The Fish Vet's Blog

This week I was contacted by a client who believes they have the world’s longest goldfish.

We’ve had a flurry of interest from the media for this very special story.

I said to the reporter from Channel Nine News, Ms Sinclair, "We’d love to promote that fish are long-lived, and long-loved pets, and Goldie just happens to be well, long!"

The Koi Society of WA have been kind enough to allow us to partake in the official (potentially) record-breaking measurements at their Annual Koi Show. This will be held on Sunday 12 June, at Ramon’s at Willow Pond, Canning Vale.

It’s free entry. Come show your support for pet fish at the KSWA show.

Watch Channel 9 News tonight to see our interview!

—
Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh

DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology), MANZCVS (Aquatics& Pathobiology), CertAqV, NATA Signatory.

PERTH | MELBOURNE | TOWNSVILLE
THE FISH VET – AUSTRALIA.

Aquatic Veterinary Medical & Diagnostic Services.
http://www.thefishvet.com.au
Ph: +61 (0)421 822 383

This week I was contacted by a client who believes they have the world’s longest goldfish.

We’ve had a flurry of interest from the media for this very special story from from Goldie’s owner, Candice.

I said to the reporter from Channel Nine News, Ms Sinclair, "We’d love to promote that fish are long-lived, and long-loved pets, and Goldie just happens to be well, long!"

The Koi Society of WA have been kind enough to allow us to partake in the official (potentially) record-breaking measurements at their Annual Koi Show. This will be held on Sunday 12 June, at Ramon’s at Willow Pond, Canning Vale.

It’s free entry. Come show your support for pet fish at the KSWA show.

Watch Channel 9 News tonight to see our interview!

—
Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh

DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology), MANZCVS (Aquatics& Pathobiology), CertAqV, NATA Signatory.

PERTH | MELBOURNE | TOWNSVILLE
THE FISH VET – AUSTRALIA.

Aquatic Veterinary Medical & Diagnostic Services.
http://www.thefishvet.com.au
Ph: +61 (0)421 822 383

From The New York Times:

Fishes Have Feelings, Too

If we understood how sophisticated and sentient these marine creatures were, we might treat them better…

… indicates self-awareness, a mental attribute previously known only among creatures of noted intelligence like great apes, dolphins, elephants and magpies…

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/15/opinion/fishes-have-feelings-too.html

—
Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh 

DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology), MANZCVS (Aquatics& Pathobiology), CertAqV, NATA Signatory.

PERTH | MELBOURNE | TOWNSVILLE
THE FISH VET – AUSTRALIA. 

Mobile Aquatic Veterinary Medical & Diagnostic Services.
http://www.thefishvet.com.au
Ph: +61 (0)421 822 383

Adapted from a joke my kid told me.
I turned it a little fishy of course.

Guinness World Records has named a 30-year-old male Siamese cat called Scooter the oldest living cat in the world. Scooter was born on March 26, 1986, and still lives with the same owner in Texas. Scooter’s veterinarians say the cat has a "strong will to live," and his owner says she has worked to keep him active, to which she credits his longevity.

Source:

But did you know that the average pet koi can live to well beyond 30 years? They can achieve greater than 50 years! I’ve clients with pet koi that’ve been passed down a generation, that are now the only living memory of their parent/s that had passed on. I’ve treated populations of fish where some were as old as me!

And, “How old am I,” you might ask? I’ll let you take a guess 🙂

Follow me on: Facebook "Fin Page" – YouTube – Blog – Linkedin – Twitter

—
Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh
DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPh (Pathology), MANZCVS (Aquatics & Pathobiology), CertAqV, CMAVA, NATA Signatory.
Aquatic Veterinarian & Veterinary Pathologist
THE FISH VET, AUSTRALIA – PERTH | MELBOURNE | TOWNSVILLE
Mobile Aquatic Veterinary Medical & Diagnostic Services.
http://www.thefishvet.com.au
Ph: +61 (0)421 822 383
Skype: thefishvet

President WAVMA 2014

Adjunct Lecturer Murdoch University

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This week I had an interview with a writer for "The Veterinarian", Clinical Zoo section. They wanted to profile the work life of a fish vet. What do fish vets do? Who are their clients? How do they do it?

I was stoked to be given the opportunity to increase awareness that fish need vets, and that vets can help. The main theme is, "Do fish, or refer it."

I briefed her about The Fish Vet’s team located in different parts of Australia, and expanding. I spoke of the types of clients we get, ranging from pet goldfish, to breeders of koi, and people with backyard aquaponics. I spoke of our aquaculture clients with barramundi, silver perch, abalone and shrimp. I spoke of servicing public aquariums, and clients at research institutions dealing with zebrafish and sharks. How we also provide health certification for live fish exports. We also have the capacity to provide Aquatic Veterinary Pathology Laboratory services, research and training. If you’re dealing with TheFishVet’s Team, then you’ve pretty much got it all.

I am so passionate about the subject, that I think I chewed the ear off the reporter, or kept them way past their bedtime over east.

The reporter remarks, "You have such a fascinating job and it was really great to talk to you, and I love the advocacy work you do for fish!"

Look out for the article in "The Veterinarian."

—
Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh

DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology), MANZCVS (Aquatics& Pathobiology), CertAqV, NATA Signatory.

PERTH | MELBOURNE | TOWNSVILLE
THE FISH VET – AUSTRALIA.

Aquatic Veterinary Medical & Diagnostic Services.
http://www.thefishvet.com.au
Ph: +61 (0)421 822 383

Fish surgery is not uncommon with many clients. Removal of skin tumours, and deflating swimbladders are the most common surgical procedure in fish.

The patient is first anaesthetised, and then removed from the water. Gills and skin are irrigated to maintain moisture, and to deliver oxygenated water and anaesthetics.

It’s done with fish out of water to preserve an aseptic surgical field.

Check out the video my client put together on surgery of their goldfish –

https://facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1229584153725972&substory_index=0&id=100000231978462

—
Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh

DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology), MANZCVS (Aquatics& Pathobiology), CertAqV, NATA Signatory.

PERTH | MELBOURNE | TOWNSVILLE
THE FISH VET – AUSTRALIA.

Aquatic Veterinary Medical & Diagnostic Services.
http://www.thefishvet.com.au
Ph: +61 (0)421 822 383

Yesterday, I was interviewed by a reporter from JJJ Hack, asking about the risks of the Carp Herpesvirus to pet koi.

"Imagine if the killer virus works on carp (but also inadvertently kills pet koi fish), which of the feral pest species will they try on next? Horses, cats, dogs? Pigs, rabbits, goats, birds, mice, rats or deer?"

The carp were originally introduced by recreational fishers. 12% of the world’s population engages in recreational fishing. Recreational hunters-and-fishers have a lot to answer for. KHV release is not a good way for saving the environment. It’s merely a political experiment to satisfy the recreational fishers.

Keep an eye out for the online article.

http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/

For more information on KHV and its potential impacts on your pet koi fish, search my blog – http://thefishvet.com

—
Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh

DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology), MANZCVS (Aquatics& Pathobiology), CertAqV, NATA Signatory.

PERTH | MELBOURNE | TOWNSVILLE
THE FISH VET – AUSTRALIA.

Aquatic Veterinary Medical & Diagnostic Services.
http://www.thefishvet.com.au
Ph: +61 (0)421 822 383

Some digging done by one of my clients in response to one of my posts:

"I read a few articles on the history on the introduction of carp and they described how the Government assisted angling groups to introduce carp and their first attempts to introduce carp failed because the waterways were healthy and the natives out competed them, it wasnt until after farmers destroyed the waterways and natives were struggling that the later introduction of carp became a success, now the carp get blamed for all the damage done by farming/agriculture."

Looks like the presence of carp is merely an indicator of the poor state of health of the waterways. They’re not the pest that’s causing environmental devastation.

—
Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh

DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology), MANZCVS (Aquatics& Pathobiology), CertAqV, NATA Signatory.

PERTH | MELBOURNE | TOWNSVILLE
THE FISH VET – AUSTRALIA.

Aquatic Veterinary Medical & Diagnostic Services.
http://www.thefishvet.com.au
Ph: +61 (0)421 822 383

It’s certainly very satisfying to volunteer, and it’s so great to meet people from around the state, country and world!

Professionally, I’ve given my time to the veterinary profession through volunteering with the following organisations:

*World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association
*Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists
*Australian Society for Veterinary Pathologists
*Australian Veterinary Association

The best part is to finally meet all these people you only knew by name, in person!

Australia would stop if it weren’t for dedicated volunteers.

Have a Happy Volunteers’ Week!

—
Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh

DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology), MANZCVS (Aquatics& Pathobiology), CertAqV, NATA Signatory.

PERTH | MELBOURNE | TOWNSVILLE
THE FISH VET – AUSTRALIA.

Aquatic Veterinary Medical & Diagnostic Services.
http://www.thefishvet.com.au
Ph: +61 (0)421 822 383