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 irritationson his injured leg due to it being wrapped up for a long period of time.
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! ♡
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 youOoh, 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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Watch out for monkeys with babies. These tend to be REALLY aggressive as they are protective of their babies
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.
Keep your dog on a short leash, do not let them approach. Mako is so friendly, he has a tendency to walk TOWARDS monkeys.
Keep distance as much as possible
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.
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!
My husband and I were at a church conference last January 2020, and just coming out of a church conference, you would never think a tragedy would take place.
But that’s exactly what happened.
A few hours after the conference ended, at around 2am, I received a call from Singapore that my dog, Chandler, who is a small 2 1/2-year-old Maltipoo, was bitten by a 25kg large dog and was in critical condition.
Now, for you to fully comprehend how dreadful it was for me to hear this, you need to understand how much Chandler means to me. He’s pretty much like a son to me.
I was just refreshed and renewed getting out of conference and this happened. My natural reflex reaction was that my world came crashing down.
At that moment, my husband had to snap be back to my senses as my emotions were taking over me. It took a while to do so and to even get myself to speak out and not come into agreement with the current situation.
I vaguely remember the exact words I said, but I remember declaring victory over the situation and that this will be a miraculous testimony. Saying these words were not the easiest considering circumstances were against us in the natural, but I held on to what Jesus said when the centurion approached Him. Let it be done as you believed it would.
I believed the healing has already taken place.
I believed his health and body will be restored brand new.
I believed we are fighting from victory grounds against this attack by the enemy.
I believed the enemy intended to harm me, but God will use it for the good.
I believed this will be an amazing testimony to His goodness.
I believed many will witness this healing miracle and that many will believe.
DAY 0: CHANDLER IN CRITICAL CONDITION | SURGERY DAY
My husband and I immediately packed and made our way to the airport to fly back to Singapore as soon as we could.
While in transit, I was sending voice messages and prayers of healing for them to play for Chandler.
When I finally saw him, I broke down seeing how he was. We were told he has multiple bites, is losing blood, has 3 broken ribs, muscles torn and lost, a broken shoulder, damaged eye, fractured spine, and possibly punctured lungs.
They would only be able to see the extent of the internal injuries when they open him up and undergo surgery to do repairs.
At that point, I felt I was faced with an impossible situation and had to make conscious efforts from time to time to not fear and to just remind myself that Jesus has already won the victory for me. I was stirring my faith, but in the natural, the head surgeon, Dr. Nick of Advanced Vetcare, was managing our expectations by telling us that though other patients made it through surgery, they didn’t make it through recovery. Most usually don’t make it through the first 24 hours, he said. Hence, he would be more at peace when he sees Chandler make it through 2-3 days after surgery.
In my head, I was declaring God will come through.
“You will see,” I told him.
Chandler before surgery
They performed the surgery and it was successful. All we could do is pray and see how he would recover.
DAY 1: INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
We couldn’t stay long when we visit him ’cause he had to stay inside the cage and can’t be moved, but for the brief time we would see him, we could see he was pleased to see us.
He had a catheter, tubes sticking out of him to drain out the fluids inside, a warmer to regulate his temperature, and an oxygen support to help him breathe. He didn’t have the appetite to eat on his own so they had to syringe feed him. The good news is he wasn’t rejecting the food and was swallowing it.
It pained me to see him so broken, but I was grateful with every good news the doctors and nurses told me.
Making it through the first 24 hours was a blessing in itself.
DAY 2: MAKING PROGRESS
His vitals are all normal and they told us he didn’t need a warmer and the oxygen support anymore. He was also way more energetic than the day before.
He was starting to lift his head up on his own and we were told he would even attempt to bite the doctors and nurses when they would take his vitals and dress his wounds. Now, this is usually a bad habit for a dog, but with the situation he is in, this was a really good sign.
DAY 3: OUT OF THE WOODS!
It was the first time they allowed him to be out of the cage and to be brought out into the visiting rooms. This was a really promising sign.
And it really was good because on day 3, Chandler was declared out of the woods! He is no longer in danger and no longer in a life-threatening situation. The head surgeon said he beat the odds and is such an amazing and strong little fighter.
He’s able to voluntarily eat for the first time too! This is essential because with more food intake, his protein level will normalise and will help him recover faster.
DAY 4: TUBE-FREE
The tubes on his chest were taken out already and X-ray showed no leakage of fluids! He was also way more energetic and is starting to bark and be hyper.
He’s able to eat more when we feed him and he’s now able to sit up and stand up with support too!
DAY 5: MORE MOVEMENTS!
We were told his spine might have been affected, hence his hind legs still being so weak. This was the day we first saw massive improvement with the movement of his legs.
Showing good recovery signs
DAY 6: BACK ON HIS FEET!
All test results are normal, he is also now able to stand on his own.
Getting stronger
DAYS 7-9: WARP-SPEED RECOVERY
The doctors are so pleased with his progress every single day.
His catheter was removed, his appetite was getting better, and his energy was going back to normal.
Not too happy to have a selfieEating on his own
DAY 10: HOME SWEET HOME
Since he was brought to the hospital, I would visit him every single day and just spend time with him. Though he wasn’t exactly his normal self, I knew me being there contributed a lot to his recovery. More importantly, I was able to lay hands on him and pray for him.
On the 10th day, his doctor finally declared he’s fit to go home. Given the severity of his injuries and condition, being discharged on the 10th day was beating the odds.
One thing to watch out for though was since the CT scan detected a slight fracture on his spine, we needed to monitor movement on his two hind legs. He was well enough to continue recovering at home without doctors attending to him 24/7, but he still couldn’t stand up on his own, so I was told he needed to do home physiotherapy.
Excited to go home!
He was also asked to come back to do physiotherapy every 2 days and acupuncture every week to help him recover.
When we got home, he immediately lit up. He was as happy and relieved as I was.
To be honest, seeing him at home was seeing the impossible happen right before my eyes, and it wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for God’s promise coming to pass.
New living room set up with pillows and yoga mats so he wouldn’t slip
He had to have the strength to sit and stand up on his own.
He had to relearn how to walk.
And I needed to be there guiding and assisting him in peeing, pooping, and making sure he won’t injure himself.
The whole process was made even less painful with everyone’s love and support!
You can see how happy he is with all these!
His physiotherapy sessions were helping him get better sooner.
And I could see the progress every single day, not just with how well he could balance and walk, but also with his strength and energy. He seems happier!
BACK TO SCHOOL
Just 1 month after his major surgery, he was already able to go back to school. His playtime with other doggos had to be strictly supervised since his ribs are still healing and his hind legs are still not 100% recovered. Nonetheless, him being there motivated him all the more to practice his walk. And again, he’s so happy!
Not long after that, all his wounds and stitches are fully healed and his walk is almost back to normal!
CHANDLER’S BIRTHDAY / RECOVERY PARTY
Experiencing this breakthrough is definitely something to celebrate. It’s also timely that it’s his 3rd birthday!
He celebrated at his school Doggie Retreat with his furiends who dressed up for the occasion.
He was so happy and even brought home a bunch of presents!
It was the best way to celebrate, indeed. I couldn’t thank everyone enough who contributed to make this happen.
GOD CAME THROUGH
Chandler’s accident was one of the most painful journey I’ve had to go through, but God never fell short of reassuring me every single day that He’s right beside me through it all. Because of that, He gave me clarity of the good things that came out of this.
So many people prayed and held on to God.
They witnessed an amazing miracle.
MANY BELIEVED IN HIM.
As painful as it was, because of all of those, I’m actually thankful it happened. It was an honor to be able to be a part of a testimony to God’s glory and goodness!
Yet again, it just goes to show, no matter how big and impossible the situation is, God is and will always be bigger.
CHANDLER TODAY
Fast forward today, Chandler is all better and back to normal!
It was a tough experience and I wouldn’t wish it to happen to any pawrent out there, but I’m just happy to see Chandler back to his rascal, happy, playful self and I couldn’t be more relieved.
I would like to take this opportunity to specially thank the following:
My husband for standing by me through this.
Dr. Nick and the whole team of Advanced VetCarefor a successful surgery and for making sure Chandler got the best treatment.
Doggie Retreat team (Esther, James, Kio, Lyn, Grace, Clifford, Ames, Jaren, Jeffrey, Joshua, Nicholas, Shan, and Yasmine) for the prayers, the love, the care, and the support from day 1 to date.
And of course, JESUS for winning the battle for us.
In early July 2020, our family was met with some unexpected news. Our dog Hana was not only diagnosed with patellar luxation in her hind legs, but also hip dysplasia, at the tender age of 9 months. It was a double whammy for us. Between January to June, we had already made multiple trips to the vet to treat a variety of ongoing issues. But what made the situation even worse was the fact that Hana had already been displaying early symptoms of both conditions—right under our noses.
X-rays displaying Hip dysplasia(left) and Patellar luxation(right) respectively.
She had been quietly enduring the pain in her hips and joints, while we unknowingly brushed it off as a simple sprain that will naturally disappear and heal in no time. During the car ride home from the vet that day, many thoughts and unanswered questions went racing through my head. How did things come to this? Are we at fault for causing her to suffer so greatly? Will invasive surgery be a better or worse option?
Photo of Hana taken the day before her diagnosis. We went for a walk at Bukit Batok Nature Park.
The next few days went by in a blur. Each time I woke up in the morning, the only thought nagging inside my mind was Hana’s diagnosis. I read up many articles regarding HD and PL, sought for advice from people on Instagram, and also joined a specialized chat group hoping to gain more knowledge from other experienced owners. Fast-forward to present day, I’ve decided to compile my first-hand experience+what I’ve learnt, into this blog post, in the hopes of sharing what preventive measures you can start taking, as well as how to care for your dog—the natural way, if he or she has any hip or joint issues.
Now that I’ve shared with you some background information, I’ll be splitting the rest of this article into 2 main sections: Pre-diagnosis and Post-diagnosis.
The Pre-diagnosis aims to share what are some red flags to keep an eye out for to prevent yourself from getting a dog who is likely to suffer hip or joint conditions AND if you suspect that your dog is suffering from these conditions. This section is especially important for potential first-time owners who are planning to welcome a new puppy into their household/already own a puppy.
The Post-diagnosis aims to share our experience at RehabVet, some lifestyle changes we have made for Hana to address her needs, as well as several natural remedies that can prevent/ maintain hip and joint conditions in dogs.
Pre-diagnosis
Where you get your puppy from matters. I cannot stress this further enough. Did you know that majority of the adorable puppies sold in local pet shops are sourced from unethical puppy mills and unregistered breeders—whose sole purpose is to produce puppies for profit? Temperament, health and breed standards are rarely taken into consideration. One of the main woes of owners today is the fact that many puppies are very sickly and can suffer from several health issues, even before the age of 1.
If you are reading this post as a potential new owner, I highly recommend and suggest getting your puppy from a trusted and registered breeder overseas. These breeders show love and care to their dogs as they sincerely want to ensure that the dogs are being bred to be best in temperament, health and standard. Sure, the price you pay+amount of paperwork done for an imported breed will definitely be much higher than a local one, but then again, Affordable and Cheap ≠ Healthy dog. More than oftentimes, you’ll end up paying the price of unethical breeding through mountains of medical bills—just like we did.
This article: tinyurl.com/ImportJS written by @i.am.fuji_haku (IG) gives a very detailed and in-depth insight on importing a puppy into Singapore. A must read for anyone who plans to get a puppy, be it imported or local.
Red flag #1: We purchased Hana from a disreputable pet shop. Lets call it TC. When we asked them to show us images of her parents, the staff declined our request. They were also unable to produce health certificates to justify that her parents were hip-scored and tested to be free from hip dysplasia. This goes to show the poor level of transparency most pet shops have here.
Red flag #2: Hana’s health certificate as provided by TC after a vet check-up, did not display her knee grade for both knees e.g. Grade 1,2,3 etc. Strangely, it was left blank but we proceeded with making the purchase thinking that was just a harmless mistake.
Red Flag #3: When we met Hana for the first time, the staff did not allow her to walk on the floor. We were only allowed to carry her on our laps. Why not walk on the floor? They said that the puppies will then be easily susceptible to bacteria and germs. Looking back now, I believe that they did so in order to prevent unsuspecting owners from noticing any hobbling/limping in any puppies’ legs.
Never turn a blind eye on possible symptoms. We learnt it the hard way when Hana started limping and “bunny-hopping” in her left hind leg at the start of May. When that ceased to subside over a few days, we decided to call up the vet and book an appointment. However, since this was during the circuit breaker period and priority for vet visits was given to severe cases, the vet told us to send in videos first, and assess whether the limping was severe enough to require a physical diagnosis. Based on the videos sent, the vet told us not to worry as it was just a minor sprain that will eventually heal on its own. Our initial worries faded away…but even that was just temporary.
Red flag #4: Hana started limping occasionally in her left hind leg during her daily walks and at home. She also developed the habit of shifting both hind legs to the left side when sitting down.
Limping is visibly seen in her left hind leg when walking. This was taken after her first session of rehabilitation + consultation.
This particular sitting style may seem endearing to some, but in fact signals that there is pain in one hind leg(in this case, the left side). This caused Hana to shift all her weight onto her other right hind leg instead.
Red flag #5: At the end of June, we brought Hana for her first full grooming session at a groomers’ place near our home. The entire duration of the session? 5 hours. The groomer told us that Hana constantly kicked her legs up, and refused to stand for long periods of time. Instead, she chose to lie down on the groomer’s table and so the grooming process took way longer than it should. We suspect that she had low pain tolerance in her joints and thus was unable to stand up for long periods of time during the grooming session.
Red flag #6: Since young, Hana has a bad habit of tugging at the leash in an attempt to walk/run ahead of us during walks. This often results in her pulling against the leash and leaning sideways when we make her walk beside us, thus straining her hind legs immensely.
After seeking advice, we were told that harnesses encourage dogs to pull more frequently, and so we switched to using both collars and harnesses. If you are concerned over collar tension, you can use a martingale collar instead. They are known to be effective training collars that can reduce pulling and tugging, whilst remaining loosely fitted unless pulled.
Example of a martingale collar, sold by local brand The Sleek Hound.
Post-diagnosis
Over the next few days, I sought for help and advice from fellow owners via Instagram. These owners also had dogs diagnosed with either hip dysplasia or patellar luxation. I had a relatively long and informative conversation with one of them. Coincidentally, her dog also came from the same pet shop as Hana did, and was suffering from severe hip dysplasia. Eventually, she sent her dog for a surgical procedure as its hips were already dislocated. Another owner whose dog suffered from grade 3 patellar luxation in both hind legs also sought for surgery. On the contrary, we currently send Hana for weekly rehabilitation at RehabVet to maintain both hip and joint conditions from further deterioration.
With many owners opting for surgical procedures, you may be wondering—why didn’t we choose surgery as well? At first glance, surgery seems like a viable solution. For patellar luxation, surgical correction is often recommended for dogs with grades 2, 3 and 4. It aims to keep the patellar in place at all times. In severe cases of canine hip dysplasia, surgery is also recommended as the best possible treatment. Surgery costs for both joint and hip procedures differs according to the type of surgical procedure you think is best for your dog.
Shortly after speaking to our Mt Pleasant vet regarding surgery options, we sought for a second opinion at RehabVet (https://rehabvet.com/), which specialises in rehabilitation, physiotherapy and hydrotherapy. Our consultation session lasted one full hour and cost us SGD$180. During the session, a series of tests were conducted to deduce the severity of Hana’s hip and joint conditions. The rehabilitation therapist Janny Chen concluded that Hana had overworked her tricep muscles, shifted majority of her weight onto 3 limbs and had more muscular front legs as compared to other growing puppies. It was also evident that Hana was in a lot of pain, as she screamed and whined loudly throughout the session.
Towards the end, our therapist laid out 2 different options: we could either send Hana in for surgery to treat both hips and joints (that makes 2 surgical procedures), or seek rehabilitation treatment to naturally manage and maintain the pain. The reasons why we decided on rehabilitation treatment are listed below:
My family and I felt uncomfortable over the thought of Hana undergoing an invasive surgery, let alone two different procedures.
Post-surgery complications may arise and can lead to even more detrimental effects on Hana.
Even after a successful surgery, rehabilitation is still required for her to regain strength and balance in her affected hips and joints.
The people at RehabVet were very understanding towards our concerns and told us that many of their patients (especially puppies) opted for rehabilitation instead, and are thriving well with a change in lifestyle.
We were told that puppies diagnosed with hip/joint conditions are better able to “bounce back” to their regular selves by simply undergoing rehabilitation.
We wanted Hana to live a more comfortable life, in the most natural, non-invasive way possible. Prior to this, she was constantly on medications and antibiotics to treat a multitude of issues that cropped up over the first few months of her life.
After confirming our decision for Hana to start rehabilitation, we then signed up for a package of 10 sessions (rehabilitation+physiotherapy), costing SGD$1300 (for small breed). Package prices differs depending on the breed’s size. If keen, you may wish to visit https://rehabvet.com/ for more information on their various services.
It is also important to note that every dog’s rehabilitation/physiotherapy journey differs on a case-by-case basis. While some dogs are able to start hydrotherapy (swimming) almost immediately, the team at RehabVet advised us to start slow and work on strengthening her weak joints before starting hydrotherapy. Thus, our first few sessions were mainly focused on building up muscle strength in her joints+alleviating pain in the hips and back.
Pyramid chart from RehabVet’s website explains how they carry out their services for each individual pet.
Our rehab sessions took place once per week on Wednesday afternoons. From Week 1-5, Hana underwent laser therapy and stretching exercises (rehabilitation) to soothe her sore muscles and ease the pain felt in her joints, hips and back.
Happy Hana in the midst of her weekly laser therapy.
From Week 6-9, Hana underwent both laser therapy and physiotherapy in the form of hydrotherapy (swimming). The hydrotherapy sessions were conducted in a mildly heated pool, under the supervision of a hydrotherapist. Owners are welcome to step into the pool as well.
Hana’s first hydrotherapy session on Week 6! She was trembling slightly at first but managed to swim across from one end of the pool to the other under the watchful eye of her hydrotherapist.
Since starting on her rehab journey 10 weeks ago, it is evident that improvements have been made in Hana’s hip and joints! The limping/bunny-hopping has slowly but gradually ceased in her left hind leg, and her back+tricep muscles are less sore than before.
As I’m writing this article, Hana has yet to attend her 10th and final session of the package, but will be visiting again next week. From what I know, the last session will still see her undergoing rehab and hydrotherapy. Additionally, the same series of tests conducted during the first consultation will be done again, to record and compare any significant areas of improvement being made after time spent on rehabilitation. After that, it is up to the owners to decide on whether to continue on a next package of 10 sessions or take a break from rehab etc. (For us, we will likely continue with another set of 10 sessions.)
After sharing my experience with RehabVet, I’ll now be moving on to several changes we’ve implemented into Hana’s daily lifestyle:
#1Stretch, stretch, stretch!: Shortly after starting rehab, we were advised to carry out stretching exercises for Hana’s joints, twice a day on a daily basis. This was done so right after she woke up in the morning and before she goes to sleep at night. Heat packs also had to be placed on the joints area.
#2:No climbing of stairs: As per professionals’ advice, we have stopped letting Hana climb up or down staircases, and carry her instead. Other forms of movement deemed strenuous on the hind legs such as jumping has also been kept to a minimum.
#3 Transition to raw: Somewhat of a controversial topic amongst owners and experts alike, raw diets for pets are nonetheless gaining much traction and popularity within the pet community. The moment I stumbled upon this “new” feeding method last year, it made complete sense to me that raw feeding was the most natural, nutritional and wholesome feeding method for both dogs and cats. My family on the other hand, were initially skeptical over this diet. After much persuasion, Hana is now on a DIY raw+home-cooked food diet. Because I’m feeding her on a DIY raw diet, nutritional imbalances are more likely to occur. Thus, I recently sought for help and advice from an expert @twomanylegs (IG) to create a balanced meal recipe that will be especially beneficial for Hana’s hip and joints. She took both issues into consideration and so made a recipe that has higher levels of manganese, antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. If you are unable to consult an expert or prefer to craft your own recipe, you can head over to https://rawfedandnerdy.com/, or join raw feeding communities on social media platforms to gain advice and knowledge on raw feeding.
#4 We bought a pram: Nope, not the one for babies—but the one made just for pets. We bought our pram (used condition but relatively new) off Carousell for a reasonable price of SGD$50, and often bring it out during “excursions” to outdoor locations such as cafes, parks and neighbourhoods. Before getting a dog, whenever my family and I saw a dog in a stroller, we’d ogle at it and wonder why its owners didn’t allow it to walk on the floor instead. How the tables have turned! Nowadays we often see children and adults pointing at Hana in her pram, openly asking why there was a dog in the pram. Sometimes, I even felt like just pasting a piece of cardboard in front of the pram explaining the reason (lols!) All in all, the pram was a great transportation mode for Hana. Gone are the days when we had to carry her halfway through walks till our arms went slightly sore. You can try your luck by finding a pet pram on Carousell like we did, or get one off Shopee which also sells affordable prams.
#5 Supplements: Before the diagnosis, Hana was taking Augustine Approved powder on a daily basis. Now, we’ve also added in Canine Rose-hip Vital powder as well as Connectin Hip & Joint powder in a bid to improve her overall conditions. Rose-hip powder is one of the most popular and well known kinds of supplements that owners feed their dogs for better joint health. You can read more about the benefits of rosehip powder via https://rosehipvitalcanine.com.sg/. Besides powdered supplements, we also provide her with tablets—mainly M&C Kalsium and Antinol. If your pet is fussy with powdered/tablet supplements, or you prefer liquid ones, feel free to visit https://perromart.com.sgcollections/nhv for a variety of liquid-based supplements that supports joint health. For other powdered supplements, I’ve also heard great reviews about Happy Again joint supplement. You can find it here: https://shop.vanillapup.com/products/happy-again-collagen-joint-supplement.
#6 Yummy bone broth: Bone broth is a delicious, prized stock liquid made using any type of bones and simmered over a period of 24 hours. It is also common to throw in additional vegetables/herbs/fungi for a boost of flavour and nourishment. The many benefits of bone broth includes protecting the joints and improving gut health. Strangely, Hana seems to dislike bone broth (she is a very picky eater). I made several batches using chicken feet, pork bones, celery, carrots, turmeric and ACV, on different occassions using a pressure cooker, but Hana never finished her meals when I added the broth in. Over here https://thepetlifestyleguru.com/benefits-of-bone-broth/ includes some useful recipes for you to get started on making bone broth for your pet. If you value convenience, there are also ready-made options available on the market. One local brand I highly recommend is The Awoo’s Kitchen (@the_awookitchen on IG), as their rich, jelly-like golden broths are popular choices among the owners and pets alike! If their slots aren’t fully booked for the month yet, you can make a purchase on their website https://theawookitchen.com/.
#7 Correcting the “Ah Pek” sitting style: As mentioned earlier, one red flag that Hana displayed pre-diagnosis was shifting all her body weight onto one side of her hind legs. This is not a recommended sitting position as it can add further strain onto the “good” hind leg that the dog is leaning on. She still does it sometimes, but less frequently than before. When we see her sitting “Ah Pek” style, we’ll encourage her to get up on all fours and sit down normally instead. We’ll also coax her to stand back up before carrying her to the bed, which provides a softer cushioning on her joints.
And…That’s all folks!
You’ve finally come to the end of my long article (laughs). I’ve had lots of fun writing this as it gave me the chance to reflect back on Hana’s rehabilitation journey from start till now, albeit the fact that we still have a long way to go. So far, we’ve met so many helpful and experienced owners who’ve stepped forward to share their own personal experiences on having a dog with hip/joint conditions, or simply to share useful nuggets of advice with me. Some things that I’ve written here would not have been possible without the help of these people! So thank you very much:)
The reason why I decided to compile my experience here on Pawjourr is because many other owners have approached me on social media seeking for words of advice, or simply to share Hana’s journey so far. Thus, I jumped upon the chance to pour out all that I had wanted to say to other fellow owners on social media, but couldn’t due to limited word count+limited time to process my thoughts properly.
I hope that you found this article useful! You can follow us @hanathecloud on Instagram to see more regular updates of Hana, or to ask any further questions:D
To sterilise or not to sterilise, that is the question that many pet parents face at some point in time. But what happens after the decision is made?
So you’ve finally come to a conclusion after weeks and weeks of researching the pros and cons of sterilising your furry mate. The tough part’s over, right? Not necessarily!
To ensure that the surgery and recovery process is as smooth as it can get, these are some of the things that all pawrents should consider during the planning process.
When to do it?
We often hear advice like “You should spay her after a few rounds of heat” or “Let her experience motherhood first” or “Male dogs don’t need to be sterilised” etc. Then there’s the other recommendation that it’s safe to sterilise puppies from 4 months old.
Personally for me, I spoke to three vets about this issue and all of them gave me differing advice. Even within veterinary science, there are different schools of thought. Initially I had planned to spay Duoji at 6 months, then it was pushed back to 8 months cos she just looks so young and baby-ish. I didn’t have the heart to subject her to surgery. Ultimately she was spayed at 13 months old, after she reached adulthood. Incidentally, she had her first heat at around 9 months old. In a way I was reassured that she had developed properly physically before surgery.
At the end of the day, every furkid is different and there’s no right timing to do it. There are some underlying conditions, such as undescended testicles, of which sterilisation is recommended but otherwise, best to seek a trusted vet’s opinion and make an informed decision.
Where to do it?
For something as important as a surgery, it would be unwise to just waltz in to any vet clinic. I strongly recommend all pawrents to begin searching for a trustworthy and reputable vet in the early stages, before you trust them with any operation procedure.
Check online reviews or chat with other pawrents. Better still, visit them for a simple check-up or vaccination – you’d want to assess the clinic, its staff and facilities, whether it’s a good experience overall, before you make your final decision.
Location is also an important consideration. Not only would you save time travelling to and fro (or $$ for those who don’t drive), the journey would also be more comfortable for your furkid. This is particularly important for furkids who get anxious when travelling in cars. Imagine having to endure a long car ride while feeling groggy and in pain after surgery.
Sterilisation fees vary across different vet clinics as well, so if price is an area of concern, best to call up your shortlisted clinics to enquire before confirming the appointment.
Checked in at the clinic
Any add-ons?
During the procedure, your furkid will be under general anesthesia so why not plan the sterilisation surgery to coincide with procedures that you may want/need? Common ones include dental scaling, extraction of teeth etc. This way, you’ll only need to subject your furkid to general anesthesia once.
E-collar
Wearing an e-collar is a must for furkids post-surgery as it helps to prevent them from licking or disturbing their wound. Most incisions are held together by self-dissolving threads which can come apart when in contact with their saliva, putting the wound at risk of infection.
If your dog is fussy, it’s best to get him or her used to the feeling of wearing an e-collar at least 2 weeks prior to surgery. Ease them into it by keeping the initial duration short, then slowly extending the time, with plenty of treats in between, of course.
During this step, you can also take the chance to check the fit of the e-collar. The last thing you want is for your furkid to reject the e-collar or try to shake it off and risk aggravating the wound. Or worse, to find out that the e-collar doesn’t fit on the day of surgery and you have to scramble to get a replacement.
Trying on the first collar, which was too small. Duoji’s not pleased.
Grooming
Post-surgery, you won’t be able to shower your furkid for around 10-14 days so do plan a shower before the appointment day to keep your furkid clean and comfortable. I strongly recommend sending your furkid to full grooming before that – a shorter and neater fur coat can come in handy especially since you won’t be able to shower or brush their coat much during the recovery phase.
Setting up a confinement area
During recovery, your furkid would have to minimise movement and get plenty of rest. That means no running, jumping about or rough play. If you don’t already have a playpen or crate, the next best way is to set up a temporary confinement area in a spare room. This would be the space that your furkid is confined in for the next 14 days, ideally, so make it comfortable with soft blankets/pillows etc.
But if your furkid is as active as mine, then you will have to devise some additional ways to keep them safe and out of trouble. You might even want to pre-plan these stop measures and test them out first to make sure it’s foolproof.
In Duoji’s case, she was actually almost normal by the 3rd day after surgery, which means it was impossible to keep her confined for long periods of time. I ended up allowing her to have some pockets of free roaming time under close supervision from day 5 onwards but with makeshift barricades (think rows of chairs to block the stairs, leg massager and random metal tins to block the sofa etc) around the house to prevent her from accessing areas that I deem dangerous.
Trying to get past the chairs blocking the stairs.Blocked. She eventually figured out how to open the gate so I had to use a carton of drinks to secure it.
Caregiver
After the surgery, your furkid will be weaker than usual and require extra care. Hence it’s best to have someone responsible and attentive around to take care of them round the clock, especially for the first few days. For working pawrents, that means you might have to make arrangements to work from home or plan your leave days around the surgery date.
In my case, I planned the surgery on a Wednesday so I’ll have Thursday through Sunday to take care of Duoji before I head back to work on Monday.
Just discharged. Another reason to go for full grooming is so that the shaved leg wont look too weird.Tired and listless
Fasting
The night before surgery, your furkid would be required to fast so do remember to stop all food and treats by the stipulated cut-off time. Don’t forget to keep the water bowl too.
Keeping record
So you and your furkid have made it through the surgery and all safety measures are in place. What’s left is to ensure that the wound heals properly. It’s very important to keep the wound clean and dry – follow the aftercare instructions given by your vet closely.
As an additional step, you might want to keep a record of your furkid’s healing progress. Check for open/split wounds or signs of infection like pus and bleeding. The easiest way is to take a photo of the wound everyday, ideally using the same device and under similar lighting conditions. This way, you can compare the progress and show your vet if you suspect anything amiss.
By day 5, Duoji’s wound looked almost closed up and the swelling and redness had gone down already. Eventually the incision wound will fade away and be covered by the belly fur. Now, almost 7 months on, I cannot even locate the scar anymore.
Hopefully the above tips are helpful to pawrents who have upcoming surgeries and are unsure of what to expect.
