A few days ago, I returned from South Africa. The main reason for the trip was the African Pet Health Summit, where I lectured on hormone replacement therapy and on the natural treatment of ear conditions, one of the most common problems dogs face around the world.
But going to South Africa also meant a rare chance to spend time with my colleagues in the wild, surrounded by nature. I was lucky to meet Dr. Sally Armstrong, a veterinarian who does wildlife work in South Africa. Sally organized an incredible safari where we also worked alongside another wildlife veterinarian, Dr. Susie. Our little group included Dr. Laurie McCauley, Dr. Barbara Royal, Dr. Penny Wood - aka Dr. Zoolittle, and a few other kindred spirits.
Today, I want to tell you about one experience I will never forget: trimming rhino horns.
Most people know that rhinos are severely threatened by poaching. Sadly, some people still believe that a rhino horn gives them extraordinary power and vigour, which is why a single horn can sell for $80,000 or more. When you see the poverty in many parts of Africa, it's not hard to understand why people at their wits' end are drawn into killing rhinos and smuggling horns to Asia. This is the dark reality of this incredibly sad situation.
Even in the most heavily guarded reserves, poaching continues on a massive scale. Phinda, the reserve where we stayed, has a full anti-poaching squad and their dogs working around the clock, and they still had about 50 incidents in a single year.
Across South Africa, the number of rhinos killed runs 500 a year, and it is one of the saddest reminders of how misguided humans can be.
One of the few ways to reduce poaching is to trim the horns, so there is not much left worth killing for. But trimming a rhino horn is no small task.
First, the rhino is tracked by helicopter and darted with a sedative. The drug is an opioid so potent that even a tiny exposure could be fatal to a human, so every step is taken with the utmost care. Dr. Mike Toft, who led the darting, was a true expert and, in my opinion, a hero.
He has dehorned and saved the lives of thousands of rhinos. The bush pilots flying the helicopters are equally brave and daring. To an outsider, the chopper looks like a giant fly navigating the terrain, flying up and down from side to side, herding the rhino to the right spot, not too far in the bush, close to the road.
About seven minutes after darting, the rhino goes down. This time, we darted a mama rhino and her baby. Mothers and calves are especially vulnerable, because if a mother is killed, her baby is left alone and will likely fall prey to other animals.
You may be surprised that the horn is cut with a chainsaw. Before you imagine anything cruel, know that rhino horn is made of keratin, the same material as a horse's hoof or your dog's toenail. It's simply much, much bigger. After the cut, the edge is smoothed, much like filing a nail.
One would think that once the horn is trimmed, that's it, but it does regrow. In order to protect the rhinos, this procedure has to be done over and over again. That is the biggest challenge because it's not only challenging and demanding on both the team and the animals, but it's also expensive.
During the procedure, we also had to watch the mother's and baby's body temperature closely, cooling them with buckets of water to keep them stable.
Once the trimming was done, the reversal injection was given, and within minutes the rhinos were back on their feet and reunited.
Here's something that may surprise you. When you trim a rhino horn, you must leave about four fingers' height of horn in both, the mama and the baby. Cut any shorter, and you risk hitting the living tissue inside, just like cutting into the quick of a nail.
Which brings me to your dog’s nails.
Many dog parents dread nail trimming, and I understand why. One wrong cut, and there's bleeding, a yelp, and a dog who hides every time the clippers come out. The good news is that it doesn't have to be this way.
I've written a detailed guide that shows you, with clear visuals, how to trim your dog's nails safely without making them bleed. It also explains exactly what to do if bleeding happens, because at some point it happens to almost everyone.
Click here to learn how to trim your dog's nails safely
If your dog's nails are overdue for a trim, or you've been avoiding it altogether, this is a great place to start.
Thank you for reading and for being part of our pack.
