Darwin Animal Doctors

Archive: Jul 2017

Humane Education in Thailand
July 28, 2017
Koh Tao, Thailand

Early this month, the Thailand team put down their scrubs and surgery kits and picked up some books, lesson plans and games and headed down to the local elementary school. The team had a big task that day; for some, a task more daunting than surgery. The Koh Tao school is the only local school on the island, and is comprised of approximately 300 children. The Doctors were there that day to ensure that every child at the school received an age-appropriate Humane Education lesson. Back in the US, Darwin Animal Doctors’ Humane Education Coordinator had been working hard to ensure that the team would have all the tools they needed to have the day run successfully, from lesson plans to games, books and take-home information.



For the Doctors to be able to visit each age group, and to have enough time to deliver a full set of classes, the school divided the students into four groups, where the team would have 90 minutes with each age group. By the end of the day, the team had worked with children ranging from 3 to 15 years old. Depending on the age group, the children were given different lessons to help understand how to best care for the animals and environment around them.

The children played games which taught them to identify and understand the difference between wild and domesticated animals, and the different ways that we need to interact with and care for them. They played other games that aimed to teach children which foods are safe and unsafe for their pets, as well games which taught children different animal names in English. With older children, they also played animal care focused trivia games where the students were taught and ‘tested’ on a wide variety of aspects of pet and general animal care as well as aspects of environmental care. Kids were also given talks on what it means to be a vet, and given vet related games for the school to keep for the children to be able to use on a regular basis. All students at the school were also given a colouring book and information pamphlet which outlines what your pet needs to be happy and healthy, with a strong emphasis on sterilization.



After a long day, the team of Doctors left the school tired, but feeling very positive about all the information they were able to share with the students. The children all had a great day, full of games and excitement, and left with a much better understanding of how to best care for the animals and environment around them.

A huge thank you to Dr. Carmen, Dr. Kate, Lisa, Antoine, Rebecca and Katheryn who put in a huge effort that day to ensure each child on Koh Tao had a fun and entertaining education filled day.



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Peiton’s Story Continues
July 25, 2017
Santa Cruz, Galapagos

A few days later, Peiton’s concerned guardian returned to the clinic as the poor little pup had begun vomiting again.

The Doctors began to check Peiton over, searching for the cause of her vomiting. After some delibertion, they were able to determine that due to the excessive vomiting during her illness, Peiton’s stomach acids had burned the oesophegas and she was now regurgitating all her food. The solution? It was actually quite simple. The team needed to make sure that Peiton stayed upright for at least half an hour after she ate to help the food get into her stomach.

As the concern for Parvo had passed, the team could keep Peiton in the clinic for a few days. Each member of the team took turns to assist the little pup with eating, by hand feeding her, and would then hold her after every meal, to ensure that she would stay standing for at least half an hour. If all hands were needed in the clinic, Peiton would find herself wrapped up and supported in a backpack, taken around everywhere by Sacha.

The plan was working. Peiton had stopped regurgitating her food, as was looking increasingly better. The little pup showed multiple signs of a healthy digestive tract, and so after a few days of care in the clinic, Peiton was cleared to go home.

Her loving guardian returned to pick her up and was very happy to hear that the little pup was finally better. She later reported to the clinic team that Peiton was doing very well, eating happily and playing energetically with her brother.

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Peiton
July 24, 2017
Santa Cruz, Galapagos

Peiton and her older brother, Eileen, were brought into the clinic on a Friday as she had begun vomiting, had diarrhea and wasn’t eating. Due to the concern of Parvo Virus, it was not possible to keep the dogs in the clinic, and they would need to return twice a day to receive the life saving medication and treatments that they needed.

By Sunday, Eileen was doing much better and only needed to be monitored from home. Peiton, however, was still not better and she would continue to need twice daily treatments. The dedicated family drove in all the way from the highlands, twice a day to ensure that Peiton would get her life-saving treatments.

After one week of treatment, Peiton was starting to look better. She was no longer vomiting and had become more active. However, as treatment continued, Peiton’s rate of improvement did not continue as expected. As she still had not begun to eat, Dr. Daphne expected an issue with her digestion tract. As Peiton was now stronger thanks to the treatment, it was possible to conduct an exploratory surgery to see if it could be determined what was going on. The exploratory surgery revealed some interesting information to the Doctors, although not exactly what was expected.

After she had recovered from the surgery, Peiton strangely begun to eat again. It was great to see the little puppy eating, but the team knew they would have to keep a close eye on her to check for relapses. Peiton went home that evening, with strict instructions to return if she started to vomit again, or display any other abnormal signs.

A few days later, Peiton returned… Check back in with us soon to hear what happens next!

Animals are in need of your support. Give monthly and provide the necessary supplies for life-saving treatments!
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Expanding our Reach to Save More Animals
July 19, 2017
Expanding our Reach to Save More Animals:
July 2017 ABG Spay and Neuter Campaigns on Isabela and San Cristobal Islands

Isabela and San Cristobal, Galapagos

In partnership with the Agency for the Regulation and Control of Biosecurity and Quarantine for Galapagos (ABG), Darwin Animal Doctors participated in two multi-day domestic animal care clinics on the islands of Isabela and San Cristobal. ABG is the government body tasked with protecting the delicate ecosystem of the Galapagos Islands and Darwin Animal Doctors provides support with their animal care efforts.

In Isabela, Doctor Daphne, clinic coordinator Sacha, and volunteers Juliette and Raphaëlle joined the ABG team from Monday, June 26 to Wednesday 28, 2017. From July 4 to 5, the San Cristobal team consisted of Doctor Daphne and Sacha. Isabela and San Cristobal have much smaller human populations than Santa Cruz, where the Darwin Animal Doctors clinic is located. While this may mean smaller populations of cats and dogs, the risks to wildlife the growing cat and dog populations are the same.

Isabela

As Dr. Daphne conducted the spay and neuter surgeries and Sacha weighed and prepared each animal for surgery, volunteer vet students Juliette and Raphaëlle alternated between helping Sacha and Dr. Daphne. On the first day of the campaign, the team conducted 13 spay or neuter surgeries. At the end of the day, Dr. Rita (ABG) and Dr. Daphne treated the special cases.

On the second day, Dr. Lisette of ABG joined the Darwin Animal Doctors team in the morning. Dr. Daphne worked in conjunction with Dr. Lisette, showing her some additional surgery skills as they conducted surgeries together. Dr. Rita from ABG returned in the afternoon. Together, the teams completed another 20 surgeries.

For the third and final day of the campaign, the group went to the highlands of Isabela, bringing their supplies with them in two 4X4 pick-up trucks. The ABG/ Darwin Animal Doctors team use a classroom without running water or electricity. The teams worked through the morning and, with a small town to serve, they completed their nine surgeries by lunch time.

In total, 42 animals were spayed or neutered during the three-day campaign.

San Cristobal

The following week, Doctor Daphne and Sacha joined the ABG on San Cristobal. As the ABG/ Darwin Animal Doctors team arrived at the small clinic on the island, people were already lining up outside with many animals in tow! The teams quickly unpacked, prepared, and began working.

The ABG San Cristobal team where incredibly organised and supportive. The small clinic space was cramped but the ABG team provided crucial assistance, helping to weigh animals, administer medications, and cleaning equipment.

San Cristobal was a busier operation than Isabela. The ABG/ Darwin Animal Doctors team completed 41 spay and neuter surgeries and did not finish until 8:00 PM on the first day. The second day saw another 40 animals undergoing surgery. While the doctors operated on so many animals, there were still more animals awaiting surgery. The teams will return for another campaign soon.

A huge thank you is due to the ABG team for their organization of the campaigns to Isabela and San Cristobal. It was wonderful to support such an important aspect of the protection of the Galapagos Islands. Darwin Animal Doctors looks forward to more productive campaigns with ABG to treat domestic animals and protect wildlife.

Support Darwin Animal Doctors and continue our life-saving campaigns. Become a monthly donor today!

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Nessi
July 13, 2017
Santa Cruz, Galapagos

Pregnancy and labour are very taxing on the body; and for a stray, it is often a life-threatening experience. For Nessi, the experience was just that.

One of the dedicated girls from the Kemahe group brought Nessi into the clinic one Saturday morning at 6:30am. Nessi was very weak, already in labour and had given birth to one still birth, and another live, but extremely weak puppy. Nessi had given up, and had stopped pushing. Dr. Daphne gave her a hormone injection to help her continue with the labour, and Nessi was able to push out two more pups; although one was a still birth, and the other was very weak.

After that, Nessi gave up again, but still had puppies inside her womb. The Doctors would have to conduct a C-section.

A difficult surgery, the C-section would require all members of the team to assist. Dr. Daphne, Raphaelle and Juliette conducted the surgery, while Sacha and two other volunteers tried to get the puppies breathing again.

The team were able to save the two weak puppies, but could not revive the still borns. It was thanks to her access to medical care, however, that Nessi and the two puppies were able to survive at all.

Lucky for Nessi, the Kemahe group, and the Darwin Animal Doctors team were there to help when the process of pregnancy and labour had become too much, and she had given up. For many street dogs, they do not have the same access to essential medical help.

Help us ensure that all dogs, just like Nessi, have access to veterinary care when they need it most, by donating today. Every donation goes towards spaying and neutering animals around the world, so they do not have to raise a litter living on the streets.
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My Feathered Friend Mien
July 12, 2017
Koh Tao, Thailand

Mien was just a tiny, newly hatched chick when locals brought her to the Darwin Animal Doctors clinic in Koh Tao, Thailand. She was very weak and could not stand. The people who brought her to the clinic believed that the little hatchling fell from her nest. It also appeared that she broke the upper part of her beak, making her beak shorter.

The survival rate for such a young chick without her mother is quite low, and hatchlings like this require a huge amount of care to have any chance of survival. I knew that this little hatchling would need feedings every thirty minutes and constant attention – like she would get from her mother in nature. It would be a big undertaking, but I was prepared to do whatever I could to save the little bird. The team and I named her Mien, and from then on, she came with me everywhere in a little nest I built for her inside a cat carrier.

Without her mother, Mien relied on me for everything – from food and water to protection and care. She wakes me up at sunrise for food and goes to sleep at sunset. If we are busy spaying or neutering cats and dogs, Mien just starts peeping to let me know that she’s hungry.

I soon found Mien a real nest. I saw it in town one in town at a jewellery shop. The shop owner told me her son found the empty nest, and so she needed to ask him if I could have it for Mien. I returned the next day and her son agreed to give it to Mien. She is very happy with it!

Mien improved and grew rapidly as I maintained the 30 minute feeding schedule. She quickly took to sitting on my shoulder and cuddling into my neck. We would eat breakfast together, go to the clinic together, and even going to the beach together!

As Mien gets stronger, she now spends some of her day in a soft-release cage next to a tree. The cage is there from when Jae and Nai, our local partners from Noistar Animal Clinic, raised another hatchling. After being hand-raised, it is important that a bird is able to adjust to living in the wild in a controlled and protected manner. A hand-raised hatchling will spend some time in a cage in nature with food and water available. Once they are accustomed to this and are strong enough, they enter the “soft-release” period where the cage is opened so they can leave, but there is still food for them in case they need it. The last hand-raised hatchling was successfully released to living in nature again. She can often be seen around the clinic, and remembers Nai, who cared for her, and gets excited when she sees him.

Mien is becoming more and more comfortable in nature and will eventually also be released. Until then, I will continue to care for her until she is strong enough and able to care for herself.

Dr. Carmen

P.S. We have spayed and neutered 231 cats and dogs since launching Operation Chumpon Champion on Koh Tao, Thailand. It isn’t too late to support this important effort to control the dog and cat population here and protect the vital nesting grounds for turtles and birds. Please support our campaign by donating here.
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Cosita
July 5, 2017
Santa Cruz, Galapagos

Cosita was brought into the clinic as an emergency case very late one Thursday night as she had begun displaying neurological symptoms; she was stumbling and trembling, and crying out. Dr. Daphne and Sacha were immediately called into the clinic to examine the poor pup.

After examination, Dr. Daphne believed that little Cosita may have been poisoned. She was not able to walk, falling with every step, and was constantly crying out. The Doctors put Cosita on an IV line, and gave her medication to help the symptoms, and another to help her relax and sleep. The little pup slept, but only for about half an hour before waking up and beginning to wail once again. Dr. Daphne knew that looking after Cosita would be an all-night event and explained this to the other volunteers. Lena, Blake and Alison were not swayed and wanted to do anything to help Cosita.

In the end, Dr. Daphne and Sacha stayed in the clinic to sleep as near as possible to the little pup. Every time that Cosita would wake and cry out (which was almost every half hour), Dr. Daphne would go to her to comfort her until she would sleep again. From 6am onwards the next morning, Sacha stayed with Cosita ensuring that she felt comforted and loved. The attention was enough to keep the scared pup calm, and allow her the rest she would need to get better, and for the medication to take its effect.

Cosita had improved throughout the night, and continued to improve that day. From 7:30am, each volunteer would take shifts staying with and comforting Cosita. By the end of the day, the little pup was well enough to be able to go home. After a long day and a long night, the team were exhausted, but relieved that they were able to save Cosita’s life.

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Supporter Spotlight – Rene and Mayra
July 1, 2017
This month, the Darwin Animal Doctors team would like to shine the supporter spotlight on two other amazing team members.

Rene Heyer, founder of Nova Galapagos, along with Mayra Alvarez are the unsung heroes of the Darwin Animal Doctors Galapagos clinic. It is thanks to Rene and Mayra that every veterinarian and every volunteer is able to enter the islands and become part of the clinic, and that the clinic manages to open its doors every day.

As every past volunteer would know; getting the correct permissions to enter the Galapagos Islands as a volunteer is quite a process. With over 50 volunteers a year entering one of the most protected areas on the planet to be part of the Darwin Animal Doctors’ clinic, this administrative nightmare falls on the shoulders of both Rene and Mayra. Not only securing the correct permissions for each volunteer, both Rene and Mayra make sure that all volunteers are welcomed, safe and have and enjoyable experience while staying in the clinic. Hosting the famous “patacones night” is just one example of the team comradery that they ensure lives consistently in the clinic.

Rene and Mayra are also both staunch supporters of Humane Education. Mayra will often be found speaking to locals about the reasons behind spaying and neutering, and ensures that everyone leaves the clinic feeling fully informed and comfortable about the decision to sterilize. Rene is also a constant advocate, ensuring that the Darwin Animal Doctors team stay focused on the education of the next generation.

And of course, both Rene and Mayra are animal lovers and protectors to a fault. With (currently) two dogs and eight cats between them – they have rescued a number of animals who have been dumped at the clinic; unwanted and uncared-for. Of course, those animals now have the most wonderful lives that a dog or cat could ask for!

So, from volunteers, to the animals of the Galapagos, we all owe a big thank you to Rene and Mayra for the huge amount of effort they put in behind the scenes, to ensure that the Galapagos clinic is able to open its doors every day.

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