Tag: dogs

Planning your own parasite prevention routine

Post author By lokithetoast
Post date September 2, 2020
1 Comment on Planning your own parasite prevention routine

Customizing your own parasite prevention routine

Most pet owners know the importance of parasite prevention for our pets. Easy as it sounds, I in fact had a hard time choosing the different products to provide complete and wholesome protection for Loki.

I’ll be sharing about the common brands of heartworm and flea & tick prevention, as well as how we come to decide on the combination that suits our lifestyle.

Heartworm

Heartworm disease is a serious illness that affects both dogs and cats by directly attacking the heart. In severe cases, heartworm disease can potentially cause death. The disease can be transmitted by mosquitoes.

As per our vet’s advice, heartworm prevention should begin as soon as possible, before a young puppy or kitten turns 7 months old. After the 7-month period, they will need to be tested for possible heartworm infection before beginning their prevention routine.

Flea & Tick

Our pets can get fleas and/or ticks from the environment, be it other pets or bushes. Such infection can lead to other issues like skin irritation, anemia or tick paralysis if not treated.

Our Research

The following comparison is done based on the dosage required by a 12kg dog.

Prices are taken from SingPet.sg (member price) or PerroMart.

	HEARTGARD® Plus	Bravecto Chews	NexGard® Spectra	Frontline® Plus	Advocate	Revolution
Price per application	About $12	$32.09	$13.13	$9.70	$9.32	$13.24
Application Method	Chew	Chew	Chew	Topical	Topical	Topical
Frequency of Application	Monthly	Every 3 months	Monthly	Monthly	Monthly	Monthly
Kills fleas		✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Kills ticks		✔	✔	✔		✔
Kills eggs and larvae		✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Treats ear mites			✔		✔	✔
Heartworm prevention	✔		✔		✔	✔
Treats hookworms, roundworms	✔		✔		✔

Idoxasoline Drugs

Although NexGard Spectra may be the option with one of the most wholesome protection, I chose to skip on the product as it is in the idoxasoline class. Such drugs have been associated with neurological adverse reactions and seizures in pets. FDA has reported that such drugs are safe for pets’ use but personally, I choose to stay away after reading reports on them. Other products in the idoxasoline class include some of the Bravecto and Revolution products.

Drug Coverage

After eliminating those brands, I was left with the option of Heartgard, Frontline and Advocate. Although Advocate may be cheaper in price, it misses out in tick prevention which I feel is more important and deadly compared to ear mites. Hence, I chose a combination of Heartgard and Frontline as part of our parasite prevention routine.

Lifestyle Suitability

We also consider whether the different topic drugs are waterproof or not. Brands such as Advocate are in fact not fully waterproof for the entire course of 1 month. The brand recommends bathing your pet not more than fortnightly. Hence, this may not be suitable for some pets. On the other hand, Frontline Plus is fully waterproof 1 day after application. Activities like bathing or swimming will not reduce the effectiveness of the product!

Owners also have to check whether their pets are allergic to certain ingredients in the drug. For example, Nexgard Spectra chews are all beef-flavoured which will not be suitable for some pets who are allergic to beef.

Some owners may also opt for the yearly vaccination to prevent Heartworm disease. As mentioned by a few owners, the price for the jab is dependent on the weight of the dog and the clinic which you go to. For reference, the price of the jab for a 12kg dog is about ~$140.

Where do we buy them?

Heartgard Plus is not sold over the counter in Singapore. Instead, you will have to get them from the vet, with or without a consultation. The price of Heartgard Plus (6pc) from the vet is about $70. Instead, I buy them on Shopee or Carousell where the prices are much better as they are mostly from Malaysia

As for Frontline Plus, they are usually cheaper from PerroMart ($~58). VIP members of PLC will get to enjoy an even lower price (~$53) during the month of their birthday!

P.S Always consult your vet is you are unsure! The above is based off my research and lifestyle suitability.

The above article is written by the hooman of @lokithetoast.

Tags dogs, flea and tick, health, heartworm, medical conditions, medication, New Owners

Community Stories

Our experience with entropion (cherry eye)

Post author By Jane Peh
Post date September 2, 2020
No Comments on Our experience with entropion (cherry eye)

entropion/ɪnˈtrəʊpɪən,ɛnˈtrəʊpɪən

a condition in which the eyelid is rolled inward against the eyeball, typically caused by muscle spasm or by inflammation or scarring of the conjunctiva (as in diseases such as trachoma), and resulting in irritation of the eye by the lashes (trichiasis).

This is Milky, our 1 year Chow Chow coming back from Pet Expo 2019. We would celebrate his 1st birthday on 23rd July, and continue to gush over his mini eyes, not knowing that it’s the start of something more.

1. THE WARNING SIGNS

Milky started tearing a lot. His tear stains got really bad and he started barking at empty spaces (especially at night). He had always have had tear stains but it always got better after we applied eye drops – but this time, it was different.

Eventually, we brought him to a clinic near our office at Clementi area and things just spiral down from there.

2. THE START OF A NIGHTMARE

I remembered talking to 3 different doctors from the same clinic – and realised that 2 of them couldn’t manage Milky for the eye-drop test in any way.

Yes, he struggled A LOT. The female doctors & nurses aren’t able to handle him – so case in point: if your dog is big, consider looking for a male doctor or an experienced doctor who can handle big breeds.

Luckily, Milky is not aggressive at all so he didn’t try to bite. He was just really scared because they needed to drop yellow solution into his eye and check the extent of entropion through a microscopic medical tool.

Eventually, Milky was diagnosed with entropion and needed a surgery. To put it in simple terms – Milky’s eyelid has so much folds that it started to curl in and caused his eyelashes to poke at his eyeball 24/7. The constant poke caused abrasion on his eyeball and caused his eyesight to worsen (explaining the barking) because he thought that there was someone there, but most likely it was just the blurry eyesight that confused him.

We scheduled the surgery; and off he went.

The day of the surgery. Silly boy still didn’t know what’s going on

The surgery took a day, and we came to pick him up thereafter. Look at his REALLY puffy eyes!

It is worth noting here that Chows Chows have a thin windpipe and drools a lot – because of that, their risk of dying during a surgery due to GA increases with age and frequency. This was from another doctor (not from the same clinic)

3. IT DIDN’T END HERE

The doctor who did the operation was honest – he told us that he is a general surgeon and not a specialist when it comes to eye surgeries like these. He was very assuring and empathetic (which I really like), but the surgery didn’t go well and was in fact, not a successful one.

We thought that everything was over and things are all good; fast forward 3 weeks – his eye got worst.

This was 2-3 weeks AFTER the surgery. We spent $4K+ in total for the first surgery.

4. THE MOST DISAPPOINTING VET

We went back to the clinic and asked – what’s going on? The doctor who did the surgery wasn’t on-duty, and it was a Japanese doctor who attended to us. It was pretty bad (not her), but in the sense that she didn’t really know what was going on and I can’t really understand her accent.

There were a lot of Huh? and Why? and eventually, she referred us to another hospital – let’s call it V.

I had the WORST experience at V.

At this point, I just want to make it very clear that this is my personal experience and doesn’t represent the views of the general public. But I believe as a paying customer, I reserve the rights to share my own thoughts and opinion. This is my rights as a consumer.

I remembered it was a Saturday when I brought Milky over to the hospital (9pm+) and the said doctor known to be an eye specialist wasn’t around. I have an important family lunch the next day that clashed with the doctor’s only availability (2pm+).

Eventually, we decided to board Milky at the hospital for 1 night and let the doctor check on his eye the next day. I would then head over to the hospital to catch up with the doctor after my lunch.

And that is the start of the most disappointing conversation with said vet. I reached the hospital at around 3pm+, and the vet was free to have a quick chat.

??‍⚕️: “Milky has entropion and need another surgery. The cost will be around $4K+.”

??‍♀️: “But he just had his surgery 3 weeks ago – why would he need another surgery?”

??‍⚕️: “I don’t know, I didn’t do the surgery. He will need another eye surgery and I am available earliest next week”

I was livid; and got very emotional. What do you mean “I don’t know, I did not do the surgery?” My POV is that as a doctor, I would have expected at least a breakdown of

What happened?
What probably went wrong?
Is it safe to do the surgery within such a short span of time?
Are there any other alternatives we can go about?

No, he simply told me that HE DIDN’T KNOW and walked off when the conversation ended.

I paid for the bill – $400+ for:

Overnight boarding
Doctor consultation
Medicine (I can’t remember if this happened)

The entire process took less than 24 hours. I boarded Milky 9pm+ and brought him home the next day at 3pm+.

5. THE PETS COMMUNITY

At this point – I was distraught. I called the surgeon and told him about the really bad experience I’ve had with V and said doctor. I wasn’t confident to let a doctor who dismissed a patient with “I didn’t do the surgery” to touch Milky.

He apologised for the failed surgery, and also for the bad experience I had. He was again, very empathetic and I really like that because I felt like a worried mum and his assuring (tone) helped make things much better.

He recommended Dr Heng from Mt.Pleasant, who is the only other doctor who is known for eye surgery in Singapore. It was also at this time that the other Chow Chow owners on Instagram knew about my situation and invited me into a WhatsApp group with over-pouring love, care and help.

2 weeks after his corrective surgery with Dr Heng

I don’t have any photos of Milky going for his corrective surgery, but I must say it was a great experience with Dr Heng. She knew what she was doing, and the total cost came to about $1.6K for 1 eye.

FUN FACT – Mt Pleasant operates as a franchise so whilst they share the same brand name, each outlet runs differently. Reason is because we were initially not comfortable with Mt Pleasant due to a bad experience.

6. CONCLUSION

Dr Heng mentioned that Milky has a 75% chance of going blind in his left eye if we did not proceed with the corrective surgery. But even then, there were doubts like “Well, doctors would always be pro-surgery cause it’s more income”; and i think it was just a very stressful period for us because information is not exactly readily available.

Everything became much clearer only after we joined the CHOW CHOW WhatsApp group and got the advice from all the owners who have done the surgery with their furkids before.

We also wondered if we should have bought pet insurance for Milky (Aon, Happy Tails do cover cherry eyes) but alas, it would only take into effect 1 year into purchase so we wouldn’t be able to claim anyways.

Through this episode, I really started to appreciate the power of a community and seek to replicate that via Woof Agency & Pawjourr.

We are still building this ecosystem as we speak, but it’s very important to me that pet owners do not need to be alone when they navigate through pet ownership.

If you have any questions relating to entropion, please feel free to email me at Jane@thewoofagency.com. I am no expert but would be more than happy to share what I know 🙂

Tags dogs, entropion, medical conditions, pet insurance, surgery, vet

Community Stories

Tumour removal for a senior dog

Post author By jeanyj
Post date September 2, 2020
No Comments on Tumour removal for a senior dog

Giving belly rubs to our furkids is great fun for the dogs and pawrents. It is a great activity to bond and keep us happy by making our pets happy too. However, frequent belly rubs can do something that is rather crucial and important – detecting abnormal growths. Tumours in dogs, a common occurrence in senior dogs, are 50% malignant and 50% benign. When discovered, especially for pawrents with senior dogs, the common concern was whether it is safe for our dogs to go through with the removal surgery.

While I am neither an expert nor a vet, I will share my experience with tumours on my 13-year-old Miniature Schnauzer, Fifi, from the discovery to the removal process.

The Backstory

Fifi has been loved by my family since she was 2 months old. We never spayed her since young as my dad wanted to let her be natural, but that became a constant dilemma within me throughout the years. With every vet visit, the vet will always remind us how important it is to get her spayed as it will pose serious health issues to her as she ages. Finally, my dad agreed to spay her upon hearing about laparoscopic spay which would be less invasive and harmful to Fifi. She was neutered at Animal Recovery Veterinary Centre last year in April. We were extremely happy with how the vet handled her spay as there was a complication that occurred. Fifi’s ovaries did not stop bleeding from the laparoscopic spay thus they had to operate her to remove them, turning the procedure into a full spay.

Discovering the tumours

We discovered a tumour before the spay. One day, while I was rubbing the belly of Fifi, I noticed a hard lump in one of her mammary glands. It was small and invisible to the naked eye. Thinking that it was just a cyst that might go away, we paid not much attention to it. However, knowing that it wasn’t normal, we brought it up to the surgeon who is in charged of her spay. The vet said that we should monitor the mass and it would be best to remove it especially if it grows. No vets will be able to advise if the mass is malignant or benign before removal. Seeing that the tumor did not grow, we left it alone while we tried to save up for her surgery since we did not know about pet insurance in her younger years.

Decision to remove

Noticing that the tumour grew, we started considering removal surgery for her. Like any pawrents, I want to give my furkid the best life ever. However, considering her age, it was not an easy decision to make since the risk of surgery increases with age. I spoke to some friends who are dog owners, googled for articles and discussions about senior dogs undergoing surgeries and spoke to the vets we visited. Some form of assurance was offered when the information I gathered were success stories of senior dog surgery even though some of my friends advised that we should just let her enjoy her golden years.

In the end, I just couldn’t imagine myself putting her through the pain and suffering she might face from cancer since it is inevitable that malignant tumours will definitely develop into an emergency situation. We chose Animal Recovery Veterinary Centre to carry out her surgeries again since her previous surgery record is with them and we thought that the vets might be more familiar how to proceed knowing her surgical history. Animal tumours from other vets in Singapore will also be sent to them for biopsy since only they have the facilities to carry out the test. The vet in charge was Dr. Wong Hoong Kien. While I was still not fully confident of our decision even during the pre-surgery consultation, there was a dog which came in as an emergency case of tumour and that incident then confirmed that we made the right choice.

During the consultation, we were rather shocked to learn that Fifi actually has 6 mammary tumours with 4 being really small and hard to detect. The vet then said that we had to remove them with two surgeries or the wound would be too large to heal. The first surgery will remove 3 tumours on the right and the second will remove the remaining tumours on the left. Dr. Wong was very patient in explaining to us the process of the surgery and that comforted me that Fifi will be in good hands.

My surgery procedures experience

On the night before the surgery, Fifi had to fast from 12am with no food or drinks. As with all surgeries, Dr. Wong ran a blood test to make sure that Fifi is healthy enough to undergo the surgery. Usually, the blood test and the surgery is carried out on the same day hence, we were instructed to drop her off at 9.30am to allow enough time for both procedures. However, Fifi’s white blood cell (WBC) count was marginally low. Since there could be multiple reasons for this, Dr. Wong suggested us to do additional tests (X-Ray and Ultrasound) just for a peace of mind instead of rushing for removal, to make sure that there is nothing critical that might be causing the low WBC count. Both test turned out normal and with that, Fifi was booked for the surgery on another day.

We dropped her off at 9.30am on the actual surgery day with Fifi fasted. We then had to sign a form for permission to resuscitate Fifi should her heart stop in operation. The initial deposit was SGD1500 and Dr Wong ran the blood test again just to check if the WBC might have increased. Even though there was only a slight increase, he said it should be enough for her to fight off the infections. Usually, the centre would call me between 11am to 2pm to inform me about the test results and that they will proceed with the surgery.

For most dogs, it should be a day surgery procedure. However, due to her age and in consideration of the low WBC count, Fifi was hospitalised just to make sure that she is in good care for her initial healing. We could send food to her and were allowed to visit her between 5pm to 7pm. Dr Wong and the nurses who helped did a great job with Fifi. She was fine when we visited her and was standing up in her ward. We were relieved to see her being able to stand and even greet us with her adorable face. My stubborn baby who is extremely attached to us refused to eat because she misses us, thus we were advised to keep her in the centre for 1 more day just in case she is not eating due to pain. The next day, she ate when we fed her our home cooked food so she was discharged the following day.

Post surgery experience

Fifi was emotional when she reached home. We had to cage her up for her own good so that she does not move around too much as she is rather hyperactive for her age. On the first day home, Fifi would whimper throughout the whole day and she did it even more when one of us leave the house. She had bandages on the would so We did not have to worry about her licking her wound initially. However, she had to wear the Cone of Shame since she starts licking her wound as soon as the bandages come off. Caring for her was not difficult as we learnt how to carry her without hurting her wound as well as how to trick her to eat her medicine by mixing her food.

Dr. Wong would also call to check in a week after the surgery just to get updates from us to make sure Fifi is okay. He also asked me to send him pictures of her wound so that he can assess the recovery. There was a mild infection on her wound so we went to the vet to pick up some antibiotics for Fifi. She recovered soon after finishing her dosage. There will be a post-surgery follow up consultation which the vet will update us about the biopsy results of the tumours as well as advising us on the next step. For the first surgery, Fifi had 1 malignant tumour and 2 benign. Thankfully, Dr Wong was wise to cut slightly wider and deeper to make sure he completely removed the tumour cells to reduce the chance of regrowth. However, it is advisable to send her for check ups every 3-6 months just to make sure there are no regrowth.

4 weeks after her first surgery, Fifi went through the same procedures for the remaining tumours smoothly. She is recovering right now from her wound and we are pleased to learn that all the remaining tumours removed are benign. With this removal, I hope that Fifi can stay with us for many more years into her ripe old age.

A note to pawrents

While this article is not meant to serve as an advise on whether your senior dog should undergo surgeries, Fifi’s example (as with many other stories out there) is meant to bring hope for you that surgery might still be an option. Ultimately, it really depends on you to choose with consideration of your pet’s health status, the severity of the condition and the how invasive will the procedure be. Do not be afraid to take a chance and give your pet a fighting chance against tumours just because of age factor.

To summarise, the following factors should be taken into consideration when you are deciding on whether to pursue surgery:

Pet’s health (age, healthiness, strength etc.)
Condition’s severity
Procedure’s risk and side effect (if any)
Experience of surgeons and clinic
Price
Facilities of clinic (ward, surgical equiments, testing facilities)
Reviews of vet and clinic (from fellow pawrents and community)
Research your vet (some of them have LinkedIn with their background)

P.S. My family sincerely thank Dr. Wong and the nurses involved in Fifi’s time with them for the excellent care she received and going the extra mile to make sure that she’s doing okay even after her surgery. While she gave them a hard time for not eating, the nurses were patient enough to handfeed her and I am touched by the gentle treatment they gave her. The team has put in great efforts to comfort her of her anxiety and stress. My family will always be grateful.

The above article is written by the hooman of @fifi.prinsassy.

Tags dogs, medical conditions, surgery, tumour, vet experience

Community Stories

How To Choose A Suitable Diet

Post author By Pawjourr
Post date August 26, 2020
No Comments on How To Choose A Suitable Diet

Even the best dog influencers and cat influencers out there have to be ensured a healthy diet to stay strong and active. There are a diverse variety of pet food options out there, but which types of foods are truly the best for your furkid? Here are some points to consider if you are in a dilemma over a suitable food option for your own pet:

Do your research well, and balance out certain factors

As the pet food industry continues to grow in popularity, there are now a multitude of diet options to choose from: from dry kibbles to cooked, freeze-dried and even raw food…the options are limitless. Not to mention, different commercial food brands and companies also offer their own unique benefits to stand out from their competitors.

All diets have their own pros and cons, and owners should do their own research and balance out particular factors in order to decide what is the most suitable option. For example, cost should be an important factor since maintaining a pet’s diet for the long term is key. Other factors may also include availability of food (only available locally or overseas), brand credibility and reputation, and so on.

Human foods and other unique treats

Owners might be tempted to give your pet a variety of foods, and that includes human foods or treats meant for other animals. However remember to do so with caution. Do a quick online check just to ensure that your pet can eat the right food; for example, human snacks and chocolates are not meant for any cat or dog! It might be tempting to prove your own pet unique as it eats a diet based on human foods, but that is not meant for every pet.

Every pet’s diet suitability is different

That also brings us to the most significant point that summarises it all: every pet is different, and it will be a journey of trial and error before you and your pet find out what is best for them. Certain breeds, for example, might be more predisposed to having sensitive stomachs, or needing certain supplements to boost their digestion and other health conditions. So do not take it for granted that just because other furkids are having a particular diet, your own furry friend should be doing the same as well! Instead, continue to observe and try out a variety of dietary options, and you will definitely help your pet find a suitable, healthy diet soon.

Tags cats, diet, dogs, food, healthy, New Owners, tips

Community Stories

Where Should Your Pet Go When You Are On Holiday

Post author By Pawjourr
Post date August 26, 2020
No Comments on Where Should Your Pet Go When You Are On Holiday

Sometimes, you just might need a break from Singapore or just a break from work or school with a mini staycation, but you are in a dilemma as to where to bring your furry friend. Even the most popular pet influencers have to be banned from most holiday areas that are strictly out of bounds to pets. But fret not, as here are some words of advice to follow when you are troubled about holiday plans with your favourite fur-friends:

Bring It Along With You

It is good news to know that more and more staycation destinations are now pet-friendly! From huge chalets to luxurious hotels, a quick online check will list out quite a few recommended options. So if you can’t stand the thought of your pet separating from you, why not bring it on a mini getaway with you too? If you are considering a more expensive long-term stay overseas, you can also opt to bring your pet on a flight as some airlines are pet-friendly.

However do note that it is costly, and a lot of time has to be spent on logistics and ensuring that your pet will get used to the unfamiliar destination and sensations of being on a plane ride. Some countries also enforce a quarantine period, so do research properly on the destination country’s laws and regulations regarding pets.

Find A Trusted Temporary Owner

If you have little choice but to take a break without bringing your fur-friend along, a most budget-friendly option will be to find a trusted loved one to take care of your pet temporarily. However do remember to delegate responsibilities wisely, and ensure that you do not miss out on anything before your trip. The last thing you might want is your pet to suffer in the hands of someone who might not be trustworthy.

Experienced Daycares and Pet Hotels

To find someone with more relevant experience might also be a good option, despite it being more expensive. But it is always good to be careful, especially with the recent controversies about inappropriate treatment of pets at daycares and pet hotels. Looking out for good reviews online or from word-of-mouth is always advisable, and it is also good to check out the amenities and staff before making a final decision. Different places might also have different types of “schedules” or “experiences” for your pet’s stay, such as the type of food and playtime options offered to your pet, so also ensure that your pet is comfortable with such relevant experiences!

If you make a wise decision after considering all your options (and considering which option your pet is the most comfortable with), you do not need to worry that your fur-friend might feel upset that you are going on a trip. In fact, your furry companion might enjoy its time just as much as you!

Tags cats, dogs, New Owners, tips

Community Stories

Importance Of Training Your Pet

Post author By Pawjourr
Post date August 26, 2020
No Comments on Importance Of Training Your Pet

Pet training can come in many different varieties—from basic toilet training, to complex tricks and skills that will make your furkid impress your family and relatives. Today we will be sharing some information on the importance of pet training.

Your pet can make more friends.

This is relevant to your ordinary pet influencer—be it a dog influencer or a cat influencer—or just an active, friendly furkid who is eager to expand its social circle. Bringing your pet outdoors, going to pet events, and even just bringing another furkid home (temporarily or permanently) requires your pet to be able to handle the unfamiliar situation of meeting new people and animals. If your pet have had adequate training in staying calm, non-aggressive and approachable when meeting new friends, it will be a delight to bring your pet out as not only will you find it enjoyable, your pet will feel the same way too. In contrast, fear or aggression towards strangers will give you little choice but to narrow your pet’s chances of meeting new furfriends.

A well-trained pet means encountering less danger.

Training your pet to stay calm and close to your side is essential, but most pet owners might not realize it till its too late. Often, your pet might be very curious and sensitive to new situations and triggers, such as loud sounds or going to a new environment. Even your most well-trained pup may be tempted to follow a stranger home without you noticing sometimes! Thus, it is important to train your pet to stay by your side at all times, even if it’s just the basic “heel” trick that ensures that your pet walks at your pace, and stops when you stop on a walk. Your pet will know to follow your instructions, and will be prevented from encountering more danger outdoors.

You will have an easygoing pal in the household!

Last but not least, a well-trained pet also means a much more comfortable experience at home. Your pet will be less prone to causing damage at home (broken and bitten furniture), and/or causing unnecessary distress to your family and neighbours. Remember that pet training comes in all aspects; even the basics, such as eating a meal properly and regularly will require some form of discipline and training for all pets!

While there are many different styles and forms of pet training, do remember that pet training should also not necessarily be tough and uncomfortable for your pet. It is important to seek advice from other pet owners and professionals, and if your pet seemed to be experiencing discomfort from the training, it is best to switch to other methods or even a different professional trainer.

Tags dogs, guides, training

Community Stories

How To Spend More Quality Time With Your Pet

Post author By Pawjourr
Post date August 26, 2020
No Comments on How To Spend More Quality Time With Your Pet

As we are consumed by work, it is inevitable that we spend merely a few hours with our most precious furry companions every day. However, rather than thinking that this should be the least of our concerns, we should realize that even our most popular dog influencers and cat influencers can get stressed out and sad due to loneliness as well. Here are some tips you should follow to ensure that your favourite fur-friend gets to spend quality time with you:

Go on pet-friendly outings!

One easy way to do so is to take out some time during the weekends just to spend it exclusively with your pet, and what better way to do so than to bring your pet to pet-friendly areas and events? Be it just a neighbourhood walk at the park or a large-scale pet-friendly event, your pet will definitely enjoy its time socializing with new (human and animal) buddies, and exploring rather than being cooped up at home alone. You don’t necessarily have to organize social outings with other owners and pets, but do take note that pet-friendly areas are often crowded during weekends!

Do things for your pet

Doing things for your pet is an indirect way of spending some good bonding time with your fur-friends. Be it cooking up a new treat recipe, or making something for your pet like DIY-ing a pet collar, your pet and you can enjoy the quality time spent. Not only will your furry companion appreciate its new gift, but you might also be able to pick up a new hobby and make some new friends along the way. Many pet owners and pet-related companies post up free recipes and tips online, and some of them may also organize affordable workshops for such activities.

Spend more time with your fur-friend (literally)

If you can’t afford to take the time and energy out when you are on a tight schedule, just remember that even a few minutes alone with your fur-friend everyday will make it happier than usual. Be it just allowing your pet to cuddle up next to you or a short 15-minute walk, such little moments together can also contribute to improving your overall relationship with your furry friend.

Most importantly, do remember that you should never make any excuses when it comes to spending quality time with your pet. No amount of Instagram likes, followers and comments can replace actual bonding moments and make your pet happier.

Photo by Helena Lopes from Pexels

Tags birds, cats, dogs, experience, lifestyle, New Owners, small animals

Community Stories

Importing your pet into Singapore

Post author By simbathemonstercat
Post date August 26, 2020
8 Comments on Importing your pet into Singapore

Having a pet is a life-long commitment. The second you decide to bring a furbaby into your life, it’s imperative to follow it through and care for it to your best ability, even if it means traversing across the world with it.

I adopted the two-month-old Simba whilst pursuing my bachelors degree in Brisbane, Australia. Funnily enough, I have always thought of myself as a dog person (sometimes I think I still do!), and would never have imagined I’d become this “crazy cat lady” that all my friends identify me as.

Simba kept me company in my 2 years in Australia, and when it was time for me to come home to Singapore, I knew I had to bring him along. My inexperience in the due processes of bringing my furry best friend home left my helpless and dejected. Thus, I hope that, through my sharing, pet-owners would be less clueless when it comes to importing your pet into Singapore. After all, no one should be separated from their furbabies!

Pre-flight Preparation

First of all, you need to be prepared to commit time applying for permits (both import and export), bringing your pet to various appointments (i.e. vaccinations, health check-up, etc.), and buying the necessary logistics etc. You will need a Singpass account in order to apply for the import permit, search for “Licence to Import/Export/Transship Animals, Birds, Eggs and Biologics” at this website. Special note for dog owners, you’ll need to apply for a dog licence as well! (not applicable to cats).

Here are some of the things I prepared for Simba for the flight!

General Timeline

Potential Costs

Secondly, be prepared to set aside at least $1500-$2000 for this whole process. This includes expenses like license application, vet visits, buying of logistics and flight ticket. The final cost will depend on your export location, and the number of quarantine days required for your pet (~$50 per day for Singapore). Other potential costs may also include food that is being fed to your pet while he/she is in quarantine. The exact number of quarantine days is dependent on which country you are importing your pet from (see table below, click on the link to find out more information). Simba did not require any quarantine as he came from Cat A country, so I was able to bring him home straight away after we disembarked.

Category A Countries/Region of export free from rabies	Category B Countries/Region of export with negligible risk of rabies	Category C Countries/Region of export with controlled risk or low incidence of rabies	Category D Countries/Region of export with undetermined risk of rabies
Australia, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom	Cayman Islands, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Iceland, Japan, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, New Caledonia, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, USA (Guam and Hawaii only)	Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, Taiwan, United States of America (except Guam and Hawaii)	All countries not listed in Categories A, B, and C.

NParks: Veterinary Conditions based on Country of Import

Cautionary Note

I may not have all the answers, but I will be happy to provide advice on any questions that you may have as well! It’s been 2.5 years since Simba and I came back to Singapore. At the end of the day, despite all the effort and money spent, I did not regret it for one second, and every cent spent was well worth it. Because Simba is my family (or as the Aussies call it – Rellie!), and I will never leave him behind.

The above article is written by the hooman of @simbathemonstercat.

Tags cats, dogs, import, New Owners, overseas, overseas adoption, transport

Community Stories

5 Effective Tips to Train your Dog

Post author By The Woof Agency
Post date August 20, 2020
No Comments on 5 Effective Tips to Train your Dog

We know that training your fur kid on your own can sometimes be frustrating and difficult… As such, we want to change that for you and help you through the process. Recently, we have collaborated with a professional dog trainer, Darren Yew (@MyDogsAdventuressg) to share some dog training tips with our pawrents. He was aspired to become a dog trainer since young and finally got to pursue his dream career as a dog trainer!

The top five areas of concern that our pawjourr pawrents face with their fur kids are: Potty training, giving healthy praises and scoldings, conducting basic commands, dealing with aggressive behaviour and separation anxiety. Read on to find out what tips Darren has been using to tackle these issues.

Tips on potty training: For a start, pawrents can begin toilet training their dog by ‘crating’ him or her up during their puppy stage. Gradually, expand the ‘crating’ area as their dog grows up. Once their dog becomes an adult, they may choose to forgo the crate as they have already mastered potty training.
Tips on giving healthy praises and scoldings to pets: Pawrents should give praises only when their dog is obedient or calm. As for scoldings, simple ones like “Hey!” and “No!” will do. Forbid slamming things or shouting at them.
Tips on how to conduct basic command trainings: Pawrents can give treats to their dog like kibbles or small size snacks. An advice that I would give is to start conducting basic command training at home instead of holding it outdoors – safety comes first nonetheless! This is to avoid distractions that will more likely occur outdoors from things like birds and cars etc. Of course, pawrents can transition to training their dog outdoors but only when their dog is more advanced.
Tips to deal with aggressive behaviour: When pawrents think that their dog is aggressive, they are not. Rather, they may just exhibit emotions like fear, uncertainty and defensiveness. When pawrents are faced with such situations, they should observe their dog’s body language. If their dog expresses fear, then pawrents should refrain from approaching them until their dog is more comfortable like if their dog starts sniffing or displaying curious behaviour.
Tips to help with pet’s separation anxiety: Pawrents with anxious dogs should start to build a comfort place for their dog to rest like a mat. Their dog should not be following them around the house but learning to stay put in their comfort place. If their dog keeps following their pawrents around the house, this means that the hooman has become their comfort place instead, which would lead to separation anxiety.

We hope that you have found what Darren shared to be useful. To Darren, dog training is a constant learning process because each dog is unique in terms of their temperament. What matters most is for pawrents to be patient and never give up.

These tips are based on my own experience. There is no right or wrong training method because there are many ways a dog can be trained. These tips that I am sharing happen to work for me, and I truly hope that they would work for you too!

– Darren

Tags behaviour, dogs, training