ANIMAL health services in Brunei have been around for decades and have become an integral service provided by the Department of Agriculture, under the Division of Livestock and Veterinary Services by the Veterinary Health Service Unit.

According to a Department of Agriculture press release, throughout the years, the animal health services have evolved parallel to improvements in the technology of animal husbandry, and services have been provided for both livestock and pet animals.

For this purpose, services are rendered through ‘on-field’ treatments as well as through the Government Animal Clinic in Terunjing. The on-field treatments largely include the care of large animals or livestock such as goats, sheep, buffaloes, cattle and poultry.

As what is already known, the bulk of the nation’s livestock industry is made up mostly of poultry products. However, there are numerous small and medium enterprises that incorporate livestock farming as their core business.

Goat farming for example is increasing in popularity and these farms require certain animal health services as a means to maintain good animal husbandry measures. This is where animal health services provided by the Department of Agriculture is most required. Veterinary expertise can be given freely, while veterinary medicine is 50 per cent subsidised as a means of helping these businesses thrive and produce healthy livestock.

Treatment ranges from the basic veterinary care such as deworming, vaccination of certain diseases or providing nutritional supplements, to prescribing antibiotics in conditions such as pneumonia, diarrhoea and infected wounds.
Animal health services provide both medical and minor surgical treatments where needed and if within the capabilities of the services provided.

All veterinary care for livestock or large animals is given on site – that is within the farm concerned. In this way, advice can be given accordingly to the current management of the farm’s animal husbandry.

Since most animal diseases are caused as a result of flaws within the farm’s animal husbandry or biosecurity, advice and on-field consultation become part and parcel to animal health services. As the farm improves itself in terms of management, most common animal diseases can be avoided.

Aside from the livestock industry, the animal health services provide veterinary care for pets as well through the Government Animal Clinic. These services are provided at a minimal cost of B$1 per animal per treatment, inclusive of the cost of medicine and consultation. Follow-up treatments are free.

The animal clinic is open every Monday and Saturday from 8 am to 11.30 am and on Wednesday from 1.45 pm to 3.30 pm.

The clinic accepts and treats most types of animals – from birds, reptiles, amphibians, goats, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs and cats. Dogs, however, are not included for treatments but consultation can be done over the telephone.
The animal clinic is committed to providing basic veterinary care as a means of monitoring the animal health status within the country. It provides basic veterinary medicine as well as surgical treatments to help owners who otherwise may not be able to afford them.

The animal clinic also plays its part in raising awareness among pet owners to limit the number of owned animals to help control the spread of any diseases among them.

This is in line with the Department of Agriculture’s role to create awareness of zoonotic diseases (animal diseases that can spread to humans) that are currently a global concern.

The Veterinary Health Services Unit under the Division of Livestock and Veterinary Services, Department of Agriculture plays its role in monitoring and upgrading the current status of the health of animals within the country. In doing so, the unit works in close collaboration with other units within the Division of Livestock and Veterinary Services as well as the district extension units throughout the country.

The main commitment of the unit is to help provide effective care so as to help improve the health status of animals within Brunei.

Veterinary care may not be well understood among some people, but for animal lovers, pet owners and farmers, it is a necessity to ensure that the health of their animals is looked into and cared for.

For this reason, the Veterinary Health Services Unit was formed so as to provide that need and help promote good animal care and management for animals, big and small.

• RBPF to conduct fireworks test
• M'sia High Commission marks Agong's birthday
• Schoolboy allegedly bashed up over T-shirt remark
• Hoop Camp Brunei to provide youths basketball training
• Telephone software upgrade Phase Three