You're receiving this announcement because you have signed up as a Panda Pal. Not interested anymore? Unsubscribe. Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your browser |
|
||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||
Doctors Wang & Deng's
In September of 2009, I went to Bifengxia Panda Base and spent several hours with Dr. Li Desheng discussing what his greatest needs were at that time and how Pandas International could help meet those needs.Excellent Adventure Although we discussed many things, the number one item he kept mentioning was a new ultrasound machine and advanced training in the US in the newest ultrasound techniques. The Bifengxia Panda Base had two old ultrasound machines, but one had stopped working completely and the other was a poor quality unit designed for human use and over seven years old. As you can imagine in medical equipment, Seven years produces major advancements in technology. So, I committed to raise the funds for a new machine and bring two veterinarians of Dr. Li Desheng’s choosing to the US for the advanced training. Why is ultrasound testing so vitally important to pandas? For those that do not know, medical ultrasonography is an ultrasound-based diagnostic imaging technique used to visualize subcutaneous body structures including tendons, muscles, joints, vessels and internal organs for possible pathology or lesions. The ultrasound is an invaluable diagnostic tool desperately needed by the veterinary staff at the Center. With this technology, they will be better equipped to make sounder medical decisions and improve the lives of the pandas of Wolong. With the help of my personal veterinarian, Dr. Dan Brod of Deer Creek Animal Hospital in Littleton, we researched various options for portable ultrasound machines. A portable machine was required because it is the only way for the veterinarians to make urgent “house calls” to both the wild pandas and those at the Center. Moving a portable unit to the panda is much easier and less stressful than moving the panda to the hospital. After comparing various units and sending specifications on the units to Dr. Li, we chose the MyLab 5 manufactured by Universal Ultrasound of Bedford Hills, NY. Dr. Brod negotiated and negotiated to get Pandas International a good price and lots of extras. I placed the order for the unit, confident (actually hoping) we could raise the money in time.  Since the MyLab unit is a Color Dopler unit, it will obtain the best imaging possible in the shortest amount of time and reduce the stress to the panda. Color Dopler is also able to monitor blood flow, which is vital in tracking the development of the growing fetus and health of the mother. There is a plethora of diagnostic and therapeutic applications practiced in ultrasonograph medicine among them:
Dr. Li selected Dr. Wang Chengdong and Dr. Deng Li Hua as the two veterinarians to come to the US for the advanced training as they are the veterinarians who routinely do the ultrasound testing on the pandas. The timing of the trip had to be in May following the Artificial Insemination and before the pregnant females would need ultrasound tests, which will be starting in June. Universal Ultrasound conducts classes in CA and NY and we initially thought about scheduling the training in CA, but Mr. Peter Brunelli, president of Universal Ultrasound, insisted the doctors come to the home office were his staff conducted the training. He also offered to provide two extra days of private sessions with his ultrasound expert, Sandy Volpe. So with the MyLab 5 on order, Pandas International now needed the money to pay for the unit. Pandas Unlimited, a group of pandas lovers devoted to the Washington, DC panda, Tai Shan, had been raising money to adopt Tai Shan upon his return to China. When the Sichuan Auto Group adopted Tai Shan before he was back in China, Pandas Unlimited members were understandably disappointed. Several options were presented to Pandas Unlimited including the purchase of the ultrasound machine. After discussion and voting of the members, Pandas Unlimited agreed to fund the purchase of the ultrasound machine. The balance of the expenditure was quickly raised by Pandas Unlimited as a symbolic gift from Tai Shan, an ambassador to all the pandas. With the cost of the unit covered, it was time to start planning the training trip to the US for Dr. Wang Chengdong and Dr. Deng Li Hua. I wanted to make the trip scientifically valuable with great experiences for the visiting doctors to take back to China and improve the lives of all the Wolong pandas. After a flurry of emails, we planned their trip to the US. On April 24, they left China and arrived in Washington, DC where they spent April 26 and 27 at the National Zoo with Dr. Suzan Murray, Chief Veterinarian, and the zoo staff. While at the National Zoo, they observed the ultrasound of Mei Xiang, which unfortunately determined that she was not pregnant.
On April 29th, they had a private training session, but not until late in the day, so again Universal Ultrasound offered to provided a half day tour of NYC for the visiting veterinarians. The afternoon of the 29th and most of the day on the 30th was spent in a one-on-one training session generously provided by Universal Ultrasound.
Then on May 1st and 2nd the doctors attended a special training course on Intermediate Abdominal Ultrasound techniques. In order to maximize the value of the training, Pandas International hired a professional translator, Wen Jiang, to ensure the doctors understood all technical discussions over the four days in NY. We would like to send a big “Thank You” to Wen Jiang for making the training easier to understand in their native language. Good news! The training was very helpful and they got to spend a lot of time using their actual machine in a clinical setting. The bad news, for the budget anyway, was they found a couple more accessories they felt were really necessary. The unit came with an adult sized probe perfect for the adults, but too large for the cubs. So the doctors called Pandas International and asked for the small probe. Universal Ultrasound was willing to give a $1,000 discount on the $6,000 probe. Realizing that the probe might save even one panda cub from suffering with an intestinal problem, I did not hesitate to approve the expense. A few hours later, another call came in stressing the need for the cart specially designed for the unit. The cart would make it easier to get the unit from enclosure to enclosure to check the pandas, so again the added expense was approved. So after four days in New York, it was time to head west. On May 3rd, the doctors flew from NY to San Francisco, CA. I met the doctors at the San Francisco airport. The doctors were surprised how long it took to get from the east coast to the west coast, so after four days of intense training they were a little tired. Prior to the veterinarians’ departure from China, I had asked what other supplies they needed that we could send back with them and I received a long list. So I packed two large suitcases full of the requested supplies for the Center. (See list in box below) On May 4th, we toured The Oakland Zoo, with Dr. Joel Parrott, Executive Zoo Director. The Oakland Zoo has applied to acquire Giant Pandas. The behind the scenes tour was both helpful and informative. The doctors observed two different behavioral training sessions. The first session was with the ring-tailed lemurs learning to accept the veterinarians’ use of the stethoscope on them and also the micro chip reader on their backs, both activities that pandas are trained to accept. The lemurs’ treats were raisins. The second training session was with river otters learning to get in to a small cage for injections, again similar to what the pandas are trained to do.
After lunch we headed off to Davis, CA. The University of CA at Davis Veterinary School had agreed to host the doctors for three days. On May 5th we got an in-depth tour of all the aspects of the Veterinary School and Hospital with Dr. Robert Leighton. Although retired, Dr. Leighton obviously still loves the Veterinary School at Davis and gave an enthusiastic tour covering every inch of the hospital.
On May 6th, the doctors had a very special day in the Endocrinology Lab of Coralie Munro. Coralie Munro manufactures the reagents used to test the urine of the female pandas when they come in to estrus. As Coralie is preparing to retire this was a rare opportunity to observe her clinical laboratory. Although Drs. Wang and Deng do not actually do this lab work they took lots of photos and notes to take back to Dr. Li. They were very interested in some of the lab equipment Coralie introduced to them. Friday, May 7th was the final work day spent at UC Davis Veterinary Hospital, with Tom Baker, Ultrasonographer & Supervisor of Small Animal Radiology at the Veterinary Hospital. Several dogs were scheduled for ultrasounds which the doctors had the opportunity to observe. Mr. Baker trains the veterinarians at UC Davis in the latest ultrasound techniques.  After the hospital clients received their ultrasounds, several of the veterinary students brought their own dogs in as practice patients. We had taken the MyLab 5 with us to the hospital, so Drs. Wang and Deng got to use it on a sweet little white dog, under the supervision of Mr. Baker, who made a lot of useful suggestions on techniques. Since the “patient” was so cooperative, both doctors got quite a bit of practice. Ultrasound testing requires good equipment but also a good “feel” on the part of the veterinarian.
This trip was planned primarily to provide advanced training in ultrasound techniques as well as learn how to use and operate their new MyLab5. But the doctors also got to observe clinical lab work, tour a university small and large animal hospital and get a behind the scenes look at a zoo doing a lot of behavioral research. I repeatedly asked Dr. Wang and Dr. Deng what the best part of the trip was – to which they replied each time—the new ultrasound machine! So a huge Thank you to everyone from Pandas Unlimited who donated to fund this critical piece of equipment. Thank you to everyone who donated to the Ultrasound Training Fund, which funded the trip for the veterinarians from China to the US and improved their screening skills. The additional supplies for the ultrasound and all the medical supplies sent to Bifengxia with Dr. Wang and Dr. Deng were provided with the support of our generous donors so we also like to say Thank You to all our donors who support the pandas on a regular basis.
Suzanne |
||||||||||||||
This newsletter is provided in part by our Black and White Extravaganza Sponsors
|
||||||||||||||
 Pandas International is non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the Giant Panda. PANDAS INTERNATIONAL • P.O BOX 620335 • LITTLETON, CO 80162 |
||||||||||||||
| PRIVACY POLICY: We respect your desire for privacy and want to make you aware that Pandas International's e-mail database is used solely for the dissemination of Pandas International's information. We will not sell, trade or share your email address in any way. Click here to see our privacy statement. Pandas International is non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the Giant Panda. If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, please click here to unsubscribe. If you know someone who would like to receive this newsletter, please click here to let us know. |
||||||||||||||
