Merry Christmas 2013 - Some updates of Good news and bad news

A lot of things have happened over the past few months.

 

It's like a drama. Even before I can start blogging about how ToyToy came into my life.... series of events kept happening.

 

To cut things short, and just to update my readers who aren't my facebook friends...

 

In November,

 

1. One fine day, Emma got bitten by (not sure Ernie or Eddie) and her wounds are damn jialat. She was sent to the vet after which..

picture credit to Paw perfect love

 

2. The next day, while working, we received news that Emma ran awhile during her walk at the vet @.@!! Bad enough. Bad enough.
 

3. Later in the day, I suddenly received news from the vollies that Ernie died.
Like, WTF?! DIED?! U SERIOUS?!
It's so sudden that I couldn't even digest the shocking news. The cause of death was due to a very chim term I forgot what it is called... It's like bloated and twisted stomach. Normally happens to large dog when they jump/roll around too much after eating.

 

 

 

 

 

RIP big boy.  I will miss your goofy ears and the way you drool..

 

 

4. On one of the usual weekends, we brought the dogs to pet movers to chill, and PP aka Puopi suddenly collapsed INFRONT OF MY EYES. My whole heart almost drop to the floor I tell you. It's damn scary!! He was walking towards my direction when I see him like unable to balance (*imagine how a drunkard walk*) and *Bam* he collapsed. I ran over to him trembling, heng his eyes still wide open. I was praying *don't die don't die, don't go into fits also please please*, Joei just nice came back from Pet movers after buying stuff and Wai shouted to her that PP collapsed, her whole body also tremble. We then sent him to the vet after the pet walk and its because he got low red blood count. So gotta be on medication..

 

* Paiseh no pictures of PP at the vet*

 

 

5. I know the story abit abrupt to add Toy in, but she kept peeing non-stop. Initially I thought she was trying to give attitude and play punk with me, then when she starts peeing blood, I thought it was UTI and was gonna buy cranberry powder to treat it.. Until we found some discharged on her * 小桃* ahem vagina area then I know I gotta send her to the vet for check up. And she was diagnosed with bladder stones. T_T
 

When she first came, not toilet trained yet

 

When she cant control her bladder, we gotta let her continue wearing pampers. Look like a baby hor?

 

She keeps pee-ing every 10secs/ every few steps when we go for walks..

 

How suay and bad can November be you tell me?

And everyone of us was praying for November to pass as quickly as possible, and that December would be a better month.

 

Indeed! After a few weeks of finding and tailing of Emma, (she was sighted around the Bedok south - Expo - Simei area), She was finally caught on First of December with the combined effort of the rescuers, public, vollies etc.. The process was rather funny cause they wanted to use sleeping pills to make her sleepy, but she's smart enough not to eat them.
Oh! She found herself a 第二春 (Second spring) while on the loose. And her bf ate ALL THE SLEEPING PILLS, thus he was the one that k.o-ed instead -___-"

Her wounds miraculously healed by themselves even thou she rolled in mud and kena rain for the 10days. And she gained muscles! Power or what this Emma.

 

Just when we thought... Ahhh... December is really getting better..

 

Sox died.

D.I.E.D

 

She was banged on her head by a car that beat the red light while crossing the road.

This piece of news, I really really really cannot digest. I was still thinking of visiting her sometime soon. But the time will never come anymore.

 

Sox when we first work on her..

 

Sox on her first walk at the car park

I love this pic alot

 

 

During our Halloween photoshoot with sandra

 

 

Her personal shot

 

TCS......

 

To the asshole who banged on Sox, I wish you a Merry Christmas and please live in nightmare for the rest of your life.

I tried to control my emotions but everytime I see her pic, my nose turn 酸酸 and tears start to fill my eyes. Whatever it is, RIP dear Sox. Thanks for bringing joy and laughter to my life, and thanks for opening up to me and being such a sweet girl all these while.

 

 

A lot of bad things hor?

 

Later let me draft out something happier lah.

This isn't a way to spend your Christmas, sobbing.

 

Ciaos!

 

Dis... Dis... Distemper!

I first get to know the presence of Distemper virus through Hope Dog Rescue's blog on Babu.

The post left me getting emotional (opps.. I sound like...) while I was having holiday in Taiwan. Seeing how the dog slowly become weaker day by day and twitching uncontrollably really breaks my heart. And that is also when I get to know that this is another deadly virus apart from Parvo.

 

Read Babu's story here: http://hopedogrescue.blogspot.sg/2012/05/babu-fights-for-his-life_29.html

 

Many Ubin dogs died due to distemper sometime back too, and that is why Ubin is left with so little dogs now :(

 

http://www.sgkopi.com/ubin/2012/08/ubin-village-dogs/

 

See AVA's memo:

http://www.ava.gov.sg/NR/rdonlyres/9253E7B2-E57D-4992-982C-1304E73748D6/24240/PR_AVAINVESTIGATIONCONFIRMEDUBINDOGSDEATHDUETOCANI.pdf

 

With the recent uproar of distemper outbreak everywhere (including farmway 2),
packwalk has been postponed for the time being. 

:(((

This is the last thing that we would want to do because we know that the furkids are surely going to feel very disappointed, (imagine yourself looking forward to weekend, and when weekend finally arrived, the humans came, but no, you are not going to go for walk T_T) but in order to be responsible to all the different dogs that we are handling as well as the public, we cannot risk bringing them out now.

 

Some organization had already banned their dogs from going for walk, but some others, still continues to.. And we wouldn't know if their dogs are totally cleared from distemper..

Ok, so now, for the benefit of those who have ZERO (ZEH-HO) idea of what the hell
CANINE DISTEMPER is... here it is (according to my Google research, *eh mai hiam hor, me very nice to summarize here liao* ):

 

Disclaimer: Most of the info are being koped from the internet, therefore Im unable to guarantee the degree of accuracy of these information, I merely summarized and edit a little here and there for easier referencing. Should you be keen in knowing more about Distemper, consult a vet then.

 

 

What is Distemper?

 

It is a contagious and serious viral disease that affects a dog’s respiratory, gastrointestinal, respiratory and central nervous systems, as well as the conjunctival membranes of the eye. It is similar to the human measles virus. Distemper is most commonly associated with dogs and ferrets (will not spread to cats).

 

What are the symptoms?

 

Signs of distemper appear six to nine days after exposure, and in mild cases go unnoticed.

 

- Sneezing

- Coughing

- Fever

- Thick mucus coming from the eyes and nose.

- Lethargy

- Vomiting

- Diarrhea

- Loss of appetite

 

*pictures credited to Google search*

 

First stage: fever up to 39.4° to 40.5°C.  A second fever spike is accompanied by loss of appetite, listlessness, and a watery discharge from the eyes and nose.
These symptoms may be mistaken for a cold.

Within a few days, the eye and nasal discharge becomes thick, yellow, and sticky.
The dog develops a pronounced dry cough.
Pus blisters may appear on the abdomen.
Frequent vomiting and diarrhea which causes severe dehydration

During the next one to two weeks, very often the dog seems to be getting better but then relapses.

 

Second stage: occurs two to three weeks after the onset of the disease. Many dogs develop signs of brain involvement (brief attacks of slobbering, head shaking, and chewing movements of the jaws as if the dog were chewing gum). Seizures may occur, in which the dog runs in circles, falls over, and kicks all four feet wildly. After the convulsive episode the dog appears to be confused, shies away from his owner, wanders about aimlessly, and appears to be blind.

 

 

How does it spread?

 

It is normally spread from dog to dog through direct contact with all body secretions such as pee, poo, blood or saliva - 6 to 22 days after exposure.
Sneezing, coughing and sharing food and water bowls are all possible ways for the virus to be passed on.
The time between infection and disease is 14 to 18 days, although a fever can appear from three to six days after infection

It is also air-borne.

Unvaccinated dogs are at high risk of infection especially young puppies and older dogs with poor immune system. 

 

 

 

Can it be treated?

 

There is currently no available medication to destroy the virus.
 Vets will prescribe fluids to prevent dehydration and antibiotics to ward off secondary infections while the infected dog builds up his immune response

 

    Some dogs are able to survive the infection, while for others canine distemper can be fatal.

Dogs who recover from canine distemper may have seizures or other central nervous system disorders that may not show up until many years later—sometimes in their old age. They may also be left with permanent brain and nerve damage, and these symptoms also may not show up until years later.

 

While some dogs recover on their own, but owners should never take a wait-and-see approach with this disease. However, distemper is similar to the measles: If your dog recovers, he'll be naturally immune to a second attack, and he's no longer contagious

 

How to prevent?

VACCINATION!!!!!!!!!!

Don't try to save that little bit of money and risk your dog's life!!
And don't be lazy/complacent!!

 

What should I do if my dog is suspected of Distemper?

 

Go to a vet ASAP.

Infected animals should be quarantined from other dogs for several months due to the length of time the animal may shed the virus.

 

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canine_distemper

http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/respiratory/c_dg_canine_distemper#.UYC7cMjn9Mt

http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/distemper-symptoms-treatments-dogs

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/dog-care-distemper.aspx

 

How a dog survived distemper:

http://adventuresofabeautyqueen.com/2011/03/29/how-my-dog-bailey-survived-distemper-and-how-yours-could-too/

 

 

 

 

MEANWHILE...

 

We will continue to bring nice food for the furkids to compensate them for not being able to bring them out and focus on our rehab work.

 

And people, please disinfect yourself BEFORE and AFTER you go to places with many dogs, be it shelter or what so ever, especially those with dogs at home.

I need to do start mass disinfection of my shelter bags, shoes, leash EVERYTHING liao!

YOU GO NOW TOO!!

(Ok, what kind of English is this -.-)

 

Use bleach, Dettol, or whatever you can find that is of use lah! 

 

 

Lets all pray that this whole Distemper shit will end soon.