SINGAPORE – World Veterinary Day is celebrated on April 26, recognising the invaluable contributions and essential work of veterinarians and other animal healthcare professionals.
According to a report by data analytics company Euromonitor International, Singapore’s pet dog population was around 114,000 in 2023, up by almost 3 per cent from 2019. The pet cat population hovers around 94,000 in 2024, a jump of almost 10 per cent from 2019.
A 2023 report from the Singapore Veterinary Association (SVA) stated that there were 474 licensed veterinarians, with a significant proportion currently not working full-time.
The attrition rate remains high due to burnout because of long working hours, short break times, compassion fatigue, psychological and emotional stress and increasing pet owner expectations.
The vets who spoke with The Straits Times stressed that resilience is an important trait in their profession.
“It takes a certain personality to be able to do this day in, day out, and this job does not get easier with time,” says Dr Rina Maguire, a veterinary specialist in exotic companion mammals and exotic pet medicine. The 44-year-old is a co-founder of Beecroft Animal Specialist & Emergency Hospital in Alexandra Road and has been a vet for almost 20 years.
Dr Sandhya Nair, 38, of clinic Oasis Vet, echoes the sentiments. “You don’t always get positive outcomes from treatments and unfortunate things do happen.”
Adds the vet of 15 years: “Having resilience really does help with your mental health.”
Despite the challenges, their love for furry and feathered companions keeps these practitioners soldiering on.Ahead of World Veterinary Day, ST meets Singapore’s unsung heroes of pet care.
The vet who is the only exotic companion mammal specialist in Singapore
Growing up, Dr Rina Maguire had always been surrounded by birds.
Her grandmother and uncles kept singing birds, and she finally got her own cockatoo after completing her O levels.
“My father promised I could get one if I did well for the exams,” recounts the 44-year-old, who once toyed with the idea of becoming a bird trainer after her A levels.
She says she enjoyed biology while in junior college, but never thought about her current career until she attended a veterinary science talk conducted by guidance counsellors from Scotland’s University of Glasgow.
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The vet who is allergic to animals
He has been suffering from eczema since he was a child. But little did Dr Brian Loon know his allergy to animals aggravates his skin condition.
“It is an irony, but the allergy is not to the point where I cannot manage my health and job,” says the animal lover, whose childhood ambition was to be a vet.
Dr Loon co-founded Amber Vet in 2011, and has been a practising veterinarian since attaining his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Murdoch University in Australia in 2007.
He learnt about his allergy after starting work as a vet when, on a whim, he decided to undergo a test to find out what was triggering his eczema flare-ups.
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The vet with a soft spot for feline patients
Dr Sandhya Nair’s special interest in feline medicine and ophthalmology stemmed from an experience as a junior vet in Singapore.
“I saw a cat with an eye problem, and after speaking to my senior vet colleagues, they agreed the cat needed to be checked out by a specialist,” she recalls.
Unfortunately, the cat’s owner chose not to go due to financial reasons, and a week later, the cat lost its vision.
“That episode hit me hard. I felt like if I knew better, I could have made a difference,” she says.
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The vet with a heart for senior pets
Losing her two beloved childhood dogs to old age spurred Dr Kelly Yeo’s interest in geriatric and palliative care, leading to her co-founding The Gentle Vet in 2022, which specialises in geriatric care and chronic illness.
Munchie, a female papillon, and Elmo, a male schnauzer, died within a year of each other. Munchie was 16 years old when she passed in 2016, while Elmo, 15, lost his battle with intestinal cancer in 2017.
Munchie’s passing was especially traumatic for Dr Yeo, who was in her late 20s then, as they were extremely close.
“I had her when I was about 12, and she would sleep with me every night. Her favourite place to sleep on my bed was atop my head,” says the 37-year-old.
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The vet who used to work in Singapore Police Force’s K-9 Unit
The thought of becoming a vet never crossed Dr Travis Jayson’s mind until he was posted to the Singapore Police Force’s K-9 Unit during his national service.
It was there that he picked up a love for caring for dogs and learnt some medical knowledge from a para-veterinarian, who was looking after the police dogs.
“I always wanted to be a policeman, so I signed on to be a canine officer at the Singapore Police Force,” says the 46-year-old.
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