10 Things You Can Do to Make Veterinary Visits Better for Everyone

10 Things You Can Do to Make Veterinary Visits Better for Everyone; Accustom your pet to its carrier and to traveling in the car; If your veterinarian doesn't already have your pet's medical record on file, bring it with you or have your previous veterinary team send or fax the records – or, at a minimum, bring your own notes on your pet's health and medical history. Don't send your pet with a person who doesn't have the information the vet will need to help your pet - or if you have to do this, thoroughly document your pet's current condition on paper and make sure you're available by phone to answer questions that may come up; Arrive on time or a few minutes early for your appointment; Unless your children can sit quietly without distracting you or interfering with your veterinary team's ability to examine or treat your pet or talk to you about your pet, consider leaving your children with a babysitter while you take your pet to the veterinarian; Turn your cell phone off while you are in the exam room; Know what medications your pet is receiving (including supplements), as well as how much, how often and how long it is given, and/or bring them with you; Share your observations and concerns with your veterinarian – read more here;https://www.avma.org/public/YourVet/Pages/visits.aspx?utm_source=smartbrief&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=smartbrief-assoc-news

BIRD FLU TRIGGERS THE DESTRUCTION OF DUCK EGGS.

Sa Kaeo: Authorities have destroyed 500 duck eggs seized from two passenger vans at Rong Kluea border market, heading into Thailand, following reports of an outbreak of bird flu in Cambodia. At least 5 people have contracted the virus.. It was reported that Cambodian public health officials were alerted to the bird flu outbreak after five villagers in Battambang contracted the disease. According to authorities, the eggs were being smuggled into the country to be sold to migrant workers in eastern provinces. The spread of the bird flu virus must be curbed and as such purchase of poultry products from unknown sources should be prevented,and strict bio security compliance must be enforced on farms. read more here;http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/781049/bird-flu-flap-triggers-duck-egg-destruction.

COP21;FRANCE TO SPEND BILLION ON RENEWABLE ENERGY IN AFRICA.

France plans to spend billions of euros in renewable energy and other environmental projects in its former west African colonies and across Africa over the next five years said President François Hollande Africa produces little of the greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, produced by burning fossil fuels, linked by scientists to rapid climate change. But it is particularly vulnerable to a changing climate, as much of its population is poor, rural and dependent on rain-fed agriculture. Hollande told a conference on Africa, held as part of climate change talks in Paris, that his government would double investments in renewable energy generation, ranging from wind farms to solar power and hydroelectric projects, across the continent to €2bn between 2016 and 2020. One project, dubbed the “Great Green Wall“, was initially intended to create a barrier of trees reaching from the Sahel in west Africa to the Sahara in the east, but will now focus on creating pockets of trees to revive the soil while another aims to protect Lake Chad, which is threatened by pollution. read more here;http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/01/cop21-france-to-spend-billions-on-african-renewable-energy-projects

HONEY A TOOL TO CURB ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE.

Honey is very useful in wound healing aside other benefits, but the wound healing properties are now extended to include the prevention of antibiotic resistance. Swedish researchers have successfully cured treatment-resistant wounds in horses, using a mixture of various lactic acid bacteria found in bees' honey stomachs and honey itself. The successful trial could help the medical community overcome the growing problem of global antibiotic resistance.Honey inhibits the formation of bio films, or communities of slimy disease-causing bacteria .Honey weakens bacterial virulence, rendering the bacteria more susceptible to conventional antibiotics. Honey is effective because it is filled with healthful poly phenols, or antioxidants.Honey has antibacterial, anti fungal and antiviral properties ,thats why its used in wound treatment and it has found tremendous use in cases of burns. watch video here;http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/832495e7f0e5390d05caf25e59f87643.htm

HIV-POSITIVE PATIENTS AND HEALING POWER OF DOGS.

. Dogs have been identified as possessing healing powers, with most involved in assisted therapy.Dogs like most pets bring healing and love to their owners,thats why most doctors now advocate that patients with heart issues, and high blood pressure get dogs.Dog are also useful as diabetic alert agents,in patients with diabetes because they can actually detect a change in blood glucose level making them a life saver .Dogs have also found to be of help to people battling with post traumatic stress disorder. A new study shows how dogs are healing HIV positive patients; watch it here;http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/f2c007ba8cff46789e09cbf6ac9790b3.htm

RODENTICIDE POISONING IN DOGS.

Dogs are curious animals,running and rumbling through stuff and especially tasting and chewing all sorts.The responsibility of the pet owner is not only the nutrition and health of the pet, they must ensure environmental safety. 

Pets should be protected from harmful chemicals,irritating fluids and compounds that are generally harmful to them.

The cases of poisoning in pets are accidental and majorly from sheer carelessness where the pet owner keeps stuffs that are harmful to pets lying around.Its a known fact that stuff poisonous to dogs are usually household items that are non poisonous to man, so the point is for the pet owner to know what stuff to leave around and what stuff to hide/keep away. 

 Dogs get rodenticide poisoning in areas where rodent baits are commonly used and where there is a lack of proper disposal of dead rats. 

When de-ratization is to be carried out,the baits must be properly laid in areas where the pet will be restricted and a proper disposal mechanism must be enforced to prevent poisoning. 

Dogs usually get poisoned by ingesting the bait directly or by ingesting the dead rodents. The signs of rodenticide poisoning are 1) weakness 2) inappetence 3) bleeding in mouth and anal region.

The first step is to induce vomiting; using hydrogen peroxide, followed by a vitamin k injection to stop bleeding.

Give pet cool water to flush system. 

 When rodent control is to be carried out its in the interest of all to lay baits strategically.

CHRONICLES OF A VET.!!!

Every case is unique and the pet owners as well,so understanding your clients is the major step to success of the case. A client brought in a male dog today with the following signs; 1) swollen eye. 2) redness 3) watery discharges . The owner explained that the dog's eye was normal a day before,but early this morning these signs where obvious. When questioning the client further, he remembered the dog had killed a skunk overnight.This gave the clue to cause since all other questions had negative answers, the skunk must have sprayed some of the irritating fluid into the eye setting up an inflammatory reaction. Skunks common around most homes and they are not really aggressive ,they only spray their fluids to deter predators.The fluids are produced in the tail,have horrible smell that travels as far as 3 meters. The eye was examined and swabbed with normal saline , eye ointment with antibacterial and anti inflammatory properties was applied. The dog was placed on systemic antibiotics for 3 days and vitamin C. Pet owners need to ensure their home is pet-safe.!!!.