In Singapore, there are limited shops and stores that I can bring my little Maltipoo, Donut to. When I saw the cute photos of pet owners being able to shop with their pup at Singpet, I knew I had to give it a visit.
Singpet is located in Dempsy Hill. One thing that I noticed immediately is that the location is a bit difficult to find. It took a while for our taxi driver to find it and there was a flight of stairs before we could get to the location.
Taken from Singpet IG
Once we got there, pets are required to wear diapers. They sell some by the front door for about $2 each.
Taken from Singpet IG
The store was spacious and they had a wide range of options if you wish to spoil your furkid. From luxury beds, pet carriers, premium food, and toys– I can see why it would be easy to break the bank and drain the wallet here.
View of Singpet
Overall, it was exciting to be able to shop with my puppy. She was excited to sniff all the food around here. She was also busy selecting the right toy for herself.
My puppy Donut sniffing the toys
They have a membership option and members get discounted prices. Though, I have not heard favorable things about their online shop- it should be worth it if their physical store is nearby.
Singpet toy collection
Though prices are a bit high, the store’s pet friendly nature, helpful service and vast offerings are enough reasons for me to keep coming back.
Vaccinations help to protect the immune system from illness. They work by exposing the body to non-pathogenic viral or bacterial antigens and the immune system remembers how the pathogens cause disease and anticipates. Vaccines can prevent the onset of diseases (or reduce the severity of disease).
Canine Core Vaccines
Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)
Canine Parvovirus (CPV)
Canine Adenovirus (CAV)
Leptospira app
The canine core vaccines are recommended for puppies and dogs with an unknown vaccination history. It is recommended to vaccinate puppies at 8, 12 and 16 weeks and an annual booster a year from the last puppy vaccine.
Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous system in dogs. It can spread through sneezing, coughing or sharing of food and water bowls with an infected dog. CDV causes discharge from the nose, fever, coughing, vomiting and diarrhoea, seizures, paralysis and often, death.
Canine Parvovirus (CPV) is a highly contagious virus that affects all dogs but unvaccinated dogs and puppies less than four months of age are at the most risk to contract the virus. CPV attacks the gastrointestinal system which can cause the loss of appetite, vomiting, fever and severe bloody diarrhoea. CPV causes death within 48-72hours following the onset of clinical signs.
Canine Adenovirus (CAV) consist of two serotypes, CAV 1 and CAV 2. CAV 1 causes canine hepatitis where dogs will suffer cell damage in the liver which can cause haemorrhage and death. CAV 1 can be contracted via dogs feces and urine of infected dogs. Symptoms of CAV 1 include abdominal pain, distension, lack of appetite, lethargy and fever. CAV 2 is a relative of the hepatitis virus and is one of the causes of kennel cough. The symptoms of CAV 2 are hacking cough, discharge after coughing and nasal discharge.
Leptospira app is caused by a bacteria and some dogs can show no symptoms at all. It can be found in contaminated water, soil or in rat’s urine. It is a zoonotic disease where it can spread from animals to people. Symptoms of leptospira app can cause lethargy, vomiting, jaundice, weakness and kidney failure.
There is no cure for any of the viruses mentioned above. Thus, it is important to vaccinate your pets if they have not received any vaccination before.
Non-core Vaccines
Canine Parainfluenza Virus (CPiV)
Bordetella bronchiseptica
Canine Coronavirus (CCV)
Rabies
Canine Parainfluenza Virus (CPiV) is highly contagious which can cause dry cough, difficulty breathing, sneezing, pneumonia, reduced appetite and lethargy. Most dogs can recover on their own but most dogs are treated immediately by vets using antibiotics since it is contagious. Cough suppressants may be given as well.
Bordetella bronchiseptica or kennel cough, is caused by a bacteria which can spread via close contact to an infected dog, sharing of food and water bowls. The bacteria destroys the lining of the dog’s trachea which can cause coughing. Dogs can wretch or gag as they cough. The symptoms include fever, nasal discharge and loss of appetite. The incubation of kennel cough is around five to seven days. It takes about 48 hours to develop immunity to the disease after receiving the vaccination. It is recommended to vaccinate against kennel cough for dogs doing to a boarding facility. The vaccine is given every 12 months from the first booster.
Canine Coronavirus (CCV) is a virus that affects the intestinal tract. It is not the same virus as COVID-19. It can be passed through saliva and feces. The symptoms include decrease in appetite, diarrhoea and lethargy.
Rabies is a viral disease carried by many mammals and it is also a zoonotic disease where it can spread from animal to humans. It is spread through a bite from an infected animal. Rabies causes acute encephalitis and eventually affecting the nervous system which results in death. Rabies vaccination is usually only required for international travel. Singapore has been rabies free since 1953.
There is no cure for Canine Coronavirus and Rabies.
General Considerations & Risks
Before vaccinating your pets, there are some considerations to and risks. The age of your pet, medical history, environment and overall health. Post vaccination reactions can be seen which include sluggishness, loss of appetite, facial swelling, pain, redness, lameness, difficulty breathing, seizures, collapse and death. It is important to bring your pet immediately to the vet if any of the post vaccination reaction occurs.
If pet owners are not keen to vaccinate annually, there is another option such as the Anti-body Titre testing. The titre test is a anti-body blood test which can help to identify if the previous vaccines is still protecting your dog’s immune system. The titre test can only identify antibodies of CDV, CPV and CAV. It does not measure the level of antibodies.
Conclusion
It is definitely recommended to vaccinate your pets if they have an unknown history for adult dogs and if they are still doing their puppy shots. An anti-body titre test can be done to prevent over-vaccination. Always check with your regular vet to see if your pet needs a vaccination or not.
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.
Being a first-time dog owner, I was relatively lucky that Coffee had no major health issues for the first few years of her life. I always knew she had a weak stomach and had her fair share of vet visits, but nothing prepared me (and my wallet) for the multiple bouts of gastroenteritis that happened last year in 2019. I’m sharing my personal experience in hopes that you can avoid some of the mistakes that I made.
How it began
The first time it happened was on 27 Feb 2019, and it started with some diarrhoea earlier in the day. I did not think much about it at first because she occasionally had loose stools that resolved on their own. However, I knew something was wrong when she started vomiting and there was even blood in the diarrhoea. By the time I realised it was an emergency, her usual vet clinic was already closed. In my panic, I searched for vets nearby and found one that was open until 11pm. We rushed her there and disappointingly, the vet barely examined her (red flag!!), explained some possibilities and sent us off with metronidazole. Our bill easily came up to over $250 that night, which leads me to my point number 1:
1. Please research and have a list of vets for different situations! Your usual vet may not always be open when you need them, so be prepared with a list of good vet clinics you can go to for emergencies late at night/on public holidays etc. If I had a choice, I would not have gone to that vet that day.
We were then told to give her a bland diet and would likely still see blood in her diarrhoea for the next few days. She was still lively and had her good appetite then.
Coffee happily waiting for her steamed fish and pumpkin.
With the antibiotics she was taking, we thought she would get better but it took a turn for the worse. She continued to vomit and diarrhoea day and night and by 1 Mar, she had stopped wanting to eat or drink anything. I was working full time then, and the lack of sleep and stress was really building up. Luckily, I managed to squeeze in an appointment with her usual vet and I’m glad we went back to her usual vet for a second opinion.
2. Trust your gut instincts and if you feel like something is not right, you should see the vet immediately.
They examined her thoroughly (the vet even stuck her finger up Coffee’s butt to feel for any abnormalities), gave her injections and more medicine. Surprisingly, the total bill was only about $159 despite having more medicine. She eventually recovered and we thought that was the last of it.
The second and worst
In hindsight, we should have learnt from that experience and tried to be more prepared. We only learnt our lesson when disaster struck on a public holiday – 19 April 2019. Most vet clinics we knew of were closed, so we had to go to one of the few that were open and it was really far away. As usual, they gave her some injections as well as metronidazole and other anti-diarrhoea medicine. The vet had also suggested that we can hospitalise her so that they can keep an eye on her condition. Thinking that it was similar to the previous episode, I assumed she would recover and so I declined and brought her home. It was another bad decision because when she got home, the frequency of vomiting increased and there was even more blood.
It looked like a murder scene. Her diarrhoea was so bad she could not control herself and did it in the house multiple times.
I was so heartbroken seeing her in so much pain that I knew I had to bring her back despite the cost. She was later hospitalized that night, put on the IV drip to ensure she was hydrated. By the time I got home, it was almost 1am and I hardly slept that night because I was so worried. It was a relief to find out the next day that she was recovering and was ready to be discharged.
Coffee was feeling much better but very drowsy.
Her blood test results showed nothing out of the ordinary and they ruled out pancreatitis as well so they suspected it was food sensitivity or gastroenteritis. The total bill burned a big hole in my wallet as it eventually came up to around $1500 and this leads me to point 3:
3. Always have an emergency fund for your pets. You’ll never know when you will need it and emergency vet bills can really add up. You may also consider pet insurance.
The third and fourth time
To cut the story short, it happened again 2 more times in Oct and Nov 2019. It always started with the same symptoms and progressed to something serious and we had to rush to yet another clinic recommended by her usual vet for emergencies. We did a lot of blood tests, x-ray and even tested her stool samples, which is important for pets having diarrhoea.
4. Whenever possible, save a fresh stool sample (best to be within 1 hour) so the clinic can test for certain bacteria/parasites.
A learning experience
Unfortunately, all the tests came back negative and we never really knew the cause of all this. It is frustrating because it feels like we are up against an invisible enemy. However, at least I can take comfort in the fact that I am a little more prepared the next time it strikes. This whole episode was traumatic for my family and Coffee but we have emerged much stronger through this. Do comment and share your experiences too so that it may one day help anyone going through the same thing (although I pray you never have to!).
So imagine this. You’re finally at that point in your life where you decide you’re ready to welcome a new member of the family- to raise a dog. You’ve done all your research, asked a couple friends and family for advice and finally decide to book that viewing appointment to see your doggo to-be.
And of course what better time than now right? With Covid-19 sticking around, 2020 is the perfect time to train and build that relationship without much FOMO (*the ‘Fear of Missing Out’)! You also start to rationalize and picture the next 10 years of your life, all while telling (well more like, convincing) yourself everyday that ‘You’re making the right choice! No regrets you got this! ? ‘
Now does this sound familiar?
If it does, then you’re probably a lot like me- optimistic, an over-thinker & someone who underestimates way too much. But hey, consider yourself blessed today because I’ll be sharing the things I wished I could have prepared myself better for while sharing a little more about my experiences as a first-time puppy owner!
The First Interaction
Here’s Calie (the one with the folded ears) chilling with her siblings, now formally known as Dole (in the pen) and Toufu (on top of Calie) at 3 months old!
When I met Calie, she was with her other little siblings playing around and was being this wholesome picture of ‘childlike innocence’ that I instantly fell in love with. Meeting the pups for the very first time almost had me in tears behind my face mask because I was basically achieving my childhood dreams of wanting a dog (yes, I was that child) and it was such a surreal moment for me. But you see, that’s the easy part. The idea of having a loyal companion by your side, giving you that unconditional love and acceptance to brighten up any bad day may seem like such a promising idea most of the time, but you have to realise that this should not be the sole deciding factor – which leads me to my first point:
1. Commitment: It’s the most important!
Now this personally, should be the very first thing you think about before getting that dog in the window! It is a known fact that dogs can live up to 10-15 years and they definitely require a lot of time invested, energy, money and commitment. There are many articles that will tell you that to the point where it literally becomes ‘textbook knowledge’, but you won’t realise how serious this becomes until you live the life yourself! But not to worry, if you’d like to know if you’re prepared for it, here are a few questions you can ask yourself:
Why do you want a dog to begin with?
Do you have time to train the puppy/dog?
Can you afford a dog right now?
Is your current home environment suitable for the particular breed you have in mind?
Are you ready to deal with the problems (aka ‘collateral damage’) that comes with raising a dog? – from chewing everything in its path to unforeseen health emergencies
…Did you do your research?
If you’ve managed to say ‘Yes’ to everything, then you’re pretty much set! On the other hand, if you went ‘Errr…Maybe?’ you might want to rethink the decision for now and wait things out, or adjust a few things in your life before making a choice.
Now as daunting as all this responsibility may seem, there is something so gratifying and rewarding about raising a puppy/dog and you can learn so much every single day from the experience alone- I know I have.
2.Be patient- Good things take time!
Raising puppies / Re-training dogs can be extremely hard! (and I’ve been to nursing school HA). The physical and mental exhaustion can be very demoralising as you help your new furriend to adjust to new environments and it doesn’t help whenever they make ‘potty accidents’, cry almost 24/7 from that separation anxiety, and treat your home like a natural disaster!
On the very first trip back to her furever home! (aka. moments before disaster)
Yes, the ‘Puppy Blues’ are no joke and it began from the minute we brought Calie home – if you must know, she immediately marked the floors and had the worst cases of urinary incontinence (aka. a leaky bladder) for 2 weeks straight and although this was normal for puppies, I was loosing my sanity by the minute and would have uncontrolled bursts of frustrations where I would lash out or even breakdown at the most random timings. In fact, if you’d like to know more about these ‘Puppy Blues’, hop right over to @hoshi_sheltie ‘s blog after this and read their post as they talk about the real struggles and exploring ways to overcome them!
But just like how a baby needs time to learn manners, you have to understand that dogs are naturally pack animals and have instincts on their own. The more time and training you invest with your pup, the better you can curb negative behavior and build a great relationship! As a person who’s always occupied with tight schedules, it was not easy to suddenly make adjustments to a lifestyle I’ve grown accustomed to for years just so I had enough time to train Calie and help make her adapt well with the family and it was a challenge to be constantly multi-tasking. I also strongly believe in positive reinforcement when training Calie and as a result she’s able to understand and pick up on instructions a lot more efficiently as opposed to negative reactions like yelling/hitting her (which I never do), and I’m proud of how strong our relationship is every single day, because I know all my time sacrificed is not in vain.
On the other hand, I do understand that there are people who may not be able to have the luxury of time and patience but would still like to try caring for a dog. A good suggestion would be to discuss with your families/loved ones and talk about how the responsibilities can be shared or alternatives like sending the dog to ‘puppy school’ or having a private trainer.
“Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.”
JOYCE MEYER
3. Unpopular Belief: Money Trees should really grow actual money for a change!
Now THIS is a real problem for not just myself, but in many pet owners out there especially in this time. The cost of living can be stressful for us hoomans, let alone for a dog & you would not imagine how much it takes to ensure your pup is in its best health and living in an optimal environment constantly. Of course, it would be a dream if I could give my pup the whole world (and possibly even more) if it meant making them the happiest doggos out there!
A visit to the vet for her last puppy vaccination
Before making a decision to bring Calie home, my family & I had to layout the possible costs for the next couple years and honestly it wasn’t such an easy pill to swallow. Besides the initial cost it took to get Calie, some examples of things I would typically get worried about is being able to provide food every month, to the many vet consultations as a result of unforeseen health scares , transportation costs (we don’t have a car to get around) and other miscellaneous items (eg. walking necessities, trivial accessories, etc.) – and that’s just to name a few! As a first-time owner I had my first rude awakening when I saw the bill for Calie’s vet consultation & I really thought my soul was ready to depart my body right there in front of the counter. However thankfully, we’re slowly learning to anticipate better in time to be more prepared for ‘financial emergencies’ & that’s something I hope to be much better at very soon.
Now I’ve heard of different ways to combat financial issues from many people and for new pawrents to-be, I’ve narrowed down a couple tips to consider:
As much as possible please ADOPT, don’t shop! – there are so many fur babies who are still looking for homes to call their own, please think of them first.
Consider applying for Pet Insurance (covering medical emergencies)- you never know when you’ll need to visit a vet and how often you go!
Support Local businesses in the pet community! – There are so many brands out there run by pawrents themselves that cater from food, accessories and toys! (personally I have a list of brands for my reference)
Make friends who can getchu lobang yall! – I’m talking brand ambassador discounts, special offers, and even the many pet giveaways on social media (eg. Instagram, Facebook), which is great news for shopaholics such as myself whoops ?
So resist that temptation to overspend and just leave it in the cart first, trust me. (yes I’m looking you, my fellow bo lui gang)
But do note that you should only spend within your means, because “Money will buy you a fine dog, but only love can make it wag its tail” – Richard Friedman!
Calie sending all the positive vibes your way!
Anyways, those are my top 3 points to consider before thinking of making room for a new fur member of the family. So far, raising Calie has had its ups and downs, but I really do cherish every single moment I have with her always. If there’s anything I regret, it would be me wishing there was more things I could have been prepared for but everyday is a learning process for the both of us and sometimes there are just some things you need to learn along the way!
I can’t wait to see where life takes us in the next couple of years, and I’ll always do my best to ensure she lives a life that’s well-fulfilled and full of love. To all the new pawrents to be, both Calie and I wish you all the best in this new chapter of your life and to have fun with the process, you deserve this! ?
In early July 2020, our family was met with some unexpected news. Our dog Hana was not only diagnosed with patellar luxation in her hind legs, but also hip dysplasia, at the tender age of 9 months. It was a double whammy for us. Between January to June, we had already made multiple trips to the vet to treat a variety of ongoing issues. But what made the situation even worse was the fact that Hana had already been displaying early symptoms of both conditions—right under our noses.
X-rays displaying Hip dysplasia(left) and Patellar luxation(right) respectively.
She had been quietly enduring the pain in her hips and joints, while we unknowingly brushed it off as a simple sprain that will naturally disappear and heal in no time. During the car ride home from the vet that day, many thoughts and unanswered questions went racing through my head. How did things come to this? Are we at fault for causing her to suffer so greatly? Will invasive surgery be a better or worse option?
Photo of Hana taken the day before her diagnosis. We went for a walk at Bukit Batok Nature Park.
The next few days went by in a blur. Each time I woke up in the morning, the only thought nagging inside my mind was Hana’s diagnosis. I read up many articles regarding HD and PL, sought for advice from people on Instagram, and also joined a specialized chat group hoping to gain more knowledge from other experienced owners. Fast-forward to present day, I’ve decided to compile my first-hand experience+what I’ve learnt, into this blog post, in the hopes of sharing what preventive measures you can start taking, as well as how to care for your dog—the natural way, if he or she has any hip or joint issues.
Now that I’ve shared with you some background information, I’ll be splitting the rest of this article into 2 main sections: Pre-diagnosis and Post-diagnosis.
The Pre-diagnosis aims to share what are some red flags to keep an eye out for to prevent yourself from getting a dog who is likely to suffer hip or joint conditions AND if you suspect that your dog is suffering from these conditions. This section is especially important for potential first-time owners who are planning to welcome a new puppy into their household/already own a puppy.
The Post-diagnosis aims to share our experience at RehabVet, some lifestyle changes we have made for Hana to address her needs, as well as several natural remedies that can prevent/ maintain hip and joint conditions in dogs.
Pre-diagnosis
Where you get your puppy from matters. I cannot stress this further enough. Did you know that majority of the adorable puppies sold in local pet shops are sourced from unethical puppy mills and unregistered breeders—whose sole purpose is to produce puppies for profit? Temperament, health and breed standards are rarely taken into consideration. One of the main woes of owners today is the fact that many puppies are very sickly and can suffer from several health issues, even before the age of 1.
If you are reading this post as a potential new owner, I highly recommend and suggest getting your puppy from a trusted and registered breeder overseas. These breeders show love and care to their dogs as they sincerely want to ensure that the dogs are being bred to be best in temperament, health and standard. Sure, the price you pay+amount of paperwork done for an imported breed will definitely be much higher than a local one, but then again, Affordable and Cheap ≠ Healthy dog. More than oftentimes, you’ll end up paying the price of unethical breeding through mountains of medical bills—just like we did.
This article: tinyurl.com/ImportJS written by @i.am.fuji_haku (IG) gives a very detailed and in-depth insight on importing a puppy into Singapore. A must read for anyone who plans to get a puppy, be it imported or local.
Red flag #1: We purchased Hana from a disreputable pet shop. Lets call it TC. When we asked them to show us images of her parents, the staff declined our request. They were also unable to produce health certificates to justify that her parents were hip-scored and tested to be free from hip dysplasia. This goes to show the poor level of transparency most pet shops have here.
Red flag #2: Hana’s health certificate as provided by TC after a vet check-up, did not display her knee grade for both knees e.g. Grade 1,2,3 etc. Strangely, it was left blank but we proceeded with making the purchase thinking that was just a harmless mistake.
Red Flag #3: When we met Hana for the first time, the staff did not allow her to walk on the floor. We were only allowed to carry her on our laps. Why not walk on the floor? They said that the puppies will then be easily susceptible to bacteria and germs. Looking back now, I believe that they did so in order to prevent unsuspecting owners from noticing any hobbling/limping in any puppies’ legs.
Never turn a blind eye on possible symptoms. We learnt it the hard way when Hana started limping and “bunny-hopping” in her left hind leg at the start of May. When that ceased to subside over a few days, we decided to call up the vet and book an appointment. However, since this was during the circuit breaker period and priority for vet visits was given to severe cases, the vet told us to send in videos first, and assess whether the limping was severe enough to require a physical diagnosis. Based on the videos sent, the vet told us not to worry as it was just a minor sprain that will eventually heal on its own. Our initial worries faded away…but even that was just temporary.
Red flag #4: Hana started limping occasionally in her left hind leg during her daily walks and at home. She also developed the habit of shifting both hind legs to the left side when sitting down.
Limping is visibly seen in her left hind leg when walking. This was taken after her first session of rehabilitation + consultation.
This particular sitting style may seem endearing to some, but in fact signals that there is pain in one hind leg(in this case, the left side). This caused Hana to shift all her weight onto her other right hind leg instead.
Red flag #5: At the end of June, we brought Hana for her first full grooming session at a groomers’ place near our home. The entire duration of the session? 5 hours. The groomer told us that Hana constantly kicked her legs up, and refused to stand for long periods of time. Instead, she chose to lie down on the groomer’s table and so the grooming process took way longer than it should. We suspect that she had low pain tolerance in her joints and thus was unable to stand up for long periods of time during the grooming session.
Red flag #6: Since young, Hana has a bad habit of tugging at the leash in an attempt to walk/run ahead of us during walks. This often results in her pulling against the leash and leaning sideways when we make her walk beside us, thus straining her hind legs immensely.
After seeking advice, we were told that harnesses encourage dogs to pull more frequently, and so we switched to using both collars and harnesses. If you are concerned over collar tension, you can use a martingale collar instead. They are known to be effective training collars that can reduce pulling and tugging, whilst remaining loosely fitted unless pulled.
Example of a martingale collar, sold by local brand The Sleek Hound.
Post-diagnosis
Over the next few days, I sought for help and advice from fellow owners via Instagram. These owners also had dogs diagnosed with either hip dysplasia or patellar luxation. I had a relatively long and informative conversation with one of them. Coincidentally, her dog also came from the same pet shop as Hana did, and was suffering from severe hip dysplasia. Eventually, she sent her dog for a surgical procedure as its hips were already dislocated. Another owner whose dog suffered from grade 3 patellar luxation in both hind legs also sought for surgery. On the contrary, we currently send Hana for weekly rehabilitation at RehabVet to maintain both hip and joint conditions from further deterioration.
With many owners opting for surgical procedures, you may be wondering—why didn’t we choose surgery as well? At first glance, surgery seems like a viable solution. For patellar luxation, surgical correction is often recommended for dogs with grades 2, 3 and 4. It aims to keep the patellar in place at all times. In severe cases of canine hip dysplasia, surgery is also recommended as the best possible treatment. Surgery costs for both joint and hip procedures differs according to the type of surgical procedure you think is best for your dog.
Shortly after speaking to our Mt Pleasant vet regarding surgery options, we sought for a second opinion at RehabVet (https://rehabvet.com/), which specialises in rehabilitation, physiotherapy and hydrotherapy. Our consultation session lasted one full hour and cost us SGD$180. During the session, a series of tests were conducted to deduce the severity of Hana’s hip and joint conditions. The rehabilitation therapist Janny Chen concluded that Hana had overworked her tricep muscles, shifted majority of her weight onto 3 limbs and had more muscular front legs as compared to other growing puppies. It was also evident that Hana was in a lot of pain, as she screamed and whined loudly throughout the session.
Towards the end, our therapist laid out 2 different options: we could either send Hana in for surgery to treat both hips and joints (that makes 2 surgical procedures), or seek rehabilitation treatment to naturally manage and maintain the pain. The reasons why we decided on rehabilitation treatment are listed below:
My family and I felt uncomfortable over the thought of Hana undergoing an invasive surgery, let alone two different procedures.
Post-surgery complications may arise and can lead to even more detrimental effects on Hana.
Even after a successful surgery, rehabilitation is still required for her to regain strength and balance in her affected hips and joints.
The people at RehabVet were very understanding towards our concerns and told us that many of their patients (especially puppies) opted for rehabilitation instead, and are thriving well with a change in lifestyle.
We were told that puppies diagnosed with hip/joint conditions are better able to “bounce back” to their regular selves by simply undergoing rehabilitation.
We wanted Hana to live a more comfortable life, in the most natural, non-invasive way possible. Prior to this, she was constantly on medications and antibiotics to treat a multitude of issues that cropped up over the first few months of her life.
After confirming our decision for Hana to start rehabilitation, we then signed up for a package of 10 sessions (rehabilitation+physiotherapy), costing SGD$1300 (for small breed). Package prices differs depending on the breed’s size. If keen, you may wish to visit https://rehabvet.com/ for more information on their various services.
It is also important to note that every dog’s rehabilitation/physiotherapy journey differs on a case-by-case basis. While some dogs are able to start hydrotherapy (swimming) almost immediately, the team at RehabVet advised us to start slow and work on strengthening her weak joints before starting hydrotherapy. Thus, our first few sessions were mainly focused on building up muscle strength in her joints+alleviating pain in the hips and back.
Pyramid chart from RehabVet’s website explains how they carry out their services for each individual pet.
Our rehab sessions took place once per week on Wednesday afternoons. From Week 1-5, Hana underwent laser therapy and stretching exercises (rehabilitation) to soothe her sore muscles and ease the pain felt in her joints, hips and back.
Happy Hana in the midst of her weekly laser therapy.
From Week 6-9, Hana underwent both laser therapy and physiotherapy in the form of hydrotherapy (swimming). The hydrotherapy sessions were conducted in a mildly heated pool, under the supervision of a hydrotherapist. Owners are welcome to step into the pool as well.
Hana’s first hydrotherapy session on Week 6! She was trembling slightly at first but managed to swim across from one end of the pool to the other under the watchful eye of her hydrotherapist.
Since starting on her rehab journey 10 weeks ago, it is evident that improvements have been made in Hana’s hip and joints! The limping/bunny-hopping has slowly but gradually ceased in her left hind leg, and her back+tricep muscles are less sore than before.
As I’m writing this article, Hana has yet to attend her 10th and final session of the package, but will be visiting again next week. From what I know, the last session will still see her undergoing rehab and hydrotherapy. Additionally, the same series of tests conducted during the first consultation will be done again, to record and compare any significant areas of improvement being made after time spent on rehabilitation. After that, it is up to the owners to decide on whether to continue on a next package of 10 sessions or take a break from rehab etc. (For us, we will likely continue with another set of 10 sessions.)
After sharing my experience with RehabVet, I’ll now be moving on to several changes we’ve implemented into Hana’s daily lifestyle:
#1Stretch, stretch, stretch!: Shortly after starting rehab, we were advised to carry out stretching exercises for Hana’s joints, twice a day on a daily basis. This was done so right after she woke up in the morning and before she goes to sleep at night. Heat packs also had to be placed on the joints area.
#2:No climbing of stairs: As per professionals’ advice, we have stopped letting Hana climb up or down staircases, and carry her instead. Other forms of movement deemed strenuous on the hind legs such as jumping has also been kept to a minimum.
#3 Transition to raw: Somewhat of a controversial topic amongst owners and experts alike, raw diets for pets are nonetheless gaining much traction and popularity within the pet community. The moment I stumbled upon this “new” feeding method last year, it made complete sense to me that raw feeding was the most natural, nutritional and wholesome feeding method for both dogs and cats. My family on the other hand, were initially skeptical over this diet. After much persuasion, Hana is now on a DIY raw+home-cooked food diet. Because I’m feeding her on a DIY raw diet, nutritional imbalances are more likely to occur. Thus, I recently sought for help and advice from an expert @twomanylegs (IG) to create a balanced meal recipe that will be especially beneficial for Hana’s hip and joints. She took both issues into consideration and so made a recipe that has higher levels of manganese, antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. If you are unable to consult an expert or prefer to craft your own recipe, you can head over to https://rawfedandnerdy.com/, or join raw feeding communities on social media platforms to gain advice and knowledge on raw feeding.
#4 We bought a pram: Nope, not the one for babies—but the one made just for pets. We bought our pram (used condition but relatively new) off Carousell for a reasonable price of SGD$50, and often bring it out during “excursions” to outdoor locations such as cafes, parks and neighbourhoods. Before getting a dog, whenever my family and I saw a dog in a stroller, we’d ogle at it and wonder why its owners didn’t allow it to walk on the floor instead. How the tables have turned! Nowadays we often see children and adults pointing at Hana in her pram, openly asking why there was a dog in the pram. Sometimes, I even felt like just pasting a piece of cardboard in front of the pram explaining the reason (lols!) All in all, the pram was a great transportation mode for Hana. Gone are the days when we had to carry her halfway through walks till our arms went slightly sore. You can try your luck by finding a pet pram on Carousell like we did, or get one off Shopee which also sells affordable prams.
#5 Supplements: Before the diagnosis, Hana was taking Augustine Approved powder on a daily basis. Now, we’ve also added in Canine Rose-hip Vital powder as well as Connectin Hip & Joint powder in a bid to improve her overall conditions. Rose-hip powder is one of the most popular and well known kinds of supplements that owners feed their dogs for better joint health. You can read more about the benefits of rosehip powder via https://rosehipvitalcanine.com.sg/. Besides powdered supplements, we also provide her with tablets—mainly M&C Kalsium and Antinol. If your pet is fussy with powdered/tablet supplements, or you prefer liquid ones, feel free to visit https://perromart.com.sgcollections/nhv for a variety of liquid-based supplements that supports joint health. For other powdered supplements, I’ve also heard great reviews about Happy Again joint supplement. You can find it here: https://shop.vanillapup.com/products/happy-again-collagen-joint-supplement.
#6 Yummy bone broth: Bone broth is a delicious, prized stock liquid made using any type of bones and simmered over a period of 24 hours. It is also common to throw in additional vegetables/herbs/fungi for a boost of flavour and nourishment. The many benefits of bone broth includes protecting the joints and improving gut health. Strangely, Hana seems to dislike bone broth (she is a very picky eater). I made several batches using chicken feet, pork bones, celery, carrots, turmeric and ACV, on different occassions using a pressure cooker, but Hana never finished her meals when I added the broth in. Over here https://thepetlifestyleguru.com/benefits-of-bone-broth/ includes some useful recipes for you to get started on making bone broth for your pet. If you value convenience, there are also ready-made options available on the market. One local brand I highly recommend is The Awoo’s Kitchen (@the_awookitchen on IG), as their rich, jelly-like golden broths are popular choices among the owners and pets alike! If their slots aren’t fully booked for the month yet, you can make a purchase on their website https://theawookitchen.com/.
#7 Correcting the “Ah Pek” sitting style: As mentioned earlier, one red flag that Hana displayed pre-diagnosis was shifting all her body weight onto one side of her hind legs. This is not a recommended sitting position as it can add further strain onto the “good” hind leg that the dog is leaning on. She still does it sometimes, but less frequently than before. When we see her sitting “Ah Pek” style, we’ll encourage her to get up on all fours and sit down normally instead. We’ll also coax her to stand back up before carrying her to the bed, which provides a softer cushioning on her joints.
And…That’s all folks!
You’ve finally come to the end of my long article (laughs). I’ve had lots of fun writing this as it gave me the chance to reflect back on Hana’s rehabilitation journey from start till now, albeit the fact that we still have a long way to go. So far, we’ve met so many helpful and experienced owners who’ve stepped forward to share their own personal experiences on having a dog with hip/joint conditions, or simply to share useful nuggets of advice with me. Some things that I’ve written here would not have been possible without the help of these people! So thank you very much:)
The reason why I decided to compile my experience here on Pawjourr is because many other owners have approached me on social media seeking for words of advice, or simply to share Hana’s journey so far. Thus, I jumped upon the chance to pour out all that I had wanted to say to other fellow owners on social media, but couldn’t due to limited word count+limited time to process my thoughts properly.
I hope that you found this article useful! You can follow us @hanathecloud on Instagram to see more regular updates of Hana, or to ask any further questions:D
I started allowing Duoji to sleep in the room with me when she was about 9 months old. Subsequently, that progressed to her sharing the bed with me (or my sis, depending on her mood). At that time I didn’t really give much thought to it, nor was I aware that some experts online actually actively discourage this practice. I thought it was fairly common, cos who wouldn’t want to cuddle with your furry pal?
Some of the reasons cited include feeding into the dominant streak of your pet, increased risks of parasitic infections/diseases, and disrupted sleep, amongst others. Yet for every piece of literature discouraging this, there are also many other articles touting the benefits of sleeping with your pets.
For pawrents who are still on the fence, here are some of the pros and cons of letting your pet sleep with you, based on my personal experience over the past year.
You get to spend more time together
This was actually the main reason why I made the switch.
For her first seven months at home, Duoji slept alone in her playpen at night in the living room. My whole family works full-time and during the day, Duoji is alone at home. When I get back from work at night, I typically have about 3-4 hours with her before I have to shower and get ready for bed etc. That also signals her bedtime, where I’ll then secure her in the playpen and bid her goodnight. I would occasionally still hear her barking for attention, or whining, especially when she was younger.
The next morning, I let her out for her meal, pat her for a little bit, then I have to rush off to work. If you think about it, the actual face-time isn’t much. I do try make up for it over the weekends but still, there’s this sense of guilt gnawing at me inside. I felt like I wasn’t being a good pawrent #mumguilt.
Nowadays, with our new routine, Duoji automatically follows me when I head back to my room. Even when I’m doing my own things like reading, watching shows or waiting for my hair to dry after shower, she’s right there keeping me company (and vice versa). Or she would be snoozing in bed.
It may not seem like much but sleeping and spending time with your furkid before bed indirectly increases the amount of time you both spend together. Personally I noticed that Duoji became less whiny at night and more calm in the morning. Previously she would always be very excited and energetic in the morning, having not seen anyone the entire night. And that’s not helpful when you’re trying to get your dog to settle down and eat quickly so that you can head to work on time.
It can strengthen your bond
What better way to bond with your pet than sharing a cuddle at night? Or giving your furkid a belly rub as you netflix and chill in bed.
Sharing a bed (or room) with your pet is another way to connect without demanding too much from each other. Having a relaxing time with each other can help also help to build trust and confidence in your pet.
It may not solely be due to the sleeping arrangements but I did notice Duoji becoming more physically affectionate with me as she gets older. I often find her leaning up against me as she’s resting – on the sofa or the floor, or sitting on my lap, even when it’s not bedtime.
A short game of fetch before bedtime.
It’s comforting
For those who live alone or have their own rooms, having the presence of another living thing near you as you sleep can be a great source of comfort. It’s also extra cosy!
Waking up to a cute face or warm licks on the face is also a super nice feeling. I sometimes find myself wanting to stay in bed longer just so that I can prolong these morning cuddly moments.
Conversely, allowing your pet to sleep with you can also help your furkids feel more at ease, being close to their humans. Dogs are pack animals by nature. This can be especially beneficial for those who tend to be more insecure.
You feel safer
There’s a reason for the term Guard Dog.
It’s a known fact that dogs have excellent hearing and most are fairly protective of their humans. If there are any sounds or movement, you can be sure that your furry pal will sound the alarm and alert you.
Whether it’s an intruder (touch wood!) or just the presence of an unwanted critter. It’s like having a built-in protection system.
While it’s true that not all dogs are guard dog material, even a fearful whimper or scuttle across the room works as an alarm signal too! Just the knowledge that your dog will react in the event of something amiss can help you feel safer at night.
You can respond faster if anything happens to them
Having your furkids in the room with you is also a way of preventing them from roaming around and getting in trouble if they’re sleeping elsewhere. More importantly, it enables the pawrent to be more vigilant and react faster in case of any emergencies.
There was once I woke up to a loud wheezing sound. It was from Duoji, loud enough to jolt me from sleep. I would later find out that it’s possibly reverse sneezing but at that moment, it freaked me out. On hindsight the episode probably lasted less than a minute but it felt way longer to me. All I could do was to comfort her while waiting for it to stop.
Another time, I woke up in the morning to some retching sounds. Duoji had vomited bile.
While both occasions were not life-threatening, I was able to respond and soothe her almost immediately. For that I am thankful. Or else I might just be fast asleep, leaving her to suffer the discomfort alone in the living room.
Lost bed space
And now, on to the cons.
Top of my list is definitely the lack of bed space. Once you let your dog in your bed, to them the bed then becomes theirs. On many occasions I’d walk into my room or enter after showering to find Duoji sprawled across the bed or right smack in the middle, leaving me with little to no space to sleep unless I push her away. Fortunately she’s quite small in size so I can always pick her up easily.
“What chu staring at?”
Right smack in the middleForced to the edge of the bed and still got to provide belly rubs. #minionlife
Damaged items
If you’re like me and sometimes leave clothes lying around on the bed, be prepared for them to be damaged overnight. In the middle of the night, while everyone is asleep, your furkid might be awake and get bored. That’s when they may start to ‘attack’ items around.
I’ve personally woken up to discover damaged zippers on my clothing or missing buttons. These days, I try not to things lying around. In a way it makes the room neater so it’s a plus point I guess.
Woke up one morning to find Duoji ‘enjoying’ my bolster.
Sleep disturbances
Some people say that sharing a bed with your dog can be disruptive to your sleep. Perhaps that may be true for those more sensitive to movement or sounds but personally for me, that has never been a problem.
Duoji moves around throughout the night – sometimes my bed, my sister’s bed, her own bed but I usually manage to sleep pretty well even when she’s around. Maybe I’m blessed in this area. Even the occasional sound of her snoring isn’t that loud to be an issue.
In actual fact, I think my presence actually affect Duoji’s sleep even more. Dogs are already more sensitive to movements and noises. Add that to the human tossing and turning in bed, I think it’s more likely for the dog to be kept awake and not have a restful sleep.
I’m also the kind who sets multiple alarms and snooze them repeatedly so imagine the din that Duoji has to endure every morning. Yikes!
Disruption of nightly routine
One thing that I had to change recently to accommodate Duoji was my nightly routine. I’m a night owl and usually sleep after 2am. These days, I find myself consciously retiring to my room earlier so that Duoji would follow suit and get ready for bed.
Knowing that she prefers to sleep in dim lighting, I also started implementing ‘Lights Out’ time. I’d be doing my usual stuff like reading or watching shows on my tablet with a night light and earphones on so as not to disturb her. It’s a small trade-off though, one that I’m very willing to make.
What to take note of?
If you’re intending to welcome your furkid to bed, here are some things that you might want to take note of:
Make sure to only start after your furkid is fully toilet trained and is old enough to hold their bladder overnight. You wouldn’t want to wake up to a soiled bed or pillow. I have a pee tray in my room but Duoji only used it a couple of times. Usually she’s able to wait till the next day and pee after someone lets her out of the room.
Best to wait till your pup outgrows the chewing stage or you risk waking up to damaged items. When Duoji was younger she used to like chewing on my hair. Well, I’m glad she wasn’t sleeping with me then.
Is your bed too high for your pal? The height of your bed should ideally be safe for your furkid to jump up and down without hurting themselves. Alternatively you might want to use pet stairs.
Is your pet a drooler or shedder? If you have sensitive skin or allergies, you might want to reconsider or do a short trial. Personally I have mild eczema and sensitive nose but perhaps because Duoji is a toy poodle, the shedding issue is quite insignificant. I never had any issues with allergies or sensitivities caused by her.
Dirt and fleas can be picked up by your dog and brought into your bed. The best way to deal with this is to keep your furkid as clean as possible. That means cleaning their paws and body thoroughly with anti-bacterial wipes after every outing, cleaning the muzzle and butt after meals and poop, etc. I believe that this is something that many pawrents already do as part of their routine care.
And lastly, do know that once you start to introduce them to your bed, there’s no turning back. They may never leave!
Do I regret inviting Duoji in? Absolutely not. To me, the inconveniences are nothing to shout about compared to the extra bonding moments we have together. Perhaps the situation would be different if it involved another breed, or if she was bigger in size, or she’s the more active or disruptive kind. Or if I have worse allergies.
At the end of the day, it’s a personal choice. But for me, for sure I wouldn’t get to experience moments like these if I had left Duoji sleeping alone at night. I wouldn’t trade them for anything.
Rude little girl lying on me.Curled up next to me
<3
Do you sleep with your pets as well? I’d love to hear your experience.
“How much time is enough time before we decide that this is not going anywhere?”
“I don’t think I can do this. I don’t know how else to help her.”
“Do you think she’ll ever love us?”
“Will she be like this forever? What if this is the real her and she’s going to be permanently this way?”
“What if she likes being a stray more and being at home is not what she wants?”
These are just some of the honest questions that have come up since Mayo came into our lives.
Ever heard of the 3-3-3 rule when it comes to adopting a rescue dog? Do a simple search and google will tell you most rescue dogs follow this 3-3-3 rule.
Credit: rescuedogs101.com
They say the first 3 days the dog would probably be shut down. After 3 weeks the dog more comfortable, and after 3 months the dog is completely comfortable.
We didn’t understand. We watched every Youtube video there was, we even read books, we read 10000001 articles to prepare ourselves but nothing worked. Nothing was relatable and Mayo went against all the rules and training tips we’ve watched/read. Although there was strong support from the Singapore Specials community on Instagram (for which I am so so thankful for), we didn’t come across any account we could really relate with that understood what we went through, or had a dog remotely like Mayo. We felt incredibly lonely in our journey because we had no answers.. There were a ton of doubts and uncertainties, and besides sharing them on Instagram we were pretty helpless and hopeless on most days.
The Lows..
It’s hard to pinpoint an exact lowest because everyday seemed to be an accumulation of the whirlwind of emotions we experienced. The first 2 weeks we barely slept. There were nights Mayo howled and cried (?) for hours straight in the middle of the night. Whenever we got up to walk in her direction in first 1 month, she would literally shiver & cower even though we didn’t give any eye contact or said a word. We..just..walked.. She was probably so stressed out that she had violent seizures in her sleep the first month or so. We were worried it was a neurological problem and that made us sleepless and watched the camera monitor every night but thankfully it went away as she got more comfortable.
We are not proud to say this but in the spirit of sharing, we also actually lost Mayo, TWICE, within the first 2 months. She got spooked by a sudden sound, lodged herself behind one of those things along on the road and the leash flew from my hand. I spent 30 mins looking for her under ditches, construction sites, bushes.. but guess what? I got a text from our neighbourhood chat that Mayo was at our HDB lift lobby. Our regular cleaner uncle took her up and tied her to our gate. When I lost her I heard voices of our volunteers in my head, “If Mayo this kind get lost, confirm cannot find one!” But although she was still frightened of us, she chose to go back home – my guess is she knew it was safe and choose us over living on the streets alone. Still blows me away how she knew the way home especially since there have been so many stories of lost dogs that never find their way home.
Photo sent by neighbour who spotted her downstairs.
Cleaner uncle who recognized her brought her up and tied her to our gate.
She definitely regressed especially on walks after that because her confidence was shaken – mine was too. She was constantly pulling on leash and wanting to go home. I was at my wits end and so highly discouraged because it just seem more and more like she won’t break out of this fear cycle. Then one day… a fellow dog owner told me fearful dogs need a confident leader. They can sense our anxiety and i guess she knew. If I could I would avoid walking her because I was insecure and worried that I would lose her again. That afternoon I picked up the leash, puffed my chest, took a deep breath and said ‘Mayo, come!’. Lo and behold, she came. This time I kept my head up, and when she pulled ahead out of fear, I stopped. I took a step ahead of her, deep breath, and continued walking. Like magic, she calmed down and we had a good walk. Positive reinforcement, pack leader, whatever 100001 other training theories bla bla bla – you do you. Mayo was so scared of me she wouldn’t take treats from me – we barely have a relationship yet, so how to reinforce? How to reduce the threshold when she goes from 0-100 in an instant. I can’t predict what & who we meet on our walks. I could only assure her that you know what, I got this. I know where we are going, and I dont need her to worry about bicycles, traffic, runners incoming. Just follow me, you will be fine. #letthemsniff they say.. I would love to let Mayo sniff. When she is confident to sniff, I let her sniff. But i noticed that when she walks ahead of me, she is more easily triggered and reacts in fear perhaps because she feels like she is defenseless and has no clue how to respond to all these new triggers. Now, even though she is so much more confident on walks and typically walks ahead of me, when she sees something that makes her worry, she still comes back to me and allows me to take over in a particularly unsure situation.
But above all, I found it most challenging to see Mayo not being a dog. Don’t get me wrong, she was a good dog! She didn’t whine, she doesn’t bark (well now she does!!), she doesn’t pee & poo at home, she sleeps, she eats. But, she wasn’t a dog. We were told to give her time. But as the days went by and we saw minimal to no progress, we wondered how much time is enough? How much time does she need? What can we do? What if she is simply just like this?
So what made us press on? What lessons have we learnt?
I mean there were days that our anxiety skyrocketed through the roof and it seemed like every tiny thing sends her into a frenzy and we have to walk on egg shells around her for fear of making her regress and more fearful. Some days maybe we took things too far and she was stressed. Some days maybe she was triggered by an aggressive dog. And as humans we become so consumed by our own human worries. But like everybody says, dogs live in the moment. I used to think ‘oh no, Mayo got scared. she hates me. she’s going to hate me.’ NO SHE’S NOT. The next morning, she’s ok already. Give your dogs some credit, and cut yourself some slack! Don’t be too hard on yourself – it’s something I remind myself everyday. She proves to us day after day how resilient she is.
The Highs!
With every low, we have to remember there will also be highs 🙂
Definitely one of the highs was the first time Mayo left her bed to come to the dining table to sniff. We were having curry chicken. Curry seemed to have a magical effect on Mayo – curry makes mayo brave haha. Came to find out later on that actually her rescuer/feeder fed her packets of curry chicken rice occasionally for 6 months! Now Mayo has an upgrade and has doggy-safe curry made with love filled with greek yogurt, capsicum, turmeric & chicken.
During circuit breaker I (mama) had a lot more time to work with Mayo. Started off by tossing yummy treats around the house to encourage her to move around the house. Little by little, I think maybe 3 months into her adoption in May, she started becoming a little more ‘kaypoh’ and confident to come sniff when there’s food on the table. Little signs of her becoming more like a dog.
mayo with her paws on the table demanding for curry
One of my biggest highs, was the day mayo learnt to sit. It took us a grand total of 6 months and because she was so fearful of me, I couldnt use any treats to lure her into a sit like most people do. Neither could I touch her butt to push her down because she was fearful and usually out of reach anyway haha – this dog observes safe distancing very well. I shared on my Instagram that the ‘Sit’ command is literally one of the first things that people teach their dogs. It seems like a no-brainer thing and ya, we were a bit ‘FOMO’ that mayo doesn’t know a single ‘trick’. But hey!!!!!! we took 5 months, but we still got there eventually. Yea we might take longer, but not about the destination but the journey correct? Hehe as at September 10th 2020, she already knows ‘down’, ‘sit’, ‘paw’, ‘chin’, ‘touch’ and ‘bow’. Again, none of these were learnt through luring with treats, or through simply grabbing their paw/chin etc. We ‘captured’ the behavior! Like a camera! Don’t underestimate your fearful dog! Whenever she did the behavior on her own e.g sit, or lie down – we will use a verbal cue e.g SIT and mark it with a marker. Anyway…. ahahaha ok I won’t go into too much detail about the training – next post ok?
Mayo in a ‘down.’
TLDR;
Hahahaha, in summary…… Don’t sweat it if your dog doesn’t follow the ‘rules’. Even after 7 months, Mayo has yet to fully trust us. She still hides from us when we come home but everyday we are seeing new sides of her. But 7 months ago it seemed like an impossible feat for her to me lying beside us. Yet today we can play with her, and she will occassionally willingly lie next to us. If you have a dog like Mayo, I just want to say you are not alone. You might not feel like your dog loves you yet, but remember that it ends with .. YET. Someday I believe they will. I am still telling myself all these everyday while I encourage others. We are all still work in progress and I look forward to the day I can upload a video of Mayo excitedly wagging her tail when she sees us.
Till the next time, I hope you take comfort and pride in your own adoption journey.
I will be sharing with everyone the whole story of how Rico was lost and found, and some measures to take if (touch wood) any of you experience it in the future.
It was just an ordinary day when I was off from work, doing my own things, running errands and catching up my life. I still can remember how Rico greets me when i am back from the errands which was around 5.15pm. After a while around 5.30pm, my grandpa came back home and I also went to my nanny’s house for a chit chat, which was just one floor below mine. I just close the gate door without locking it. Now, the house is left with my grandparents.
“Panic starts to creep in…”
About 6.35pm, I came back home and that was when the panic started to creep in. I felt utterly quiet and Rico did not come forward to greet me at the door. I asked my grandparents and they thought I brought Rico out with me the whole time. I tried to find Rico around the house but to no avail.
Ignoring my grandparents’ nagging, I started off searching the corridor. I was still in disbelieved at the moment, my heart raced very fast. Realizing that Rico was really lost, I went into panic mode frantically searching for her high and low at my housing block. I walked aimlessly to each floor and every unit hoping I could find her. To my dismay, none.
By this time, my aunt had come back home from work and knew about Rico. We soon start to search around the void decks, carparks, parks and places that usually Rico will go to. But, none.
We then went back home, trying to cool down and think of what exactly had happened and ways to find her. We had different views such as:
Grandma – “I saw someone at the door playing with Rico while I was in the kitchen. I thought it was one of our neighbours. But I don’t really know who is it, is like some woman wearing dark shirt. Don’t know is it carried away by someone else already.”
Grandpa – “When I came back home around 5.30pm, I didn’t saw Rico already.”
It was so hard to figure out exactly what had happened. My grandparents were not very sure about a lot of things and they also did not really pay attention during that timing. Plus, our neighbours would usually come and play with Rico whenever they passed by as Rico is very friendly to humans.
Soon my parents came to help for the search and we also asked for CCTV footage from our neighbor. The CCTV footage only managed to record a woman wearing dark clothing; carried many things, passing by at 5.53pm. This was when we suspected that it might be the same woman that my grandma mentioned and she might have carried away Rico while the door was not locked. We decided to report to the police, hoping police could help retrieve CCTV footage around the block and lifts to see any traces of Rico.
7.30pm at the police station: we gave whatever information we have. However, they cannot investigate as we were lack of information and some do not tally with one another’s views. “What is the timing that your grandma saw the person come and play with Rico?” “Is Rico still around at 5.15-5.30pm before you went to your nanny’s house? Your grandpa said didn’t saw her but you remember she was at home. So which one?” My mind went blank and speechless. The only action they could do was to take note of a lost dog and lookout if any of the public came to return Rico. They suggested to contact AVS and SPCA (which I also knew).
As I was back home disappointed, I call both AVS and SPCA but sadly SPCA was closed for the day. It was then that I decided to inform my friends and asked them to spread and share on social media. My parents will then settle the posters however it can only be done the next day.
With the help of my neighbours, we went searching for Rico again at my housing block. Hoping to attract Rico’s attention this time, we called out her name and using toy. We believed that Rico might be still somewhere in my housing block, maybe one of the units as she do not really know how to climb up/down the stairs. Rico will also get tired out easily, she would not run that far unless it was really carried away by someone else.
Along the way, we got some insights such as a unit at the 11th floor saw Rico running across their corridor, someone saw Rico-lookalike at the minimart. We also met some helpful neighbours who came to help a little. But still, none again.
Soon around 9.45pm, my friends specifically came down all the way to help me out. Taking over my neighbour, we continue searching my housing block. Despite knowing that Rico would not bark when outside, we still try all possible means to catch her attention. My friends also help to deal with the social media sides at the same time and give me suggestions such as animal communication (AC) etc. However, AC was busy at the moment, could not attend Rico’s case.
As time passed by, we felt the urge to get the posters up asap. My friend helped to draft out a few posters to paste near my area so that at least someone would be aware of it. Only by 10.45pm, we then started to put up the posters.
11.20pm: posters were up but still no sign of Rico. We could not continue the search as it was quite late and we afraid that we might disturb the neighbours. My friends all went back, I still did not gave up and just walking around the neighbourhood in hope for Rico.
“Worst day of the life…”
12.20am: came back empty-handed, disappointment, lost. It was the worst day of my life. I did not expect such things to happen on me. A lot of thoughts running through my head now. “Where is Rico exactly?” “Why you suddenly so daring to run away?” “Are you in a safe place now?” “Have you eaten or drink anything?” “Did someone really carried you away?” All I could do was just to pray and hoping Rico could come back home soon. I even placed toys outside the corridor so that Rico can smell her way back home.
2.30am: I was settling the social medias. Seeing everyone trying to help me find Rico and all the prayers from them really warms me. I was touched that so many friends and even strangers were helping me.
“I couldn’t sleep at all…”
4.15am: I was still wide awake, crying. I switched off my silent mode, waiting for any calls or messages to inform me Rico was with them. I even dreamt that I have found Rico.
7.30am: It was raining, I got really worried. Why does it have to rain today! My aunt went out early to search for Rico again. But still no sign.
8.30am: I was fully awake and have taken urgent leave for work. Still, there were no calls and messages. I prayed that the rain could quickly stop but it rain even heavier. The weather was cold, I am afraid that Rico was out without any shelter.
10.30am: Still no calls or messages, I assumed many had not gone out and saw the posters as the weather that day was too good to sleep in. Finally, a full stack of posters was ready to put up. I have told my parents to paste the posters around the neighbourhood while my friends and I would go door-to-door knot in my housing block.
11.30am: My friends and I started the door-to-door knock. Since my block was in a L-Shaped, I decided to start off with the top floor (12th) on right side of the block which the unit had last seen Rico running across their corridor.
“Is that Rico?!”
11.50am: When we were about to go to our 3rd unit of door-to-door knock, I heard my friend gasped loudly. “Is that Rico?!” Shockingly asked me. I immediately went forward and I SAW RICO! She was sitting near the door. WE FINALLY FOUND RICO!!! We were so overjoyed that my friend even cried. Rico saw us too, but she just happily wagging her tail away. I approached the uncle in that unit and he was glad that Rico was found too.
Luckily, the uncle saw Rico loitering outside his corridor and brought her in as he was worried about Rico’s safety. The uncle tried to find the owner but Rico did not wear any collar tag and the posters were not put up yet. I also recalled that we have gone to that unit previously but the door was closed, hence unable to see that Rico was in that unit. Thankfully all this while, Rico was in good hands. She got a proper shelter, the uncle cooked her a good meal (better than mine), he even accompanied Rico to sleep in his living room. In summary, Rico was enjoying while everyone was panicking searching for her. ?
12.15pm: Rico finally got back home safely, everyone was elated. I was really really relieved that I can reunited with Rico again. Gave the uncle a small token of appreciation and here is his return:
“Thank you for the goodies. And the sweet memories Rico gives me. Take good care of her, I missed her already” – Uncle
We are so fortunate and bless to have met such a kind soul. Without the help from the uncle, we could not imagine how Rico would be like. I am also glad that we are able to make new friends.
Pointers to Note:
From this incident, here are a few points to take note:
Do always wear a collar tag on your dog
Timing is very important. Try to remember as much as possible and the whole timeline should your dog get lost.
Take actions immediately and waste no time. This could help quicken the process of finding your dog.
Report to AVS and SPCA. AVS hotline is 24/7 but do take note of the operating hours for SPCA.
Report to police (optional), unless you have valid informations. They can’t really help much though.
Do up posters immediately
Spread and post up on social media
Try your very best and continue the searching
You may contact animal communication too
Lastly will be the waiting game. It may be very dreadful but please do not give up and continue to pray for it. I see many people have come together in helping to find Rico. I am sure some days your dog could be found soon.
Finally a peaceful night
At last, everything was back to normal, Rico was still her usual self. In fact, I am actually wondering does she even know that she got lost? It is still a mystery how did Rico run out from my house which is on 6th floor of the left side of the block, and ended up on 12th floor of the right side of my block. By the lifts? Or did she really climb up the stairs? No one knows, only Rico does… ?
Dental scaling is one of the most important health topic yet it is a procedure that is not commonly done so by pet owners. What is dental scaling? Why is dental scaling important? What are the risks of dental scaling?
1. Dental Scaling
Dental scaling is the removal of plaque and tartar on the surface on the teeth and under the gum line. It is usually performed under general anaesthesia as most pets will fidget and some will not allow veterinarians or veterinary technicians to lift up the gums and scale off the built-up of plaque and tartar. Dental scaling performed without general anaesthesia only improves the aesthetic appearance of the teeth but does not improve periodontal health due to dirt and bacteria under the gumline. Dental scaling is recommended every 2-3years for medium to larger breed dogs and every year for smaller breed dogs. Smaller breed dogs tend to have overcrowding of teeth and some smaller dogs may retain their deciduous(baby) teeth which can increase plaque and tartar build-up.
2. Periodontal disease
Periodontal disease is the infection and inflammation of the gums covering and supporting the tooth. It comes in 4 stages (gingivitis, slight periodontal disease, moderate periodontal disease, and advanced periodontal disease). Removal of tartar and plaque can reverse gingivitis which can be achieved through proper dental scaling and polishing under general anaesthesia. Daily brushing of the teeth is recommended as it removes biofilm which can prevent the accumulation of calculus(tartar). If your pet do not allow tooth brushing, another alternative method would be using gauze to wipe the surface of the tooth. Plaque will form after 3 days to form calculus which cannot be removed by tooth brushing. Dental chews or toys that provide teeth cleaning provide little to zero effect in removing plaque and tartar.
Image of a dog with periodontal disease
Signs and symptoms of periodontal disease
Loss of appetite
Bad breath
Drooling
Constantly smacking of the lips
Loose teeth
Nasal discharge or sneezing
Bleeding of gums
Not wanting to be touched near the mouth
3. Prevention
To prevent your pet from having periodontal disease, regular dental scaling and polishing are recommended. Maintenance of healthy teeth can be done by daily brushing of the teeth or a healthy diet. If periodontal disease is left untreated, not only cause painful infected teeth or tooth abscesses which require removal, it can also affect your pet’s health negatively. It can affect the major organs such as the heart, kidney or liver as bacteria found in the animal’s mouth can enter the bloodstream which affects their immune system. Pets with healthy teeth and gums are signs that they are in good physical condition and can live much longer.
4. Risks
General anaesthesia is the number 1 concern of pet owners when it comes to dental scaling. Most owners heard of horror stories where their pet does not make it under general anaesthesia due to old age or underlying conditions(heart murmur, kidney/liver failure). Thankfully, with science being advanced these days, there are options that can be done to ensure your pet is healthy to undergo general anaesthesia. A simple blood test which takes no longer than 30mins could tell you if your pet is healthy to proceed with surgery. Dogs with heart murmur can also do an echocardiogram to check if they are fit to undergo surgery.
Another concern of pet owners would be having their pet’s teeth extracted. There are veterinary clinics in Singapore such as Maranatha Vet or Oasis Vet which provide dental x-ray services to determine if a particular tooth is viable or not.
5. Conclusion
In conclusion, it is always better to check with your regular vet when it comes to your pet’s health. Do not hesitate to call up your regular vet especially if you have not done any dental scaling or dental checks before! Always brush your dog’s teeth daily especially when a dental scaling procedure is done to maintain clean healthy teeth! Just like us hoomans, we still have to go for dental cleaning even with regular brushing.
Here is a photo of Hiro’s before and after when he had his first dental cleaning.
