6. Would mum's two sweethearts miss their soap opera?

INFORMATION FOR DOG LOVERS:
Demodectic mange - a community service sponsored by asiahomes.com

WOULD MUM'S TWO SWEETHEARTS MISS THEIR SOAP OPERA?


"Don't blame me if you missed the 9 p.m Mandarin soap opera," the mother was not in favour of me visiting my younger brother at 8.35 p.m. "You know how your father lingers on when he visits his brother."

She knew the visit would not be short as I seldom see my younger brother. She had promised the younger son that he would be back for his 9 p.m television serial on this Monday night if the whole family of four had dinner together. A promise must be kept to her two sweethearts. They are now towering over two heads above her. A 17-year-old who could never be weaned from past midnight online war games disappointing her as she expected him to be a famous Physics Honours scholar and not get calls from his teacher about his lack of motivation in academic excellence. A 19-year-old national servicemen whom she missed 5 days a week as he could not be allowed home.

Yet I have to see my brother's German Shepherd, given to him as a puppy present. He had phoned me this morning, intending to put her to sleep. I would be visiting a friend overseas the next day. This friend was in acute pain for over 3 months of imprisonment in hospitals being given chemotherapy with no reduction in the cancer growths.

This might be my last visit to see the puppy. The puppy was treated by another veterinarian and had shown some improvement for the past 5 months. However, the treatment was stopped sometime ago and the demodectic mange recurred. Then 2 days ago, the medication ran out. As there was intense itch and smelly skin in the limbs, my brother phoned me wanting to euthanase this puppy.

I had never seen his puppy at the onset of demodectic mange. From his description, the infestation of demodectic mites must have injured the eyes, face and all 4 legs. Maybe the whole body with hair all gone and skin ulcers every where. Bacteria multiplied. Skin smelly. Puppy never stopped scratching every minute. No respite from pain just like my friend with cancer.

Like my friend, the puppy must be suffering from pain every day. Her weight must have dropped 50% below normal, like my friend from 70 kg to 50 kg. Emaciated, with ribs protruding from the puppy's ribs. So, I had to see her before I left Singapore the next day.

A mother's promise must be kept. Otherwise, the younger boy would not go out for dinner with her anymore. Or would he? It is so hard to be a mother nowadays.

"Make the U-turn," I said to the elder son who could not decide to drive home or not when the mum made the comment about missing the soap opera. A visit to an uncle or a missed soap opera. Which gave more pleasure to young adults? Mum gave the answer.

"I have to see the puppy," I explained. "My brother had phoned me today that she would be euthanased. I just have to see what is the situation with the puppy I gave to him. It would be a short visit." My younger son did not say anything. There were only less than 30 minutes to the start of the show. In the darkness, I knew his mum pursed her lips and rolled her eyes upwards. Her sweethearts would miss the show. No doubt about it.

My son drove to the house. My brother and his wife had just come home. The two German Shepherds were greeting my brother. They were in good bodily condition. The older dog was not affected by the demodectic mange. The younger one with mange had widespread hair loss and wounds on her front legs. Yet, her face showed hair growth. So, the medication had worked.

But demodectic mange treatment would not be a short one. It could take up to a year to get a complete cure. Regular follow ups with the veterinarian are important. Sometimes, reviews every 2-4 weeks are necessary. But such reviews add up to a high veterinary cost.

So, most dog owners gave up. The fluorescent lamps in the patio could not reveal the harsh reality of reddish and forelimbs stink that must have nauseated my brother. The trouble of having to bathe away smelly skin every few days. But on the next day, the pungent smell would whiff into his nostrils again. Bathing with medicated shampoos did not clear the stench of broken skin invaded by bacteria and other micro-organisms and by continual licking by the puppy.

For 5 months. No relief in sight. No light at the end of the tunnel. No cure. Therefore, kinder to put the dog to sleep. This was what I imagined that he made the euthanasia decision as he was also be suffering over the last 5 months.

"Give the puppy further daily treatment of the ivomectin for the next few weeks," I said. She was lively, well fed and active from what I could see. Her eyes were bright. Her spirits soared. No noisy barking. Both dogs were so happy to see the owners, possibly wearied after the daily climb of the corporate ladder. Maybe I was imagining things as my sister-in-law was an oasis of tranquility.

"Another few weeks would be needed," I said . "In some cases, when the puppy reaches over 12 months old, the immune system becomes developed to suppress the growth of the demodectic mites in the skin. Sometimes it takes one year of ivomectin treatment by mouth to get a complete cure. "

And the puppy was already past 6 months and would become an adult soon. Her immune system might not be depressed anymore as she matured. When there is life, there is hope.

Would my brother continue treatment? I hope so. As for my friend with cancer, 3 months of chemotherapy did not shrink his lymphatic tumours. A few months of outpatient treatment before that and 2 months of in-hospital treatment in one private hospital in Singapore before going overseas.

Yet, his lymphatic tumours had grown in size in Singapore. Was the wrong drug given? Was the dosage not sufficient? Was he not permitted to be given the latest drug since bureaucracts had not approved such drugs? Was his cancer incurable? Would he live past this Christmas, a month away?

I had to close my practice and fly overseas to visit him tomorrow. Yet, I had to see the Alsatian puppy as I don't know whether this would be my last visit to the puppy. I could not read my brother's mind about euthanasia.

I hope both can recover from the prolonged illness, celebrate Christmas and be alive.

Did mum's sweethearts miss the start of the soap opera? The two Alsatians suddenly sat down looking at the living area. No more smelling me. As if they were waiting for something. Maybe, dinner from my sister-in-law?

I had to explain to my brother that I had to rush back. This time I would drive the long and windy road home as the elder son was a novice slow driver. "It is Ok, dad" my elder son was worried that I was speeding and got another 6 demerit points and $900 fine for exceeding 120 kmph. 12 demerit points meant I would not be allowed to drive for one year. Not able to earn a livelihood.

The cool air of the starry night settled on my shoulders as I parked the car at 8.59 p.m. "Dad, the show would not start as there would be advertisements," my elder son said. I had not watched television for a long time as I preferred reading. So, I was out of touch with television reality.

It was good to see that my brother's puppy would be given another chance to live. I was worried that my brother would just ask his veterinarian to put her to sleep.

I hope that my friend with lymphatic cancer would be cured with a new anti-cancer drug imported from the U.S.A. He was in a 3rd hospital. I think the puppy had a better chance of living to old age. But I could be proved wrong. Man proposes. God disposes.


I just searched "Singapore puppy pictures" at IMAGES in google.com as I was writing my book "Toilet training for your first puppy in Singapore". To see whether I can buy any good quality pictures of puppies for the front cover of my book.

The pictures I had taken many years ago of a Singapore puppy with demodectic mange were found inadvertently. Life has become incredibly time-pressed and efficient. A few years ago, I would not be able to locate my file on the website but now, the world wide web enables information to be shared globally.
http://images.google.com.sg/imgres?imgurl=http://www.asiahomes.com/singaporetpvet/
7767dog_6months_demodecosis_itchy_Singapore.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.asiahomes.com/
singaporetpvet/dogs/030218demodectic_mange_puppy_Singapore.htm&h=450&w=600&sz=113&tbnid
=wJrag1deZF4J:&tbnh=99&tbnw=133&hl=en&start=77&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2Bsite:www.asiahomes.com
%2BSingapore%2Bpuppy%2Bpictures%26start%3D60%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN



Very itchy puppy. Biting elbows, forelegs, hind legs and rubbing eyes. Demodectic mange.

Before anti-mite injection and treatment. A slight loss of hair around eyelids, elbows and limbs.



3 weeks after injections. Hairs grow on elbow and near the eyelids.


Itch starts on one elbow and one hind leg again.
Stopping or missing medication are one cause of the lack of success in the treatment of demodectic mange. It could be due to the high veterinary costs and lack of time to bring the dog for veterinary review.
Usually owners do not comply with giving medication for a long time.



Demodectic mange in young dogs need frequent reviews with your veterinarian as to the medication.

1. Ivomectin medication by mouth from your veterinarian may or may not be successful. Most owners do not comply with the treatment regime of giving for months till the mites disappear. The usual complaint is the high veterinary cost of reviews.

So, the mites flourish and soon, the puppy gets a crocodile-type skin due to intense itch. Bacteria, fungal and yeast infections set in. Smelly skin. Very difficult to stop the itchiness.

2. Amitraz 10% wash may be used together with ivomectin treatment.

3. Milbemycin heartworm tablets daily for 8 weeks may be costly and experimental. But it is an alternative to the other treatment.

4. The bitch is to be spayed as estrus seems to aggravate the disease.

Pictures at:
http://www.asiahomes.com/singaporetpvet/dogs/030218demodectic_mange_puppy_Singapore.htm

5. The Siberian Husky swallowed the vet's wrist

Taking risk with large breeds

"This Siberian Husky is very difficult to handle," the pet transport man said. I had asked him to stop using his mobile to come into the consultation room when the female spayed Siberian Husky grabbed my right wrist into her jaws and then released it.

She had a pimple on her nose and I had pressed it to check for pain. There was no pain but she was not happy. Nurse Ann inserted a thermometer into her anus to check her temperature. She did not permit this. So, I asked her to stop as she had become restless.

The pet transport man was still outside answering his phone. He was one of a kind. Nobody could handle this Siberian Husky except for him. I had spayed her earlier and now she had put on considerable weight.

A 5-mm pimple was the complaint. By the time the pet transport man was free to bring her to the vet, the pimple had subsided. However, the owner was concerned.

Since the pet transport man was busy, I started to examine the Husky without knowing her temperament. After the pressing of the pimple, she could have crushed my right wrist. But she just gave a warning.

With the tranport man inside the consultation room, she was all right. Her pimple on her black nostril was not a problem. Should be all right in a week or two.

My wrist had no bite injury. She was large but gentle. Fortunately for me. Never to take dogs for granted, big or small.

See picture of the transport man who can command respect from the "fierce" female Siberian Husky, another Siberian Husky and a Alaskan Malamute (in the picture with him).

Kennel Cough Advices from the manufacturer.

August 26, 2005.

Spoke with a Caucasian vet representing Fort Dodge, a company producing kennel cough vaccines yesterday. The agent brought him to see me as I wanted to know the latest updates direct from the manufacturer that produces over 100 types of vaccines in the US and Australia.


Kennel cough.
Intra-nasal. Even one drop in the nose can protect the dog. Normally the vet squirts in 2 nostrils and the dog objects to it.

Best given at 18th weeks. One vaccination. Protection last 9 months for Great Danes but 1 year for other dogs. Give 7 days before boarding or mixing with other dogs.

I am using 3-antigen type vaccine (for 3 diseases) given through the nostrils. There is also a 1-antigen (1 disease) kennel cough vaccine.
There is also an injectable kennel cough vaccine.

The reason for giving at 18 weeks is that the puppy's immune system has developed further. As the vaccine is given into the nostrils, a better immune system is useful for development of the locally produced antibodies. The interesting part is that one drop is sufficient, according to the research of the manufacturer's vet. There is no need to squirt the whole volume into both nostrils.



COMMENTS FROM PET TAILS. See below.

...PET TAILS...

Boarding and Bordetella

If you will be taking your dog to a boarding kennel, you should take your dog to the vet. In addition to the standard vaccinations, virtually all boarding kennels require that you also get your dog vaccinated against Bordetella or "kennel cough." Any time your dog will be in close proximity to other dogs, such as at dog shows, classes, or boarding kennels, it's a good idea to take him to the vet for a bordetella vaccination first.

As with the common cold in humans, more than one organism may cause kennel cough or infectious tracheobronchitis. However, the majority of cases are caused by a bacterial infection that includes infection by an organism called Bordetella bronchiseptica, so the terms bordetella and kennel cough are often used interchangeably.

Although humans aren't affected by bordetella, among dogs it can be extremely contagious because it spreads by coughed droplets. Although it's possible for a dog to be infected by another dog that is some distance away, dogs are most likely to be exposed to germs in a place where there are a lot of other dogs, much like kids who go to kindergarten and get sick from exposure to a lot of other children. If a dog is already physically or emotionally stressed in some way, he's also more likely to become ill.

Again, like a human cold, generally kennel cough isn't a severe problem. But it's definitely unpleasant for both dog and owner. The disease is characterized by dry hacking coughing fits that sound like the dog has smoked three packs of cigarettes. Often a coughing jag is followed by gagging or retching, so you may think that the dog has something stuck in his throat. The dog may have a fever, be listless, vomit, or lose his appetite. In rare cases, kennel cough actually can lead to pneumonia or other serious problems.

Because kennel cough can be caused by infection from several viruses, some vets don't treat it with antibiotics. However, some do use antibiotics to prevent any secondary bacterial infections. Often a cough suppressant is prescribed to make the dog more comfortable.

As with most diseases, if prevention is possible, it's far preferable to treatment after the fact. Two types of vaccines exist for bordetella: intranasal and injectable. The intranasal vaccine is administered directly into the dog's nose, and it generally acts more quickly than the injectable version. The injectable version may provide longer immunity however.

Even the intranasal vaccine does take around four or five days to provide complete protection, so if you plan to board your dog, schedule that appointment for a vaccination today.


**************************
Until next time, give your pet a big fuzzy hug!

-- Susan Daffron
President, Logical Expressions, Inc., (http://www.logicalexpressions.com)

Socialisation of Puppies & Vaccination

From: www.preciouspocketpups.com/puppy_socialization_tips


Most Timidity Is Preventable

When it comes to raising a confident well-adjusted puppy, an ounce of prevention is certainly worth a pound of cure. By socializing one's puppy early on with a variety of new and unfamiliar people (including calm and gentle children), on a regular and ongoing basis (for at least the first two years of the dog's life), you can help prevent serious behavioral problems such as shyness, timidity, and aggression from developing as the puppy matures. Once a puppy has all of his puppy shots (usually by 16 weeks of age), he should also be socialized with other friendly dogs, and acclimated to new environments beyond the owner's home and property, by being taken for regular daily walks on a leash.

Puppies raised in country and suburban environments should be gradually acclimated to city noises such as traffic noise, crowds of people and other everyday life scenerios early on. A weekly visit into town (beginning when the puppy is around 8 to 10 weeks of age) can be very helpful in preventing environmental phobias. In order to prevent exposure to disease, puppies with fewer than 3 or 4 series of vaccinations, should avoid contact with unfamiliar dogs, and be carried (in a Sherpa Bag, Snuggly or crate) to avoid contact with the sidewalk (or any other public areas where other dogs may frequent).



What To Do If Timidity Has Already Taken Hold

While preventive steps are best, should your puppy or adolescent dog already show signs of timidity, he should be gradually introduced to many new and unfamiliar people, until your puppy develops more confidence and trust. The following tips may be useful as a general guideline:

Visitors and passersby should avoid suddenly reaching out to pet your puppy, as allowing a stranger to approach a timid puppy right away is likely to increase the puppy's fear as well as his inclination to react defensively. In fact, when a timid puppy is first introduced to someone unfamiliar to him, the person should remain relatively still and quiet, avoid eye contact with the puppy, offer non-confrontational body language, and allow the puppy to approach the person and initiate contact. The puppy should never be forced or dragged over to meet someone he is fearful of.

Asking the visitor to crouch down near the floor, with their body facing at an angle AWAY from the puppy, and their hand slightly extended to the side while holding a small puppy treat, may help the puppy to gain enough confidence to approach. The puppy should be allowed to sniff the person, and to take the treat from their hand, without the person talking to or reaching towards the puppy. Even if the puppy continues to show fearfulness, the owner should remain upbeat, and resist the temptation to coddle or "poor baby" the puppy.

Once the puppy appears to feel a bit more secure, the visitor should slowly begin petting the puppy under the chin, and continue offering him small treats. These steps should be repeated with as many new people as possible, in as many new environments as possible, until the puppy develops sufficient confidence around new people.




Timidity Around Other Dogs

Fully immunized puppies who are timid around other dogs, should be socialized with other friendly, easy-going puppies (and dogs), begining with small to medium-sized puppies, then very gradually introduced to larger, more active ones, over a period of a few weeks. Observe both puppies' body language as the meet, interact, and get to know eachother. For especially timid or sensitive puppies, one-on-one puppy play sessions are usually best.

Supervised puppy play groups and puppy kindergarden classes may also be helpful, provided that bigger, more dominant puppies are not allowed to bully or intimidate the more timid ones. Puppies should be properly matched by size, age, dominance, activity level and temperament. Unsupervised group "free-for-alls" can in fact be very counter-productive.

Ideally, an experienced dog trainer or behaviorial consultant should supervise all play activity and be present to prevent any overly aggressive interactions between puppies.

Breeder Education: The 64th day Pomeranian puppy is "dead"?

The Vet has to let the breeder handle difficult cases to gain competence.

"Focus on the dam," I reminded Nurse Ann who was responsible for general anaesthesia when she indicated to me that the breeder handling the Pomeranian puppy in the consultation room was not able to revive it after 15 minutes.

"James, use the hair dryer and get the breeder into the consultation room!" I shouted to the receptionist at the waiting area. This was around the 4th Caesarean done for this breeder. I had taught him the basics. Now, he had to practise. If the 64th day Pomeranian had to die, it would be a learning experience. If I did everything for the professional breeder, he would never know how to handle difficult cases.

And this case was touch and go. I advised him that 64th day sole pup would require a Caesarean delivery as it would die inside the womb if there was further delay. The sole pup syndrome. Normally they are large pups. But this was a small one. Like a grown up Syrian hamster.

The breeder had swung the puppy. Mucus had come out. He had pinched its neck skin. Rubbed and did everything. There was no cry. He was despondent. No hope. When I did the Caesarean this morning, it was just life-less. Limp. Not a twitch. It might be too late. The puppy was inside the amniotic sac and the tongue colour was a maroon red. It just was not crying after more than 15 minutes.

So, I shouted to James to get the hair dryer while I quickly stitched up the Pomeranian. She was as small as a Chihuahua. She had milk and that was good.

I would not want to help the breeder as he must learn himself. If I do everything for him, I become too powerful an individual. I know everything and the breeder knows nothing. This leads to the negative management term called "The Tyranny of Competence" according to Robert E Quinn's book, Deep Change - Discovering the Leader Within.

That is not the way to make the new breeder be successful in his business. If he knows how to handle difficult dystocia cases, he has confidence and the veterinarian has time to do other more important tasks. There are so many things to do in private practice. Reviving puppies can take a lot of time and who better to do this than the breeder.

The breeder was glum. He seldom smiles when he sees me. Caesarean deliveries mean extra costs and veterinarians are a necessary evil to many breeders in Singapore. I hope they will appreciate veterinarians as friends in the future.

Back to the puppy. As I finished stitching the dam's muscle layer, there was a loud cry piercing the stillness of the consultation room. Nurse Ann eyes lit up as she switched off the anaesthetitc gas. It was one of those unexpected surprises. After half an hour, the puppy could still cry. Was it the warmth of the hair dryer, stimulating him to breathe? It was more the efforts of the serious-looking breeder.

The puppy was weak but it could suckle. The skies were dark and the heavy July rains splattered outside the Surgery. I drove the breeder out to the main road to get a taxi back to his kennels. He seemed a contented man.

As for the 62nd day mini-Maltese, he had wanted a Caesarean delivery to save him the trouble to coming back for the mother. I advised him to put the dam for observation. There was no hurry. She did not have milk at all. She was due but the breeder did not have surrogate mothers.

"I can use bottle feeding," he said.
"It is not as simple as that for small breeds," I advised. "Many don't survive on bottle feeding. Some have died at the hands of surrogate mothers too."

The breeder accepted the recommendation to wait. I put her in the cage. Once, she started to dig or scratch newspapers or has milk, that would be the best time for a Caesarean delivery. It is extremely hard to tell when.

The veterinarian has to let the breeder handle difficult dystocia cases. The more the breeder does it, the better he becomes in his profession. More puppies survive. There will be losses initially, but breeders can learn from the losses. There is no college teaching dog breeding and even if there is, nothing beats the experience of losing money and losing puppies due to the lack of experience. I am sure this breeder experienced the thrill of reviving his own puppy. I think this was the second time but I cannot remember. "You are good," he said to me. "Your hair dryer recommendation is excellent."

I must say that this breeder has excellent public relations. He never failed to show his appreciation.

"Actually, you are the one who saved the puppy," I acknowledged his efforts as his smiles radiated on this dark and gloomy morning.

Pictures of the puppies and the dams (Pom and the mini-Maltese) should be at www.toapayohvets.com August 3, 2005. Education Article for Dog Breeders.
Written by Dr Sing Kong Yuen, lunch time, NLB Lee Kong Chian Reference Library. Opened in July 25, 2005. A most impressive modern library.

Grooming is hard to do?

NEW PUPPY IS HARD TO GROOM?

Many first-time puppy owners in Singapore find it very difficult to groom the newly acquired puppy. It moves a lot, bites and put its mouth into the owner's fingers or grooming brush. The owner is afraid of hurting the puppy and sends it to the groomer regularly, leave the chore to the domestic worker or just do not bother at all to keep the puppy clean and well groomed.

It is important that the first-time owner learns how to groom his puppy as the groomer may not be free on week-ends.

1. Get your puppy to get used to being handled and groomed.

2. Put the puppy on the table. Lift and touch the puppy's paws to train her to accept handling. Brush or comb your puppy. Don't allow it to bite your hand or the brush.

3. Lift the lips and open the puppy's mouth. Rub your finger along the gums. This is to get the puppy used to tooth brushing.

4. EARS.
4.1 Wipe your pup's ears with a baby wipe or a commercial ear cleaner on a cotton ball. Do not insert a cotton bud into the ear canal unless you know how to do it properly. Cotton bud tips or fibres are known to have dropped inside the ear canal causing irritation and ear scratching.

4.2 The picture of the ear canal is shown in Picture 1.

5. NAILS

5.1 Use an arm to hold your puppy and the other to snip the nail. Position the clipper such that you can see the pink quick. Clip in front of the quick. If you clip onto the quick, the puppy feels pain and there will be bleeding. Put a cotton ball onto the bleeding point and bandage up the foot for an hour. Consult your veterinarian if the bleeding continues. For black nails, you can't see the quick. You need to estimate the position to trim the nails.

5.2 Use a nail file to smooth the nail tip as many owners complain about the sharpness of nails.

6. LOWER PART OF THE BODY.
6.1 Inspect the skin of the lower part of the puppy including the belly, groin, tail, the anus, the genitals and the arm-pits. Small rashes and pimples are best treated early before they spread to the whole body.

7. Praise the puppy for standing still and allow you to brush or groom it. Keep the grooming sessions no longer than 5 minutes. Give a treat for accepting grooming without a fight. grooming is part of its weekly routine.

8. If you invest some time in training your puppy to accept handling and grooming, you can keep your dog clean and well-groomed for life.

8. With training, your puppy will accept handling at the veterinary surgery or the groomer without fear or struggle. This is important as an aggressive puppy is hard to examine or groom.


Dr Kong Sing