BORN
FREE
August 4, 2000 11 a.m Singapore.
A male, around 2-year old cross-bred dog sought help from an industrial park tenant.
2 days ago, he came with blood dripping from his right ear and then disappeared for the
next 24 hours.
He must have had lost in a fight against a mean looking dog.
He was brought to the veterinarian by a young couple as he was crying in pain and rubbing
his ears with no relief in sight. |
|
One punctured
wound pierced through the ear pinnae, one 2-inch wound and many others at the side
of ear leading to profuse bleeding. Several smaller wounds on forehead and body.
It was a duel to the death.
The 2-inch wound was septic. A thick crust of clotted blood adhered to the right ear edges
and below the ear.
It was tranquilised by 2 ml xylazine intramuscularly.
The hair was clipped, blood clots were scrubbed away with a sponge. Small baby
ticks were removed.
The dog resisted slightly as he felt the pain but the "owners" were around to
re-assure him of their love. He was wagging his tail although he was sedated.
Flies and ticks are attracted to the blood.
He was given an anti-stick liquid between the shoulders. As for flies, he had to be
kept indoors so that the wounds would heal fast.
Healing will be fast if the wound does not get infected. Antibiotics were given by
injection followed by oral medication.
Ear rubbing due to itchiness will be less if the wounds are not infected or |
|
the flies do not
lay eggs, leading to maggot wounds.
What to do with him after that? He was born free and if he did not want to be
indoors, the "owners" felt that he should be left to wander around.
As he continually spray urine to mark his territory, it is likely he will return to fight
the mean looking dog once more.
Maybe to the death as he goes for the jugular? Will he encounter another kind
couple who will bring him to the veterinarian? And willing to adopt him too?
There is a big reduction in the fewer number of stray dogs in Singapore in 2000 as the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority
efficiently exterminates the strays.
He may be the last of the Mohicans by 2002.
In rat-race Singapore, there are younger Singaporeans who are compassionate towards
injured strays.
Note: The commercial dog food was of no interest to this wanderer of the
industrial park.
He was more used to chicken rice and bones from scavenging and from the other industrial
park tenants. |
