July Clinic

Panajachel, 27 July 2008 – This month’s clinic was a bit on the slow side but our team of vets, veterinary students and Healthy Pets volunteers were assembled and ready to roll at 9 a.m.

While Ezzie (Healthy Pets Administrative Assistant) and Elisabeta (Dr. Miguel’s receptionist) interviewed and registered those who arrived at 9, Selaine (HP Director), Sebastian, Jonathan and Sue (HP volunteers) took off for Calle Santander to rustle up a couple of street dogs. The male and female we nabbed were dogs identified for us by two community brigade volunteers who also operate feeding stations along Calle Santander.

Rising to the opportunity once again, Dr. Miguel and Dr. Andrea were assisted by (6) veterinary students all in their mid-20s:                                                                                       

Sergio Alejandro Marraquin Díaz

Gabriela Franco Arenales

Ravi De León Aguine

Sigrid de Paz Contreras

Andrés Duarte

Nadia Arunyo Calderón

Highlights

From the administration side, July definitely ran much smoother. Our database continues to grow with medical, demographic and social information. Registration, Medical In-take and Discharge are handled through the following stations:

Station 1 – Registration for Healthy Pets and Zoo Mascota

• Patient and human companion registration that includes a social case work-up to determine each person’s financial capability and need; those ineligible for free services are required to pay Q200 or a negotiated portion (our base cost)
• All are asked to sign a clinic liability disclaimer
• All are asked to donate something towards the clinic

Station 2 – Triage and Medical Assessment

• Veterinary students conduct general physical exams and record patient weight, age, temperature and general condition
• The students administer and record any vaccinations given
• Pre and post-op procedures are explained to the patient’s human companion; they are also told that they are free to leave and return for their “baby” in 2-3 hours
• Animals are then transferred to kennels lining the wall leading to the surgery suite

Station 3 – Surgery Suite and Recovery

• Dr. Miguel and Dra. Portillo each have a surgery station and they both conduct training with the students in the small incision, quick sterilization technique; students are offered the opportunity to practice incision-making and suturing
• Both Drs. and students carefully watch over the recovery area
• Upon discharge, each companion is given written and verbal discharge instructions, in Spanish, Kachiquel or English, a complementary bag of pet food as well as a properly fitted collar and leash, if needed (and most do!)

Total Animals for July Clinic: 10 Female Dogs and 2 Male Dogs; our lowest turn out since we began offering monthly clinics

Total Cost of Clinic: Q2400 for surgeries; Q600 for other treatments and supplies = Q3000

Total Donations Received from participants = Q460

We also received a check from the University San Carlos School of Veterinary Medicine for Q230 to purchase of puppy food for the Food Supplement Project.

The Healthy Pets Program is fortunate to have a legacy grant (3 May 2008) that covers most of the cost of our clinics; however, we still need your help. For every Q250 we receive, one more animal can be added to the numbers over a given month.

This week we’ll be posting our 1^st quarterly report for this fiscal year. Check back to see all the amazing results the Healthy Pets Program has achieved since 1 April 2008 along with a financial breakdown of each of our projects.

You’ll also read plans for our August Sterilization Blitz, for International Rabies Day on 8 September and the preliminary thoughts on this year’s Dia de los Perros scheduled of 8 November.

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