Tag: medical

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Aon’s Happy Tales: Bailey_japspitz

It goes without saying that a pawrent’s biggest wish is to provide a healthy and comfortable life for their fur kid. It can be difficult at times, but to Joanne, pawmom to her two-years-old Japanese Spitz Bailey, it’s all worth it!

Working as a real estate agent, Joanne’s flexible working schedule allows her to spend more time with her loved ones, especially Bailey.

Forever floofy

Japanese Spitz are known to be energetic fur balls who are faithful, affectionate, and well-behaved — with Bailey checking all the boxes. Bailey can always be seen with a smile on his face. He is super friendly with other dogs and even strangers!

And that’s not all! Bailey is also the master of peace; small baby hoomans could be picking at him, and smaller fur friends could be barking incessantly in his face, and he will remain unfazed, waiting patiently for his hoomans to save him.

Another interesting fact about Bailey is that he treasures cleanliness the most! He does not dirty the house even with the worst tummy aches, “the sweetest boy,” says pawmom Joanne.

“Can we eat now?”

The perfect Spitz

Joanne had been searching for a new dog from Australian and New Zealand breeders for a long time, but it took a pause when her previous dog of 14 years had passed on. 8 years later, with the intention of getting a new fur kid, Joanne was recommended by fellow dog owners to search for breeders under Dogz Online.

One of the breeders reached out, with the intention of rehoming seven-month-old Bailey within New Zealand, and with much assurance and convincing, Bailey eventually became the breeder’s first and only export out of New Zealand!

Bailey came from a niche kennel in South New Zealand that breeds Japanese Spitz to perfection mainly for dog shows. The breeders do it out of passion, with the aim of achieving pristine breed standards — not for mass breeding and sale.

As Bailey has a lower confidence level and a larger build that exceeds maximum entry size, he was put for adoption. But, he still makes a perfect house pet!

Bailey wandering around dreamland.

Preparations for the future

Japanese Spitz are known to be prone to Luxating Patella. However, by choosing to import Bailey from an ethical breeder, it allows Joanne to be at ease knowing Bailey was bred to perfection in terms of looks and health. That’s why it was important to Joanne not to get a new dog from backyard breeders.

“Dogs are paired ethically to avoid health issues inherent to the breed as much as possible,” added Joanne.

That said, the best preparation for the worst is always assurance. As a pawrent to a silky terrier before Bailey, Joanne had to spend a bomb to fly in a specialist that manages canine cataracts. In times of emergencies, she hopes to reduce her worry about medical bills and focus more on Bailey’s recovery.

Joanne was introduced to Aon Happy Tails through a recommendation from other pet owners. With a couple Google searches and reviews, Joanna was enticed by their comprehensive coverage and benefits! 

“We are on the Furball plan because my take is to either do it or not do it. Once decided and committed to do so, then it is nothing short of the best within the category!”

Bailey looks trendy as ever.

*Bonus Content*

If Bailey could speak hooman for 7 days, what would you say to him, or do with him?

“If Bailey could speak hooman for 7 days… then he better use that 7 days to tell us all his likes and dislikes across all categories that will affect his life!”

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How does Pet Insurance help with medical costs?

© Momo Studio Singapore | www.momostudio.sg | +65 92220684

Hi there! I’m Denise.

My Bulldog, Boo, has been always been an angel on fours. It’s just like any other relationship where there are ups and downs but it’s just me compromising with her all the time (haha!).

 Nevertheless, she is really one of a kind. You can say she’s my soulmate.

Boo’s Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) Changed our Lives

Boo has always been the priority in my life so her diagnosis did not deter me from loving her. However, I guess with IVDD, it requires much more effort to care for her now. 

She is unable to walk, pee or poop on her own, so she requires somebody to empty her bladder every couple of hours. I can’t spend late nights out with my friends as I have to be back home to check on her and give her nightly massages. For almost 2 years, I also gave up my bed and slept on the floor with her.

Honestly, it was so tough during the first few months, I was financially and mentally drained. But it gets better with time as we start to understand her schedules and needs, and of course with help from my family members. Emotional support was very crucial. Dog cafes and dog runs are places I avoid, instead, we go to pet-friendly places. Basically, every action I take has to cater to her.

Photo Credit: Instagram @boo._thefrenchie

Discovering Aon Happy Tails Pet Insurance

As a breed, French Bulldogs face a long list of medical problems and sadly to say it was because of humans. The best-looking dogs were bred to meet the market demands which resulted in common medical conditions such as IVDD.

I found out after researching pet insurance that Aon Happy Tails was the only one that covers surgical and its breed issues. After some research, I found out that Aon Happy Tails was the only one that covers surgical costs as well as hereditary and congenital conditions. At that point in time, it was extremely crucial for me as the surgical intervention of IVDD is expensive.

I signed up to be covered by them at Pet Expo (don’t we all miss them). They offered promos for the first year and a couple of free gifts. It was very easy. Basically, all you need to do is sign up, consult a vet to sign and approve a document stating your pet’s medical condition and send it back. We were insured just like that. It was fuss-free. 

Claiming Process

Well, Aon Happy Tails covers breeds medical issues like IVDD. Boo is afflicted with a serious case of IVDD hence surgical intervention is needed. I remember I paid close to 14k on Boo’s surgery and her stay (excludes X-ray and all the miscellaneous tests). Through Happy Tails, I was able to redeem around 5-6k (Don’t quote me on the value! I claimed 2 years ago).

At that point in time, I was so relieved about owning the insurance. The best part was I did not even get the most expensive plan they provided. 

Claiming via Aon Happy Tails was so easy as well. Surprisingly, their helpdesk was incredibly responsive and helpful. Just submit all necessary documents and they will get back to you on the claims.

** We recommend interested pet owners to engage in their own self-research for Aon Happy Tails. Do note that the claim amount quoted by Denise is not an accurate representation of the reimbursement rate.

Advice to Pet Owners

Avoid thinking of insurance as taboo! 

It is always good to keep informed on your pets’ medical needs at any stage of their lives. Always do your research on the coverage you require out of insurance, e.g X-rays, surgery, MRI. 

Of course, I am not advising you to purchase pet insurance that you can’t afford. Just don’t ever give up on your pet due to expensive medical bills. There are always solutions to your problem.

Remember, all your pet has is you.

You are their whole lives.

Aon Happy Tails pet insurance covers a wide range of illnesses and medical conditions such as:

  • Luxating Patella
  • Hip and Elbow Dyplasia
  • Cherry Eye
  • Glaucoma
  • Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)
  • Femoral Head and Neck Excision

** DISCLAIMER: There is a ninety (90) days waiting period for sicknesses and a twelve (12) month waiting period for Specified Hereditary and Congenital sicknesses from the policy’s first commencement during which sicknesses claims are not payable.

During the twelve (12) month waiting period, if conditions or symptoms of IVDD begin to emerge, it will be considered a pre-existing condition and will no longer be covered by Aon Happy Tails.

For more information, you can also check out their dedicated online portal which helps pet parents obtain a library of pet-related information, as well as ensure their sign up process is smooth and easy to access. You can also access their pricing plans via their website. Simply enter your details and get a quote!

With Aon Happy Tails, rest assured your pet is in safe hands.

Follow Denise and Boo on Instagram.

For more information about Aon Happy Tails pet insurance, check out their Instagram or Website.

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Why I Like Pet Insurance

Closeup view of client with cute dog signing pet insurance policy at veterinarian clinic, panorama

Many people around me are getting furkids rather than having human children due to many reasons.

  1. A furkid will always shower you with love no matter how old they get.
  2. The cost of raising them is lower than human kids where you would need to think about getting a place near the ideal school and the cost of university, etc.

Talking about cost; The cost of raising a furkid is definitely not all fields of flowers, especially when it comes to medical cost since pets are unable to tell you when they are not feeling well. The most they can do is to hit their head against the wall or keep licking themselves etc.

Erm sorry I think most cats are not this big haha

This is where you can consider getting pet insurance.

Pet insurance is similar to hospital insurance for yourself. There are more and more pet owners who will get pet insurance for their furkid recently.

The cost of Pet Insurance starts from $300+ and can cover up to 50% of your vet bill.

I am an agent selling pet insurance, I can say that I am quite fortunate that I do not have much claim experience so far.

Hi there

Last year I had a claim where the poor girl had food poisoning and a visit to the vet set them back by $631.

Not sure about you but the bill kinda scares me…

Compared that to the premium of $350, doesn’t this feel like a bargain now?
For the interested parties, feel free to reach out to me as stated in this blog or visit my website: www.pettoshield.com.

See ya guys~

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What you need to know about vaccinating your furbaby

Credits

As a new dog or cat owner, the experience can sometimes be scary. How much do you feed them? How frequently do they need to be bathed? What kind of medical needs do they have? These are just some of the questions our pet owners at The Woof Agency have asked themselves when they first got their furbabies.

In order to clear some of your doubts, our team has put together a list of things you need to know when it comes to vaccinating your new puppy or kitten. This ranges from what the vaccines do, what the timeline is like, and what it protects your furkids against.

Are puppy vaccinations necessary?

As you’ve probably gathered, this vaccine is important because it protects your furkids from viruses that they may be susceptible to as a newborn. While it isn’t mandatory for owners to have their pups take the shots, vaccinating them gives you extra peace of mind when you bring them out for walks or an adventure.

How many vaccinations does my puppy/kitten need?

They need a total of 3 doses of the core vaccine, which will be administered 4 weeks apart.

The first dose should be given when they’re between 6-8 weeks old, second dose when they’re 10-12 weeks old, and the last one when they’re 14-16 weeks old. It’s important that you minimise your pets interactions with other animals during this period!

For those who are curious as to why there’s 3 doses, the reason is this: vaccines can wear off! 3 doses that are 4 weeks apart helps your furbabies build sufficient antibodies to stay protected.

What are the vaccinations for?

The core vaccine helps to stimulate the production of antibodies against deadly diseases in your furbabies. In doing so, it prevents them from contracting viruses such as;

DOGS
1 – Canine Parvovirus

What is it
Parvo causes infectious gastrointestinal (GI) illness in puppies and young dogs, and can potentially be fatal for those that aren’t vaccinated.

It spreads via direct contact with a dog that’s infected or through their feces. Dogs that are infected can start to shed the virus four to five days after being exposed, sometimes before they even show any signs of infection. For pups that are diagnosed with parvo, it’s important to quarantine your dog not just for their health, but for the health of other dogs too.

Symptoms & Next Steps
Here are some symptoms that you should take note of if you suspect your pup has Parvo:

1. Severe, bloody diarrhea
2. Lethargy
3. Anorexia
4. Fever
5. Vomiting
6. Weight loss
7. Weakness
8. Depression
9. Dehydration

If your pup experiences any of these, you should head to the vet immediately.

Information Credits

2 – Canine Distemper

What is it
Canine distemper is a highly contagious virus caused by the paramyxovirus. It’s caused by the paramyxovirus virus. Animals get infected from contact with infected urine, blood, saliva, or respiratory droplets. Of these, transmission usually happens through droplets. It can be spread through coughing and sneezing or contaminated food and water bowls. 

Symptoms & Next Steps

  1. Fever
  2. Nasal discharge
  3.  Eye discharge
  4.  Lethargy
  5. Sneezing
  6.  Coughing
  7. Difficulty breathing
  8. Vomiting
  9. Diarrhea
  10. Loss of appetite
  11. Thickening of nose and foot pads
  12. Pneumonia 
  13.  Skin sores
  14. Pain

Canine distemper can potentially also cause brain inflammation and neurological symptoms, and is often confused with rabies. Neurological symptoms of canine distemper include:

  1. Muscle twitching
  2. Chewing-gum fits
  3. Excessive saliva
  4. Head tilt
  5. Circling
  6. Involuntary eye movements
  7. Paralysis or partial paralysis
  8.  Seizures

If your dog displays any of these symptoms or you suspect that your dog has canine distemper, you should head to your vet immediately.

Information Credits

3 – Adenovirus (infectious Hepatitis)

What is it
Hepatitis is defined as inflammation of the liver. As a specific disease, infectious canine hepatitis (ICH) is a viral infection caused by a member of the adenovirus family.

In the mild form the dog may merely have a decreased appetite, appear depressed and have a mild fever. Some dogs develop opacity (cloudiness) of one or both corneas of their eyes (so-called blue eye) one to two weeks later. Dogs may have respiratory signs such as eye and nasal discharge and a cough that is indistinguishable from other forms of upper respiratory tract infections or kennel cough (see handout “Kennel Cough or Tracheobronchitisin Dogs”).

Symptoms & Next Steps

Mild Symptoms:
1. Decreased appetite
2. Appear depressed
3. Mild fever
4. In some cases, cloudiness forms in one or both corneas of their eyes (“Blue Eyes”) 1-2 weeks later
5. Eye and nasal discharge
6. Kennel cough

Severe Symptoms:
1. Abdominal pain
2. Vomiting
3. Diarrhea
4. Edema (fluid swelling under the skin) of the head and neck
5. Jaundice

If your pup exhibits any of these symptoms above, it’s important that you bring your dog to the vet immediately as the severe symptoms can be fatal.

Information Credits

CATS
1 – Herpesvirus-1

What is it
Herpesvirus-1 is a highly contagious disease that unvaccinated cats are susceptible to.

Symptoms & Next Steps:
1. Pink eye
2. Eye discharge
3. Fever
4. Exhaustion

If detected, it’s important to bring your cat to the vet immediately.

2 – Pavrovirus

What is it
Pavrovirus for cats is also a highly contagious virus, and is also a viral virus. It is able to infect rapidly dividing cells such as bone marrow cells.

Symptoms & Next Steps:
1. Vomiting
2. Diarrhea
3. Depression

It’s important to bring your cat to the vet immediately if you suspect that they’ve contracted this disease.

3 – Calicivirus

What is it
Calicivirus is a highly contagious virus amongst cats, and is able to cause respiratory and oral diseases in them.

Symptoms & Next Steps:
1. Ulcers on tongue
2. Inflammation of tongue

It’s important to bring your cat to the vet immediately if you suspect that they’ve contracted this disease.

Summary

While it’s not a must, vaccinating your furbabies is a highly recommended practice to engage in when you first get your pet. It keeps them protected against common diseases, and gives you peace of mind when bringing them out to interact with both humans and animals alike.

If you think there are other steps that pet owners can take to keep their furbabies safe, let us know in the comments below!

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What we thought was just a simple cough/cold

Symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
*We are no expert, just sharing our journey*

Cough can mean a lot of things; kennel cough, lung problems, heartworm, etc. Can’t be sure what the root cause is unless seeking help from professionals. 

Symptoms

Dusty started with what doesn’t sound like a cough in 2020 mid-December. It sounded like he was trying to exhale out deep from his lung with like a mini bark (sort of like sighing and barking). He only does that when he wanted to bark/is agitated/excited. So we thought it was him trying to express his emotions but in a different way?? 

After ~3weeks, the cough got more frequent and slowly started sounding like hacking coughs. Within ~2 weeks, it got worst and after cough, it always ends with him retching. 

That’s when we felt that something wasn’t right. 

Diagnosis

Went for a vet visit, did X-ray, and found that his lungs were cloudy. No heart murmur was heard, heart looks normal, just 2 fade white spots that can’t conclude or tell what exactly it was. We were given doxycycline and theophylline to help open his airway. But sadly he still cough and 2weeks later a follow-up was done and showed no improvements, which meant that it wasn’t pneumonia/bronchitis. 

A new medication was given, furosemide (water drawing med), which helps to release water in his body and he sure did pee a lot! Good news! It helps to reduce his cough but that also means that it might be the heart that has been causing the build-up of fluid. An echo was then suggested to check on his heart.

Indeed, after the echo, Dr came up with some conclusion:
Stage C CCVHD
Suspected DCM 
No pulmonary hypertension 

Treatment 

He will be on lifetime medication, pimobendan to be taken daily as well as furosemide when the cough gets worse. Medication will be adjusted on how well his body is reacting to it as we monitor his progression and with follow-up echos (1month from the 1st and following once every 3-6 months).

Currently, we are also adding in grain inclusive kibble in his meals to help counter the suspected DCM, which could be diet-associated that has been causing the weakening of the heart muscles. Eventually with careful diet, exercise and medication we hope to help him live more happily and comfortably.

What to take note/I realized or notice 

We have to pay more attention to his breathing rate when he’s at rest to make sure his heart isn’t overworking (If it is, probably need to adjust med), Coughing frequency (if it got worst or not), he might lose appetite just have to take note of that too, making sure to not overload him with too much walk.

After the diagnosis then I became more attentive to what are the little things that changed. Thinking of it I realized, in the past sometimes he would suddenly stand up from his nap/from resting and started panting. But when he goes back to sleep/lies down he stops panting. 

Now that he eats treats/chew that requires more work to bite he would pant afterward. 

Would appreciate it if you could share with us any similar experience you have and what we can do to help make a dog with heart disease live more comfortably. THANK YOU! 🙂

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As I go gray, I want my hooman to know…

I opened my doggo eyes to the warm sunlight and I think of my younger days where I would bounce up and run out to play. Somewhere in my 13 years of life, things changed.

It was not because I have become less playful, neither was it because the toys weren’t fun anymore. It’s simply because I couldn’t gather the energy to move like I used to. And that’s okay because it’s natural, right? Every doggo ages eventually.

As I go gray, I want my hooman to know that…

Age spots are a part of my aging journey.

You may have noticed that when you bathed me with your tender hands, my skin has more dark spots than when I was a pupper. I know you are concerned about why my looks started changing but I guess, it’s just a fact we both had to accept. Much like how grandma and granddad get their spots when they age.

My fur will turn lighter like how your hair will turn gray.

As you stroke my fur and look through my pupper photos, you gasped as you see how much my colour changed. It might seem like a little bit of colour gets washed off with every bath, which would be funny. However, it’s just that my body stops using energy to make colours for my coat so that I can have more energy to play with you.

English Cocker Spaniel Puppy Sitting On Ground Beside Grass

I wish I can walk a little further.

Nothing is better than some walkies with my favourite hooman, especially the reeeeaaalllly long ones. But my tiny little legs hurt inside with every step after some time, probably because of arthritis, weaker bones or simply fatigue. I can’t tell you when I am in pain, so all I can do is to stop a little while when it hurts. If you caught me limping, that’s because I was trying to keep up with you. Every day, I try to move a little further than yesterday.

My eyes that may have turned hazy, still see clearly.

When I see your worried look as you look me in the eyes, I knew my eyes did not seem as bright as they were. I know you are worried that I might be going blind. But, dear hooman, please don’t worry too much about it. My hazy eyes can still see you clearly and I am grateful for that. Nuclear sclerosis is the reason why my eyes are slightly blueish now. However, it is different from cataracts. I wish to see your happy face more while I still can, please do not worry as I can still see very well.

Pawn Pug Sitting on Beige Floor

Wrinkles are my evidence of memories with you.

With every walkies, zoomies and time spent panting living with you, my skin leaves precious folds to remember the good times we had. The first area you might notice where I have wrinkles would be my neck. The skin gets slightly loose and saggy. While it changes how I look externally, these marks on my body are beautiful souvenirs from the good times we have so I love every fold on my skin. I hope you love them too.

I am grateful to you, my dearest hooman.

In a blink of an eye, thirteen years have passed. While I don’t know how much time we have left to spend together, I just want to say thank you for giving me a good life. I know you sometimes blame yourself for not doing better but I wish you can find comfort to know that I enjoyed and appreciate everything you have done for me. I hoped I have been a good girl that doesn’t cause you any trouble and I will continue to strive to do so.

Lastly, I know you might already be thinking of my departure one day. Even though it is painful to separate, I wish you can be with me until my very last breath. And I hope that that is not too much to ask for in exchange for all the good memories we had created together.

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Oolong ate a lizard and got sick

Oolong is usually a pretty active and playful dog. But when we went home last Thursday, he was extremely lethargic; he welcomed us with a lick at the door and went back to his room to sleep. Oolong was sick. I could see in how he dragged his paws across the floor, how heavy his step was from one side of the room to the other. I went in and spoke to him, and he barely raised his head. He usually licks my hand when I stroke him but this time he wasn’t up for it. At this point, alarm bells were going off in my head.

Vomitted at 1am
The moment our worry for his illness went to the next level is when he vomitted his food out at 1am.


As worried pawrents, we took him to a vet hospital immediately. We booked a cab and went straight to a 24-hour animal hospital

First Diagnosis
At the hospital they did some checks, checking whether there was any indication of a serious food poisoning. They squeezed his stomach area too to check for any discomfort to check for gastric blockage, and Oolong had a slight fever going. But the vet couldn’t pinpoint what was exactly the issue, so he recommended us to do an x-ray and blood test.
FYI, doing a consultation, blood test & X-ray in a pet hospital at midnight is much more expensive than a normal vet. At a day neighbourhood vet, a blood test costs around $280 for a comprehensive one, x-ray around $120 and consultation around $50 ($450 total). The 24-hour pet hospital quoted $300 each for the blood test and x-ray and $160 for the consultation ($760). Be prepared to pay 2x more for a midnight vet trip vs a normal one.

As it was already 3am after the consultation, we figured to wait until the next day to bring Oolong to our neighbourhood vet to save some $$. The vet gave oolong an IV jab under his skin to keep him hydrated, along with 2 medicine jabs to prevent nausea and lower the fever.
First bill was $280++

Surpise Lizard time + Teething
The next morning, we found a dead lizard head next to his body. This stupid boy must’ve eaten the lizard sometime yesterday which is now causing a stomach upset. We also realised that his gums were bleeding from his teething issues, so these 2 double whammy must’ve affected his appetite and condition quite abit.

2nd Vet visit
As Oolong still was not feeling well, we went over to our neighbourhood vet to do a 2nd round of checks again, just to be on the safe side.
Same procedure; the vet pressed the stomach to feel for any discomfort or blockage, and checked the temperature. His temperature was down at least which was a good sign, and he is a little more active.
The vet suggested that the lizard might be the cause of his illness; dogs get food poisoning too! But it affects every dog differently, some dogs vomits, some dogs get dirrehea, and some get both. She gave us some probiotics and antibiotics to help, and told us to monitor his for the next few days. Some good signs to look out for is pooping (meaning he has no gastric blockage) and higher activity level.
2nd bill was $110+.

Aftermath
Based on some online information and vet recommendation, we decided to feed a diet of soft food for him to aid his digestion. This consisted of boiled chicken and milk.
Luckily for us Oolong condition did improve, he became more active and has been eating better, hopefully this episode will teach him not to eat lizards again!

Conclusions
After the whole debacle and stress, we came out of the whole experience feeling much better as Oolong was recovering. But there were a few key takeaways that we have to abide by:

1) Unless its an emergency, do your checkups at day day vets instead of 24-hour hospitals
This needs some judgement as if your dog is really sick or is poisoned, time is of the essence. But unless absolutely necessary, it’s best to wait until daytime to see the vet as the costs is usually much cheaper.

2) Buy pet insurance (#notsponsored)
This is really important as if there happens to be a gastric blockage and there is a need for an operation, the cost of it would easily run upwards of $7k. If Oolong did need an operation then, it would be emotional and financial stress at the same time. At least with insurance, I can be rid of much of the financial stress.

3) Have one logical person in the discussion
Having a pet being sick is a huge emotional stress, but it’s very important to have a logical person in the situation to steer clear of emotional decisions and overthinking. In the whole situation i was the emotional one, while my partner was helping me to look at the logical signs of recovery and next steps, which really helped calm my mental nerves quite abit

I hope this article helps anyone who faces a similar situation to me! Do ping me if you need any advice!

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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!

Categories
Community Stories

From Ireland to Singapore: Meet Bailey

How I came about:

My big sister had been asking for a dog since furever , but mama was never convinced enough to get one for her, as she doubted if my big sister truly understood the amount of responsibilities and commitment of having one.

It was on the 31st May 2019, when papa and mama spotted a post listed by a pet store featuring the LAST goldendoodle from Ireland available for deposit. It was the innocent, puppy eyes and wavy fluffy golden fur that caught their eyes.

It was on the next morning, where my mama suddenly asked:

“So how? Did you ask about the puppy?”

At that point in time, papa and mama had agreed that my big sister was old enough to care for a dog, and it was probably time to let big sister learn to be more responsible.

My big sister had researched A TON and watched vlogs and tips on Youtube about goldendoodles, until she was finally convinced that they were well-prepared and it was all going to be okay when they finally receive me. It was all so surreal, the fact that she was finally going to become a dog owner!

And that was how my journey with my hooman slaves started!

About me:

The pet store had told my hoomans that I would be estimated 14kg because I am a F2 goldendoodle, and I would definitely be smaller than a goldie. They also said I was hypoallergenic and would not drool.

Currently, I weigh 30kg, and am bigger than many other goldies! I drool like crazy and I shed like it’s snowing at home everyday. Until today, my hoomans look back and think: how on earth did an estimated 14kg dog grow up to 30kg? It is more than double the estimated weight!

The first time meeting my hoomans:

Me in big sister’s arms.

When I first arrived in Singapore, I was already big enough for my hooman to cradle in her arms. my hoomans were shocked at how big I grew within the span of a few months!

When I was roaming freely in the pet store together with my other siblings, my hoomans could tell that my siblings and I have very different fur textures varying from straight to wavy even though we were all siblings.

I was reserved when I first met my hoomans, I crawled under a table, away from the rest and did not interact much. They guessed I was probably having a jet-lag.

My first night home:

This was me when i first got home, sleeping soundly.

During my first night home, my hoomans fed me apples and they realised that I love apples! My papa had to sleep on the couch beside my crate that night because I had separation anxiety, and would whine everytime my hoomans were not within my sight. Even though my hoomans thought that I was so attention seeking , they could not help thinking how cute it was for me to whine for them to stay with me.

I vividly remember, during the first few nights, my hoomans had to wake up to clean my poo as I would start whining loudly whenever I soiled myself. My papa even had to wash my bed (which was full of shit) at 3am.

It was only after a month or so, that I developed a condition called: Giardia. Giardia is a microscopic parasite that causes the diarrheal illness known as Giardiasis. I had non-stop diarrhea for days, and my hoomans brought me to the vet.

The vet accessed me, and asked my hoomans where they got me from. When they said I was from a pet farm in ireland, the vet concluded that I had probably picked up the parasite from the breeder, since it’s a farm. The vet then said that Giardia can be passed from dogs to humans, so my hoomans had to wash their hands everytime they clean after me and whenever I lick them. The vet also told my hoomans that I will definitely be above 14kg by looking at the size of my paws.

I was also diagnosed with kennel cough and had various hot spots on my belly area. Let’s be honest: being a first time pet owner, this was probably the worst nightmare. This was not the type of experience someone would want as a first time dog owner, seeing your dog become sick only a month after bringing it home, having multiple diarrhea episodes every few hours and having to stay up all night to clean.

My hoomans stocked up on pee pads. However, I was not pee pad trained yet so I did not know how to pee or poo on the pee pads. Papa got me some diapers but it was a diaper buying gone-wrong experience since he got a size too small and it could not ‘hold’ the poop because of the design of the diaper, which had a hole at the tail, which allowed my poo to come out. My hoomans had to staple the diaper hole, which unfortunately did not work.

With all these happening at once, my hoomans suddenly felt that despite all the research they have done and tips they were given, everything was so hectic and a huge mess even though it had been a month or so since they got me.

It felt like they were not capable of raising a dog at all.

To make matters worse, my papa had to go for an overseas business trip and it was just me, my mama and my 2 sisters at home when I had Giardia, kennel cough and hot spots all at once. There was no doubt my mama was going crazy cleaning my shit day and night, with my sisters having to go to school during the day. My hoomans were at a loss and really were at the brink of giving me to someone who would be able to look after me better.

Thank god, they held on, and here I am today!

My hoomans do look back and think about what a journey I went through. Yes, I had a rough start, having to go through all these ordeals. But my hoomans are certainly glad it is over now, and that I am now growing healthily and well.

Nevertheless, my hoomans love me very much, and there is absolutely no doubt that I am actually one of the biggest blessings that happened to them. Even though my mama never liked dogs, I am now her favourite as she baby-talks to me and is pretty much obsessed with me. Big sister also kept her promise to look after me and care for me.

Even though I am big in size, I am actually a gentle giant at heart.

Bailey wearing a tank top

Throughout this whole journey, my hoomans had learnt that it is important to have more patience with our fur friends and it does take time for our little fur friends to settle down. Looking back, my hoomans do regret one thing: not carrying me when I was smaller and alot lighter. Given my current weight, only papa can carry me.

It is indeed part and parcel of the process to go through rough patches throughout the puppy stages. To all new dog owners out there experiencing a similar experience: It will all be over soon! Fighting!

Categories
Community Stories

Feline Urinary Tract Infection

Personal experience

I am a worrier. So when my furbaby falls sick, I will feel as if I am ill too. I believe pet owners are generally very sensitive when your furbaby is acting out of the ordinary, or feeling unwell.

As for Simba, his first sign was peeing on the couch.
Simba is 100% litter trained, and when he does things like peeing outside of his litter box, it’s usually his way of telling me that he is not feeling well, and that I better do something about it.

Subsequently, I noticed that Simba started going to the litter box very frequently – like almost once every 10 minutes, and each time he only pees a very small amount. What was more worrying was, Simba’s urine appears orange / red, which looked like there was blood in his pee. I collected the sample of his urine and immediately took him to the vet. His urine test showed that he has a urinary tract infection.

This was the urine test results. Let me share a little on what the vet explained to me.

The first red flag is the colour of his urine – which is red. This is abnormal as the normally the colour should be either yellow or orange. Red means there is blood present.

Secondly, the PRO level (which is the amount of protein present in his urine) is 3+, max being 4. By right, there actually shouldn’t be any protein in cat’s urine, so this is not a good sign either.

Thirdly, the BLD level (which is the amount of blood detected) is 4+, which is the max it can go. So since the colour if the urine is already RED, naturally the amount of blood present would be quite high.

Last red flag would the amount of LUKOCYTES, which is the amount of white blood cell present. When there is an infection going on, there is going to be white blood cells present to try to fight off the infection. So 3 out of 4 is again a very high indicator.
Well, the good news is that his pH level is still fairly normal. I think if it goes up to 7 or 8 (more alkaline) then it would be a cause of concern as well.

Simba’s course of treatment would be anti-inflammatory and antibiotics injections + some oral medication. He took about 5 days to fully recover after treatment, and I will be bringing him to a review visit to the vet in two weeks to make sure that everything is back to normal.

In terms of medical bills, it cost about $250 in total, including consultation, injection and oral medication. This is the price range for Mount Pleasant vet.

So, all that being said, let’s look deeper into some facts about Feline UTI

Who are more at risk?

Feline UTI are generally more common in a multi-cat household, and it affects older cats more than kittens, and more in females than males.

The reason it affects females more is due to the anatomy of their urinary tract. Male cats have narrower urethra than female cats. When UTI occurs, the bacteria can cause a change in your cat’s urine pH, which will then lead to the formation of crystals in their urine. If those crystals become lodged in the narrow urethra of a male cat, it can cause a urinary blockage, which can result in serious consequences.

Signs and symptoms

So what are the things we need to look out for?

  • Visiting the litter box very frequently (i.e. more than usual)
  • Prolonged squatting in litter box
  • Inability to urinate or only passing a small amount of urine
  • Blood in the urine
  • Attempting to urinate in other parts of the house
  • Drinking more water than usual
  • Not eating as much as usual

The signs are usually quite clear and easy to identify, Simba checked quite a few of the boxes above.

What to do if you suspect your furbaby has Feline UTI?

If you notice any of the symptoms above, call your vet to book an appointment as soon as possible. In the meantime, try to collect a urine sample at home in a sterile container and bring it to the vet with you. It would be advised for the urine sample to be collected within 2 hours of the vet visit.

If the problem remains untreated, it can lead to serious problems such as kidney failure and/or bladder rupture. So it shouldn’t be ignored!!

What now?

Simba is fully recovered, and back to his normal routine (no more peeing on the bed or couch yay!)

Hope this article give you a better idea of what feline UTI is, and what are the things you should be looking out for if you suspect your furbaby may be unwell :/