Asiya Bhaisaheb

I spent 5 weeks this summer in my hometown of Vadodara, India. I was born in Vadodara and spent my childhood there. It was there that I began to learn about animal welfare and veterinary medicine, and began to dream of helping animals in need. India has one of the greatest stray dog populations in the world at over 62,000,000. These animals are often malnourished and stressed from life on the streets and, as a result, are predisposed to disease. This summer, I chose to study ectoparasite infestation in street dogs due to its prevalence in stray populations and its impact on their quality of life. This project was an opportunity to reconnect with my culture while giving back to the animals that inspired me to become a vet.

I traveled around the city and surveyed street dogs with the help of a local stray dog feeder, Jaideep Solanki. Although inclement weather (including a typhoon that hit the coast in the first week of my trip!) made it difficult to find strays, we were still able to survey 45 dogs. I performed physical exams and collected skin samples through tape impressions, hair plucking or skin scraping, adjusting my methodology based on the temperament of the animal. We also administered flea and tick preventatives and other medications as needed. I discovered that the prevalence of mange is higher in younger animals with a poorer body condition. I also learned that the prevalence of tick infestations in stray dogs as well as pet dogs was higher in India than in the United States. I gained invaluable experience in field medicine by collecting samples in less than ideal conditions, looking for dogs wherever necessary and using low-stress handling techniques to ensure that they didn't form further negative associations with humans.

For the clinical aspect of my project, I volunteered at the small animal clinic of Dr. Angela Lobo and worked with Dr. Ram Sadariya and the Vadodara SPCA to obtain treatment for stray dogs. We treated a number of conditions including ectoparasite infestations, tick fever, lacerations, and broken bones. On one particularly memorable day, as we searched for dogs to survey, a shopkeeper told us about a dog who had been hit by a car that same morning. When we found her, her jaw was visibly fractured and she was unable to eat. We returned later that day to sedate her and take her to Dr. Sadariya's clinic in a rickshaw. We named her Courage and were amazed to see how resilient and determined she was. Watching her and other dogs make incredible recoveries despite their difficult circumstances was one of the greatest joys of my trip.

 

This experience gave me the opportunity to educate community members and provide them with the resources to support stray animals. I was also able to learn many medical terms in my native language, Gujarati. I hope that my project will help empower Vadodara residents to care for their community strays and participate in preventative medicine efforts. I want this effort to bring light to the state of Indian stray dogs in the international veterinary community.