Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

US vets save koi from California wildfires
UC Davis veterinary students unload koi at the Centre for Aquatics Biology & Aquaculture.

Emergency response team create makeshift transport system

US vets have rescued a number of koi carp from a pond that had to be abandoned in the Californian wildfires.

UC Davis Veterinary Emergency Response Team (VERT), were performing search and rescue operations in Sonoma County when they came across the privately owned pond. The pond was contaminated with ash and lacking oxygen due to power loss in the area.

Following advice received from fish specialist Dr Esteban Soto, and VERT member Dr Eric Davis, the team secured a horse water trough in the back of a pickup truck and carefully raked the pond to remove the fish.

Worried about the lack of oxygen and a long trek back to campus, the team employed the use of a tire pump air compressor. Running a cord through the back window, they plugged the compressor into the truck’s power ports.

They placed a tube from the compressor into the water to provide airflow and placed plywood over the top of the trough to stop the fish and water spilling over. Once back at the UC Davis Centre for Aquatic Biology, the fish were placed into large tanks with plenty of oxygen and food.

But the drama didn’t end there. Back in the fire region, word got out that UC Davis was able to rescue koi and other owners asked VERT to visit their properties to help their fish. The next day, VERT rescued six more koi and, on the third day, 14 fish.

Once back at the campus, the fish were examined by Dr Soto who regularly treats koi as part of UC Davis Veterinary Hospital’s Aquatic Animal Health Unit. Over the next few weeks, the fish will be allowed to acclimatise and vets will perform a physical examination under anaesthesia.

The exam includes collection and analysis of gill clips and skin scrapes, as well as blood collection and analysis. If needed, the koi will be treated and monitored until they are ready to go home.

Dr John Madigan, director of VERT commented: “When all this started, who would’ve thought that the largest group of animals we treated from the fires would have been fish.” 

Image (C) The University of California, Davis.

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.