Tag: injuries

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7 Signs That Your Cat Is in Pain

Article originally published on The Spruce Pets. Written by Tabitha Kucera RVT, CCBC, KPA-CTP. Refer to the original article here.

It can be difficult to tell if your cat is in pain for many reasons. Cat owners may often miss the subtle signs of pain in their cats or do not notice until their cats are showing more obvious signs, such as loss of appetite and lethargy. In some cases, cats only show more obvious symptoms after being ill for an extended period of time or if they are very ill. By the time you actually notice something is wrong with your cat, it might have been going on for longer than you think.

Although no one likes to think about their pets living with pain, it is important to be able to notice telltale signs of pain in cats, so that you can take the necessary steps to provide comfort and prevent medical issues from worsening.

It Can Be Difficult to Tell If a Cat Is in Pain

Cats are experts at hiding illness. This is in part because cats are both prey and predator animals, and in the wild, not showing pain can protect them from predators or other cats that might be a threat. Showing signs of pain makes them more vulnerable to attacks.

It can also be difficult for your veterinarian to notice signs of pain because of cats hiding their pain due to fear and stress, which is common during veterinary visits. Your cat may also go into fight or flight mode, which can cause a decrease in pain perception.

Signs of Pain

When cats are dealing with pain, similar to humans, it can affect their behavior. In fact, cats often show behavioral changes prior to physical symptoms.

It is important for you to know your cat’s normal temperament and behavior. This includes your cat’s normal attitude, energy level, gait, appetite, sleep patterns, thirst, and other physical and behavior patterns. Just the slightest change could be a sign that your cat is sick or in pain. Since your cat cannot tell you it’s in pain, your veterinarian relies on you to determine if there are any abnormal behavior patterns that may be pain-related. If your cat is just not acting like itself, this can be a sign that they are experiencing pain.

Note: Changes in your cats’ daily habits should not always be contributed to aging. Age is not a disease, but as your cat ages, they are more likely to be suffering from pain.

Grooming Changes

You may notice that your cat is not grooming itself or if it does groom itself, it only focuses on its face and the front of its body. Cats are meticulous cleaners, so be aware of your cat’s grooming habits have changed or you notice that its coat is unkempt.

Behavioral Changes

Your cat may be more withdrawn and even start hiding. Our cats are bonded to us and like to be engaged and present where we are. When your cat is suddenly not greeting you at the door, not sleeping with you, and other engaging behaviors that are normal, this may be a sign that something’s wrong.

Less Activity and Low Energy

You may notice that your cat has less energy or decreased stamina to engage in previously enjoyable activities, such as playing with toys or chasing that red dot. Your cat may be reluctant to jump, walk up and down stairs, have difficulty getting up from laying down, exhibit restlessness, and have difficulty finding a comfortable place to rest. You may also notice changes in sleeping patterns—the cat may sleep more or less and may sleep in unusual positions and places.

Litter Box Changes

Cats commonly will miss the litter boxes due to the pain associated with going in and out of the litter box, as well as difficulty squatting. Holding the squatting position can be very difficult for a cat with sore hips or knees. Other medical issues can cause cats to not use the litter box due to pain and urgency associated with them.

Increased Irritability

Cats in pain can also uncharacteristically have episodes of aggression. A cat may begin to growl or hiss when people or other pets in the household approach it, may not be comfortable with being held and may resent being brushed or combed. They may bite or scratch, too, especially when a person touches or moves the painful area or if the cat anticipates you doing it.

Changes in Appetite and Water Intake

Cats who are experiencing pain may lose interest in eating and drinking. If you notice any changes in your cat’s eating and drinking habits, be sure to alert your veterinarian. This can be a sign of pain and various other serious medical issues.

Posture

A cat in a lot of pain will appear as if it’s trying to curl up into a ball or will sit hunched over in a guarded, crouched position with its back curved higher than normal, its head lowered, and front paws often folded under it. You may notice that once it lays down, the cat keeps its legs tucked up underneath itself instead of stretching out on its side. It may avoid or have difficulty engaging in scratching behaviors.

What to Do If You Suspect Your Cat Is in Pain

Do not give pain medications designed for humans or dogs to cats. Cats process drugs very differently from other species. Common pain medications used in humans can cause death in cats. Always seek veterinary care and consult your veterinarian for an appropriate pain therapy plan. Consult your veterinarian and address potential pain rather than letting your cat suffer in silence. Our cat companions rely on us to speak for them, so monitor your cats closely and alert the veterinarian to any concerns.

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Community Stories

Caring for a dog with a fractured leg

Disclaimer: I am not an expert. This is purely based on my personal experience.

The signs:

We went to pick Bailey up from the groomers’ after his grooming. He was so excited to see us as usual, so we left the groomers’ after paying for his grooming.

However, halfway while walking back home, Bailey had suddenly stopped walking and collapsed on the floor. At first, we had thought he was just dehydrated and tired from grooming and playing with the other doggies there. However, we realised that his tail was tucked in tightly, which could mean that he was scared or frightened. It was then when we suspected something was wrong.

We tried to lift Bailey and put him on all four legs, and got him to walk. We noticed that there was probably something wrong with one of his legs, because he was limping to one side. One of us decided to go back to the groomers’ to ask if something had happened during his grooming. We got one of the groomers’ to come to take a look at Bailey, who was then lying on the pavement by the roadside, refusing to move. The groomer decided to carry Bailey back to the salon after noticing that something was amiss.

What had happened:

Back at the grooming salon, the groomer who had groomed Bailey then explained that while she was in the midst of trimming bailey’s fur, he had suddenly jumped down from the grooming table. Bailey being big in size and quite heavy at that time, it was likely he had injured his leg from the impact of the fall.

At first, I was disappointed as to why the groomers had let us leave their place without telling us such a thing happened. If we had known such a thing happened, we would have been given a heads up if something were to happen to Bailey.

The groomer had then tried to touch all of Bailey’s legs. But Bailey flinched when she tried to touch his left hind leg. Now we know, the problem lies with the left hind leg.

The groomers were deeply apologetic about the whole issue, and immediately told us to bring Bailey to the vet and to come back with the receipt, as they will reimburse the cost of his vet fees. They had also offered Bailey a free grooming for the next round if we do come back.

We were so thankful to the groomers’ for taking responsibility for the incident, as we have heard of cases where the groomers would refuse to take responsibility.

At the vet:

The vet did an x-ray for Bailey. To our horror, his left hind leg had suffered a fracture, and it would need to be supported with a splint wrapped in a cast so that it will heal.

Splints are used to provide protection and support for his leg. They serve the same function as a bandage and has the additional benefit of preventing movement of the leg. On top of the splint, a cast padding will be applied to protect the bony prominences from pressure and friction.

Bailey was put under general anesthesia so that the process of shaving his leg and putting the leg in a splint and a cast could be as smooth as possible.

After Bailey woke up from the anesthesia, we went back home.

We thought: Bailey has not even turned a year old, yet he has to go through such an ordeal. Being a first time pet owner and not experiencing this before makes the situation even more stressful.

An x-ray of bailey’s fractured leg.
Bailey after waking up from a general anesthesia at the vet, with the cutest leg bandage in the world.

Caring for a fractured leg:

The vet had advised us to limit Bailey’s movements and not let him jump or run, just in case the splint breaks and the bone won’t be able to heal properly.

The vet advised us to get a cone to prevent Bailey from licking his leg even though it may be uncomfortable. He also told us that in the event we accidentally wet the cast, we would have to come back to the vet to change the bandages.

We would also have to bring Bailey to the vet once a week to change his bandage, and for the vet to access the bone recovery. We also could not bathe Bailey at all for a month in order not to wet his injured leg, so we had to purchase a dry shampoo to ‘shower’ him.

During walks, we had to make sure to wrap his leg in a plastic bag and wear a shoe on top of it, so that we minimise the damage made to the cast by friction and to prevent dirt or water from getting onto the cast.

Taking care of the fractured leg was no easy feat, as not only do we have to return to the vet once every week to check, but we also found out that Bailey had developed skin irritations on his injured leg due to it being wrapped up for a long period of time.

Bailey with his new ‘outfit’

Caring for the wounds on his fractured leg:

His injured leg had sores and wounds after being wrapped in the splint and cast for such a long period of time, and the vet had to apply cream on his wounds on the leg.

Of course, regular vet visits during this time were mandatory, so as to check in on the healing of the bone and to apply cream on the wounds on his leg for it to heal. Every time the vet unwraps the bandage wrapping his leg, we would cringe and cross our fingers, hoping that the wound had gotten better and not develop into an infection.

Luckily, his bone had healed by end-october, and there was no need for a splint or cast anymore. Since his leg no longer needed to be in a cast, we would have to learn how to apply the anti-bacterial cream on his wounds more frequently at home.

During this period of time, we also had to be extra careful and keep the leg as clean and dry as possible. This is so as to make sure the wounds do not become infected.

His leg finally recovered by mid November with the wounds fully closed and the bone fully healed. We will just have to let the shaven fur on the leg to grow back.

This process was tiring and stressful for both the dog and the hoomans, but we are so grateful to the fact that Bailey’s left hind leg has fully recovered, and that he is now a healthy and happy pup.

P.s did you notice the name on the bandage ‘Storm’? That is because Bailey’s previous name was actually Storm! That is another story for another time! ♡

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Community Stories

Facing Wild Monkeys – Our First Pet Emergency

Have you ever come across wild monkeys during your walks with your doggie? As residents of Singapore, most of us probably are not unfamiliar with the sight of wild monkeys. I grew up jogging near Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, and now walk my 6 month old puppy, Mako, near Labrador Park frequently, so these monkeys are definitely a common sight to me. 

Wild monkeys frequent many nature areas and parks in Singapore. It is not uncommon to meet them on walks

However, most of us also know these monkeys are not to be trifled with. I was taught to never have food or plastic bags in my hands around these monkeys, to never feed them, and to avoid eye contact with them. I always kept my distance as much as I could. I like monkeys – in theory – I think they are adorable. Unfortunately, a terrifying encounter with them has definitely left me more apprehensive about them.

An Outing Gone Wrong

My mother and I wanted to take Mako to the West Coast Park dog run. Mako has never been to a dog run, and I really wanted him to have that experience as he is really social. We were really excited! 

Let’s go to the dog run!

We drove there, parked at Carpark 1, and then I grabbed Mako’s leash to walk as we headed in the direction of the dog run. It was a large wide pedestrian path surrounded by grass and nature. My mother then realised she had left her phone in the car, and told us to go on ahead while she went to retrieve it.

Mako and I walked on, and I kept his leash short and had him walk close to me as it was a new environment. From a distance, I saw a monkey family! There was a mother, a father and tiny little baby! I remember thinking, how cute! They were on the far side of the same path we were on, so we just continued walking in their direction. I didn’t think it’d be a problem as long as I didn’t make eye contact and gave them enough space. Mako is not the aggressive type either so I figured he wouldn’t chase the monkeys. It was around this moment where my mother almost caught up to me and Mako. 

Mako, as is his habit, stopped and turned around to wait for my mother to catch up. He always does this on his regular walks, waiting for my family members who are behind. I followed him and turned to look for my mother too. This was a big mistake.

I got a shock when I looked down and saw the monkey family on the path running up to Mako. The father had reached Mako by the time I realised they were approaching. I was horrified and tried to pull him away. In the past when Mako and I encountered monkeys at Labrador Park, I’d carry him and walk away quickly. However, I was too slow because even as I pulled Mako away, the monkey had reached out and clawed him. I was in shock and didn’t even realise what happened until I saw a huge, red, bleeding gash on Mako’s right hind leg. I mentally froze and all I wanted to do was protect Mako. My mother, the hero of the day, saw everything and came up running and screaming at the monkeys, chasing them away. 

The gash was huge and bleeding. I was terrified his wound could be infected with the filth from the monkey’s claws. The poor boy did not fight back at all. Not a bark, a cry, a growl, or a whine. I picked him up, all 15+ kg of him and carried him about 300m to the car.

Mako’s wound. It was actually even larger but I was holding the wound closed in this picture.

Rushing To The Vet

We rushed him over the Gentle Oak Veterinary Clinic as it was nearby (GO also happens to be Mako’s regular vet). We didn’t have an appointment, so I called them, trying to contain my panic and hysteria.

“My dog got attacked by a monkey, can I bring him in right now?! I’m 10 minutes away”. I was crying by this point as I was so worried. I didn’t know whether he would be okay, and I felt so awful for not protecting him. In my head, I wish I had picked him up. I wished I had shielded him. I wished I was the one injured and not him. What if he got infected? What if he lost his leg? Why was I such a terrible owner? The awful thoughts wouldn’t stop coming. The entire journey felt like the longest in my life. 

However, Mako is such a blessing. I was crying, and failing to be calm and strong for him. The sweet, darling boy, despite his huge wound, lay on me and kept licking my hands. He tried to lick his wound but I covered it with my hand to stop him. Imagine, he was wounded yet he was comforting me!

Huh? Why we here?

I rushed into Gentle Oak, carrying him, crying and literally covered in his blood because it had gotten all over my hands and arms. The staff at Gentle Oak were calm and kind, and swiftly took him in for emergency treatment while I sat in the waiting room trying to calm down. Thank you Dr Travis and GO team for taking amazing care of Mako! They gave him local anaesthetic, various injections to guard against infections and viruses, and also cleaned and stitched the wound. Mako emerged from the treatment room slightly groggy but otherwise calm. 

His wound was large and deep. It needed two stitches.
Monkey who? I’m not scared, mama, I’m a brave strong boy! Don’t cry!

Post Attack

Mako had to wear a cone for 2 weeks so that he would not rip out his stitches or lick them. He HATED the plastic cone. The first night back, he trembled whenever the cone was on, and walked backward the first entire night. The next day, Horlick @horlicksiewdai gifted me their old soft cone and Mako loved it waaaaaay better! Thank you Horlick!

Don’t I look like the most adorable little sunflower?

I had to clean his wound 2 to 3 times a day with antibacterial wash and antiseptic. He could go on walks, but he could not play with his friends nor take a bath. During the first few wound cleanings, I was still wiping up so much blood every time. I had to check constantly for any signs of pus, oozing, or any indication the wound was not healing well. Mako took a couple of days to regain his regular appetite, but within 2 days he was back to his normal playful self! I updated Mako’s trainer via WhatsApp, and here is what he said:

“Mako is still young, and he will absorb like a sponge. He will take this as a correction from the monkeys but he will be okay in the future.”

And that is true. A week and a half later, I saw some monkeys again at Labrador Park, and Mako saw them before I did. He did not react excessively, but was a little more guarded than usual. However, he took cue from me and stayed calm, and we just walked away, and it was like nothing happened. 

Okay fine mama, I’ll take a selfie with you
Ooh, I get kisses? This is fine then.

This entire experience was really awful, but I learned a good amount of things from it that I wish to use this space to share, in the hopes you all find it helpful too. 

You never know when an emergency can happen. Thankfully, we had the car nearby, and I was not alone. My mum drove us to the vet. Here are some tips I have gathered for being ready to handle an emergency, and hope this is useful for first time pet owners like me. 

Handling A Pet Emergency

  1. Stay calm. Obviously I was not great at this, but our pets take cue from us. Mako was calm but other dogs may not be, especially if their human is distressed. I know it is hard, but the best thing you can do for your pet is to stay calm and get them help as soon as possible.
  2. Have vet information stored on your phone for easy access. In an emergency, it is easy to have your mind go blank. Store your regular vet’s phone number and address on your phone. You should also store a 24h emergency vet address and number for late night emergencies. This is so that you know where to go immediately once an incident happens as time is of the essence.
  3. Move quickly but carefully, and do not let your pet lick their wound. This is key to preventing infections. Moreover, it is key that you yourself do not get injured if possible, because then who will care for your pet? Looking back, if the monkey had injured both me and Mako, how would my mum manage to take me to hospital, and take Mako to the vet? Take care of yourself so you can take care of your furkid 
  4. Do your best to remember details of the encounter, e.g. if your dog got poisoned, swallowed something bad, fell, got into a fight etc., as providing this information to your vet once you arrive could be life saving. I could call the clinic in advance to tell them what had happened so they were ready to take Mako in once I got there. 
  5. Don’t blame yourself! I felt HORRIBLE for letting it happen to Mako, and I am still learning to forgive myself for it. However, my friends were great supporters, and everyone reminded me that it was unforeseen, and things just happen sometimes. It happened so fast there was really nothing I could do. Even if you go “what if”, it won’t help now. Focus on being there for your pet. 
This cone isn’t so bad… it’s like pillow I can take everywhere!

The biggest what-if I had to deal with was this: What if I had just picked him up and protected him? Then none of this would have happened? Well, I discussed this with Mako’s trainer, and he shared with me many tips about monkeys I never knew, including the fact that picking up Mako would have been a terrible idea. So, in this portion, I want to share with you tips on dealing with wild monkeys so you all don’t end in a situation like we did!

What To Do When Encountering Wild Monkeys

Not everyone may agree with this, but I am just going to share the tips Mako’s trainer (who is really knowledgeable about animals in general) shared with me, as well as a some other things I have learned.

  1. Never show fear and remain calm. Monkeys can sense your fear and you do not want to be an easy target. Moreover, your dog takes cue from you and if you get anxious, your dog might freak out too and this could trigger the monkeys to attack.
  2. Never turn your back or flank to monkeys. They see this as an invitation to attack. This is possibly what caused them to charge at us even though we didn’t provoke them.
  3. Watch out for monkeys with babies. These tend to be REALLY aggressive as they are protective of their babies
  4. Avoid eye contact with them. This is seen as a challenge and could provoke them. However, you will want to use your peripheral vision to make sure they are not coming too close to you. 
  5. Keep your dog on a short leash, do not let them approach. Mako is so friendly, he has a tendency to walk TOWARDS monkeys. 
  6. Keep distance as much as possible
  7. Back away and put distance between you and the monkeys. Your goal is to get yourself towards the company of more humans, to get your numbers up, discouraging the monkeys desire to attack. Monkeys attack based on calculation of risk, not instinct. Just continue backing until you are out of range and they will usually go back to doing their own thing. 
  8. Do not pick up your dog. This was my impulse but my trainer told me that they will then see it as a chance to attack. From the monkey’s perspective, they see 2 creatures become 1 unit, and the one unit is handicapped. This makes you a vulnerable target. Follow Tip #7. Back away slowly. DO NOT RUN.

And that sums up my first pet emergency with Mako. It was scary, and we learned a lot, and I hope this post has been helpful in helping you learn abou what to do in an emergency, and ESPECIALLY how to deal with wild monkeys to keep your doggie safe! Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, and thank you to everyone who supported Mako with thoughts and love during his recovery. He now has his stitches out and has healed very well! Hope this was useful!

The cone is also a great way to hold your yak chew paws-free!

Love,
Mako and hooman.

IG: @makothetaco_

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Community Stories

My dog was poisoned

Introduction

Oreo is a two-year-old adopted Japanese Spitz- Alaskan Malamute mix. When we adopted him in 2018, he had severe anxiety and he was not comfortable with people at all. He cried every second he was home and it took a lot of training (both home and professional) to improve his behavior.

Towards his family members, Oreo is a sweet and gentle fellow and is honestly one of the most obedient dogs I’ve seen or had. Today, he no longer barks at strangers but he isn’t outwardly friendly to them-so you can imagine a trip to the emergency vet was a nightmare for him (and maybe the nurses too!)

August 5, 2020

The day started out typical with Oreo and our Shih Tzu named Yani doing their normal routine of playing, sleeping, and fighting each other. At around 6:00pm, my mom reminded us that a flea collar needed to be put on the dogs (we use a collar because my Shih Tzu couldn’t take oral medications due to kidney issues). My sister obliged and put their brand new collar on. We didn’t think much of it because we’ve been using the same brand for almost 2 years now. The dogs didn’t seem to mind either, there was absolutely no change in their behavior.

At 8:30pm my sister went to bed with the dogs (yes, it’s early I know) and at 10:00pm she woke up to Oreo pacing. She thought Oreo was just restless so she went downstairs to get herself a glass of water. When she returned, she realized that there was white foam and blood on the bedsheet. Oreo was now vomiting but still strong and playful, even then we knew something was wrong and we prepared to take him to the emergency vet.

We saw a part of his flea collar chewed off (1/4 an inch-very tiny) and suspected that it might have been poisonous.

Since it was lockdown in Metro Manila, all the usual vets that we go to for emergencies were closed. We spent 18 minutes calling and finding a vet that would take him in after office hours. We finally found one and due to the road blockage, it took over 30 minutes to get there. The wait was excruciating, Oreo started changing within 48 minutes. He wouldn’t drink water, he was drooling excessively and he was panting.

Vet’s Office

You can see the wet part of the stairs, that was Oreo excessively drooling outside the vet’s office

It took two nurses to carry him out. The vet confirmed our suspicions that it was probably the flea collar and asked us to remove it from our other dog immediately.

Unfortunately for Oreo, an x-ray confirmed that the collar was no longer in his stomach and induced vomiting would no longer help. He needed to be warded for at least 3 days because with poisoning things can take a turn for the worse quickly as they start to digest the poison.

Oreo during his first night

Oreo’s treatment consisted of charcoal pills, an IV drip, and extra oxygen. His first night, he was extremely weak and unhappy. This vet was a whole new place for him and his usual humans were not around.

The next morning we got a message from his vet that Oreo refused to eat anything they gave him. My sister and her partner prepared Oreo’s favorite meals and visited him. The only place Oreo was comfortable and familiar with was the car. For the next days, it would be routine for my sister to visit Oreo and for the nurses to carry Oreo to the car with an IV to be fed.

Oreo in the car with his IV

By the third day, you could see a big improvement in Oreo. He was no longer drooling, he was stronger and he even seemed to be smiling again. There were still a few problems, the first one was that his kidney levels were not completely back to normal and the second was that for 3 days Oreo did not want to pass stool in the vet’s office.

Oreo still eating in the car but much happier

The vet decided that the next day (4th day) if he was still in stable condition, he could continue medicines for his kidney at home in the hopes that he would be in a more comfortable area where he can pass stool. Passing stool was important because Oreo needed to excrete the collar so it would stop releasing poison in his body.

The vet warned that taking him home would mean constant monitoring and any sign of drooling, pale gums, or seizures in the next 3 days would warrant an emergency trip back to the vet.

Bringing him home

Discharged from the vet

Oreo was discharged on August 8, 2pm. The next few days were filled with sleepless nights because we were continuously monitoring Oreo. Finally, on August 11 the vet was officially happy to declare that Oreo survived the poisoning and is out of the critical zone.

Learnings

  1. Always have a list of emergency vets. We wasted precious time just figuring out where to take Oreo. It’s important to update this list especially during COVID where establishments change their hours.
  2. Socialise your dog. It’s important for them to be very comfortable in a vet’s office. We realized after that Oreo never had a pleasant visit to the vet. We tried to avoid vet visits previously due to his anxiety but when he really needed to go, he was uncomfortable, to say the least.
  3. Never use Bayopet flea collar. It’s insane how only 1/4 inch of the collar could poison a 20kg dog. I shudder to think about what would’ve happened if it was my Shih Tzu that ate the collar.

Today

Today, Oreo is back to normal. He’s happy and playful but his poisoning was a traumatic experience for everyone. We can’t believe he was poisoned by a flea collar – an item that has been deemed safe for dogs to use.

At some point, Oreo still needs to do a blood test to check if his kidney function is back to normal. At the end of the day, we’re just proud and happy to have our pup back home and healthy!

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Community Stories

Every Pawrent’s Worst Nightmare

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 selfie
Eating 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.

#CHANDLERSROADTORECOVERY

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 VetCare for 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.