PIMPLES ON YOUR FACE

"My mother said that white-footed dogs bring back luck to my business. Since I purchased this Boxer puppy, I had some business set backs. The cheque from the Seller who bought some goods from me bounced, now I see your kennel operator is asking for $800 to care for this puppy for one month. Two other financial set backs in my business have happened. What should I do with this puppy, Doc?"

"Yes, many older Chinese Singaporeans educated in the Chinese language  have this belief that the dogs with white feet would bring bad luck to their business.

We may find another home for this handsome Boxer puppy but nobody would want it presently. You would need to get it treated," explained Dr Melissa Chua. There would be a lot of pet care involved in this case.

Some medication and injections would not solve this skin disease problem caused by lots of bacterial attacking almost all parts of the body.

The Boxer had mutilated its face by incessant scratching. You could see the deep lines of wounds, as if a scalpel blade had made many incisions. There is a big hole just below the nose on the right side of the face.

Worms called maggots crawled out of the hole to breathe but they would burrow inside till they mature.  It was not easy for the puppy to get rid of them by scratching.

A strong stench of decaying skin from blood, green pus and clumps of hair matted together. The belly area had thousands of pimples. Those on the face had been scratched forcefully away by the claws, leaving horizontal lines, which gave the puppy a whiskered-look on its face. The legs were all full of pimples and rashes.  The hot and humid temperature of Singapore was conducive to bacterial multiplication.

The 3-month old puppy was bought for $500.  The kennel operator wanted $800 for the protracted nursing care.  Dr Melissa knew it was, as usual, dollars and cents for many Singapore dog owners. She asked the operator to reduce his charges. $500 was all right with the owner.

"But all Boxers have white feet!" exclaimed the Owner. 
Does that mean that all Boxer Owners suffer financial ruin in their businesses and career?   This is definitely not true.

Would the Boxer be put to sleep? Euthanasia was an option since the cost of treatment will be high.  There is no social welfare money for treatment of dogs in Singapore.

Some teenagers do have lots of pimples on their face too.  This Boxer puppy, although 3 months old, is equivalent to the human teenage years.  Good skin hygiene and the right type of antibiotics given for a long period of time may eliminate this bacterial skin infection. 

Treatment may last as long as 3 months.

50 years ago, a strong yellow sulphur-based medication would be applied to the skin, but nowadays, there is no need for such rough treatment. 

Would the owner spend more money to treat this puppy since he bought it for only $500?   Would "white feet" in dogs bring bad luck and ruin this pet lover's business?