Yudisthira - programs

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Street Program

Two days a week a Yudisthira volunteer doctor and two to four Udayana University interns work on the streets and beaches catching and treating the dogs for skin parasites and wounds. Also one to three sterilizations are usually done. This program operates on Tuesday and Thursdays. The target areas are beaches, markets, and the streets just outside towns or heavy trafficked areas. Many locations are now targeted by citizens or neighbors who will volunteer to help organize a location and help catch many of street dogs. The students experience first hand the netting and treating of Bali dogs. Students ride their motorbikes to designated areas and a volunteer with a car carries medical supplies, dog catchers, cages and dogs.

Field Clinic Class

This program was designed to provide practical surgery training in a unique environment. The objective was to provide graduates and new doctors with a place to join together and continue practicing surgery under the guidance of an experienced Western veterinarian (Visiting Vets). This program is supervised by a Yudisthira doctor and Yudisthira Field Manager. In attendance at the field clinic are one or two teachers from Udayana University and their students, new doctors and graduate interns. Doctors and professors are provided a surgery table to practice and to demonstrate procedures that have been discussed with the students in class. Not only is there an opportunity for the students to get experience, but also the professors and local doctors learn new techniques and procedures. Yudisthira volunteers manage surgery traffic flow: turning tables after a surgery, the flow of dogs in the queue, whilst the teachers and doctors focus on the medicine and teaching. On these days up to 20 dogs may be sterilized in a supervised, safe and controlled environment There are hands-on experiences for every level of student, teacher and surgeon.

The field clinic is a tent unit that includes plastic storage boxes, cages, tables, water tanks and other equipment all transported in a loaned truck. Yudisthira depends on donated medical supplies, volunteers and donations which go directly into continuing this very successful program. A volunteer with a car helps transport, people, supplies and dogs. This program is dependent on a large number of dogs and dog catchers are crucial to its success.

A Yudisthira doctor pre-arranges this operation with the local banjar (village head). In this manner the community is advised of our coming. We are supported by the community leaders.

When we arrive the community usually has already identified dogs for us to treat and people begin bringing their own dogs for treatment or sterilization. We work in very poor underprivileged and infected areas to assure that we are not taking any work away local vets.

Locals talk with interns and doctors about the care of their pets while waiting for treatment. While waiting, they are provided worm and flea medicine donated by Bayer and receive a surgery orientation.

We always bring coloring books and crayons and setup a Children’s education area. In these sessions kids color pictures of dogs and discuss the care and feeding of their animals with a doctor, intern or field manager. This is very elementary but at the same time engaging and reassuring to adults who are uncertain about the business of caring for a dog. It literally draws everybody in.

Saturday Student Program

This program was designed to meet the request of the University to let 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd year students veterinary students intern with us. Every Saturday for three months (one term) up to forty students work with us. The students rotate through three one month modules: Worming, Clinic & Kennel, Pre and Post Op.

Worming: Dispensing donated Bayer Drontal worm tablets to dogs on the streets and beaches, and in the markets and villages. Students mix the bait (worm tablets and meat), keep field records, locate street dogs for sterilizations, give flea treatments, and talk to owners about caring for their dog. They also introduce Yudisthira and discuss the importance of sterilization.

Pre-Op / Post-Op: In this module student learns how to prepare a dog for surgery and how to take care of it during recovery. They administer topical treatments for skin parasites, wounds, fleas and ticks. They learn what questions to ask during a pre-op consult and how to perform a physical exam. They learn how to prepare a surgery site, the visual signs for anesthetic reactions, observe doctors performing surgery, and how to care for the dog post-op. If there is an , they also instruct them on post-op care.

Clinic and Kennel: The student gains practical experience in the maintenance of the clinic and kennel. They learn the importance of animal and facility hygiene and maintaining a sterile workspace. They learn to distinguish the difference between looking clean and being clean. They also learn about the correct use of disinfectants and fungicides.

In this module they get experience in handling and caring for a dog. They learn how and what to bottle-feed new puppies. They learn about caring for the puppies and maintaining a nursery. They also learn how to handle older two and four month old puppies. They learn how to prepare a nutritious rice mix and the importance of feeding a dog more than just rice. Each student is given a puppy to take care during the module. Through this means they get comfortable with lifting, holding and managing a dog: check the ears, the paws, look for fleas, opening the mouth, and getting familiar with the feeling of a dog. They learn to properly bath the dog and apply any necessary topical treatment. They also clean the bathing area and bowls.

We also teach how to build a simple and safe kennel.