Happy holidays!

Dear esteemed customers,
the clinic will remain CLOSED

from 22nd to 27th of December for Christmas 

and 

31st December to 3rd of January for New Year

In case of an emergency please call 0202 001 007, 0723 447 910 or 0702624945.

We wish you and your pets a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Kitengela Glass Pet Boarding Kennels

During this festive season, as you go around celebrating with your loved ones far away from home, our small five VET CLINIC Team can board your furry friends for you. Our kennels are located at the heart of Kitengela Glass. Do not worry if you are unable to drop off your pet, we have a pet friendly ambulance that will do the pick up and drop off. The pets will have more than an acre fresh garden to play and socialize. Our carers are well-trained and selected from the best. While at our kennels, your pet will receive the best of "Nani Croze" - and we all know how Nani loves animals. They will have access to fresh water, high class feed and will be walked daily. They are not far from our vet care should need arise.

Wishing you a happy festive season!
Your small five VET CLINIC Team

  

  

  

Pictures of the KSPCA Shaggy Dog Show

"small five VET CLINIC" educated on rabies during the annual KSPCA Shaggy Dog Show at the Ngong Race Course.

Dr. Gabriels Rottweiler participated in two categories:

• "best groomed dog" - 3rd place and 
• "best dressed dog" - 2nd place 

The show is fun for old and young whether you have a dog or not. It is interesting to watch: funny dressed dogs and their owners, agility show, bouncing castle for kids, yummy food and a raffle,... make sure you don't miss it next year!

   

All Pictures >>

KSPCA Shaggy Dog Show

TODAY is THE DAY!

Welcome everyone to the Ngong Racecourse Grounds from 10am. It is a lot of fun, especially for kids with or without their dogs.

small five VET CLINIC has a stand and our youngest team member and her four-legged Rottweiler friend Dibba will participate in the "best dressed contest".
You will recognize our "small five - Team" easily in their new uniforms.

Don't miss the chance to ask our team questions, get free advice on your pet's care and rabies. We will also have something small for everyone who visits our stand.

Pictures will be posted on our facebook page: facebook.com/smallfive.vetclinic

Links:
Kspca Kenya
KSPCA Fundraiser Project

IDEXX Laboratories has partnered with Lancet Pathologist Kenya towards changing animal disease diagnosis

The Kenya Veterinary Association, the Kenya Veterinary Board, the director of veterinary services together with "small five VET CLINIC" and Kenya Companion Small Animal Veterinary Association welcome IDEXX Laboratories in Kenya. Thank you Lancet Pathologists Kenya for making this dream a reality.

IDEXX laboratories equipments will help improve our diagnostic services by a great margin, animal treatment at our facility will be fast and efficient, our clients will be able to save money in seeking help for their pets.



The chief executive officer Pathologists Lancet Kenya, Dr Ahmed Kalebi, (second right) consults with Director of Veterinary Services Dr Kisa Ngeiywa as IDEXX Laboratories Regional General Manager Gail Caunter (left) looks on. Lancet Kenya has diversified into animal health services in partnership with IDEXX. PHOTO | Correspondent | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

  

In Summary

• The deal will see Pathologists Lancet Kenya start providing laboratory testing services for livestock and pets across the country. 
• Many vets often opt to treat their animal patients based on outward symptoms without the benefit of evidence-based laboratory testing.
• Veterinary testing market is largely untapped in Kenya but the demand for services is high. 

A laboratory services company, Pathologists Lancet Kenya, has partnered with IDEXX Laboratories, a global firm in the field of animal health. The deal will see Lancet Kenya start providing laboratory testing services for livestock and pets. The strategy is expected to give Lancet Kenya an entry into the veterinary testing market that is largely untapped in Kenya although the demand for such services is significant.

Lancet Kenya, which has over 35 branches in the country, has also introduced a system for supplying consumables and IDEXX-customised rapid tests to vets for convenient use within their clinics or in the field.

ANIMAL PATIENTS 
"Some vets have been approaching laboratories that are meant for testing human samples seeking essential basic tests in order to properly diagnose and treat their animal patients appropriately. But they often meet disappointments since human laboratories are not calibrated for animal testing," CEO of Pathologists Lancet Kenya, Dr. Ahmed Kalebi, said on Thursday.

Mr. Kalebi said that many vets often opt to treat their animal patients based on outward symptoms without the benefit of evidence-based laboratory testing.

These diagnostic services will be available to vets, who attend to small and companion animal owners, poultry and dairy farmers, vet public health, wildlife services and vet scientists.

REFERRAL TESTS 
Lancet Kenya has commissioned an IDEXX-equipped referral laboratory, in Nairobi, which will run routine and specialised referral tests required by vets across the country.

Samples will be collected through the firm's existing branch network and courier links, brought to Nairobi for specialised tests and result transmitted through online or mobile platforms to vets who previously had no access to these specialised services.

Rare and highly specialised tests will be handled in conjunction with IDEXX reference laboratories and other testing centres in South Africa, which are internationally accredited.

Spirocercosis

Dogs are infected by eating an intermediate host (usually dung beetle) or a transport host (chickens, reptiles or rodents). The larvae migrate to the thoracic aorta, where they usually remain for almost 3 months. Eggs are passed in faeces almost 5–6 months after infection.

Most dogs with S.lupi infection show rare clinical signs, but when signs are present, they most commonly include weight loss, coughing, and difficulty in breathing. When the oesophageal lesion is very large (usually when it has become tumerous), the dog has difficulty swallowing and may vomit repeatedly after trying to eat. Such dogs salivate profusely and eventually become emaciated. In addition, they may develop thickening of the long bones. These clinical signs are suggestive of spirocercosis with associated neoplasia in regions where the parasite is prevalent. Occasionally, a dog dies suddenly as the result of massive bleeding into the thorax after rupture of the aorta damaged by the developing worms.

Diagnosis can be made by your vet through clinical signs, faecal lab by demonstrating the characteristic small, elongated eggs that contain larvae in the faeces. Gastroscopic imaging occasionally reveals a nodule or an adult worm. A confirmatory diagnosis can be made by radiographic examination when it reveals dense masses in the esophagus; a positive-contrast barium study may help define the lesion. CT is an additional useful diagnostic tool.

It is important to note that many infections are not diagnosed until post-mortem.

Treatment and Control
It is important to plan a regular check up with your vet.

Dogs should be prevented from eating dung beetles, frogs, mice, lizards etc. and not fed raw chicken scraps. There are special spot on medicine that helps prevent the condition.

Please note that treatment of clinical cases is often not practical.

  

"If that aint love, then I dont know what love is"

Thanks @paulakahumbu! 

The puppies are too cute >>

15th World Veterinary Day

During the "49th Annual Scientific Conference" in Busia we celebrated the "15th World Veterinary Day" today.

  

Wheelchair for a puppy

Clients who have recently visited us might have seen that cute puppy in the front office. It is paralized (due to "self-vaccination" into the spinal cord in the former home?!?) and cannot move the hind legs.

We tried to get it walking again and were hopeful due to the young age. But it's time to accept that the nerves won't grow back and try new ways. We came up with the idea of building a dog-wheelchair. Very common in the US, new to Kenya.

What we are still looking for are wheels. Anyone has a pair of old stroller wheels or some from those kid's cars/toys? They shouldn't be too big - it's still a puppy :) About 10 to 20cm diameter. Bigger might also be useful in the future.

The status quo is unacceptable though it doesn't feel pain it pulls the legs and gets wound easily. Locking it in a cage is not an option either. Help us, donate two wheels and give this puppy a chance!

Happy Easter everyone and please don't vaccinate your animals on your own.

  

Can you spot your vet?

Here is a picture courtesy of the "Kenya Small and Companion Animal Veterinary Association" (KESCAVA).
Picture taken at the "Nairobi University Clinical Studies Department". DR. ANDREW HILLIER, BVSc, MACVSc, Dipl. ACVD ZOETIS gave us a good training on "Vet Skin Conditions".

Am sure our pets will all benefit :)

Good News! Good News! Good News!

The small five VET CLINIC has partnered with Kitengela Hot Glass Nani's Kitengela Glass Art to bring you the "Kitengela Hot Glass Kennels". A state of the art pet home away from home.

The initial phase for canine boarding is complete and ready to receive tenants. Your pets will be housed in an over 5 acre piece of land deep in the nature at the home of Kitengela Glass.
They will receive the best of our dear Nani Croze with experienced carers who have been taking care of Nani's great pet family. Here they will also receive 24/7 vet care from the small five VET CLINIC.

 The kennels are now open for boarding!

Dental Care in Dogs

Your pet's dental health is very important contributor to general well being. You can fight bad breath, inappetance, add your pet’s life span, and protect your loved ones from infectious diseases spread through saliva, licking and bites. Visit your vet and demand your pets dental status examined today. Prevention is better than cure.

Social Responsibility

Our institution volunteered to work closely with Gibson school fraternity. Gibson school is a passionate school for people with special needs, in line with the schools' policy and curriculum, there was need to teach these students hands on animal welfare. The students really enjoy these classes. They have so far learnt general needs of animals, grooming, feeding, care and the role of human in animal suffering.

Please visit www.gibsonschool.co.ke