Tag: Rabies
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A dog is for life, not just for Christmas… or lockdown
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In the first lockdown in March, we saw a surge in puppy purchases. With vets up and down the country struggling with staffing issues, and trying desperately to heed RCVS and BVA advice to see emergencies only, new owners requesting puppy vaccines just added to that pressure. We waited with trepidation, expecting the craze to…
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The big C
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I spend much of my working life looking for it, identifying it, and discussing it. My personal life has already been touched by it, and there’s a not inconsiderable chance it will kill me some day. News organisations neatly divide every object in the world into something that will either cure or cause it or,…
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Brexit and vets: providing lactose against the intolerant?
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I often wonder what we would pad the daily news out with if the UK hadn’t voted to leave the European Union on 23 June 2016. Last week, it was shaken up a bit with incidents of “milkshaking” – trending on Twitter as “lactose against intolerance” (was it British milk they were using?). Even so, it seems…
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’Tis the season to (not) be shopping…
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There are many traditions with Christmas – some you like and some you don’t. The annual onslaught of impulse puppy and kitten purchases hits us all in one way or another: there’s the heart-stopping emergency consults with the sickliest ones, the vaccine consults where you question the validity of that rabies certificate, and the disappearance…
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It’s not personal, it’s strictly business
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Veterinary practices are businesses. Their purpose is to make money for their owners. I state this clearly, because it’s a truth always felt incongruous. We all have our own reasons for entering the profession, of course, but mine didn’t include owning a business – that aspect of the veterinary world barely crossed my mind –…
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My various reasons for running
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Maintaining a work-life balance can be difficult within the veterinary profession, unless you actively make an effort to do non-vet things. Joining a sports team or other society requires a certain level of commitment (depending on the level), and this can be helpful to keep a frequent scheduled period of “escape time”. Another good way…
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Obesity – getting to the truth
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Pet obesity is back in the news. Apparently our pets are getting fatter faster than ever. We all know the health issues related to this and a bit of the psychology. We know, as owners, we sometimes compensate for being busy and spending time away from our pets by giving treats. This always makes me…
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Volunteering in Malawi
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Last year I spent three months in Blantyre, Malawi. My visit mainly focused on helping Mission Rabies set up its vaccination campaign. Twelve months on and Mission Rabies has done an amazing job; its teams have not only vaccinated more than 70% of the dogs in the city of Blantyre, but also in the entire…
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WVS call-out reveals choke collar trauma
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Our team of vets and veterinary nurses in Malawi are as busy as ever, but one of our fantastic vets, Cait Finnegan, has taken the time to share her account of treating a dog that received a neck injury after having a choke collar embedded into its neck. As you can see from the photos,…
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Clients’ perception of pain in their pets
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I’ve been hearing a classic client phrase a little too much recently. I realise it can be difficult for some people to get – that animals feel physical pain just like we do – but when the evidence is staring you straight in the face (or even trying to bite your hand), why can people…