mellomouse* » Vet

Scubby at Gasing Veterinary Hospital, 2.

mellomouse — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:58:12 +0000

It was a long day for Scubby last Saturday. We took him for a groom at noon and right after, we headed straight to Gasing Veterinary Hospital for his annual vaccination.

Unlike those taken during puppyhood, Dr Wong recommended an additional vaccine called PneumoDog on top of the 8+1 vaccination. So like a brave warrior, Scubby took 2 jabs — one on each thigh — and did not cry like cry like a baby *beams*

Scubby sniffed a new Furless Poodle Friend
While we waited for our turn in line

Expressionless and Fearless
Scubby is all set and ready for his needles!

And soon after in the Car
Poor Little Scubby is oblivious to the World *aww*

For more photos and videos of the day’s outing, check out Scubby’s Fan page on Facebook. You won’t be disappointed

And if you’re not a fan yet, Scubby asked: Why Not? *pleading eyes*

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Westie 101, pt 3 – Learn More.

mellomouse — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:00:44 +0000

Care & Maintenance
Bathing your Westie
Ear Care
Foot care
Grooming (stripping)
Keeping your Westie neat between his visits to the groomer
Pet groomers
Pet grooming your Westie
Teeth
Trimming your Westie’s toenails

Westie Health
Atopic dermatitis
Caring for a sick Westie at home
Choosing a veterinarian
Cleft palate
Copper toxicosis
Craniomandibular osteopathy
Emergency kit
Euthanasia
Hip dysplasia
Hydrotherapy
Inguinal hernia
Introduction to genetic problems
Legg Calve Perthes
Patellar luxation
Products that work for skin problems
Pulmonary fibrosis (Westie lung disease)
Tips and ideas for keeping your Westie healthy Westies and thyroid dysfunction

Mello’s Westie 101 Trilogy
Westie 101, pt 1 – The Journey
Westie 101, pt 2 – FAQ
Westie 101, pt 3 – Learn More (You Are Here!)
Dog Food 101

*Beware of Irene Kang, Starhill Kennel Penang*

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23 days to go, and so much more to learn.
Westie 101, pt 2 – FAQ.
Westie 101, pt 1 – The Journey.
Scubby’s Grooming Journey, pt 1 – Westie Lion Cut or Not?

cone-days almost over.

mellomouse — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:41:02 +0000

A mugshot of a very happy Scubby
at the vet this morning to remove his sutures.

2 days countdown for the ultimate scrub down!

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he’s not any less of a dog.

mellomouse — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:14:54 +0000

Scubby has the ballerina’s delicate feet. His hind legs are always at a tiptoe whenever he walks. And for the past 5 months, it never struck us as odd. But a Tease.

Dr Lim thought otherwise when he spotted Scubby’s Swan Lake wannabe. An x-ray quickly proves his suspicion and a diagnose that left us heavyhearted.

Scubby is suspected to have what known to be the Canine Hip Dysplasia — a degenerative, developmental condition that will one day leads to hip arthritis. In simpler words, Scubby might have an old man’s squeaky joints syndrome

This is how a normal canine hip joint should look like.

And here is Scubby’s.

Did you spot the abnormality?

What is CHD?

Canine Hip Dysplasia is a poor developmental condition of the hip joint. It causes the femoral head (“ball” of the hip joint), which normally sits snugly in the acetabulum (“socket” of the hip joint), to show some degree of deformation which can lead to arthritis.

This deformation can take different forms, depending on what genes are involved with creating that individual dog’s hip dysplasia. It may be a shallow acetabulum, or a flattening of the femoral head. The femoral head itself may be deformed. Or the femoral neck (the narrow part just under the head or “ball” part of the joint) may be shortened and thickened. Any one of these may lead to hip dysplasia; a dog may have several conditions in its hips that create dysplasia.

Dogs that have the genes that predispose them to hip dysplasia will develop the disease. Some environmental factors (such as weight, exercise, or exposure to extreme cold weather) can contribute to the severity of the disease. However, a dog must have the genes in order to develop the disease. Environmental factors alone cannot cause hip dysplasia.

That’s a lot to digest. Isn’t it? And the research doesn’t stop here.

Scubby is 7 months going 8, and 3 months shy of a year. What kind of lifestyle will he have now? No jumping, no going up or down the stairs, no running with other dogs, and all other normal active activities that a dog enjoys. Everything associated with Young is prohibited…

We don’t love Scubby any lesser by knowing his fate. Our only regret is trusting a breeder which we thought breeds out of love, but instead plucking money with each delivery.

If you are planning to get a puppy, please make sure you run a health check on the pup — best if both dam & sire were checked — with a proper veterinary certification. It might not be Hip Dysplasia, but why take the chance of some other scary genetic diseases.

Although the consolation may not be fatal, no person or dog, should be put through such a life!

*Beware of Irene Kang, Starhill Kennel Penang*

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it’s pins and needles.

mellomouse — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 07:44:28 +0000

When the Chinese founded acupuncture, I wondered if they knew that centuries later, this healing needles of theirs would also benefit our best friends. Yes or not, it is definitely a good alternative compared to drugs and scalpels.

Western veterinarians have begun to use acupuncture since the 70s, as a non evasive and non pharmaceutical way to treat animals. Studies have shown that acupuncture can:

Increase blood flow
Lower heart rate
Improve immune function
Stimulate the body’s natural feel good neuro-transmitors: Endorphin

My own experience — first and only so far — was back in 2000, to treat my alleged rheumatism. Although acupuncture is “supposedly” not painful, having a handful of needles stuck into me was a Scarier experience than Pain itself. Ergo no return business from me since.

However reading about it for animals, veterinary acupuncture has been proven to do great wonders for our four legged friends. I’m not sure if there are any vets in Malaysia that does acupuncture, but there’s no harm finding out more for Scubby’s benefit — Why? More in another post.

Notty Scubby is having his sutures removed tomorrow *yay* I can’t wait to have him scrubbed down and smelling all yummy again. He’s beginning to look like a West Highland Yellow Terrier than White *LOL*

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scubby armored in a cone.

mellomouse — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 07:37:58 +0000

For the first time in five long months, Scubby was away from home for a day. It wasn’t just any simple away-from-home expedition that he was on, but he was away for a major alteration of his life. And that Saturday, I was a worrisome mother of my little bundle of fur.

For a few good months, I have done plenty of research online and even consulted some “second opinions”. The pros were ultimately more positive than the cons and so the decision has been set even before we brought Scubby home from Penang.

Last Saturday on 18 April 2009 — between the time of 12pm and 4pm — Scubby underwent the first surgery of his little canine life. He was neutered, and the operation was done well. Big thanks to Dr Lim Chee Kin at Gasing Veterinary Hospital, PJ.

Scubby is now recovering from the surgery, and in another 8 days we can remove his sutures. So that means, poor little Scubby would be almost fermented by then *hehe*

Check out the Warrior suited in plastic cone in action!

If that video looked familiar, it is because you saw this first.

What You Should Know?
*Beware of Irene Kang, Starhill Kennel Penang*

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