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030604Singapore Chihuahua hypothermia pet health and welfare, educational
article for first time dog owner, from
Asiahomes Internet Tips for Pet
Lovers, sponsored
by
AsiaHomes Internet. July 25, 2003 The $1,500 Chihuahua puppy sleeps a lot "My Chihuahua puppy is sleepy and not eating for the whole day," said Mr Wong over the mobile phone. "Can you come to treat him? I have a Shih Tzu puppy returned by the Buyer as it is not eating. Also, can you vaccinate 3 puppies?" Just two days ago, I visited Mr Wong, a pet shop owner in Chua Chu Kang to vaccinate three puppies. A dog breeder in Pasir Ris had sold him the puppies and had referred me to him. Mr Wong had some years of experience operating a pet shop and have knowledge of medicines used to treat dogs. By working closely with a veterinary surgeon, he had gained knowledge of what drug to use for various conditions. This was the first time we met. He took out a 30-ml white bottle of thick pinkish anti-diarrhoea medicine prescribed by a veterinary surgeon from his refrigerator and said confidently: "Doc, this is excellent stuff. All my newly purchased puppies get a dose on arrival and they are all well. Can you supply me the 2-litre bottle of Scourban?" Scourban contains a mixture of drugs and the manufacturer states that it "an aid" to prevent and treat bacterial diarrhoea in dogs, cats, horses, cattle, sheep and goat. I can understand the need of pet shop owners and breeders to buy large quantities of drugs to lower their business operating cost in a depressed economy caused by SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome). The bigger the operation, the more pressure an operator will bear on the veterinarian to supply him drugs in large quantities or lose his patronage. He will then use the drugs to treat his dogs. He will prescribe the drugs or inject the sick puppies or dogs for customers who purchased his dogs rather than referring to the veterinarian. It was a one-stop service. The big operator thinks he has an added advantage over his competitors as he provides free treatment and injection after-sales. Educated Singaporean pet owners will usually go to their veterinarians to seek treatment for their sick pets. The vast majority of Singapore veterinarians do not work with such operators who have no qualms in compromising the ethics of the veterinarian. This type of operator is used to press down prices of all service providers who are desperate for his business. He has scant respect for the veterinarian who is to him, a drugs salesman. However, there are other big and small operators who do not self-treat their companion animals for sale as they realise that professional veterinary treatment is paramount when puppies are sickly. The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority officers do spot checks on such establishments regularly and this has checked the proliferation of such illegal practices. Now, the Chihuahua puppy was sick despite the various preventive medications and vitamins given by Mr Wong. This was a sick puppy which could not wait till tomorrow and I had to make time for the puppy. I preferred the puppy to come to the Surgery as house calls to Chua Chu Kang in Western Singapore from central Singapore to treat one puppy take up over one hour. It was a beautiful golden sunset in this green area of Chua Chu Kang which had not  been sullied by the huge
concrete blocks of the HDB (Housing and Development Board) apartments and
condos yet. The air was fresh and cool. I placed the lethargic Chihuahua on a wooden table besides the Chua Chu Kang grown bananas and plates. The eyes of the 3-month-old puppy were closed. The ears were down. I could just treat it and go. But it was best to teach Mr Wong to take the rectal temperature of his puppies so that he could better manage his newly acquired puppies. "Do you have the digital thermometer given free by the Singapore Government to each house hold as part of the anti-SARS control?" I asked Mr Wong. That would save him $10.00 if he bought a new one from me. "I have no time to collect the anti-SARS kit from the community centre," Mr Wong said. The Chihuahua was kept indoors although Mr Wong wanted to put it outdoors beneath a canopy in his backyard. "Temperatures can be very low in the countryside and the puppy would die from hypothermia," I said. "When I was in national service overnight at the Mandai forest, it was very cold at around 3 o'clock in the morning." The Chihuahua recovered and for the next few days, everything was fine. Then, the puppy suffered from a similar collapse as Mr Wong changed its housing management! He gave it a sugary syrup and it did revive. After a few days, it passed away. Chihuahuas of less than 3 months old are more fragile than other breeds and need special care and attention. Advertisement. |
