I get that question a lot and I’m proud to say yes, he does! And he enjoys school more than any other human kid!
Why?
Because his school, which is called Doggie Retreat, doesn’t do typical boring school stuff where they simply learn. The doggos there actually have fun and have the best time of their lives.
So what is it about Doggie Retreat that Chandler loves?
GETTING PICKED UP BY THE DOGGIE SCHOOL BUS
On mornings when he’s going to school, he gets extra excited. The moment he sees me prepare his lunchbox, he knows it’s a school day and he gets himself all prepped up.
And when he sees the school bus, it’s as if I don’t exist anymore!
MEETING HIS FURIENDS
Just like us humans, they also have their own circle of friends in school. I just love seeing how his social life is thriving! Haha.
HE IS THE SELF-ELECTED CLASS PRESIDENT
I pack treats and food for him in his lunchbox and as it turns out, he shares them with his classmates! Because of this, I keep on saying that he looks like the Class President! Haha.
WALKIES
Chandler gets overly excited and tends to bark a lot when I walk him, but when he’s with Doggie Retreat, he doesn’t only cooperate, he can even go on pack walkies!
And most importantly, he’s happy!
BEACH TRIPS
It’s like a school field trip whenever they go to the beach. I love seeing Chandler’s and all the doggos’ smiles whenever they’re there. Needless to say, it seems like these doggos are living better lives than their pawrents who are working hard while they enjoy the beach!
THE BARKDAY PAWTIES
Yup, you’ve read that right. They celebrate the doggos’ birthday parties – with cake, party hats, and all!
THE STAFF IS LIKE FAMILY
As a pawrent, I know trusting other people with our furkids could be challenging. But time and time again, I’ve seen how the Doggie Retreat staff is more than just mere people who look after him. They’re family. They shower him with love and care as if Chandler is their own dog. That’s why I trust them wholeheartedly whenever Chandler is under their care.
Choosing to send Chandler toDoggie Retreat school is one of the best decisions I’ve made as a pawrent. It’s not just a matter of him having a place to stay or having company while we’re at work or on a holiday. It’s him being happy and having a great time. And now you can see why.
Eating with Ji is a video series that showcases fuss-free yummy treats made for dogs, by a lazy pawrent who wants to act fancy. Do note that the treats are meant to be consumed as part of a balanced diet, and should be fed in moderation.
The idea to create special treats for my dog came about one day when I was watching Masterchef on TV. When I saw the contestants getting all creative and coming up with yummy dishes, I thought to myself, hey I could do that for Duoji too. Plus point, she’s probably less critical than Gordan Ramsey.
Of cos, me being me, my aim is to keep things as simple and fuss-free as possible. Hence the idea for the Eating with Ji series was born – to create ‘fancy’ yummy dog treats with easily available ingredients under a short amount of time.
The first treat I made was mini burgers or sliders. I used a commercial dog bread for the bun but you can use regular bread as well if your dog is able to eat it. In general, bread is safe for dogs provided they don’t have any allergies but do limit the amount, which was why I made mini burgers. I sometimes feed Duoji some keto-friendly (no carbs) bread as well, just a small piece, so you could use that too for a grain-free option.
For the filling, you could use canned dog food or small pieces of cooked meat. In the video below, I used Pet Cubes (cos lazy) but I’ve also done the same thing with small pieces of pan-fried minced pork as well. Just use your furkid’s favourite food, but make sure the ‘patty’ is moist enough to stick together.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this recipe. Do share your creations with us.
Oreo is a two-year-old adopted Japanese Spitz- Alaskan Malamute mix. When we adopted him in 2018, he had severe anxiety and he was not comfortable with people at all. He cried every second he was home and it took a lot of training (both home and professional) to improve his behavior.
Towards his family members, Oreo is a sweet and gentle fellow and is honestly one of the most obedient dogs I’ve seen or had. Today, he no longer barks at strangers but he isn’t outwardly friendly to them-so you can imagine a trip to the emergency vet was a nightmare for him (and maybe the nurses too!)
August 5, 2020
The day started out typical with Oreo and our Shih Tzu named Yani doing their normal routine of playing, sleeping, and fighting each other. At around 6:00pm, my mom reminded us that a flea collar needed to be put on the dogs (we use a collar because my Shih Tzu couldn’t take oral medications due to kidney issues). My sister obliged and put their brand new collar on. We didn’t think much of it because we’ve been using the same brand for almost 2 years now. The dogs didn’t seem to mind either, there was absolutely no change in their behavior.
At 8:30pm my sister went to bed with the dogs (yes, it’s early I know) and at 10:00pm she woke up to Oreo pacing. She thought Oreo was just restless so she went downstairs to get herself a glass of water. When she returned, she realized that there was white foam and blood on the bedsheet. Oreo was now vomiting but still strong and playful, even then we knew something was wrong and we prepared to take him to the emergency vet.
We saw a part of his flea collar chewed off (1/4 an inch-very tiny) and suspected that it might have been poisonous.
Since it was lockdown in Metro Manila, all the usual vets that we go to for emergencies were closed. We spent 18 minutes calling and finding a vet that would take him in after office hours. We finally found one and due to the road blockage, it took over 30 minutes to get there. The wait was excruciating, Oreo started changing within 48 minutes. He wouldn’t drink water, he was drooling excessively and he was panting.
Vet’s Office
You can see the wet part of the stairs, that was Oreo excessively drooling outside the vet’s office
It took two nurses to carry him out. The vet confirmed our suspicions that it was probably the flea collar and asked us to remove it from our other dog immediately.
Unfortunately for Oreo, an x-ray confirmed that the collar was no longer in his stomach and induced vomiting would no longer help. He needed to be warded for at least 3 days because with poisoning things can take a turn for the worse quickly as they start to digest the poison.
Oreo during his first night
Oreo’s treatment consisted of charcoal pills, an IV drip, and extra oxygen. His first night, he was extremely weak and unhappy. This vet was a whole new place for him and his usual humans were not around.
The next morning we got a message from his vet that Oreo refused to eat anything they gave him. My sister and her partner prepared Oreo’s favorite meals and visited him. The only place Oreo was comfortable and familiar with was the car. For the next days, it would be routine for my sister to visit Oreo and for the nurses to carry Oreo to the car with an IV to be fed.
Oreo in the car with his IV
By the third day, you could see a big improvement in Oreo. He was no longer drooling, he was stronger and he even seemed to be smiling again. There were still a few problems, the first one was that his kidney levels were not completely back to normal and the second was that for 3 days Oreo did not want to pass stool in the vet’s office.
Oreo still eating in the car but much happier
The vet decided that the next day (4th day) if he was still in stable condition, he could continue medicines for his kidney at home in the hopes that he would be in a more comfortable area where he can pass stool. Passing stool was important because Oreo needed to excrete the collar so it would stop releasing poison in his body.
The vet warned that taking him home would mean constant monitoring and any sign of drooling, pale gums, or seizures in the next 3 days would warrant an emergency trip back to the vet.
Bringing him home
Discharged from the vet
Oreo was discharged on August 8, 2pm. The next few days were filled with sleepless nights because we were continuously monitoring Oreo. Finally, on August 11 the vet was officially happy to declare that Oreo survived the poisoning and is out of the critical zone.
Learnings
Always have a list of emergency vets. We wasted precious time just figuring out where to take Oreo. It’s important to update this list especially during COVID where establishments change their hours.
Socialise your dog. It’s important for them to be very comfortable in a vet’s office. We realized after that Oreo never had a pleasant visit to the vet. We tried to avoid vet visits previously due to his anxiety but when he really needed to go, he was uncomfortable, to say the least.
Never use Bayopet flea collar. It’s insane how only 1/4 inch of the collar could poison a 20kg dog. I shudder to think about what would’ve happened if it was my Shih Tzu that ate the collar.
Today
Today, Oreo is back to normal. He’s happy and playful but his poisoning was a traumatic experience for everyone. We can’t believe he was poisoned by a flea collar – an item that has been deemed safe for dogs to use.
At some point, Oreo still needs to do a blood test to check if his kidney function is back to normal. At the end of the day, we’re just proud and happy to have our pup back home and healthy!
Toys are essential items for all dogs, regardless of age and breeds. All dogs love to play to a certain extent. Playing and chewing are natural canine behaviours.
There are so many dog toys options in the market now, so choosing toys for your dog can be overwhelming, especially for new owners. Then there’s the other end of the spectrum where overzealous dog owners end up buying every single toy in sight cos they are cute, without considering the form or functions of these toys. Some owners may end up with a giant pile of toys gathering dust because the toys they chose do not interest their dogs or there are simply too many.
So how do you choose toys that your dog will actually like?
A dog’s toy preference depends on their personal style of playing and chewing. Instead of buying just any toy in the store, try to be more purposeful in selecting and trying out a few different types of toys.
Here are the common types of dog toys in the market, and these are also the ones that I personally allow Duoji to play with at home.
Balls
A quintessential dog toy, balls are classic examples that we see everywhere, in movies, books, etc. There’s a reason why they are so popular and evergreen.
They are great for playing fetch, rolling around and getting your pup to chase it, or even as a chew toy depending on the material used. Generally, the more durable ones like rubber balls last longer and are safer for them. Personally, I wouldn’t recommend those foam ones or even tennis balls, as it’s easy for your dog to chew off bits of it and ingest them.
When choosing a ball for your dog, try to pick one that is large enough for them to carry without accidentally swallowing it, but small enough to comfortably hold in the mouth.
This is a good size for Duoji but the foam material didn’t last long.This plastic ball isn’t that great for playing but it makes a funny sound when it’s rolling.
Chew toys
Can they be called dogs if they don’t enjoy chewing? Chew toys are another classic and must-have toys for all furkids. Feeding into their natural instinct to chew, such toys can help to ease boredom, reduce dental plaque, and are great especially when your pup is teething.
They come in many different shapes and sizes, and materials. Depending on whether your dog is a strong chewer, you might need to select chews toys with different hardness levels. Try around a few types and if you observe your dog making a dent in the toy or even chewing off a chunk easily, then that’s probably not hard enough for your power chewer.
Kong Dental Squeezz
For a longer chew time or to engage/distract them, choose this type with grooves to stuff treats in.I love this one from Kong, Not only is it durable and gives a good chew, it’s great for a game of fetch. Due to its odd shape, the toy bounces in different directions each time when it hits the floor, which gives an added level of excitement during play time.You can squeeze doggy toothpaste into this one for extra teeth cleaning while your pup is chewing. It’s a bit messy to clean up though.
The first-ever chew toy I got for Duoji was a mini Nylabone. As a first time owner, I just grabbed the most readily available ones and Nylabone can be found easily at all PLC outlets. However, I kept finding little bits of the toy around the house. Eventually, I tossed it out. Subsequently, I read up a little bit more about Nylabone and found that there were quite a bit of negative reviews on it, from the pieces of plastic breaking off and being ingested by dogs, to causing tooth fractures, etc.
To be fair, regardless of brands and materials, the real danger of any chew toy lies in the potential damage to your dog’s teeth or digestive system so the best way is to monitor closely. If the toy becomes too battered or you keep finding bits of it, chances are your furkid needs a tougher chew toy.
Duoji’s first Nylabone chew toy.
Stuffed toys
Stuffed toys are great as a snuggle buddy and can serve as a chew toy for the more gentle chewers. They usually contain squeakers and some kind of stuffing, so for power chewers, it’s best to supervise them during play just in case they rip it apart and ingest the stuffing.
These toys tend to be cheaper but don’t last very long. They also tend to get dirty more easily and would require more frequent washing and disinfecting, as compared to toys made from other materials like rubber etc, which can be wiped easily.
I personally avoid those that are furry, cos the fibres might be ripped off by your dog while chewing and ingested, or cause a mess around the house.
Just a fraction of Duoji’s stuffed toy collection. There’s a random knotted towel in there which is great for chewing as well.I love this one from Daiso! It’s ultra durable and the material (a bit net-like) is easy to clean. Washes and dries quickly too. I have a spare one in storage just in case this one is gone.This is what I meant by furry toys. The fibres may dislodge easily, plus the fur gets all clumpy and yucky when wet with your dog’s saliva. Not recommended.
Tug toys
Most dogs love a good game of tug-of-war. It’s fun and an excellent way to tire your pup out. There are many types of tug toys in the market – choose one that is comfortable for you to hold in your hand and pull on, as well as easy for your dog to bite and pull on.
In addition, they should be durable enough to withstand your dog’s pulling. Be sure to replace worn-out tug toys so they do not break in the middle of a game.
Be mindful not to tug too hard when playing. If your dog wouldn’t release the toy, just let it go and try again. I’ve heard stories of dogs getting their teeth pulled out during games.
Rope toys are a popular choice when it comes to tug games but personally, I don’t recommend as they tend to fray very easily. The fibres, when detached and ingested, can cause a serious obstruction in your dog’s digestive tract. There are many online literatures citing the dangers of rope toys. Do read up and make an informed decision.
The above-mentioned Daiso stuffed toy. Notice the frayed rope portion? I removed it subsequently.
Interactive Toys
Apart from a good physical workout, dogs need ample mental stimulation as well. Learning tricks/obedience training, and having a good walk and sniff session outdoors are great ways to achieve this. Why not up the ante with interactive toys?
Common ones include food-dispensing toys and puzzles and come in many variations. These can be on the pricey end of things but in general, you don’t as many of these in your collection. Personally, I source for mine via Taobao or Ezbuy, which is much cheaper than local stores.
Will work for food.
Nose-work toys
To a dog, their sense of smell is everything. It’s what they rely on to explore their surroundings, suss out food, recognise people and peers, identify danger, etc. Hence, it’s always a good idea to incorporate toys that can help to train them to use their noses more.
Snuffle mats are a good choice because of their huge variety and ‘pattern’. Some designs can even be folded and kept in a compact bag for easy storage. They can also be easily DIY-ed if you’re the crafty sort. All you gotta do is to hide some treats in the numerous folds or layers and watch your dog go on a hunt to uncover all the treats. Alternatively, burrow toys are a good choice as well!
Lazy girl taking a short cut by lifting up the mat and scattering the treats all over.
Bonus: Larger than life toys
Well, this is entirely optional but a ‘cute-to-have’ addition in your collection. Duoji absolutely loves stuffed toys that are way larger than her. She’ll drag them all over the house, lie on them, attack and ‘fight’ with them, etc. Maybe it’s like having a sibling…
I hope this list serves as a quick guide to choosing the appropriate toys for your dog. For dog toys, variety is better than quantity, or else you’ll soon end up with clutter. After all, they can only play with that many toys in a single session and who’s gonna clean up the mess? =P
Quick tip: Try rotating the toys by switching out a couple of them with something else, then re-introducing them again after a while. Your dog will probably think they are brand new and you save money and avoid building up a pile of unused toys.
Hi! I’m Jamie, and this is my puppy, Mako. He’s a cutie Singapore Special and I adopted him from Purely Adoptions when he was 3 months old. Adopting him has been the best decision of my life.
boop! henlo!
But I won’t lie, the process of adopting a dog can be hard.
However, in this post, I hope to shed some light on parts of the adoption process, my experience, explain why the adoption procedure can be so tedious, and WHY it is necessary, but most importantly – WHY it is STILL WORTH IT. This is why we adopt and don’t shop.
It takes too long!
Yes, adoption can take a long time. Many of my friends have stated that when they tried to adopt, the AWGs (Animal Welfare Groups) took forever to get back to them. Yes, the responses can be slow sometimes but do consider all the other work that the AWGs are often really busy with. Many AWGs have endless to-do lists, such as taking in abandoned dogs, dogs put up for rehoming, urgent medical treatment for shelter dogs, rescuing stray dogs, trapping and neutering stray dogs to control the population, etc. etc. Many rescuers take in entire litters of puppies at a time. These puppies often have many health issues and the care required to keep the puppies alive is basically an around-the-clock commitment, and not all the puppies make it. Imagine the heartbreak of losing your dog. Now multiply that by the number of rescued puppies that don’t survive, and then by the number of litters rescuers take in. It’s a huge toll and so I hope you understand when AWGs take more time than pet shops to respond. They just have so much to do!
Moreover, keep in mind how hard 2020 has been for AWGs that can no longer hold adoption drives, fundraising events, or have volunteers over during the Circuit Breaker to help with shelter care. As much as we want to adopt WFH companions as soon as possible, do consider that there is a lot going on behind the scenes.
But they do get back to you eventually! One key thing you must have when you want to adopt is persistence. Don’t stop at enquiring at one AWG, enquire at others too. You will get a response if you keep trying.
When I started my search for my forever furkid, I began with the first AWG I knew of SPCA. However, SPCA has limited dogs available for adoption. I couldn’t find one that really spoke to me and applications were not even open because of high demand during Circuit Breaker!
So I kept digging. I only knew of a couple AWGS at that time, like SPCA and Save Our Street Dogs (SOSD). Perhaps you’re the same. But in reality, there are many, many, many AWGs out there with dogs that need a home! Here is a list of all the AWGs I looked at when looking for my furever furkid:
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)
Action for Singapore Dogs (ASD)
Save Our Street Dogs (SOSD)
Mercylight Animal Sanctuary
F7 Home Kennel
Oasis Second Chance Animal Shelter (OSCAS)
Voices for Animals (VFA)
Animal Lovers League (ALL)
Causes For Animals
Forget Me Not Dog Shelter
Exclusively Mongrels (EM)
Purely Adoptions (not last because of importance, last because this is where I found my furbabe! There are also several more I have not mentioned here!)
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Yes, it can take a long time. But consider this: what is a few months delay when you are potentially adopting a companion who will be by your side for 10-15 years?
Why is the process so tough?
Even as determined as I was to adopt, I still found the research process was long and tedious. I messaged many shelters via their social media and received no replies for some. And even when I got through, there were just so many dogs that needed a home! How to choose? Eventually, I started submitting applications to a few AWGs, shortlisting a few dogs from each shelter that I seemed to like, hoping to meet them. (I applied for like, 8 dogs each from ASD and Mercylight!)
Here comes the discouraging part.
One shelter rejected me because all the dogs I was interested in were either already adopted, on homestay, or they did not want to let me adopt because they were skittish and I am a first-time dog owner. I couldn’t even meet the dog! I was really discouraged. But all I could do was keep trying.
Why continue? Well, just look at that long list of AWGs above! There are so many places you can try applying to. I think some people are not aware that there are so many AWGs in Singapore helping to rehome dogs, and don’t look for dogs there, especially for the smaller AWGs. If one rejects you, just try again! Some people are discouraged because of the HDB restrictions on many dogs up for adoption, and thus choose to buy HDB approved breeds instead. However, keep trying! There are many HDB-approved size Singapore Specials waiting for a home! Voices For Animals is an AWG that rehomes a lot of smaller sized dogs!
But why are AWGs so strict?
At the heart of it all, the AWGs primary concern is the welfare of the dogs. Think of it this way, it’s basically as important as adopting a child, but this child will depend on you all their life, and they have no voice to speak out if they are in a less than the optimal home environment. The AWGs just want to make sure the dogs go to a suitable home. The last thing anyone wants is for a family to abandon or return a dog they adopted because they realise they weren’t ready or suited for the dog. This is HIGHLY traumatic for the abandoned/returned dog and makes it even harder for them to be adopted in the future. That’s why they ask so many questions, so thoroughly check your home, and so carefully evaluate whether you are suitable. They have the dog’s welfare at heart.
But I don’t get to pick my dream dog…
We all love the smiley golden retrievers and adorable butt-shaking corgis. But at the end of the day, all dog owners know that they don’t love their dog for their breed, they love their dog for their dog’s pupsonality and the personal connection they feel with their dog. This is possible too, and with adoption, you really get the chance to find the right companion for you.
With adoption, the rehomers want their dogs to go to good homes, so they will help you find a dog that is a good match for you. Confession: Mako was not my first choice dog. There was a 1.5-year-old SS from another shelter I REALLY wanted to adopt, but he was massive, 30kg, and the shelter decided they did not think he was suitable for my first-timer family and I had to give up. However, the happy ending is that I feel like it was fate because I cannot imagine my life without my Mako now.
A shelter dog can be your dream dog too. Just give them that chance to connect with you.
Look how adorable he is with this toy I gave him on his first night home
Some people think that adopting a dog from a shelter means that you don’t know whether they are sick or have behavioural issues. THIS IS A BIG MISCONCEPTION. In fact, AWGs are likely to fully disclose if a dog has any issues and REALLY check that you are okay with these before letting you adopt. They have no vested interest in forcing you to adopt a dog you will have to give up later. They want the furkid to find their forever home too. When I wanted to adopt Mako, his rehomer at Purely Adoptions warned me extensively about the downsides of puppy raising, like the biting and the destruction, and the issues with skittish puppies. Only when I was fully agreeable and fully aware of what I was getting myself into, did she proceed to discuss with me viewing of puppies. I am so grateful she gave me that chance. Mako was a skittish, timid puppy who has blossomed into a loving, manja boy who loves cuddles and his humans, and all his doggy friends!
Why, how, can such a process still be worth it?
In my opinion? Yes. Here’s my take:
The dog chooses you. Unlike buying a puppy, where you sometimes don’t get to interact with the puppy much before taking it home, you do know the dog’s personality, quirks, and potential issues before you have to decide whether to bring it into your family. And when a dog has chosen you and imprinted on you, the bond you feel is unspeakable.
You save lives. This is the most important point. All the work, at the end of the day, is worth it because you are SAVING LIVES. A dog that struggles to find its next meal on the streets, that lives in fear of unfriendly humans and urban traffic, has the chance to live in the comfort of a home, loved and well-fed, knowing they will be taken care of for as long as they shall live. When you adopt, you free up space for another dog to take its place in the shelter. At minimum, you save two lives by adopting.
You are very thoroughly supported through the adoption process, before, during, even after the papers are signed. That is in my experience, though I’ve heard similar from other adopters. Before the adoption, I could ask as many questions as I wanted. I felt bad but the fosterer and my contact point at Purely Adoptions were so kind and always ready to help me. During the trial homestay, they checked in to see how my family was doing, and check on how Mako was handling the transition. Even now, months after the adoption, whenever I have issues with Mako, such as fear, aggression, diarrhoea, I can always go to them to ask for help and advice (let me know in the comments if I should do an article on my experience with adopting a fearful puppy!). They are able to connect me to good sources of help. I got to meet Mako’s rescuer, who is also his pawma’s stray feeder, and she connected me to DawkStar, the most incredible doggy daycare that took Mako in for a week to teach him how to walk on leash despite his leash fear+aggression and socialise him. If the trial period for you does not work out, there is no judgement. The AWGs will help you find a dog suitable for your family. So the dog you adopt in the end, there is a higher chance that they are suited for you, compared to the odds when picking up a puppy you don’t know at all (unsuitable families for puppies, not unsuitable puppies, are often the cause of puppy abandonment later)
Yes, your dog will love you so much. You are your dog’s entire world. Mako runs to greet me at the door whenever I return from work, demands to play with me, excitedly comes to me when I call him and wants to cuddle whenever I am around. Some say he is lucky to have me adopt him, but I think it goes the other way. Through the whole adoption process, I am lucky to have him. Thank you, Purely Adoptions, for bringing him into my life, which has forever been changed for the better.
mako hopes you have a wonderful day!
So this is a bit of a long read, but I do hope it sheds some light on the adoption process, for those interested to adopt a dog. If you want a puppy, yes there are puppies out there that need a home. However, take your time to find the right one for you. It is worth it. You may spend a few months in the process of adopting, but a dog is for life. What are a few months, when the result is a wonderful companion that will be with you for the next 10-15 years?
If you are interested to hear my experience adopting Mako and how my journey has been as a first-time owner, adopting a Singapore Special puppy, let me know in the comments below so I can write about it!
Having a go-bag for our puppy Donut has been a lifesaver for us. Any time we go for a walk, we don’t forget a single item because it is all packed away beforehand.
One instance where we fully appreciated a go-bag was when Donut had to be rushed to an emergency vet because she choked on a kibble. In one quick swoop, all her items and vet records were with us when we got to the vet.
I’m here to share the items we pack:
Treats and kibbles:
During walks, vet visits, or training sessions-treats and kibbles are necessary to reward and affirm your pup. We always have a day’s worth of kibbles and treats for our daily activities.
Collapsible Bowl & Water
Taken from Amazon
I generally do not allow Donut to use communal dog bowls in water stations because it only takes one sick dog to use it before Donut is infected. We bought these bowls on Carousell for $2 dollars each and Donut can drink anytime and anywhere.
Portable Fan
Taken from Amazon
Singapore’s weather has been extremely unpredictable. It’s raining very hard then a few minutes later, it fee
ls like the heat of the sun is piercing my skin. I’ve learned to prevent heatstroke by bringing a portable fan for Donut. There isn’t always shade or air-conditioning in places we walk our dog but this fan allows us to make them a bit more comfortable everywhere.
Wet Wipes and Plastic Bags
Taken from Amazon
Accidents happen, dogs get messy. From rolling around mud to pooping and peeing in random places, these items help me get Donut clean again.
Vet Records
You’ll never know when you’ll be needing this go-back quickly for an emergency visit. It’s always good to have your vet records on hand in order to give more information to the acting vet. Additionally, some restaurants and dog friendly places ask for proof of vaccination status before dogs can enter their premises.
We hope this checklist has helped you as a pawparent! With our furkids, it’s always better to be overprepared than underprepared.
My husband and I were at a church conference last January 2020, and just coming out of a church conference, you would never think a tragedy would take place.
But that’s exactly what happened.
A few hours after the conference ended, at around 2am, I received a call from Singapore that my dog, Chandler, who is a small 2 1/2-year-old Maltipoo, was bitten by a 25kg large dog and was in critical condition.
Now, for you to fully comprehend how dreadful it was for me to hear this, you need to understand how much Chandler means to me. He’s pretty much like a son to me.
I was just refreshed and renewed getting out of conference and this happened. My natural reflex reaction was that my world came crashing down.
At that moment, my husband had to snap be back to my senses as my emotions were taking over me. It took a while to do so and to even get myself to speak out and not come into agreement with the current situation.
I vaguely remember the exact words I said, but I remember declaring victory over the situation and that this will be a miraculous testimony. Saying these words were not the easiest considering circumstances were against us in the natural, but I held on to what Jesus said when the centurion approached Him. Let it be done as you believed it would.
I believed the healing has already taken place.
I believed his health and body will be restored brand new.
I believed we are fighting from victory grounds against this attack by the enemy.
I believed the enemy intended to harm me, but God will use it for the good.
I believed this will be an amazing testimony to His goodness.
I believed many will witness this healing miracle and that many will believe.
DAY 0: CHANDLER IN CRITICAL CONDITION | SURGERY DAY
My husband and I immediately packed and made our way to the airport to fly back to Singapore as soon as we could.
While in transit, I was sending voice messages and prayers of healing for them to play for Chandler.
When I finally saw him, I broke down seeing how he was. We were told he has multiple bites, is losing blood, has 3 broken ribs, muscles torn and lost, a broken shoulder, damaged eye, fractured spine, and possibly punctured lungs.
They would only be able to see the extent of the internal injuries when they open him up and undergo surgery to do repairs.
At that point, I felt I was faced with an impossible situation and had to make conscious efforts from time to time to not fear and to just remind myself that Jesus has already won the victory for me. I was stirring my faith, but in the natural, the head surgeon, Dr. Nick of Advanced Vetcare, was managing our expectations by telling us that though other patients made it through surgery, they didn’t make it through recovery. Most usually don’t make it through the first 24 hours, he said. Hence, he would be more at peace when he sees Chandler make it through 2-3 days after surgery.
In my head, I was declaring God will come through.
“You will see,” I told him.
Chandler before surgery
They performed the surgery and it was successful. All we could do is pray and see how he would recover.
DAY 1: INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
We couldn’t stay long when we visit him ’cause he had to stay inside the cage and can’t be moved, but for the brief time we would see him, we could see he was pleased to see us.
He had a catheter, tubes sticking out of him to drain out the fluids inside, a warmer to regulate his temperature, and an oxygen support to help him breathe. He didn’t have the appetite to eat on his own so they had to syringe feed him. The good news is he wasn’t rejecting the food and was swallowing it.
It pained me to see him so broken, but I was grateful with every good news the doctors and nurses told me.
Making it through the first 24 hours was a blessing in itself.
DAY 2: MAKING PROGRESS
His vitals are all normal and they told us he didn’t need a warmer and the oxygen support anymore. He was also way more energetic than the day before.
He was starting to lift his head up on his own and we were told he would even attempt to bite the doctors and nurses when they would take his vitals and dress his wounds. Now, this is usually a bad habit for a dog, but with the situation he is in, this was a really good sign.
DAY 3: OUT OF THE WOODS!
It was the first time they allowed him to be out of the cage and to be brought out into the visiting rooms. This was a really promising sign.
And it really was good because on day 3, Chandler was declared out of the woods! He is no longer in danger and no longer in a life-threatening situation. The head surgeon said he beat the odds and is such an amazing and strong little fighter.
He’s able to voluntarily eat for the first time too! This is essential because with more food intake, his protein level will normalise and will help him recover faster.
DAY 4: TUBE-FREE
The tubes on his chest were taken out already and X-ray showed no leakage of fluids! He was also way more energetic and is starting to bark and be hyper.
He’s able to eat more when we feed him and he’s now able to sit up and stand up with support too!
DAY 5: MORE MOVEMENTS!
We were told his spine might have been affected, hence his hind legs still being so weak. This was the day we first saw massive improvement with the movement of his legs.
Showing good recovery signs
DAY 6: BACK ON HIS FEET!
All test results are normal, he is also now able to stand on his own.
Getting stronger
DAYS 7-9: WARP-SPEED RECOVERY
The doctors are so pleased with his progress every single day.
His catheter was removed, his appetite was getting better, and his energy was going back to normal.
Not too happy to have a selfieEating on his own
DAY 10: HOME SWEET HOME
Since he was brought to the hospital, I would visit him every single day and just spend time with him. Though he wasn’t exactly his normal self, I knew me being there contributed a lot to his recovery. More importantly, I was able to lay hands on him and pray for him.
On the 10th day, his doctor finally declared he’s fit to go home. Given the severity of his injuries and condition, being discharged on the 10th day was beating the odds.
One thing to watch out for though was since the CT scan detected a slight fracture on his spine, we needed to monitor movement on his two hind legs. He was well enough to continue recovering at home without doctors attending to him 24/7, but he still couldn’t stand up on his own, so I was told he needed to do home physiotherapy.
Excited to go home!
He was also asked to come back to do physiotherapy every 2 days and acupuncture every week to help him recover.
When we got home, he immediately lit up. He was as happy and relieved as I was.
To be honest, seeing him at home was seeing the impossible happen right before my eyes, and it wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for God’s promise coming to pass.
New living room set up with pillows and yoga mats so he wouldn’t slip
He had to have the strength to sit and stand up on his own.
He had to relearn how to walk.
And I needed to be there guiding and assisting him in peeing, pooping, and making sure he won’t injure himself.
The whole process was made even less painful with everyone’s love and support!
You can see how happy he is with all these!
His physiotherapy sessions were helping him get better sooner.
And I could see the progress every single day, not just with how well he could balance and walk, but also with his strength and energy. He seems happier!
BACK TO SCHOOL
Just 1 month after his major surgery, he was already able to go back to school. His playtime with other doggos had to be strictly supervised since his ribs are still healing and his hind legs are still not 100% recovered. Nonetheless, him being there motivated him all the more to practice his walk. And again, he’s so happy!
Not long after that, all his wounds and stitches are fully healed and his walk is almost back to normal!
CHANDLER’S BIRTHDAY / RECOVERY PARTY
Experiencing this breakthrough is definitely something to celebrate. It’s also timely that it’s his 3rd birthday!
He celebrated at his school Doggie Retreat with his furiends who dressed up for the occasion.
He was so happy and even brought home a bunch of presents!
It was the best way to celebrate, indeed. I couldn’t thank everyone enough who contributed to make this happen.
GOD CAME THROUGH
Chandler’s accident was one of the most painful journey I’ve had to go through, but God never fell short of reassuring me every single day that He’s right beside me through it all. Because of that, He gave me clarity of the good things that came out of this.
So many people prayed and held on to God.
They witnessed an amazing miracle.
MANY BELIEVED IN HIM.
As painful as it was, because of all of those, I’m actually thankful it happened. It was an honor to be able to be a part of a testimony to God’s glory and goodness!
Yet again, it just goes to show, no matter how big and impossible the situation is, God is and will always be bigger.
CHANDLER TODAY
Fast forward today, Chandler is all better and back to normal!
It was a tough experience and I wouldn’t wish it to happen to any pawrent out there, but I’m just happy to see Chandler back to his rascal, happy, playful self and I couldn’t be more relieved.
I would like to take this opportunity to specially thank the following:
My husband for standing by me through this.
Dr. Nick and the whole team of Advanced VetCarefor a successful surgery and for making sure Chandler got the best treatment.
Doggie Retreat team (Esther, James, Kio, Lyn, Grace, Clifford, Ames, Jaren, Jeffrey, Joshua, Nicholas, Shan, and Yasmine) for the prayers, the love, the care, and the support from day 1 to date.
And of course, JESUS for winning the battle for us.
A couple of months ago, we had a day off work and made plans to bring Taro to Sentosa for our very first beach outing. Being inexperienced pawrents in this area, we simply headed off to the beach anticipating a day of fun in the sand and sea without reading up much on the ‘do’s and ‘don’t’s on a doggo beach outing.
Taro’s reaction to sand
Most dogs love sand. We commonly see videos and pictures of dogs enjoying themselves at the beach, running along the coastline, jumping into the seawater, playing fetch and digging into the sand, getting their noses all sandy and wet. So much fun! But yikes, Taro’s reaction to sand was entirely different from what we expected. Perhaps it was because he is a Shiba Inu with a lot of ‘cleanliness’ tendencies (PS. he side-walks puddles and refuses to step onto grass when it is muddy) – Taro seemed to hate sand getting onto his nose and we found him licking furiously away at the sandy bits that accidentally got onto his face.
Sand on Taro’s nose
Something doesn’t seem right…
We spent a good one hour playing with Taro on the beach, but after a while, we got a bit uncomfortable as we noticed Taro swallowing sand quite frequently. It didn’t seem normal to us but we couldn’t stop Taro from swallowing the sand. Hence, we decided to play on the safe side and return home.
Back at home, Taro seemed perfectly normal until dinner time (approximately 4 hours after the beach outing). Taro loves his food and would usually gobble up his entire bowl within 3 minutes. This time, he took two bites and hid under the sofa, refusing all sorts of food, even treats. We knew something wasn’t quite right. Taro also seemed a little lethargic and wasn’t interested in playing with his toys.
Sand Impaction and what it is
We started to get very worried as a few hours passed and Taro started to look increasingly unwell, and naturally thought of whether it was caused by Taro eating too much sand. We did a google search which led us to the topic of “Sand Impaction”. To our horror, the symptoms were similar to what Taro was having – lethargy, vomitting (Taro started to vomit later in the night), and lack of appetite. Taro seemed to be having abdominal pain as well as he refused to let us touch him and whimpered loudly when we tried to carry him into his crate.
In layman’s terms, sand impaction refers to how sand obstructs the intestinal passage of your furkid and it is a potentially serious condition requiring urgent veterinary treatment. We read a few cases online of dogs needing surgery to remove the sand in their stomachs. After a few sleepless hours of reading about this condition, we rushed Taro to the vet. Thankfully, Taro pooped out some sand just outside the vet’s clinic and seemed better in the morning. The vet advised that Taro was alright as he managed to clear out the sand in his poop, which meant that there was no serious blockage in his intestinal tract, and he was off with a few diarrhoea pills to clear out the remaining sand bits in his tummy.
As relatively new pawrents, this was a valuable lesson for us and since then, we have been extra careful of Taro licking up sand – not just at beaches, but also at parks or sandy places. It was horrifying to learn that it could have been a potentially life-threatening situation if we had stayed at the beach a little longer.
Tips for pawrents
While dogs can still enjoy the beach and sand, here are some tips we would like to share with the doggo community:
Always keep an eye on your furkid when you bring them to the beach or sandy places. Make sure they are not ingesting excessive sand when you are not looking!
Avoid playing fetch with your doggo at sandy places as they might inadvertently swallow sand as they pick up the ball/stick in the sea or sand.
Watch out for symptoms like lethargy, abdominal pain, vomiting, loss of appetite and strained bowel movements if you suspect that your dog might have swallowed some sand.
Finally, a tiny bit of sand ingestion during each beach outing might accumulate and potentially cause problems over time! Don’t let your guard down, play on the safe side and always keep a close watch while enjoying the sand and sea with your furkid 🙂
Also, join my telegram group for more recommendations! https://t.me/joinchat/DTxdXRudKXYs1GxCGe0hPQ
Silicone
This post will be featuring all things silicone!
Why silicone?
High heat resistance of up to 315 degree Celsius, but in most kitchen tools, the maximum temperature stated is around 200-250 degree Celsius.
Stain resistant. Silicone is non porous, hence is does not retain odors or smells.
Suitable for use with non stick pans (Silicone utensils). It will not damage the pans when cooking, the flexibility also allows users to scrap off any bits and pieces easily off curved surfaces.
Invention of collapsible silicone products, allowing users to maximize kitchen storage space.
My mother was not a fan of anything other than wood because she think silicone is like plastic, it will melt and pose health risks.
… Until I bought silicone utensils and containers. Now she grow to like them because wooden spatulas are DISGUSTING!
They absorb smell, color and even oil over time. Try soaking your wooden utensils in hot water!
Some products mentioned below may also be in part 1 of my blog.
