Annual Report 2008.pdf - Vets Beyond Borders

vets bey nd borders
Clinical work
Three units were in operation during
this period: one based at the
SARAH Hospital in Gangtok and
two mobile units working throughout
the State in Rhenock, Ravangla,
Jorethang, Dentam, Yuksom and
Geyzing. In the period July 2007 to
June 2008, 5618 animals (mostly
dogs and some cats) were sterilised,
and 8514 animals were vaccinated
against rabies. Thirty eight dogs
received life-saving chemotherapy
to treat transmissible venereal
tumours.
On a number of occasions, the
SARAH team was required to
respond to suspected rabies
outbreaks in rural areas. All dogs
bitten by potentially rabid dogs
were captured and given postexposure
treatment. All owned
dogs, cattle, and goats also
received post-exposure treatment.
Any animals suspected of incubating
rabies were caught and kept under
observation in the isolation unit at
the SARAH Hospital for a minimum
of ten days.
Cases were referred from
Government vets in Gangtok and
rural areas and from privatepractice
veterinarians. Additionally,
in the case of two valuable
Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
explosives sniffer dogs, referral was
from veterinarians serving with the
Indian army.
The programme performed a
variety of surgical procedures
including amputations, major
orthopaedics, eye enucleations,
skin grafting, tumour removals,
wound management, small
intestinal resection and anastomosis,
pyometras, caesareans (dog and
goat), prolapsed uterus (pig), cat
prolapsed rectum (cat), and atresia
ani (calf). All these cases provided
valuable clinical experience for
referring veterinarians, who were
encouraged to assist with
management.
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