Latest news with #LhasaApsos
News18
02-05-2025
- General
- News18
This 27-Year-Old Quit MBBS To Care For Street Animals, Now Runs Her Own Shelter In Surat
Last Updated: Surat's Trisha Patel left her MBBS studies to care for over 150 stray, sick animals. Using her savings and loans, she runs a shelter, becoming a true saviour for voiceless beings Trisha Patel, a 27-year-old from Surat in Gujarat, has become an inspiration for thousands. From a young age, she had a deep affection for animals, but no one could have imagined that this love would one day lead her to give up her career. Trisha was pursuing an MBBS degree when her life took a new turn after she came across injured and helpless animals on the streets. Moved by their plight, Trisha made the bold decision to quit her medical studies and pursue a career in veterinary science instead. She resolved that she would no longer serve humans, but rather care for the voiceless animals who couldn't express their pain. Starting from scratch, she began studying to become a veterinarian and simultaneously launched a mission that has amazed many. Trisha rented a space in Surat's Northern Chowkdi area and set up an animal shelter, with a special focus on caring for paralysed dogs. Today, she looks after more than 150 animals, including 35 paralysed dogs and 40 cats. Many of these animals are unable to carry out basic daily functions. A Self-Funded Mission Trisha funds this noble endeavour entirely on her own. She not only sacrificed her education but also poured all her savings into this work. When necessary, she even took out personal loans to ensure that no animal goes without treatment or care. Over the past five years, she has given a new lease of life to more than 350 animals. Trisha's journey has not been easy. Her family and friends disapprove of her choices, yet her determination remains firm. From administering medicine to assisting animals with toileting, Trisha handles every aspect of their care herself. Her compassion doesn't stop at the shelter. Every day, she feeds approximately 450 street animals with her own hands. The shelter houses not just stray dogs, but also abandoned pet breeds like Dobermans, Labradors, Lhasa Apsos, and Golden Retrievers. First Published: May 02, 2025, 14:28 IST
Mint
30-04-2025
- Health
- Mint
How pet parents can guard against bladder stones this season
Golu, a five-year-old Shih Tzu, was rushed into our clinic one summer afternoon, trembling and unable to pass urine. He'd been straining to urinate for a day but managed only a few drops tinged with blood. The family had assumed it was a urinary tract infection, and hoped it would clear up. But Golu had a cluster of tiny, sharp crystals in his bladder—stones that caused pain with every attempt he made to relieve himself. This is the story of countless dogs and cats across the country, especially during summer when the risk of bladder stones increases. Bladder stones, or uroliths, are mineral formations that develop in the bladder when urine becomes concentrated and certain minerals start crystallising. In dogs and cats, they can vary in composition and each has its own causes, implications and treatments. The stones may be single or multiple, large or gravel-like, and can be so many and so tightly packed that they resemble a bag of marbles on an X-ray. These stones irritate the bladder lining, cause pain, inflammation, blood in the urine, and most dangerously, obstruction—especially in male animals, where the urethra is narrower and more prone to blockage. Symptoms can be subtle at first. Dogs may start urinating more frequently, dribbling small amounts of urine, or licking themselves excessively. Cats will go to the litter tray repeatedly, straining, vocalising or peeing outside the box in frustration. Sometimes, you'll notice blood in the urine or a colour change. I once saw a Persian cat named Whiskey who had been assumed to be protesting a new brand of litter by peeing in the living room, only for us to discover he had bladder stones and was desperately trying to find a comfortable position. In India, the summer plays a huge role. With high humidity and temperatures, pets may dehydrate more quickly. This concentrates the urine, creating an ideal environment for mineral precipitation. If the pet is on a diet high in minerals or if their pH balance is off, the risk multiplies. The causes of bladder stones vary by species and even by breed. In dogs, struvite stones often form secondary to urinary tract infections, especially in females. Calcium oxalate stones, on the other hand, are more common in male dogs and have no infectious component, and instead relate to genetic predispositions. Breeds like Miniature Schnauzers, Lhasa Apsos and Pomeranians are more prone. Neutered male cats, particularly Persians and British Shorthairs, appear predisposed. Diagnosis typically involves a combination of urine analysis, X-rays and ultrasound. Crystals in the urine give us the first clue, but imaging helps locate and size the stones. Occasionally, stones don't show up well on X-rays. I remember once removing nearly 30 small oxalate stones from a Dachshund whose X-ray had looked unremarkable until we did an ultrasound. Treatment depends on the type of stone, the size, number, and if there's an obstruction. Struvite stones can often be dissolved medically with special diets that acidify the urine. This, however, demands strict compliance and careful monitoring. Calcium oxalate stones don't dissolve and typically require surgical removal. Obstructed animals are medical emergencies and must visit a veterinarian immediately. Prevention is the golden strategy. For dogs, routine urine tests, dietary modification and encouraging water intake are key. For cats, it's also about reducing stress because feline lower urinary tract disease, including stones, often flares up during times of environmental stress. While bladder stones often recur, knowing the type of stone your pet formed the first time around helps in crafting a customised prevention plan. I once treated a Golden Retriever whose struvite stones returned twice before his family understood the importance of completing every antibiotic course and sticking with his diet. He hasn't had a recurrence in three years. Bladder stones are painful, disruptive and, in some cases, life-threatening. Yet they're also one of those conditions where early intervention and informed care can drastically alter the outcome. Nameeta Nadkarni is a veterinary soft tissue surgeon and pet blogger from Mumbai.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Yahoo
Ban for woman who kept ill dogs in squalid home
A woman who kept seven dogs in filthy training cages and with untreated eye and ear infections has been banned from keeping animals for four years. The dogs, which included English bull terriers, French bulldogs, Lhasa Apsos and a pug, were found living in mud and faeces at Nicola Newton-Smith's home in Sheffield. The 33-year-old, of Deerlands Avenue, Parson Cross, said the care of the animals had "gotten on top of her" and caring responsibilities for her partner had left her "spinning too many plates". She pleaded guilty to several animal cruelty charges at Sheffield Crown Court earlier this month and in addition to the ban, was given a 12-month community order. Newton-Smith was ordered to carry out 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and told to pay £240 in cost. RSPCA inspectors visited her home on 18 September 2023 and found the kitchen floor covered in mud and faeces and the area in and around the dogs' cages filthy. Another training cage in a similar condition to the ones in the lounge was also seen in a cluttered bedroom. Inspector Leanne Booth said the conditions at the property were "unacceptable and not appropriate for humans or animals alike". "The dogs' most basic needs were not being met and they were spending their lives in dirty cages with no stimulation and nowhere dry or comfortable to rest," Ms Booth said. Six out of the seven dogs had untreated infections, the court was told, and one female Lhasa Apso weighed 2.7kg (4.85 pounds), with a vet concluding it had been deprived of sufficient food "for at least a number of weeks". In mitigation the court was told that Newton-Smith was "emotionally very attached" to the dogs and not someone who had set out to harm them. She had poor mental health and was the sole carer for her partner, her solicitor said, with the situation gradually deteriorating when more dogs arrived at the house from "well-meaning people". According to the RSPCA, all of the dogs have since made a good recovery and have been rehomed. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here. Ban for woman who left pets to starve in squalor Ban for woman who left starved puppy in crate RSPCA
BBC News
25-02-2025
- BBC News
Ban for Sheffield woman who kept ill dogs in squalid home
A woman who kept seven dogs in filthy training cages and with untreated eye and ear infections has been banned from keeping animals for four dogs, which included English bull terriers, French bulldogs, Lhasa Apsos and a pug, were found living in mud and faeces at Nicola Newton-Smith's home in 33-year-old, of Deerlands Avenue, Parson Cross, said the care of the animals had "gotten on top of her" and caring responsibilities for her partner had left her "spinning too many plates".She pleaded guilty to several animal cruelty charges at Sheffield Crown Court earlier this month and in addition to the ban, was given a 12-month community order. Newton-Smith was ordered to carry out 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and told to pay £240 in inspectors visited her home on 18 September 2023 and found the kitchen floor covered in mud and faeces and the area in and around the dogs' cages filthy. Another training cage in a similar condition to the ones in the lounge was also seen in a cluttered Leanne Booth said the conditions at the property were "unacceptable and not appropriate for humans or animals alike"."The dogs' most basic needs were not being met and they were spending their lives in dirty cages with no stimulation and nowhere dry or comfortable to rest," Ms Booth out of the seven dogs had untreated infections, the court was told, and one female Lhasa Apso weighed 2.7kg (4.85 pounds), with a vet concluding it had been deprived of sufficient food "for at least a number of weeks". In mitigation the court was told that Newton-Smith was "emotionally very attached" to the dogs and not someone who had set out to harm had poor mental health and was the sole carer for her partner, her solicitor said, with the situation gradually deteriorating when more dogs arrived at the house from "well-meaning people". According to the RSPCA, all of the dogs have since made a good recovery and have been to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
