Malaysia Veterinary Forum (Archive)

Dr Dunker · Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 466 Location: Puchong,Selangor

Oops...brain slow today. understooded heheheh.
Snake prob died of stress.

Dr Kwok · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 131 Location: Selangor

To Dr chong, what did you used to treat the mite infestation of the python? an owner actually called me what to use for his snake with mites and asking if the dog frontline spray can be used or not, only to get me to tell him I m not sure and don think fronline is good for mites even for dogs.

so far got so many funny calls.. some more got amother guy calling saying his iguana broke his tail and was bleeding... help me la

Dr Chong · Joined: 12 Dec 2005 Posts: 666 Location: KL

Should I do it here or may be I should do it in the small animal round... Will let you know soon...

hanns · Joined: 28 Feb 2006 Posts: 10 Location: serdang

Can anybody tell me the routine of a vet working in large animal field and livestock field?
And i wonder can i make a living in these field?
Thanks.

Dr csh · Joined: 21 Jan 2006 Posts: 427

Well, I did do large animal ambulatory (go to farms) practice but this was in the US. What my typical day was like? well,

7:30 am get to work
7:30-8:00 am read my mails, talk to professors about cases, research, etc.
8:00 - 9:00 am teach student rounds
9:00 - 9:30 am organize my day, talk to clients
9:30 - to whenever, go out and do herd healths and farm calls
Get back, restock the vet truck, submit samples, run lab tests, do official paperwork (eg interstate travel papers), write bills, develop x-rays (if any), wash the protective clothings, look up information I need, etc.

Sometimes I get done with my calls early and sit in the office until 5 pm but often I only get back after that and by the time I am done with all the other stuff, I just go home.

I used to be on call 1/3 of the time of which 40% I get called in for dystocia, colic, milk fever, etc. I get at least 1 middle of the night emergencies every month sometimes I get a bunch in a row. It is very tiring to work all day, al night and all day again the next day especially since I used to drive an average of about 1,500 km a week or so.

It is very rewarding work. There is a certain satisfaction that is hard to explain when you earn your living with your hands. Hard physical work but also intellectually challenging and knowing you are helping the farmers make wholesome, safe food, at the same time helping maintain welfare of the animals in production systems by treating the sick, and preventing disease.

I am not certain about how things are in Malaysia but I know from volunteering in JPH during FMD outbreak that the AVOs did do some vet like work.

hanns · Joined: 28 Feb 2006 Posts: 10 Location: serdang

Hai Dr Csh, thanks for ur post. :wink: btw what is JPH and can u tell me more of ur practice in US, how u get the chance to practice there, is it during ur studying years or aft u graduating from vet school?
Actually my perception to the large animal field is this field provides me the freedom to travel do different farms in different places. And also it involves more physical examination and i think it suits me well, and i like the freedom of travelling rather than staying in the small animal clinic all day long. Is my perception of this field correct?
Is this field has a better future compared to others?
Thank u.

Dr csh · Joined: 21 Jan 2006 Posts: 427

JPH is Jabatan Perkhidmatan Haiwan. I did an internship and then a residency with a Vet School. This is all after graduating. I got matched through the veterinary internship and residency matching program at www.virmp.com which is something like UPU for university entrance in Malaysia.

It depends on the type of practice. Some are purely ambulatory, some purely hospital and some do both. You really cannot generalize like that. You need to read the job description as it is different for every position.

The field of large animal practice is changing just like every other field. You need to evolve to stay competitive and provide the best care. The old "James Harriot" type practice is still possible but the emphasis is moving from treating sick animals to preventive animals from becoming sick. You need to provide a good balance for both and in food animal production, you need to maintain your value to the farmer. You need figure out how you can work with the farmer to provide care that is economically and welfare sound. Try to learn different aspects of management, nutrition, reproduction and grow with the farms you work with. If you work as an extention veterinarian for say a pharmaceutical company or feed company, your loyalty is more towards the company and that is a different relationship. Like I said, no 2 jobs are the same.

If you also want to work with horses, then you need to provide different types of services which is more similar to small animal practice.

I don't think the future is worse than any other field. You just need to find your nieche.

hanns · Joined: 28 Feb 2006 Posts: 10 Location: serdang

Did you obtain EVFVG to do intern there? Is it tough? Actually i don't quite sure what is the purpose of internship and residency and their differences. What's the cost the applicant of the internship need to pay?
On the other hand, is it possible that i "do" student exchange with universities in Thailand for 1 sem or 2 sem? I heard that their large animal field is more developed than ours in Malaysia.
I'm sorry because of asking questions not related to the topic of this forum but questions keep popping up in my mind and i just can't help it hehe...

Dr Dunker · Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 466 Location: Puchong,Selangor

Recently i got a call from a person that says that a baby monkey have been hit by a motorbike and cant move and may have broken bones. I did what i could by giving him a number for perhilitan (unit kawalan kera). Later in the evening the person walked in to the clinic was telling me that the monkey fell form the tree and landed on the motorbike. the rider fell (maybe on the monkey). THe entire troup of monkeys made a huge ruccus and the disstressed mother monkey was tring to save the baby. All in all it was a very pitiful picture. I then ask questions to see if i can guess what was wrong with the monkey. We were so sad that we could not do much to help the monkey which is currently under the care of park rangers.

Sad story right?? BUt it not occur to me in my egerness as a vet to do what i can for the poor moneky, that the MOTORCYCLE RIDER had the worst day of his life. I mean if u were riding allong, minding your own business and a baby monkey droped out of the sky and caused u to fall...what would your first words be?? And the worst part is that i did not even ask if the rider was ok!!!

wallabby · Joined: 26 Dec 2006 Posts: 33

Lol. I'm not a vet, but I'm working in a vet clinic.
The other day, there was a dog that came in and its name was Dunno. Really! Dunno!
I guess the owner just 'dunno' what to name it lah..

Dr. TanDY · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 9:57 am Post subject:

Nice name wallaby :-)

Syed89 · Joined: 21 Feb 2007 Posts: 44 Location: Segamat,Johor

I can see how hectic a vet's life can be.As i'm working with dr puspa,who's also a mother of two,her schedule a day is damn packed.To spice up her life,her husband is working in miri,sarawak and only coming home once a month.What i'm trying to say is,she has to take control of everything,the clinic,the house,childrens.Clients will come and complaint that she usually is not around but they dont know what she has to go through.

Dr Dunker · Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 466 Location: Puchong,Selangor

Hectic, yes...stressful, yes....tireing,yes...fun, ohhhh yeahh.

Dr Nat · Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 1834 Location: Klang Valley

LOL... agreed with Dr Dunker :D

Dr Dunker · Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 466 Location: Puchong,Selangor

This actually happened a number of years ago....names have been changed but it went something like this:

Old man: Doc, i Found a dog in the drain can u have a look at 'em? He is in the boot of my car.
Young Vet: Sure but Why on earth did u put him in the boot, u could kill him!!
Old man: I see u to check the dog not talk.
Young vet: sorry.

After checking the dog which have already undergone Regor mortis (stiff). NO heart rate and movement. Body temperature was cold the vet then turned to the owner:

Young vet: Hate to tell u this mister but your dog's dead.
Old man: What do u mean dead? cant u do anything?
Young vet: well you could bury him! U know, dig a big hole and put him inside...its free too!
Old man: What kind of a vet are you? I want to see your boss!
Young vet: oh ok.

He went to get his boss who also confirmed the diagnosis, but this is what the boss said.

Boss: Well sir, i am truly sorry, but the dog is beyond our abilities to heal. I am sorry u had to go true all this, not many people would have done what u have done. I cant offer u much but if u want i could help u dispose of your poor boy. If u are interested, I hope u don't mind shouldering the cost.

The old man then paid 200 i think and became a loyal client of one of the vets in that practice.

So the important lesson I am trying to say here is "it is not what you say to people but HOW you say it that matters." Mind others feelings and always be polite.