I opened my doggo eyes to the warm sunlight and I think of my younger days where I would bounce up and run out to play. Somewhere in my 13 years of life, things changed.
It was not because I have become less playful, neither was it because the toys weren’t fun anymore. It’s simply because I couldn’t gather the energy to move like I used to. And that’s okay because it’s natural, right? Every doggo ages eventually.
As I go gray, I want my hooman to know that…
Age spots are a part of my aging journey.
You may have noticed that when you bathed me with your tender hands, my skin has more dark spots than when I was a pupper. I know you are concerned about why my looks started changing but I guess, it’s just a fact we both had to accept. Much like how grandma and granddad get their spots when they age.
My fur will turn lighter like how your hair will turn gray.
As you stroke my fur and look through my pupper photos, you gasped as you see how much my colour changed. It might seem like a little bit of colour gets washed off with every bath, which would be funny. However, it’s just that my body stops using energy to make colours for my coat so that I can have more energy to play with you.
I wish I can walk a little further.
Nothing is better than some walkies with my favourite hooman, especially the reeeeaaalllly long ones. But my tiny little legs hurt inside with every step after some time, probably because of arthritis, weaker bones or simply fatigue. I can’t tell you when I am in pain, so all I can do is to stop a little while when it hurts. If you caught me limping, that’s because I was trying to keep up with you. Every day, I try to move a little further than yesterday.
My eyes that may have turned hazy, still see clearly.
When I see your worried look as you look me in the eyes, I knew my eyes did not seem as bright as they were. I know you are worried that I might be going blind. But, dear hooman, please don’t worry too much about it. My hazy eyes can still see you clearly and I am grateful for that. Nuclear sclerosis is the reason why my eyes are slightly blueish now. However, it is different from cataracts. I wish to see your happy face more while I still can, please do not worry as I can still see very well.
Wrinkles are my evidence of memories with you.
With every walkies, zoomies and time spent panting living with you, my skin leaves precious folds to remember the good times we had. The first area you might notice where I have wrinkles would be my neck. The skin gets slightly loose and saggy. While it changes how I look externally, these marks on my body are beautiful souvenirs from the good times we have so I love every fold on my skin. I hope you love them too.
I am grateful to you, my dearest hooman.
In a blink of an eye, thirteen years have passed. While I don’t know how much time we have left to spend together, I just want to say thank you for giving me a good life. I know you sometimes blame yourself for not doing better but I wish you can find comfort to know that I enjoyed and appreciate everything you have done for me. I hoped I have been a good girl that doesn’t cause you any trouble and I will continue to strive to do so.
Lastly, I know you might already be thinking of my departure one day. Even though it is painful to separate, I wish you can be with me until my very last breath. And I hope that that is not too much to ask for in exchange for all the good memories we had created together.
Are you thinking of what dog breed might be suitable for you as a first-time owner? I know exactly how you feel. Before we got Fifi, we were excited about her arrival. Yet, we are also anxious about the challenges that might arise with caring for a new furbaby. However, with proper research done, you’ll be better prepared on what to expect.
Fifi has been with us since she was 2 months old. She is a happy 13-year-old girl now. With my experience handling a Miniature Schnauzer, I will be sharing with you 5 reasons why Miniature Schnauzers might just be the dog breed you are looking for.
If the cleanliness of your house is a concern to you, you’ll be thrilled to know that Miniature Schnauzers do not shed fur. Shedding was a huge consideration for my mother. Even though not shedding fur also means you might need to brush its beard frequently to prevent matting, dog shedding is much harder to clean up, even with a lint roller.Miniature Schnauzers do not drool as well, plus point for cleanliness!
For Fifi, we have tried sending her for Schnauzer cut grooming. However, we thought that she does not suit that cut. Hence, we do not let her keep her beard from then on. Keeping the beard short is a workaround if you do not have time to brush frequently.
Aside from being cleaner by not shedding, hypoallergenic dogs are perfect for people with a sensitive nose. If you sneeze every time a dog is in a room, Miniature Schnauzers will be suitable for you as the lack of shedding will not trigger your allergy.
They are extremely smart
Miniature Schnauzers are also extremely intelligent. The breed was initially trained as a herding dog. In today’s context, they will be suited to be trained as a therapy or service dog. In Singapore, a grey and white Miniature Schnauzer, Button, is a therapy dog to offer comfort for elderly patients in hospice care.
In my own experience, we have never sent Fifi for any dog training before. However, she is smart enough to check if we are nearby once in a while when we go for walkies. Another example of their intelligence is how they will try to communicate. When Fifi was a puppy, we enclosed her in an area within the house. To show us that she wants to play or come out of the area, she would throw her toy over the fence repeatedly so that we will let her get the toy. Fifi seldom cause troubles for us growing up. She loves cleanliness herself and would clean her mouth after meals. She also only pees and poops in the outdoors. Even though these traits might not apply to all Miniature Schnauzers, their intelligence is undeniable. With proper training, they could be easily managed and obedient.
Miniature Schnauzers are a good size
Being the smallest dog in the Schnauzer family, they only weigh between 5.4kg to 9kg which makes them easy to carry around. Their size also makes it convenient to bring them around as they could easily fit in a pet carrier. Especially in Singapore where pets are not allowed on some private cars without a bag, a small dog breed like Miniature Schnauzer can get around easier compared to a larger breed.
They are good-tempered and affectionate
Personality and affection level of the dogs is an important consideration when getting a pet. Miniature Schnauzers are generally well-mannered and they are quite independent too. They do not always require constant attention and are perfectly fine to be left alone for a while. All they need is your presence within the room and you are free to do your things too.
For Fifi, she needs her own space and alone time as well. Sometimes, she would just chill at a quiet corner at home to get her beauty sleep. The only time when she will bark for attention is when she is hungry, wants to play or waiting for walkies. These instances do not happen very often and even when they do, the timing is rather consistent which makes it easy for me to plan my schedule.
They are generally a healthy breed
Pet care can be costly in Singapore especially if you do not have a pet insurance policy. Cost aside, first-time pet owners may not know how to handle certain health conditions that might be breed-related. Miniature Schnauzers are generally healthy with little joint and back problems. With a good diet and having enough exercise, the healthiness of the breed can put your mind at ease as you do not have to worry much or spend too much time caring for the health conditions. That being said, you still have to look out for any unusual signs and symptoms just in case they fall ill. Being a healthier breed does not mean that they will not fall sick and requires no attention to their health. However, a healthier breed will mean it is less likely you have to spend on pet care or faced with challenges you might not know how to handle as a first-time pawrent.
In conclusion, Miniature Schnauzers are just the right amount of fun and independence. With proper training from puppyhood, they can become great companions which are obedient and sensitive to your emotions. While they offer you the comfort you need through the ups and downs in life, you can have the peace of mind as they are a healthy breed which you need not worry about their health and the cost of pet care often. Miniature Schnauzers are easy to care for and will be good for first-time owners to gain experience in caring for a pet. With a good family, Miniature Schnauzers can bring priceless value and fun into your life. However, it depends on you for what is the most important considerations when getting a pet. It will be wise to research each breed thoroughly before making a decision.
Giving belly rubs to our furkids is great fun for the dogs and pawrents. It is a great activity to bond and keep us happy by making our pets happy too. However, frequent belly rubs can do something that is rather crucial and important – detecting abnormal growths. Tumours in dogs, a common occurrence in senior dogs, are 50% malignant and 50% benign. When discovered, especially for pawrents with senior dogs, the common concern was whether it is safe for our dogs to go through with the removal surgery.
While I am neither an expert nor a vet, I will share my experience with tumours on my 13-year-old Miniature Schnauzer, Fifi, from the discovery to the removal process.
The Backstory
Instagram: @fifi.prinsassy
Fifi has been loved by my family since she was 2 months old. We never spayed her since young as my dad wanted to let her be natural, but that became a constant dilemma within me throughout the years. With every vet visit, the vet will always remind us how important it is to get her spayed as it will pose serious health issues to her as she ages. Finally, my dad agreed to spay her upon hearing about laparoscopic spay which would be less invasive and harmful to Fifi. She was neutered at Animal Recovery Veterinary Centre last year in April. We were extremely happy with how the vet handled her spay as there was a complication that occurred. Fifi’s ovaries did not stop bleeding from the laparoscopic spay thus they had to operate her to remove them, turning the procedure into a full spay.
Discovering the tumours
We discovered a tumour before the spay. One day, while I was rubbing the belly of Fifi, I noticed a hard lump in one of her mammary glands. It was small and invisible to the naked eye. Thinking that it was just a cyst that might go away, we paid not much attention to it. However, knowing that it wasn’t normal, we brought it up to the surgeon who is in charged of her spay. The vet said that we should monitor the mass and it would be best to remove it especially if it grows. No vets will be able to advise if the mass is malignant or benign before removal. Seeing that the tumor did not grow, we left it alone while we tried to save up for her surgery since we did not know about pet insurance in her younger years.
Decision to remove
Noticing that the tumour grew, we started considering removal surgery for her. Like any pawrents, I want to give my furkid the best life ever. However, considering her age, it was not an easy decision to make since the risk of surgery increases with age. I spoke to some friends who are dog owners, googled for articles and discussions about senior dogs undergoing surgeries and spoke to the vets we visited. Some form of assurance was offered when the information I gathered were success stories of senior dog surgery even though some of my friends advised that we should just let her enjoy her golden years.
In the end, I just couldn’t imagine myself putting her through the pain and suffering she might face from cancer since it is inevitable that malignant tumours will definitely develop into an emergency situation. We chose Animal Recovery Veterinary Centre to carry out her surgeries again since her previous surgery record is with them and we thought that the vets might be more familiar how to proceed knowing her surgical history. Animal tumours from other vets in Singapore will also be sent to them for biopsy since only they have the facilities to carry out the test. The vet in charge was Dr. Wong Hoong Kien. While I was still not fully confident of our decision even during the pre-surgery consultation, there was a dog which came in as an emergency case of tumour and that incident then confirmed that we made the right choice.
During the consultation, we were rather shocked to learn that Fifi actually has 6 mammary tumours with 4 being really small and hard to detect. The vet then said that we had to remove them with two surgeries or the wound would be too large to heal. The first surgery will remove 3 tumours on the right and the second will remove the remaining tumours on the left. Dr. Wong was very patient in explaining to us the process of the surgery and that comforted me that Fifi will be in good hands.
My surgery procedures experience
Fifi in her ward
On the night before the surgery, Fifi had to fast from 12am with no food or drinks. As with all surgeries, Dr. Wong ran a blood test to make sure that Fifi is healthy enough to undergo the surgery. Usually, the blood test and the surgery is carried out on the same day hence, we were instructed to drop her off at 9.30am to allow enough time for both procedures. However, Fifi’s white blood cell (WBC) count was marginally low. Since there could be multiple reasons for this, Dr. Wong suggested us to do additional tests (X-Ray and Ultrasound) just for a peace of mind instead of rushing for removal, to make sure that there is nothing critical that might be causing the low WBC count. Both test turned out normal and with that, Fifi was booked for the surgery on another day.
We dropped her off at 9.30am on the actual surgery day with Fifi fasted. We then had to sign a form for permission to resuscitate Fifi should her heart stop in operation. The initial deposit was SGD1500 and Dr Wong ran the blood test again just to check if the WBC might have increased. Even though there was only a slight increase, he said it should be enough for her to fight off the infections. Usually, the centre would call me between 11am to 2pm to inform me about the test results and that they will proceed with the surgery.
For most dogs, it should be a day surgery procedure. However, due to her age and in consideration of the low WBC count, Fifi was hospitalised just to make sure that she is in good care for her initial healing. We could send food to her and were allowed to visit her between 5pm to 7pm. Dr Wong and the nurses who helped did a great job with Fifi. She was fine when we visited her and was standing up in her ward. We were relieved to see her being able to stand and even greet us with her adorable face. My stubborn baby who is extremely attached to us refused to eat because she misses us, thus we were advised to keep her in the centre for 1 more day just in case she is not eating due to pain. The next day, she ate when we fed her our home cooked food so she was discharged the following day.
Post surgery experience
Resting with the Cone of Shame
Fifi was emotional when she reached home. We had to cage her up for her own good so that she does not move around too much as she is rather hyperactive for her age. On the first day home, Fifi would whimper throughout the whole day and she did it even more when one of us leave the house. She had bandages on the would so We did not have to worry about her licking her wound initially. However, she had to wear the Cone of Shame since she starts licking her wound as soon as the bandages come off. Caring for her was not difficult as we learnt how to carry her without hurting her wound as well as how to trick her to eat her medicine by mixing her food.
Dr. Wong would also call to check in a week after the surgery just to get updates from us to make sure Fifi is okay. He also asked me to send him pictures of her wound so that he can assess the recovery. There was a mild infection on her wound so we went to the vet to pick up some antibiotics for Fifi. She recovered soon after finishing her dosage. There will be a post-surgery follow up consultation which the vet will update us about the biopsy results of the tumours as well as advising us on the next step. For the first surgery, Fifi had 1 malignant tumour and 2 benign. Thankfully, Dr Wong was wise to cut slightly wider and deeper to make sure he completely removed the tumour cells to reduce the chance of regrowth. However, it is advisable to send her for check ups every 3-6 months just to make sure there are no regrowth.
4 weeks after her first surgery, Fifi went through the same procedures for the remaining tumours smoothly. She is recovering right now from her wound and we are pleased to learn that all the remaining tumours removed are benign. With this removal, I hope that Fifi can stay with us for many more years into her ripe old age.
A note to pawrents
While this article is not meant to serve as an advise on whether your senior dog should undergo surgeries, Fifi’s example (as with many other stories out there) is meant to bring hope for you that surgery might still be an option. Ultimately, it really depends on you to choose with consideration of your pet’s health status, the severity of the condition and the how invasive will the procedure be. Do not be afraid to take a chance and give your pet a fighting chance against tumours just because of age factor.
To summarise, the following factors should be taken into consideration when you are deciding on whether to pursue surgery:
Pet’s health (age, healthiness, strength etc.)
Condition’s severity
Procedure’s risk and side effect (if any)
Experience of surgeons and clinic
Price
Facilities of clinic (ward, surgical equiments, testing facilities)
Reviews of vet and clinic (from fellow pawrents and community)
Research your vet (some of them have LinkedIn with their background)
P.S. My family sincerely thank Dr. Wong and the nurses involved in Fifi’s time with them for the excellent care she received and going the extra mile to make sure that she’s doing okay even after her surgery. While she gave them a hard time for not eating, the nurses were patient enough to handfeed her and I am touched by the gentle treatment they gave her. The team has put in great efforts to comfort her of her anxiety and stress. My family will always be grateful.
The above article is written by the hooman of @fifi.prinsassy.
