no maid to help me.”
“Hey, wait, wait, wait,” Mr Singh interjected. “Are you sure our dog suffers from carnal, cunning or whatever?” As this was their first visit to Toa Payoh Vets, the husband eyed my diagnosis as money-making.
“This doctor is talking nonsense,” Mr Singh whispered, not too softly in his wife’s ear. “The tooth and the wound are so far apart and separated by the sinus bones. How can infection travel so far? He must be nuts and out to make money from us!”
“I can take an X-ray to show you that the root or roots of the carnassial tooth is infected,” I said when Mr Singh turned towards me. “No need to do it,” the husband put up his hand. “Thank you very much. We will let you know if we want you to pull out the tooth.”
Around 2 months later, Mrs Singh consented to the dental extraction. There is the root canal and associated treatment, but it will be expensive. I extracted the loose left carnassial tooth and the first molar.
DISCOVERY
ADVICES TO DOG OWNERS: In the blink of an eye, 6 years passed by when Mrs Singh had her Pomeranian treated for bad teeth. “My dog’s facial sore healed within 10 days,” Mrs Singh reminisced. “Hence, I do not see you.”
She did not get her dog’s teeth checked yearly as advised by me. Her dog had not suffered another carnassial tooth abscess in the right side but now had several loose and decayed teeth extracted.
Carnassial tooth abscess is also known as malar abscess or oro-nasal fistula. Some vets do mis-diagnose this disease as allergies or infected traumatic wounds. A spot-on usually accurate diagnosis is made if there is a festering non-healing facial wound below your dog’s eye. Dental extraction is the least expensive effective treatment. Yearly dental check ups will prevent most of your dog’s teeth from decaying so that your dog has teeth up to old age.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Phone 6254-3326, 9668-4668, judy@toapayohvets.com, www.toapayohvets.com
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