Many diseases and unexpected accidents have pushed up medical care and treatment needs for pets in Vietnam, so most veterinary clinics operate around the clock, even on Tet (Lunar New Year) and other national holidays, to treat the ill animals.

Pet cats and dogs suffering some symptoms of fever, convulsion, and shortness of breath; swallowing weird things; or sustaining injuries need treating immediately, according to veterinarians.

Vet Ngo Minh Nhut at Bee Pet Clinic in Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City said that he has treated several pets suffering injuries from motorbike crashes, poisoning, and gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

Countless pets which had their eyes wounded and suffered miscarriages, hematuria, coma, and hypocalcemia underwent emergency care at the clinic, he added.

Two months ago, he treated a dog which had its pelvis broken while trying to escape from dog thieves.

“I used to cure a malnourished German shepherd abandoned in Long An Province [near Ho Chi Minh City]. The dog suffering serious eczema was taken to the clinic for treatment by a kind woman,” he recounted.

Veterinarian Bach Ngoc Thuy Tien, who has 10 years of working experience and works at Clinic 9B in Vinh Long Province, located in the Mekong Delta, said that apart from caring for pets with minor injuries, she has saved many dogs which ate poisoned food and several cats bitten by dogs.

The success of medical care and treatment for pets depends on time, promptness, and correct diagnosis, vet Nhut said, adding that pet owners should quickly hospitalize their pets as soon as possible if they develop abnormal symptoms.

Vet Tien said that she cares for and treats pets out of her passion and love for these animals.

Veterinary work requires patience and fondness for pets, Nhut said.

Worry about sick pets

Le Thi Hang, a 31-year-old resident of Phu Nhuan District in Ho Chi Minh City, rushed her pet cats to an animal clinic in District 8 for medical treatment.

“As my pet cats exhibited some symptoms of meal skipping, diarrhea, and vomiting, I quickly took them to the clinic for a medical check-up. They were diagnosed with aleukocytosis,” she said.

Following the veterinarians’ instructions, she bought medicine to treat the ill cats by herself.

She spent some VND50 million (US$2,126) on medical care and treatment for her sick pets at that time.

She recounted that her cat called Bi had earlier suffered shortness of breath, so she took it to two animal clinics for treatment.

Bi was diagnosed with congenital tracheal stenosis, so vets advised her to prevent her cat from strong physical actions, she shared.

Le Nam, 33, who resides in Thu Duc City under Ho Chi Minh City, said one morning, his cat skipped a meal and looked sullen, so he took photos of the cat and made a video describing its condition to send them to a vet in Bien Hoa City in neighboring Dong Nai Province.

“The vet questioned me about the cat feces, and then asked me to take my cat to the clinic for treatment,” Nam said.

She diagnosed the cat with viral fever, thereby injecting medicine into its body.

Sharing his worry about his dog called Map, or Fat in English, Nguyen Minh Tien, a native of Hoc Mon District in Ho Chi Minh City, said that he rushed his dog to a clinic near his house after the canine slipped a meal and vomited.

Prevention is better than cure

To minimize infections with animal diseases and accidents, veterinarians advise pet owners to leash their pets and cats in public places, and not to let them eat strange food outside.

Specially, owners should keep a close watch on their weight and appearance.

“Pets in not only cities but also the countryside should be vaccinated against rabies and infectious diseases, and have their health checked regularly,” said vet Nhut.

Aside from frequently disinfecting the houses of dogs and cats, owners should provide their pets with appropriate diets and allow them to sunbathe to reduce risks of bacterial and fungal infections as well as digestive diseases, according to Hang.

Pleasure in animal care and treatment

All vets are happy to save dogs and cats after their enhanced treatment efforts.

Nhut said that he and all other veterinary doctors and nurses feel pleasant and satisfied with their efforts to bring ill dogs and cats back to normal life.

“Success in treatment motivates vets a lot and increases their love for animals,” Nhut said.

However, vets sometimes suffer pressure caused by pet owners as many think that when they take their pets to animal clinics, these ill animals will be cured and recover quickly.

Yet, their recovery depends much on their illness.

Unluckily, vets are criticized by their customers due to their pets’ death.

To make treatment successful and effective, animal clinics have equipped them with modern machines, while their vets are upskilled frequently.

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