The first case on
this Vesak Day, a
public holiday was
from a family who
wanted to euthanase
their thin
14-year-old
Miniature Schnauzer.
The young lady had
phoned me the
previous night to
make an appointment:
"It will be Vesak
Day, tomorrow. Not
so good to put down
my dog." But she
came as the dog was
not eating. Her vet
closed today and so
she came to me. Her
father said to me:
"I had worked in the
tyre shop 4 shops
away some years ago
when the industrial
park was set up in
1980." It was
especially sad for a
little girl of
around 6 years old
with two side pony
tails as she cried
loudly when she was
not permitted to
view the dog after
euthanasia. The old
dog was on Vetmedin
and frusemide
medication
prescribed regularly
by their vet (Vet
1). Most owners
don't bother to
bring their dogs for
reviews and just get
the heart
medication. Proper
dosage and review
will prolong the
dog's life till
end-stage heart
failure.
"Why did you go to
Vet 1 all these
years when you live
so far away and
there are clinics
nearby?" I asked.
"My relatives go
there."
In the last case,
there was an
emergency Caesarean
section as the
Chihuahua, mated to
a larger Jack
Russell X had the
first puppy stuck
and pulled out by
the owner 3 hours
ago. I palpated the
abdomen and there
was another one. No
X-ray or ultrasound
is necessary as
palpation can
confirm. This saves
costs for the owner.
"Is there another
alternative to
C-section?" the slim
young lady asked me.
"Yes," I said. "An
oxytocin injection.
Wait and see.
However, by delaying
C-section, now 3
hours later after
the birth of the
first pup, the 2nd
pup will die if the
dam can't push it
out! It is up to you
to decide."
She decided on the
C-section which
would cost her
around $1,000 as
compared to an
oxytocin injection.
Dr Daniel operated
while I assisted.
There was only one
pup, weighing 150 g.
It cried and moved
vigorously when the
water bag was
ruptured by me. This
means that it would
live. "It is not as
big as the first
pup," the young lady
said.
"The male dog was
interested in her
and we separated
them till the end of
her bleeding," she
said to me. "Yet she
became pregnant."
"In female dogs, the
fertile period is
towards the end of
bleeding," I said.
"Unlike in the
female person whose
fertile period is
before menses."
So that was how the
female dog got
pregnant.
"Why do you come so
far for Caesarean
section as you are
living in Bedok and
there are vets
nearby?" I asked
her.
"My friend whose
poodle you treated
recommends you," she
said.
As the young lady did not delay further, the pup was not suffocated inside the water bag.
He was crying immediately. So, no problem of survival. I let him suckle the dam for 10 minutes.
TIPS
1. As the owners were away, I took out the pup and put it in a box instead of leaving it alone with the dam. The dam may bite it since she is a first-time mum and the owners will be most unhappy. I would not have time to monitor it.
2. Three hours after the birth of the last puppy would be the limit to vigorous survival (cries immediately on delivery) generally. If there is a delay of more than 5 hours, the pup will not be vigorous as fluid from the water bag clogs up the lungs. Such pups will need swinging (see other video of Toa Payoh Vets) to revive, not just hope for the best as they will die if not swung. Vets need to be the surgeon and the midwife when pups are distressed!
These two cases
illustrate that
referrals are most
important in
veterinary practice.
So is being
available when your
services are
required. It is
difficult for vets
to be available
during public
holidays but these
are the days when
owners need the
services.
Update
will be on this webpage:
www.sinpets.com/F6/20130527referrals_toapayohvets.htm
More info at:
Dogs or
Cats
To make an appointment:
e-mail
judy@toapayohvets.com
tel: +65 9668-6469, 6254-3326
TOA
PAYOH VETS
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