These pics are from SAT reader Bec whose pony and old english sheep dog are camped out at her window waiting for treats. (FYI the back yard is larger and provides a grassed area, but they like to wander around the front and wait at the window for treats).
Since its antibiotic awareness week, it is worth reflecting on the "pressure to prescribe". Some pet owners do attend the vet with the assumption that they will take home antibiotics - but infection is less common than many people think, and can be difficult to prove (ideally we should submit a sample for culture, to identify the infecting agent, and select the appropriate antimicrobial accordingly). Furthermore, antimicrobials do not treat viral disease.
And I'm not solely blaming owners here...some veterinarians percieve and respond to a pressure to prescribe. Inappropriate or non-prudent use of antimicrobials promotes antimicrobial resistance which is a threat to both human and animal health. Check out the Australian Veterinary Association's media release here.
Bec's pony makes his presence known. (And quietly exerts pressure to prescribe a treat).
On a lighter note, this little dog wipes his feet when he comes inside.
Finally, a few weeks ago I posted some info about Tasmanian Devils based on a fantastic lecture by Professor Kathy Belov.You can view the full lecture on the Human Animal Research Network website, along with the other lectures from the session (around 30-40 minutes each), here.
Some claim we are already living in the post-antibiotic era - but steps can be taken to reduce antimicrobial resistance.
You may have read a very sad article this week about a man who contracted a panresistant bacterial infection and died having spent most of the year in isolation.
A true post-antibiotic era would render interventions we take for granted, such as major surgery, organ transplants, chemotherapy and successful treatment of pre-term babies almost impossible. Relying on drug development alone will fail - it is well documented that the pipline of new antibiotics is dwindling.
But steps taken by individuals DO HELP. Several studies have shown that antimicrobial resistance is reduced - and occasionally eliminated - when use of specific antimicrobials is reduced or avoided.
The use of therapeutic guidelines for empirical treatment can be extremely helpful in this regard, as can other measures such as hand hygiene, surgical debridement of wounds and topical prepations of some medication.
The British Small Animal Veterinary Association has been promoting a strategy to PROTECT antimicrobials. You can download their excellent poster here.
In a perfect world, we would perform a culture and sensitivity in every suspected infection, treat appropriately and culture post-treatment to confirm resolution. Not only would this benefit the individual by allowing treatment to be tailored and avoiding unnecessary medications, it would also allow vets to keep track of the sorts of agents involved in common infections and how these might be changing.
In veterinary land one disincentive for culture and repeat culture is cost - clients must pay vets for these tests, and vets must pay labs. If antimicrobial resistance is a public health issue, is this a test that could be subsidised in some way?
Next week the Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity will be hosting a brain-storming session on novel approaches to vexing problems: antimicrobial resistance and emerging infectious diseases.
Deb "Spoons" Perry wields her silverware with staggering dexterity.
There's nothing more exciting than someone who is deadset passionate about something. If
you’ve been anywhere near the internet you’ve probably viewed the compelling
work of percussionist Deb “Spoons” Perry, a West Australian grandmother, farmer
and all-round likeable chick who happens to make magic with silverware. As if
she weren’t fantastic enough, Deb or Spoonsy as she is sometimes known, is an
animal lover and pet owner, and was happy to share her story with SAT.
And if you aren't familiar with her work, you need to set aside a a few minutes to watch this (be prepared...its hard to resist the urge to tap along).
Tell
us a bit about yourself – who you are and what you do?
I
am aged 65 and have been married to Bill for 40 odd years. We have lived in various
places in including W.A. New South Wales and Queensland.
For
the past 10 years Bill and I have owned and run a 300 acre sheep farm near
Bridgetown in W.A’s South West. Bill still works full time and I work on the
farm, do the odd days relief teaching and keep myself busy running my small
spoon business.
We
have three children, a son who is a plumber, a winemaker daughter and another
daughter who makes promos for Channel 7. There are 4 grandchildren with the
eldest being 5.
I
live in an old farm house with an extensive garden in a beautiful gully with
dams and revegetated creeks that flow all year.
I
love all outdoor activities, walking, swimming, kayaking, gardening, bird
watching etc and I am very interested in the natural environment.
I
am a percussionist, learnt in my teens and still have and play my 1960’s drum
kit and also play congas, bongos, spoons, rhythm bones and bohran. I play drums
in the Manjimup Jazz Ensemble and with other local musicians.
Deb's place. No wonder animals love the garden!
When
did you realise you had a knack with the spoons?
Soon
after an elderly man Danny (probably my age now??) taught me to play them in a
wine bar in North Fremantle in about 1972. They initially were played in the
kitchen when a good tune came on the radio…..I still do that!!
Deb feeds a roo.
In
your videos it is clear you love animals. What animals did you grow up with?
As
a child we had a family cat “Puska.” In my teens I encouraged a stray dog to my
window each night with food until Mum and Dad said I could have him. “Stigs”
was over sexed and got into lots of trouble!!! My Dad loved telling stories of
his exploits. He had to be put down as he bit the dog catcher.
What
pets do you have now?
I
have Jess the 13 year old Staffy and Indah my daughter’s Border Collie/ Bull
Terrier cross who is 16.
Indah enjoys the fruits of a neighbour's deep-freeze clean out.
I
also enjoy my chooks, give them names, and I have a resident King Skink,
Russell, who lives in our roof and enjoys the odd egg.
Jess, pictured at the same sitting.
There
are 500 odd sheep that I help look after and enjoy handling and keeping healthy.
I pat the lambs when ever I can and often give the sheep in the race a pat on
the head and talk to them as I move them along.
Deb really enjoying a song.
As someone who clearly has plenty of pets, have you had any
memorable interactions with vets?
Bill
and I lived on a station in the Pilbara region of W.A when we were first
married and my wonderful Red Cloud Kelpie “Quei” had eaten a bait that was put
out for the dingos. We rang the Roebourne vet 200 km away in desperation to get
advice. I spoke to Ric and related his instructions to Bill who tried in vain to save her. It was horrible.
That
same vet had a Red Cloud Kelpie who spent her days under his desk peacefully
sleeping as he saw clients however after work she would not let another dog go
near him and was very possessive.
He
did an excellent job as he had a huge area to cover. Ric was Red Dog’s vet.
I
have always found vets to be wonderful caring understanding people with a lot
of patience.
Can you give us an insight into your daily routine. How much
looking after do they need?
My
day starts with a long pat for the dogs by my bed after Bill has let them out
of the laundry where they sleep.
I
always give them cuddles and pats through out the day and talk to them and
check them out. They sleep most of the day now.
When
I have breakfast outside Jess now waddles after her Zoomer and Indah goes “Wooo”
and sometimes throws her bone in the air. She still thinks she is a pup at
times.
I
let my chooks out, feed them and collect any eggs. At night they must be locked
up or a fox will take them. My two Guinea Fowl are not nice to my rooster so I
get cranky with them sometimes.
In
the evening I take the dogs for a short walk after much encouragement to get
them going. Jess has joint problems and Indah has hip and leg issues due to two accidents.
They
both can’t hear very well, don’t move out of your way and Indah woofs in the
evening at nothing and drives us nuts until we bring them both in and shut the
door.
Deb feeds the kangaroos.
You've been a bird watcher for some years. Where have you
travelled to watch birds?
It
has been mainly where ever we have lived and when ever we have been holidaying
be it camping, sailing, walking etc. I kept records and contributed to various
Birds Australia projects through out the years. It has been very rewarding. My
first kelpie Quei used to sit patiently beside me when I was bird watching not
making a sound, however she knew there was a game and some fun on the walk
home.
I
still gain huge pleasure in observing all the farm birds, their familiar
habits, antics and personalities.
How
would you describe the bond you have with your animals?
Jess
and Indah are so special and I
dread the thought that they may no
longer be around. They both have had wonderfully long and interesting lives and
I treasure every day.
How
have animals you have lived with changed you as a person?
I
am sure our family kelpie “Kebble” helped me be a better Mum in numerous ways.
I
have been softened and become more caring from their unconditional love and
attention.
I
find I am happier with them around to chat to, help and enjoy.
By
just knowing they are with you gives you extra confidence when living in a
fairly remote location and often being on my own and I never feel lonely.
Your spoon-handling abilities are impressive. Veterinarians must
learn to handle surgical instruments. Do you have any tips for persons entering
careers such as surgery where dexterity with surgical instruments is required? (in other words, how much
practice do you do???).
It
is like anything that you want to become good at it is practice, practice and
practice.
My
dexterity with the spoons comes from being a percussionist.
I
learnt to do basic drumming when I was 14 and I took to it like, “a duck to
water.”
I
constantly challenge my self when playing my spoons.
I
never listen to music without tapping and or strumming my fingers on something
and I often get into trouble for doing it.
Perhaps
taking up a hobby that works your wrists and fingers would be a good idea…..it
is all to do with being supple and I should add working both hands not just one. SAT sincerely thanks Deb "Spoons" Perry for being so generous with her time.
This baby bluetongue is good for your garden. Be careful with any herbicides you use as they may have an adverse effect against lizards and other reptiles.
UPDATE: The NSW Department of Primary Industries has published a review of pesticides used in the management of vertebrate bests, including environmental and non-target risks. Read it here. Glyphospate-based herbicides are extremely common, the most popular of which in this part of the world is a product called Roundup (so popular in fact that plebs like me who don't garden still know what it is).
Like many "icides", herbicides can have negative effects on non-target organisms (the target organisms in this case being weeds). Herbicides contain not only active ingredients but also adjuvants - products that improve the stability of the compound and enhance efficacy.
While all such products are required to undergo toxicology testing prior to registration, these studies have traditionally looked at the impact of the toxin on birds and mammals. Reptiles have been overlooked, which gives you a bit of an insight into the social status of reptiles.
This stunning pair, named X and Y (look at their dorsal markings...) should melt the hearts of even the least reptile-oriented.
Dr Stephen Cutter, of the Ark Animal Hospital, and reptile veterinarian, alerted me to a fact sheet put together by the New Zealand Department of Conservation on "The effect of glyphosate herbicides on lizards".
A study using two glyphosate products (Yates Roundup Weedkiller Concentrate and Agpro Glyphosate 360) on the New Zealand common skink (Oligosoma polychroma) found that they changed skinks' thermoregulatory behaviour and decreased sprint speeds, both possibly predisposing to a greater risk of predation. The effect wasn't consistent between the two products, so that is also interesting as it might be adjuvants or something about the formulations that is responsible and not the glyphosate per se.
One has to be careful in interpreting such findings. First of all, the two selected products aren't singled out because they are worse than others - they happened to be the two products studied. Other products may actually be worse so don't simply avoid these two products and assume that all other products are fine.
Secondly, we're talking about a short-term study involving one species in a particular climate. This herbicide might be more or less toxic to other species or indeed individuals.
When it comes to animal welfare I think that there is a need for more evidence, but my approach is to err on the side of caution - i.e., be really selective about where you use the product and use it really cautiously in gardens inhabited by reptiles.
A water dragon suns itself on the fence.
Incidentally, if you do want to provide a nice environment for the reptiles in your yard, you can do a few things:
Reduce predators. If you own dogs, cats, ferrets etc, establish barriers through which reptiles can escape but others cannot fit (harder with ferrets, I know)(one of SAT's most popular posts is a case study of Jane, a pink-tongued skink who had an altercation with a dog and required an emergency caesarian as a result).
Reptiles love native plants and leaf litter, so aim for a native bush garden;
provide a good rock or some planks for sunbaking (in an area where potential predators can't access them);
make sure there is shade as well as access to sun as this provides a natural heat gradient.
Dr Cutter also informed me that the animal-obsessed can improve their choc-chip cookies by turning the choc-chips into tiny spiders. I also recieved an email about a fantastic seminar tonight by Professor Barbara Creed entitled Apes & Elephants: modernity, zoos and the search for sensationalism. It is being held at the University of New South Wales, Webster Theatre A in the Robert Webster Building on the Kensington Campus from 5-6.30pm.
Professor Creed will discuss the European fascination with tropical animals in zoos throughout the 19th century. According to the blurb,
Zoos became places where human animals could experience the chill of a backbone shiver as they came face to face with the animal/other. It will examine the establishment of the first zoos in relation to Harriet Ritvo’s argument that their major imperative was one of classification and control. On the one hand, the zoo fulfilled the public’s desire for wild, exotic creatures while, on the other hand, the zoo reassured the public that its major purpose was control of the natural world encapsulated by the stereotype of tropical excess. I will argue that these various places of exhibition created an uncanny zone in which the European subject was able to encounter its animal self while reaffirming an anthropocentric world view.
I am interested in zoos and zoorism so very disappointed I won't be able to make it, but would love to hear from anyone who pops along.
Veterinary Mandy Johnson is a firm believer in lifelong learning.
In case you hadn't noticed, here at SAT we are very firm believers in veterinary continuing education. Veterinary school lays the foundation but new treatments emerge and its often beneficial to revisit a topic once you have some experience behind you to contextualise the knowledge.
For the uninitiated, veterinary continuing education is now mandatory in Australia, but clients increasingly expect us to constantly seek out up-to-date information. And it does keep work interesting.
As SAT readers know, there are always a fantastic array of webinars and seminars on - but sometimes one wants to sink one's teeth into a particular subject and learn something a bit more substantial. Postgraduate study is one option, distance education is another.
Tell us a bit about yourself?
I graduated from the
University of Sydney in 1981 and have worked in small animal practice since
then.
In 1984 my family and I
moved to Coffs Harbour on the mid north coast of NSW, where my husband David,
who is also a vet, became a partner at Pacific Vetcare (or Park Avenue Animal
Hospital as it was then).
The practice which has a
mixed case load caring for domestic animals, farm animals and equine patients
has grown from a 3 man practice to now employing 10 veterinarians. All of
Pacific Vetcare’s practitioners have particular areas of interest and expertise
and most of our vets have completed Distance Education Courses (eg in Surgery,
ultrasound, equine medicine, clinical problem solving etc.) which in some cases
have led to completion of memberships in their special fields.
Why
did you decide to take on a distance education course?
I found that doing a DE
course was very convenient. I had access to skilled tutors who are leaders in
their fields, I could study from home at times that suited me and I had none of
the associated travel costs of conferences. Also because the course is spread
out over months there is more time to digest the information.
I enrolled in my first
Distance Education Course, because the Practice Principles decided that they
wanted someone in the Clinic to have expertise in Dermatology: a huge
percentage of our caseload involves animals with dermatology issues.
What
courses have you completed and why did you choose these subjects?
In 2002, I did the
Dermatology DE Course with Ralf Mueller and Sonya Bettenay. I had always had an
interest in skin cases, my bosses wanted me to do the course and we see a huge
number of animals that have skin problems.
This year, I have just
completed the Clinical Pathology Course 1 with Sandra Forsyth. It is the first
year this course has been offered, otherwise I would have done it before. Most
sick animals that we see have some form of
clinical pathology testing carried out, also it fits in very nicely with
dermatology cases.
What
did you find most helpful about the program?
The most obvious benefit
is the great increase in knowledge gained. The courses are presented in a
logical fashion so that the basics are covered and memory is refreshed (it is a
long time since I graduated) and current techniques and information are
presented. If more information is required you have easy access to your tutor and
other members of the course.
What
were the biggest challenges?
The biggest challenge is
finding time to do the course work and being disciplined about it – sometimes
studying and doing assignments are not so appealing when you want to relax and
do something else. For me that brings about the problem of guilt – knowing that
I should be studying when I’m not [Ed: I hear you loud and clear! Even bad TV becomes compelling when its a guilty pleasure]. However, the flip side is the great feeling
you get when you have finished the work and then looking forward to the next
part.
Another problem is the
actual cost of the courses – for me working part-time as I do, justifying the
expense could be a real issue.
How
do you network in a distance ed program and what sort of connections were you
able to build with colleagues? (eg in Australia and overseas)?
At the start of the course
we introduced ourselves via the listServ or email forum. This lead to quite
robust discussion and as in most things some people were way more active than
others. The workshop provided an opportunity to meet all the participants in
person. The tutors from both the courses I did were always available, via the
internet, and happy to answer any questions.
How
do you use the knowledge you gained and how has it changed the way you
practice?
Before doing the
dermatology course, I found skin cases to be extremely frustrating and my
approach to treatment was very haphazard, more of a recipe book format than a
logical approach – if it was itchy, give it prednisolone, if it looked purulent
add in antibiotics. While cases can still be frustrating, my approach now is
far more scientific and logical and I am fairly confident about what I am doing.
Consequently I have much more success with my cases and am able to explain
causes and treatments much better to my clients.
So much of dermatology
work ups involve clinical pathology (collection of samples, using the
microscope etc) that it was the obvious next step for me to go on and do the
Clinical Pathology course when it was offered.
Mandy does a lot of cytology now for dermatology cases.
Everyone uses clinical
pathology in their practice – some answers are simple, straight forward and
quick, but often we need to send samples away and get an expert opinion. Being
able to interpret answers on the spot can give owners an idea of what their pet
is suffering from and what may be involved in their treatment. Treatment can be
started earlier, it can save the client money; it can give us clues to the next
step in diagnosis and treatment eg ultrasound/ x-rays and most importantly it
can lead to better outcomes for our patients. [Ed: for those wondering about Mandy's derm caseload, she sees a lot of dogs with hypersensitivites though less with flea hypersensitivity since the advent of some newer flea products. She sees a lot of demodex, occasional sarcoptes, loads of malassezia, lots and lots of acute and chronic otitis externa, then the odd auto-immune disease like pemphigus or discoid lupus erythematosis, and lumps/bumps/warts of course].
What
did you learn about your personal learning style during the program?
Nothing really has changed
very much for my particular style of learning over the last 30 years apart from
the obvious advent of the internet and being able to access information
instantly from many sources.
I still like to take
myself off in to a quiet room, usually my bedroom, sit on the bed with books
and paper everywhere and write things down. I think I have a very visual style
of learning and things seem to stick better if I can see it. For this reason,
the workshops are invaluable. It is much easier to retain information from
something that I have seen or heard face to face, than reading it in a book.
Emails to and from the tutor also have a better chance of being retained in my
brain.
What
sort of continuing education would you plan in the future?
I am already enrolled in
Clinical Pathology 2 which starts next year.
I would be happy to do
many of the courses as I love learning but obviously to do something that you
are already interested in, has relevance in your particular work, and can be of
use to the rest of the practice has merit.
What is on your learning agenda for 2014? SAT would love to know!
Fish have feelings too and can benefit from environmental enrichment, a varied diet and (with some species) companionship).
How do you know when your Siamese fighting fish is sick? Do goldfish
really have a three second memory? What can you do to enrich the life of your
pet fish? What exactly does a fish vet do? Western Australian fish vet RichmondLoh answered SAT’s burning questions. (And in case you were wondering, his
title is Dr Richmond Loh DipProjMgt BSc BVMS MPhil (Pathology) Murdoch
MANZCVS (Aquatics and Pathobiology) CertAqV).
Can you tell us a bit about what you
do?
I predominantly work with people’s pet
fish, work out why they’re sick or dying and provide a cure. Other clients I
work with include aquarium retailers, public aquaria and aquaculturists. On a
regular basis, I teach at Murdoch University and volunteer my time on
committees such as those of the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association.
I’m also active on various social media platforms.
Do fish vets mostly do house calls?
Yes, my fish work almost entirely
involves house calls or site visits. There is no substitute. You gain a lot of
insights to the life support systems they have in place, get to inspect all the
medicines they had tried but failed, get to check their water quality and you
have access to multiple fish to perform diagnostic testing on.
The fish vet underwater.
How did you become a fish vet?
I have always been interested in
animals and aquatic life since a very young age. I used to trawl the drains and
rivers for fish back in Malaysia. Animals are beautiful and every one of them is
different and are fascinating. Becoming a veterinarian and to work with fish
was a natural progression.
What types of fish do you treat?
My main clients are owners of koi and
goldfish. The primary reasons for this is that they are recognisable as
individuals, have long lifespans and owners form an emotional bond with them.
Other popular types of fish include Siamese fighters, catfish, cichlids, sharks
and of course, clownfish. I also see the “four-legged varieties” that are
called Mexican walking fish. (I call them “fish impersonators”).
What are common conditions you see in
pet fish?
I mostly see issues with water quality,
parasites and bacterial infections. The main reasons for these include lack of
regular water monitoring, overstocking, new fish or plant introductions and
stress.
Dr Loh, who has undergone postgraduate training in pathology,
can wield a microscope.
True or false: goldfish have a three
second memory. What are the implications here?
I was thinking this question was going
to crop up. It’s a common party joke that annoys me a lot. Let me answer this
question with a question. Say you only feed your fish once a day, at the same
time each day… do they remember where and when you’re going to feed them next?
(The answer is YES they do know, and
this 24-hours is a lot more than the purported 3 second memory).
There is a heap of scientific literature
that support fish being intelligent sentient beings. So the implication for us
as fish owners is that we need to pay them more attention.
What kind of environmental enrichment
can pet owners provide fish?
There are so many things available
nowadays that can enrich your pet fish’s environment. You could go with all
natural items such as bog wood, rockeries, plants and different substrates. You
might like artificial items such as resin or plastic ships, skulls and more.
There are also artificial plants and rocks that look so real. Just drop in at
your local fish shop and you’ll be amazed at what you can get.
A varied diet is also good for your
fish. You can go with a blend of manufactured dry or semi-moist foods, frozen
foods and live foods.
In addition to dietary variety,
companionship is important. Depending on what type of fish they are, companions
of the same species or other species might be a good thing.
This Archer fish spat at my camera! (Exceptional aim).
Are there activities that people can
perform (eg interaction or training) that will benefit their fish?
The most training I’ve ever done with
my own pet fishes are for them to jump up for food. I’ve seen on the internet
some have trained their goldfish to swim through hoops, play basketball and
soccer! That’s pretty amazing stuff.
What are the clinical signs of illness
in pet fish?
The very first warning sign that things
aren’t right is when they go off their food. Other clinical signs of illness
include clamped fins, scratching/flashing, development of lesions on the body,
producing excess mucus, becoming listless and more.
The fish vet with Gwen Stefani!
Can fish feel pain and what can you do
about it?
It is certain that fish do feel pain.
The main debate now (which is all very academic), is around whether fish feel pain
the same way that humans do. Either way, there is no good reason to inflict
pain on another living creature.
If you’re referring to the euthanasia
of fish or slaughter, the mode that causes least distress and pain is
recommended. Pet fish can be euthanased with an anaesthetic overdose. Food fish
should be percussed and bled out and with the additional option of pithing the
brain.
Do you have any advice for veterinary
students/veterinarians keen to work with fish?
There is now a lot of information
available (through courses such as Aquavet, Seavet, Marvet and others) for
veterinarians and students to get all the basics down pat. There are textbooks
and journals and of course, the internet. But nothing substitutes putting
yourself out there to gain your own firsthand experience. There are aquatic
veterinary groups you can join in your own region and my favourite, being the
World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association.
Phil has made a full recovery and now has a spring in his step.
No case report is complete without follow up. Last week SAT reported on resident canine expert Phil's epic battle with a retained tooth root. Every passing day seems to confirm the root-of-all-evil hypothesis. Our patient's appetite has improved, he's getting up earlier, jumping up the front step more and seems happier to run around than he has been in months.
