Doktor Blong Dog

Working as a Veterinarian (doktor blong dog) in multicultural Vanuatu is guaranteed to provide all sorts of entertainment, especially given my French is rusty, my Chinese non-existent, and the local Ni Van staff were laughingly teaching me Bislama.  I was the only vet on the island for three weeks, while the regular vets were on leave.  As you can imagine I have many stories to tell about this adventure!

My husband Graham accompanied me on this island adventure, and so I put his ship’s medic training to good use over Christmas, when I had no support staff available to help….

A puppy gets checked at the Vanuatu Vet Clinic -photo credit to the Vanuatu Vet Clinic

I was a little hesitant when presented with a dog fight victim that had a proptosed globe – yes its eyeball was not where it should be!  Graham stepped up admirably, acting as my assistant, theatre nurse and anaesthetist while we sutured with dog’s eyeball back into place.

Many of the patients I saw belonged to the expat community, who were able to pay for medications and treatments for their pets.  The concept of ownership is very different in the Ni Van communities – dogs are loosely attached to the communities in which they live, but often do not have one owner who can take care of their health and welfare.  Poorer villages struggle to have enough resources to meet family needs, let alone pay for the care of a dog, so while living on a tropical island sounds like heaven, the street dogs of Vanuatu have a hard life.  Scavenging rice, coconuts or food scraps while dodging being hit by cars on the often-busy roads.  Contending with burdens of parasite no Kiwi dog has ever seen…. pot-bellied with tapeworms, short of breath from Heartworm, and ear canals packed tight with ticks feasting on their blood.

Is it really a dog’s life, living on the beach?

One local dog was brought in because it was having trouble walking.  It was very weak on its back legs and needed assistance even to stand.  This dog was a victim of fish poisoning – it had eaten offal of reef fish containing ciguatoxins.  These toxins are produced by microscopic organisms that get consumed by reef fish.  The only treatment available is supportive care and nursing.  Sometimes the poisoning is so severe it causes paralysis, coma or death.

Luckily the Vet Clinic works closely with SAM’S Animal welfare, to ensure the local dogs have access to parasite treatments, desexing and medical care.  Local families would arrive at the clinic, where I could examine their pets and medications would often be provided free of charge, or in return for whatever donation the family could afford.  SAM’S also helps with fostering and adoption of unwanted or stray animals. They do a great job!

The Vanuatu Vet Clinic

Aside from the veterinary stories and the knowledge that we had done something to help animals and communities, we were also left with many fond memories.  New Year’s Eve fireworks and dancing on the waterfront, and giving high-fives out the window of our car to all the locals we passed as we did a New Year’s Day circumnavigation of the island.  There were even not-so-fond memories; 6-inch-long centipedes that seem to travel at lightning speeds across the kitchen floor!

Vanuatu is a beautiful country with beautiful, friendly people.  If you are visiting the country, do consider helping the animals of Vanuatu with a donation of money or supplies to SAM’S. Follow this link to their website:

Sams Animal Welfare Vanuatu | Supporting Animals In Vanuatu

Beautiful Vanuatu!

Thank you for taking the time to read this veterinary story of ours - we hope you enjoyed it and hope you will follow along on our future adventures!