Since we became expats and spent a significant amount of time living and working in South East Asia, particularly in China and Thailand, Asia has shaped both our surroundings and those of our pets.
We met Nuria a few years ago when she had just moved to China with her family and settled in our neighborhood on the southern coast of China, not far from Shenzhen, where many expats from all over the world have been living for over a decade. All expats communicate with each other and live in their own circles, finding it easier to understand the nuances of each country and exchange life experiences.
From the very first days, Nuria, as a knowledgeable veterinarian and a compassionate person concerned about animal issues, began providing assistance, enthusiastically sharing her experience in their treatment. Her work ethic, not only as a knowledgeable consultant but also as an experienced practicing veterinarian, is exemplified by a few examples. Be aware that a small, fragile woman will arrive with a large suitcase filled with everything your pet needs for treatment and all occasions.
Imagine Nuria operating on a mountain alpaca, brought from Chile by our expatriates, at night, right at her entrance, almost on the staircase landing. The situation was urgent, and there was a child sleeping in the apartment at that time. There was no time to travel to a clinic, so people brought their animals to her in the hopes that she could save them. She spent many hours saving them, and everything turned out well.
She conducted an autopsy on a horse owned by our expats at night, which had consumed green lychee fruits directly from the tree, leaving the owners perplexed as to what had occurred. Even though there was no one to save, the autopsy took the entire night to complete. Whether the victim is a large horse or a small kitten, she remains unfazed. Nuria is a constantly practicing surgeon with extensive experience; she operates on cats and dogs when necessary, of course.
In her free time, she conducts consultations on pets, covering almost any topic, from feeding to illnesses and general treatment.
Here’s a wonderful example! Due to the high humidity near the sea in South China, cats frequently experience a type of herpes that results in tooth loss and oral cavity inflammation, rendering them unable to eat or chew. Until recently, domestic cats could only receive daily care due to the lack of a cure for this condition.
Nuria remained vigilant, and nearly a year after our initial conversation, she discovered an experimental remedy for us, currently available only in tablet form. However, we now hope to cure all the sick cats, and we are treating them as I write this.
Nuria, as a practicing veterinarian, has perfected the operations for sterilizing cats and dogs. After she performs the surgery, you can release the cat into the wild next day, as she makes small, inconspicuous stitches. In the past, we were required to care for a cat for a full week until it fully recovered. Once she identified the issue with our British cat, she had to perform another surgery on the cat, who had previously undergone neutering at a public clinic. Miraculously, she discovered the root cause, and we remain eternally grateful to her for her efforts.
Currently, she is practicing in Thailand. During the past year, while working in veterinary medicine on the island of Koh Samui, she has performed over 3000 surgeries on stray dogs, and it’s unknown how many cats she has operated on.
And this list can go on indefinitely; I have only chosen what we have directly encountered, but if you were to ask every animal lover…
Here’s an excerpt from her professional resume:
NURIA, I am an experienced veterinarian with a passion for caring for animals.
Our team specializes in delivering thorough medical care and treatment to animals of all sizes and shapes. We have performed over 3000 sterilizations on dogs and cats.
As a person who has always been curious and eager to learn, I continue my education and gain experience in areas such as animal therapy and surgery to develop my skills in my work. This experience gave me the opportunity to become a surgeon in an organization that conducts an animal sterilization program in Thailand with the support of the country’s government. This experience helped me refine my skills in performing such surgeries, enabling me to complete them in 15 minutes using a cosmetic suture that requires minimal postoperative care.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:
Koh Samui, Thailand; Rob’s Dogs Foundation: July 2022–December 2023. The foundation performed 1450 surgeries to sterilize cats and dogs of various sizes.
I was employed as a veterinary consultant at the “Happy Paws” company in Huizhou, Guangdong, China, from July 2019 to March 2022. I am responsible for training clients on proper animal care, as well as prescribing medications and treatments. I provide advice to pet owners on matters such as hygiene, feeding, general maintenance, medical conditions, and treatment alternatives.
I was employed as an emergency veterinarian in Samui, Thailand from September 2014 to September 2017. We examine animals to pinpoint and ascertain the type of illnesses or injuries they may have sustained. Soft tissue surgeries.
Veterinary Clinic “Aibolit,” Moscow; veterinarian: April 2010-February 2013. The veterinarian was responsible for diagnosing and treating various animal diseases and injuries. Sterilization of cats and dogs. Performing euthanasia when necessary
Moscow Veterinary Center, veterinarian: July 2008-December 2009. Maintaining medical documentation. Conducting laboratory tests. Take X-rays.
Education:
Veterinary Faculty and Biotechnology of the Agricultural University, Orenburg, Russian Federation (2003-2008) Master of Veterinary Medicine, July 2008.
Skills: social media, organization, negotiation, teamwork, pharmacology, therapy, surgery, veterinary nursing, and animal health. Proficiency in Russian and English.
