Wednesday, April 20, 2022

4029. Loss of wildlife and wild flowers in Yio Chu Kang Cres secondary forest - 17 Apr 2022.

 



SINGAPORE forest - Yio Chu Kang Crescent secondary forest Sun 17 Apr 2022


LOSS OF WILDLIFE AND WILD FLOWERS IN YIO CHU KANG CRES SECONDARY FOREST


Sun 17 Apr 2022. The forest path had been widened considerably with regular trimming and of shrubs and plants. Regular anti-mosquito insecticide spray since lifting of many Covid-19 curbs in Jan 2021.


Much wild flowers and wildlife like butterflies and oriental garden lizards, damselflies, dragonflies have had vanished in large numbers. These are photographed by me before and during the Covid-19 pandemic (2017 - 2020).


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SINGAPORE WILDLIFE. 20 Apr 2022. The Peacock Pansy is an orange butterfly, seen rarely in Yio Chu Kang Cres forest, due to deforestation, frequent shrub pruning and anti-mosquito insecticide fogging after Covid-19 relaxation of rules in mid 2021. Future generations of Singaporeans are unlikely to see one in the wild.


Viewers interested to view or buy the photos can go to:

https://www.shutterstock.com/g/toapayohvets





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The Yio Chu Kang Cres forest as at 20 Apr 2022. Shrubs and plants had been cut away, widening the forest path.







20 Apr 2022. YIO CHU KANG CRESCENT secondary forest which may be cleared in 5 years' time as the North-South Corridor Project to build a viaduct and tunnel from North Singapore to town will be completed. More deforestation and loss of habitat. So, the wildlife will vanished. This Peacock Pansy used to be frequently seen during the Covid-19 lockdown in Apr - Dec 2020. But today, one is seen after several days or weeks.


Viewers interested to view or buy the photos can go to:

https://www.shutterstock.com/g/toapayohvets



UPDATES ON THIS SECONDARY FOREST AT: (THIS WEBPAGE) https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2022/04/4029-loss-of-wildlife-and-wild-flowers.html

Monday, April 18, 2022

4028. A Fancy Rat has a large leg lump. What to do?

A Fancy Rat has a large leg lump which bleeds and grows bigger. (Video 2/2). What to do? Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow). 18 Apr 2022. 

The owner had consulted two vets. One advised leg amputation as a tumour could be suspected. Both gave external cream and disinfectant to apply. The lump enlarged to a large size, looking like a tumour over 2 months. “How was the original lump?” I asked the young lady. “Was it a small skin wart?”

“No, no,” she said. “It was a cut wound, just like what the left hind leg has now.”

Based on the owner's history that the origin of the lump was a cut wound which grew larger in size over the past 2 months ago, I diagnosed a lick granuloma.

A cut wound, if licked frequently and daily over 2 months, can develop into a large mass or lump, looking much like a tumour. If it was a lick granuloma, now 1.5 cm x 1.0 cm x 1.0 cm, it could be excised. There would be no need for leg amputation as the lump would not re-grow if the owner ensured there was no continuous licking  . 

However, it could still be a tumour as I had not seen the cut wounds. The other leg had two 0.5 cm cuts due to the climbing up and getting cut on the cage bars. 

Treatment was surgical excision of the granuloma. I gave Zoletil injection IM and

isoflurane anaesthesia gas. Then the electro-surgical electrode wire sliced off the top

75% of the granuloma. Profuse bleeding like a burst dam. 


I bandaged the operated area. 


A follow up of over the next 4 weeks would be done to see if the lump has recurred. 


Post operation close monitoring to prevent licking of the wound by bandaging the leg

and painkillers were given. The rat dislikes wearing the Elizabethen collar which would

prevent licking of the wound or biting off the bandages.



VIDEOS








MORE INFORMATION AND UPDATES ON THIS WEBPAGE:

https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2022/04/4028-fancy-rat-has-large-leg-lump-what.html


4027. A dwarf hamster scratches her ears and bites her body frequently. Why?

A very itchy dwarf hamster scratches her eyes and bites her body.. What to do?

16 Apr 2022.

In Dec 2021, I treated this hamster for the itchy body and ear. I had her shaved bald. The owner had no complaints. Hence, I was shocked to see the hamster so itchy and had dandruff on her ears today. Her back was soiled as she stopped grooming herself now. Hence the smell of urine. I had her clipped bald under anaesthesia and ears were irrigated to get the dirt and sand out of the canals. An anti-mite drop on her back of neck skin and medication to relieve itch and skin infections. Owner to look into home environment and hygiene too. I will wait and see for next 2 weeks. 

What were the causes?

1. Management. Hygiene of living environment. Pee anywhere.

2. Ear infections

3. Ear foreign bodies - sand from sand bath trapped inside the ear canals. 

4. Allergies?

5. Mite infections of skin and ears?   


UPDATES AT: (THIS WEBPAGE)

https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2022/04/4027-dwarf-hamster-scratches-her-ears.html


Sunday, April 17, 2022

4026. Oro-nasal fistulas in an 8-year-old poodle with cavities



2022 CASE STUDY IN A POODLE


WHAT IS A CARNASSIAL TOOTH ABSCESS?

A carnassial tooth abscess, also known as oro-nasal fistula is an infection of the roots of this tooth. There are many causes of tooth root abscesses including trauma from a blow to the tooth (leading to tooth fractures), fighting, chewing hard objects, to bacteria from periodontal disease.

TREATMENT

A tooth root abscess is a very painful condition and needs to be treated as soon as possible. There are only two options for treatment of an abscessed tooth. One option is root canal therapy (endodontic treatment) which can preserve the structure of the tooth. The other option is extraction.



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Dogs do suffer from cavities or holes in the tooth as shown in this RARE case. The dog had fractured his upper right 4th premolar tooth some weeks ago.

Late detection of cavities in the right upper premolar 4 had resulted in bacterial infection into the nasal sinuses. As a result two large seeping wounds appear below the eye. 

MAR 12, 2022. The owner sought treatment of itchy skin said to be caused by house moving. Dr Daniel diagnosed the common medical condition known as oro-nasal fistula or carnassial tooth abscess. He noted the cavity in the fractured left upper 4th premolar tooth. 

Treatment: Dental scaling and a course of antibiotics as usual in such cases. The owner completed the antibiotics but the facial wounds had not disappeared. Why? The reason is that bacterial infection causing oro-nasal abscess is still present. X-rays of the nasal sinuses are advised. It is up to the owner to permit further tests to assess further treatment procedures. 


UPDATES AND OTHER CASE STUDIES WILL BE ON THIS BLOG:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2022/04/4026-oro-nasal-fistulas-in-8-year-old.html




2015 CASE STUDY OF ANOTHER DOG.
Oro-nasal fistula or carnassial tooth abscess is a COMMON dental condition in older dogs. A VIDEO OF A CASE IN 2015 is at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDODCySyijw










































 TREATMENT

1. Root canal treatment must be done by the specialist. This is expensive and not available in Singapore. In human, this treatment can cost over S$6,000 in Singapore. 

2. Extraction of pre-molar 4 if there are deep infections in the root. This condition is also called carnaissal tooth abscess.  Dental scaling showed teeth lined with tartar and periodontal diseases. 





Carnassial teeth are modified molars (and in the case of carnivorans premolars) which are adapted to allow for the shearing (rather than tearing) of flesh to permit the more efficient consumption of meat.


What Are the Signs of a Tooth Infection or Abscess in Dogs?

  • Oral discomfort or a toothache. Dental disease is painful! ...
  • Bad breath. Dental infections frequently cause halitosis (bad breath). ...
  • Drooling. ...
  • Decreased appetite. ...
  • Facial swelling.





Thursday, April 14, 2022

4025. MYANMAR STORIES - MIGRANT (Video 2/2) WORKERS. Peninsular Plaza on Sat 9 & 16 April 2022, 1 pm. Low footfall

 



 

SINGAPORE MALLS - Peninsular Plaza, Sat 9 Apr 2022. 1 PM. No crowds of Myanmar shoppers or visitors.


MYANMAR CULTURE IN SINGAPORE IN APR 2022. 


Video showing parts of Peninsular Plaza on Sat 9 Apr 2022 afternoon. 


There is little footfall for the Myanmar retail shops compared to pre-Covid-19 Saturdays when the mall was overcrowded on Saturdays and Sundays.


Singapore has tightened foreign labour work passes towards the later part of 2016 onwards. This affected the livelihood of many workers in construction, retail shops that open 24 hours and supporting office staff in administration.  


Many Myanmar workers had to go home as their work passes were not renewed. Their remittance home did help their families financially when they worked in Singapore. But the Singapore Government set quotas for employers,  such as 1 work pass for 10 Singaporeans employed as evident by the CPF contributions. This quota was 1 to 3 some 8 years ago. As at 3 May, 2022, there is a "shortage" of workers when Covid-19 restrictions and travel have been removed with international borders open to tourism.  






SINGAPORE MALLS - Peninsular Plaza, Sat 16 Apr 2022. 4.43 PM. No crowds of Myanmar shoppers or visitors.



Migrant domestic workers are not be affected by quotas and they send back money to support their parents and siblings now that Myanmar has economic hardships.

 

In conclusion, the footfall of Peninsular Plaza is severely reduced. Many shops in the periphery of the mall e.g. maids, trading and others are closed down.

Very low footfall compared to pre-Covid years esp. 2016 to 2018 when the whole mall was packed with Myanmar people on Saturdays. Workers from construction, technical and administrative sectors met. On Water Festivals, big crowds of young Myanmar residents in new dresses sat on the grass of St Andrew's Cathedral to celebrate and socialise. Now, the grass is vacant and the retail shops are practically deserted on weekdays.


Many shops in the inside of the mall - hidden from traffic flows - were trading, administrative and some are embassy (e.g. Nepal) offices. Most had closed down. The embassy is still closed due to Covid-19 pandemic curbs.     Travel agencies to Myanmar. One or two still in business but in smaller rental shops. 

MORE INFORMATION AND UPDATES AT:

https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2022/04/4025-singapore-malls-peninsular-plaza.html



Saturday, April 2, 2022

4023. NDCS. Tooth filling of cavity of RU Premolar 14 with 20% of structure left

 1 Apr 2022. 

"Not likely to be retained," a dentist in NDCS had advised extraction. My RU Premolar 14 had a big filling done in Jan 2022 by a previous dentist, now resigned from NDCS. That filling lasted 2 months till it fell off yesterday.

"Please do not worry, I understand what you said," I thanked her for taking the trouble to fill the big cavity again. "Too large, insufficient bone to anchor this filling," she said. I knew she did an excellent job as she took much trouble and time to fill up the cavity. She is around 30 years of age, a committed professional of NCDS.

No more eating nuts and hard food on this filling which is still present as at 16 Jun 2022. This filling covered over 80% of the tooth which had fractured and dropped off, leaving a big crater like a volcano. Professional advices from an experienced NDCS dentist were also to extract it.