Blogs
Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in humane dog population control
One year ago, around World Veterinary Day, I wrote my first post for this blog , noting that while writing or reading blogs was not anymore the popular thing to do, for my old-fashioned brain, it provided a way to structure and express my thoughts. Writing also helps them to develop. I have spent a lot of time this year reading, writing, and processing ideas around veterinary care accessibility, barriers to veterinary care, and the spectrum of care, especially the need to be able to set up spay/neuter surgery clinics for owned dogs in existing, basic facilities.
Spectrum of Care in Veterinary Surgery
Recently, a Finnish veterinary colleague and Chairman of the Commission of the Finnish Veterinary Association shared on social media how she had operated a GDV surgery in her very basic primary care practice far up north in the Finnish Lapland with her 17-year-old daughter and the owner assisting in anesthesia monitoring as per her instructions. The reason she shared this was to encourage young veterinarians to try and do their best in critical cases even when the facilities and circumstances are far from the ideal scenario, and to question the view that is sometimes shared in the veterinary circles that attempting GDV without proper hospital facilities, including a trained anesthetist, would equal professional suicide. I was very happy to see this post.
What is there for private sector vets to get involved in high-volume spay/neuter work?
India faces a significant challenge with its roaming dog population and the associated threat of rabies. This issue has received a lot of attention at all governmental levels, leading to the development of a national rabies control program (NRCP). A critical aspect of this plan is the canine component, which primarily involves sterilizing and vaccinating stray dogs at approved Animal Birth Control (ABC) centers. I refer to this initiative as the ‘traditional ABC program’ approach.
Flank or midline approach for female cat/dog spay?
Welcome to the world of spaying and neutering! February is officially recognized as Spay/Neuter Awareness Month, culminating in World Spay Day on the last Tuesday of the month. During this time, lots of amazing non-profit organizations, programs, and private vet clinics join forces to share valuable information and organize spay/neuter campaigns.
Spectrum of Care – How to redefine gold standard in veterinary medicine?
Focusing on: Indian Canine Epilepsy Project
Happy New Year – Are You Ready to Get Off the Starting Line?
I follow an influencer on Instagram who inspires thousands of home cooks eager to learn new recipes and refine their cooking skills. Recently, she has been promoting her bread-making workshops, focusing on a single, simple bread dough recipe that helps people get off the starting line in their baking journey.
Owned dogs – why it matters to spay them?
According to a publication by Smith et al (2019); The Effectiveness of Dog Population Management: A Systematic Review dogs around the world have one of two ownership states – either they are owned or they are unowned. Very simple. Very clear. Only two categories. No need to talk about semi-owned or quasi-pets or anything that makes the matter sound more complicated than it is. A domestic dog (Canis familiaris) either has an owner or it does not have an owner.
What is in a name – Access to veterinary care?
A study by Purdue University (US) scientists published in January 2024 reviewed the existing literature concerning access to veterinary care, in order to understand how “access to veterinary care” has been defined in the literature, map a broad list of potential barriers that may influence access to veterinary care, and identify how access to care impacts the welfare of animals, both companion as well as livestock species.
Outreach adventures to spay/neuter clinics
When most of your work is with your laptop in the office; writing reports, going through accounts, planning projects and budgets and addressing staff recruitment needs, there is nothing better than a little adventure in the form of a field work trip.
Over the last couple of years with the WVS India team, I have been focusing on developing the concept of owned dog spay/neuter campaign clinics as way of complementing the traditional…
Just keep spaying – CATS!!!!
I received an email this morning from Sushmita (name changed), asking my help for what to do when there are kittens being left on the streets and she already has seven such kittens rescued in her house.
This situation is so common for so many people concerned about animals and their welfare. Abandoned, helpless kittens left on the roadsides and kind people trying their best to save their lives by syringe feeding or bottle feeding them every couple of hours 24/7. Despite of all the love and dedication for such work, many such kittens don’t survive.
Investing to your veterinary identity
Twenty years ago, as I was getting ready to start my life as a veterinarian, a big part of the process was to plan what instruments, equipment, medicine and materials to buy, and from where to order them. Among my friends we would compare lists and supplier details and consider how much equine work and how much cattle and how much small animal practice we were likely to be seeing in our first jobs. Medicine and equipment supplier companies arranged…
World Veterinary Day
On this World Veterinary Day, as I sat down for my morning coffee and to check on messages in my phone, I was very happy to see first the message from Dr Shireen Lawrence, thanking me for the mentoring I had provided to him over ten years ago, as he was beginning his career as a veterinarian. It was fully unexpected message and I felt very honoured and humbled by him remembering and recognising me in such a role, so many years later.