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Aldermoor Farm, Upton Road, Ryde
01983 566009
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www.ntc-animals.co.uk
Newsletter Summer 2012
Hello Again!
Lame, constipated, incontinent...
Fly sheet or Rambo, feed the bees or put on a honey
super, wear wellies or walking boots to take the dogs
out? Who knows what to do as our summer weather
has been so erratic!
The ice wasn't thick enough to support her weight.
Brandy had seen ice over the pond before, but she had
never tried standing on it. It was only three inches
below the lawn level – easy to step down onto it. Noone saw her trying it, but Eileen saw her moments
later standing with all four feet on it.
The animals too are suffering with trying to judge the
weather. I have watched the birds laying their eggs
only to have their nest destroyed by the storms. In
fact the jackdaws nesting in our chimney had quite a
shock when our house was hit by lightning on April
12th. We had to move out – it's quite ruined inside.
The jackdaws are still popping under the scaffolding
but I think their poor eggs were fried in the blast.
We all survived without
injury (thank goodness!)
but my two dogs
remained perplexed for
several days after. Whilst
we were in a little
caravan, they spent the
first week in my treatment
room, their beds side by
side as they were in the
house or so I thought. I
watched as Cush my Jack
Russell bitch ran up to her brother's bed, then quietly
climbed into her own.
It was then that I realised that since they had
become adult the bitch was always on the right, the
dog on the left. In our chaos on the day, determined
to get back to 'business as usual' as quickly as
possible, we had put them the wrong way round. As
soon as we corrected it, she climbed into bed and
under her blanket. The world – at least hers – was
back to normal again!
It would be nice if ours could be resolved as quickly
and easily. Animals like us have their routines and
habits, and many problems can be resolved quickly
when we can recognise them and respect them.
I hope you and your animals have a good summer
and may the sun shine on all of us.
Running outside, Eileen thought Brandy had
disappeared. But as she got closer, she saw that in the
time it had taken her to run round, the ice had given
way and Brandy was under the water. Worse, she was
under the net that stretched over the whole pond.
Kneeling at the side of the pond and reaching across,
Eileen grabbed Brandy under the armpits and hauled
her out.
At first, Brandy
seemed OK
and everyone
drew breath
after the fright.
But soon, she
lost the use of
her legs – she
was dragging
her back legs
around. Eileen
and Kevin took her straight to the vet who prescribed
metacam and rest. After an initial improvement,
Brandy seemed to slip back and get worse. She didn't
seem to be in pain, but her character changed and she
sat on her blanket most of the
day.
Worried about this,
Kevin talked to friends
and his boss recommended
taking Brandy to Vav. When three
Continued over...
Continued on page 2...
Festival Refugee Rescued
A baby buzzard, estimated to be 4 months old,
was rescued from the sea off East Cowes last
Tuesday 26/6/2012.
It is now at the Natural Therapy Centre for
Animals, Ryde for rehabilitation under Dr Vav
Simon, veterinary chiropractor (pictured). Her
assessment was that he was healthy although
underweight. The bird was spotted by Mr Ken
Riley (65) and his wife Denise as they walked
along the esplanade at East Cowes. They saw
something on the beach that tried to fly up
several times and was mobbed by a group of
crows.
After several attempts it landed in the sea and
was going under. “We raced into the water – my
wife in front of me – and picked it up. We
recognised it as a bird of prey and we discussed
what to do with a group of concerned tourists
who gathered.”
They contacted Robin Hill, who passed them on
to Steven Hain, Wight Falconry. He said, “As
specialists with birds of prey, we care for those
rescued by the public, notifying the authorities
as required. The bird was healthy although
underweight.”
Steve
continued:
“This baby was
probably
separated from
his parents and
usual hunting
grounds,
possibly near
the Festival
site, perhaps by
the noise and
mud. After two
days in the aviary at the Therapy Centre, he was
eating well and filling out, so he seems well. We
will release him soon.”
Steven Hain assists Vav Simon in wild Bird of
Prey rescue. As Director of Academic Affairs for
the College of Chiropractors, she recently ran a
training course for chiropractors treating exotic
animals and birds at Amazon World here on the
Island.
Continued...
weeks had passed without real improvement, they
made the appointment. By then Brandy was
constipated and was becoming unable to pee.
Brandy is a Tekal – a standard working Dachshund,
with quite a long back. Surprisingly, Vav found most
of her spine was actually OK, but her pelvis was
twisted every way it could be.
Immediately after chiropractic treatment, Brandy was
up on all four feet, and able to walk. She was
knuckling over a bit, which meant that the nerves
going to the foot were not happy straight-away, but
Vav was hopeful that they would recover with time.
The vet checked her over a few weeks later and was
pleased. She said that if Brandy had not been so much
better they would have had to Xray and operate on
her back.
Now, after four sessions, Brandy is walking normally,
back to her normal self. Each time, it was her pelvis
that Vav had to treat, with a few low back vertebrae. It
was as though her back needed some time for sorting
itself out. Vav's best guess was that either Brandy had
misaligned it as she struggled in the water, or perhaps
her back legs had caught under the ice as she was
pulled out.
After each treatment, Brandy improved – her bowel
and bladder regained control, the knuckling
disappeared, walking stronger and longer and finally
she was playing spontaneously again.
Business as Usual
Since Vav’s house was hit by lightning, so many people
have been kind enough to enquire how everything is. We
thought it might help reassure everyone if we provided a
bit of an update.
No-one was hurt during the lightning strike, though it was
an enormous shock. The house suffered quite a lot and the
insurance company has said that major repairs are
necessary.
However, Vav’s usual workspace was unaffected, so she
can still see dogs at the farm and horses in yards by car. So
although it is quite frustrating to live in a caravan and wait
for the repairs to be carried out, Vav continues with her
normal humour. She hopes to be back home before
Christmas for the big family dinner.
'Give Your Dog A Bone'
Want to try raw meat and bones food for your dog? Hand-picked foodSeveral other young birds of prey have also
quality off-cuts packed in convenient frozen daily packs according to your
been handed in for rehabilitation. One may be
dog's size, with Vav’s advice and reassurance? Call Vav for more info’.
Rough-Legged Buzzard, which is quite rare in
these parts.
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