"0509Singapore mongrels, cross bred may bite under tranquilisation pet health and welfare educational for animal lovers, excerpts from The Glamorous Vets, Singapore, sponsored by  AsiaHomes Internet.


The spectacle-eyed dog


Exactly one month ago, he had been rubbing his eyes non-stop for a few weeks, leading to peri-orbicular alopecia or loss of hair around his eyes.  As if he was wearing spectacles if you see the lighter area around his right eye in the image on the left.   The twelve-year old cross bred's eyes were tearing and he was uncomfortable.

"Doc, what's wrong with him?"  asked Ms Therrian.  I knew he was staying in an area where there was a lot of construction of new condos. 

"Do you want to put an Elizabeth collar round his neck to prevent him rubbing his eyes?" asked Nurse Ann.  It was one way but this 20kg mongrel would not have such restraint.  He might not tolerate such nonsense.  After treatment and eye drops, nothing was heard from the owner till today.


Today, Ms Therrian had booked him in for skin disease and crust on his ear edges.   His eyes were normal and the hair around his eye lids had grown back.

"Why would he be scratching his ear edges and his flanks?" Ms Therrian was concerned.  The dog's lower part had a few rashes.  His owner who loved this 84-human equivalent years old was more worried. One dog's year is equivalent to seven human years. 

"There is something causing irriation of the skin on the flanks of the body," I deduced. If only dogs could talk and tell me what caused their itchiness.

"Cement dust from construction nearby?" I asked the owner.

"Yes, there are trucks carrying debris and we shuttered our windows daily," said Ms Therrian.  The dog was outside though.

"Mosquitoes biting him?" 

"Yes, there are many mosquitoes."   In construction areas, mosquitoes are ubiquitous.

"Flies buzzing around him as he had blood in his skin wounds?"

"Yes," Ms Therrian confirmed.   

What's the best mode of treatment?  Groomer Ken was asked to clip the coat short.

"Could the clipping not be so short as I have cousins coming to visit me?" asked Ms Therrian.  "He would look ugly as a nude piglet. He might catch a cold."

The ear tips are bruised. Anti-insecticide drop in between shoulder area.  60 minutes afer injection. Click thumbnail to see bigger image.

"It's best to clip very short to remove all infected hair," I said.   "It would be easier to shampoo infected wounds and discover new infected skin areas." I said.

"The dog came back with cuts on his body after visiting a groomer last time," said Ms Therrian.

"Most likely, your dog had moved and could not be clipped properly," I said.   "He will need a tranquiliser as he is the nervous type." 

Groomer Ken started to clip the body and legs first. That was his way of working for the past twenty years and this was automatic. 

It was past 30 minutes when Groomer Ken tackled the head area.  Ms Therrian's maid was assisting him by holding onto the head.  Without warning, the dog sunk his canine teeth into the maid's right hand, causing bleeding and a 1 cm laceration wound.   There was a loud yell.

Surprisingly she was still holding the dog when I went to the groomer's room.  I told the maid to wash her wounds thoroughly with plenty of water and soap.  She was a strong big Filipino woman of courage and who loved the dog which had never bitten anybody.   

I had alway emphasized to all groomers who would listen that the head area should be done first as the tranquiliser's maximal effect would be fifteen minutes after injection into the buttock muscles.  The dog's nose  could be muzzled as a precaution. 

Groomers get bitten and that's their occupational hazard. No groomer worth his salt would muzzle a dog under sedation.  Doped dogs do bite although not every one would do so. Groomer Ken showed his scars like a soldier who had gone through combat and earned his badges of bravery.  He was not bitten this time.

The question is which dog would bite and should the groomer be cautious in muzzling every one?  I guess it is like asking all dog veterinarians to muzzle every dog under veterinary examintion just because some dogs do bite even without sedation.  No vet will do that too!

The dog's ears were cleaned. His main problem was skin itch.  He was not bathed regularly nor was his coat groomed.  He did have skin problems now and then but the last few months were the worst.  The maid was taken to a human doctor for treatment.