Vaccination Schedule at Toa Payoh Vets is as follows:
1. Most puppies to be vaccinated between 6 to 16 weeks at 3-4 weeks intervals
lst vaccination at 6 - 8 weeks
2nd vaccination at 9 - 11 weeks
3rd vaccination at 12 - 14 weeks
2. Breeder's puppies and puppies at high risk
lst vaccination at 6 weeks and then 3-4 weekly.
3. Annual vaccination advised. Although there are vaccines which require 3-yearly revaccinations, these are NOT available in Singapore. They don't cover the 3 core vaccinations (canine distemper, canine parvovirus and canine hepatitis using the CAV-2 vaccine).
4. Kennel cough (Bordetella and canine influenza) vaccines are tiven twice at 6 weeks twice. At least a week before the puppy goes to socialisation class or boarding. Breeders and pet shop puppy sellers in Singapore do NOT vaccinate against kennel cough which may cause pneumonia in puppies though it is like a common cold for adult dogs.
Socialisation classes
Unsocialised puppies can become aggressive or shy. They need to socialise before 12 -16 weeks of age.
Canine parvovirus is the main risk and they do kill puppies. The environment can infect puppies as the virus remain there.
Canine distemper and hepatitis are uncommon in Singapore. Owners have to take the risk and benefits.
Advices:
1. Take the socialisation classes when puppies are 14 weeks of age and have received at least 2 parvoviral vaccination.
2. Attend classes which are not full of puppies, e.g. animal shelters, dog park or veterinary clinic. A place with easy to clean impermeable floors. A 1-to-30 leach-water solution will kill the parvovirus. Not possible to bleach grass and soil. Staff to clear faecal deposits, not owners.
3. Small class size and less than one hour of training reduces risk for your puppy.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
105. Sunday Two Highlighted Cases - Can't stand up on hind legs + backside swelling
Sunday's Highlighted Case - June 20, 2010
I was surprised to see the young couple bringing the old Miniature Schnauzer with the large cheek tumour I had excised on Jun 14, 2010 to see me on Sunday. The case is recorded in: Large cheek tumour & 15 rotten teeth.
"What happened?" I asked.
"He had been crying loudly at night for past 3 nights (Jun 17-19)," the young lady said. "The neighbours thought the dog was abused and enquired about him. He just could not stand up. Previously a vet had diagnosed hip arthritis."
PALPATION
1. T/L to L/S spinal area painful.
2. Extended right hip. Dog screamed in pain.
3. Extended left hip. Dog showed painful reaction.
CHEEK TUMOUR EXCISION EXAMINATION
"The dog will not allow me to open his mouth," the lady said when I wanted her help. I wanted to see whether the large ulcer after excision of the cheek tumour had healed well. I put the dog on the table and opened the right cheek. The stitches had broken down. The ulcer was reddish but otherwise not infected. The dog did not object to the lady opening his mouth now.
"He had painkillers called tolfedine tablets of 60 mg/day for the last 7 days," I said.
"Did he behave like a young puppy by running wild?" I asked. "Painkillers made him feel good and over-exert his muscles and joints."
"Yes," the lady said. "He was most active unlike other times when we took him outdoors. He would lift his hind leg, either left or right and pee at every vertical surface till the last drop of urine. This is his usual habit."
I explained: "The reason he cried at night and could not get up on his hind feet is that he has painful hip joints and back after the exercises. Now you have to restrain him from any activity for at least one month."
I proposed that the dog be neutered to reduce his urine-marking obsession. But the owner was not keen on the idea. The male dog lifts up mainly his right hind leg to balance weight while peeing on vertical surface. So, the extra weight puts pressure on the right hip. Therefore the right hip became very painful. However, he would switch to the left leg. So both hip joints are painful. What did he do then since he had to urine-mark at all cost? "Oh, he just squat and pee on the ground," the owner said. After enjoyment during the evening of urine-marking, the dog felt the intense pain at night for 3 nights. The neighbour was concerned and so the owner came for consultation.
I did not suggest any X-rays as the owner wanted the least cost treatment and a vet had previously diagnosed hip arthritis. X-rays are needed for more detailed examination and diagnosis of hip arthritis but economics prohibit me from further investigation.
CHANGES OF LIFE-STYLE ADVISED
1. No walking over the drainage grate from void deck to grass during outdoors exercise for the next one month or more.
2. Use of a anti-obesity dry food diet. If the dog loses 1 kg, his hip joints would bear less weight. It is easier said than done as some old dogs just love to eat and put on weight easily.
Neuter your male dog at around 6 months to prevent obsessive urine-marking. During old age and weight gain, the hip joints may be worn out due to weight bearing from the lifting of the hind leg to urine-mark.
PERINEAL HERNIAS
Boston Terrier, Male, 7 years (not neutered because it is too cruel).
Two moderate sized swellings on perineal area.
Complaint: "Squats down longer to poop than usual for past 3 weeks. Hard for stools to be passed out during the first week." Vet 1 prescribed stool softeners 3x/day yesterday. Stools loose now.
I was surprised to see the young couple bringing the old Miniature Schnauzer with the large cheek tumour I had excised on Jun 14, 2010 to see me on Sunday. The case is recorded in: Large cheek tumour & 15 rotten teeth.
"What happened?" I asked.
"He had been crying loudly at night for past 3 nights (Jun 17-19)," the young lady said. "The neighbours thought the dog was abused and enquired about him. He just could not stand up. Previously a vet had diagnosed hip arthritis."
PALPATION
1. T/L to L/S spinal area painful.
2. Extended right hip. Dog screamed in pain.
3. Extended left hip. Dog showed painful reaction.
CHEEK TUMOUR EXCISION EXAMINATION
"The dog will not allow me to open his mouth," the lady said when I wanted her help. I wanted to see whether the large ulcer after excision of the cheek tumour had healed well. I put the dog on the table and opened the right cheek. The stitches had broken down. The ulcer was reddish but otherwise not infected. The dog did not object to the lady opening his mouth now.
"He had painkillers called tolfedine tablets of 60 mg/day for the last 7 days," I said.
"Did he behave like a young puppy by running wild?" I asked. "Painkillers made him feel good and over-exert his muscles and joints."
"Yes," the lady said. "He was most active unlike other times when we took him outdoors. He would lift his hind leg, either left or right and pee at every vertical surface till the last drop of urine. This is his usual habit."
I explained: "The reason he cried at night and could not get up on his hind feet is that he has painful hip joints and back after the exercises. Now you have to restrain him from any activity for at least one month."
I proposed that the dog be neutered to reduce his urine-marking obsession. But the owner was not keen on the idea. The male dog lifts up mainly his right hind leg to balance weight while peeing on vertical surface. So, the extra weight puts pressure on the right hip. Therefore the right hip became very painful. However, he would switch to the left leg. So both hip joints are painful. What did he do then since he had to urine-mark at all cost? "Oh, he just squat and pee on the ground," the owner said. After enjoyment during the evening of urine-marking, the dog felt the intense pain at night for 3 nights. The neighbour was concerned and so the owner came for consultation.
I did not suggest any X-rays as the owner wanted the least cost treatment and a vet had previously diagnosed hip arthritis. X-rays are needed for more detailed examination and diagnosis of hip arthritis but economics prohibit me from further investigation.
CHANGES OF LIFE-STYLE ADVISED
1. No walking over the drainage grate from void deck to grass during outdoors exercise for the next one month or more.
2. Use of a anti-obesity dry food diet. If the dog loses 1 kg, his hip joints would bear less weight. It is easier said than done as some old dogs just love to eat and put on weight easily.
Neuter your male dog at around 6 months to prevent obsessive urine-marking. During old age and weight gain, the hip joints may be worn out due to weight bearing from the lifting of the hind leg to urine-mark.
PERINEAL HERNIAS
Boston Terrier, Male, 7 years (not neutered because it is too cruel).
Two moderate sized swellings on perineal area.
Complaint: "Squats down longer to poop than usual for past 3 weeks. Hard for stools to be passed out during the first week." Vet 1 prescribed stool softeners 3x/day yesterday. Stools loose now.
104. Laryngotomy - Debarking
JR Male Neutered 10 years old
As last resort, the young girl had to de-bark her dog due to complaints.
I noted a plastic spiked collar (with spikes facing the neck).
1. Blood test done first on Jun 11, 2010.
Normal except that kidney shows in umol/L that urea is 3.9 (4.2 -6.3), creatinine is 61 (89 - 177). Dog was OK for surgery.
2. Jun 17, 2010 Weight
Laryngotomy
Jun 17, 2010 6.5 kg 39.2
2 pm Surgery
IV drip
Domitor 0.2 ml IV, Zoeletil 100@ 0.1 ml IV
Atropine 0.5 ml IV
Anaesthesia insufficient. Needed to top up Zoletil 100 0.1 ml IV
As last resort, the young girl had to de-bark her dog due to complaints.
I noted a plastic spiked collar (with spikes facing the neck).
1. Blood test done first on Jun 11, 2010.
Normal except that kidney shows in umol/L that urea is 3.9 (4.2 -6.3), creatinine is 61 (89 - 177). Dog was OK for surgery.
2. Jun 17, 2010 Weight
Laryngotomy
Jun 17, 2010 6.5 kg 39.2
2 pm Surgery
IV drip
Domitor 0.2 ml IV, Zoeletil 100@ 0.1 ml IV
Atropine 0.5 ml IV
Anaesthesia insufficient. Needed to top up Zoletil 100 0.1 ml IV
Friday, June 18, 2010
103. Webmaster uses asiaone.com to search "dog dental scaling"
A webmaster acts immediately to get rid of his dog's bad breath
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), MRCVS
Date: 19 June, 2010
toapayohvets.com
Be Kind To Pets
Veterinary Education
Project 2010-0129
Friday Jun 18, 2010 6.38 pm.
In the morning of Jun 18, 2010, I received an e-mail:
Hi, i have a 5 year old Bichon that is having tartar build up in his mouth. i would like to fix an appointment with you to have his tooth clean/ extract due to the bad odour coming from his mouth, please feel free to contact me at (tel and name given) so we can see to this problem ASAP
Regards
I asked my assistant Mr Saw to phone the dog owner. I was surprised that this bespectacled young man who would be in his early 30s really got his dog down to the Surgery in the afternoon for dental work. When he came for his dog at 5 pm, I sought feedback from him as to how he had tracked me down.
The young man said: "I use asiaone.com inserting "dog dental scaling" to find a vet who could do dental scaling for his dog and found your website. I then e-mail to you."
I usually "google" for webpages and had never considered asiaone. However I switched on asiaone.com to check its efficiency in search by using "dog dental scaling". The free-lance webmaster of 5 years had highly recommended this search engine as it specialises in locating local webpage searches.
I log in via Firefox but the search had problems loading. So I tried again for another 5 minutes and switched from Firefox to Internet Explorer. I had this unreliable Starhub internet USB plugged into my desktop as the Toa Payoh Industrial Park in Lorong 8 was not wired and could not receive wireless internet. So, the problem might be my internet connection. Just as I was about to give up, the search results via the "Web" search page displayed
toapayohvets.com/surgery/050609periodontal_disease_cat_dog.htm. This was the webpage the webmaster said he saw "pictures of dogs doing dental scaling." At first I could not understand what he meant till I saw pictures in this webpage.
It was a pity that asiaone takes a long time to download this evening at 6.49 pm. I google "dog dental scaling" and the search results came out within 0.23 seconds. I found
bekindtopets.com/dogs/20080828Dog_Dental_Problems_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.htm
on the 2nd page.
Many young people search for info on the internet. This webmaster research everything he needed to know about dog dental scaling, including anaesthetic risk and other worries. I had a good chat and learnt much about the pros and cons of online data base (Access recommended by him), domain hosting in Singapore v. in the U.S (he prefers Singapore) and fees for setting up a website (varies from $500 to $50,000).
The webmaster's 5-year-old Bichon Frise kept pawing him while we talked, as if the dog wanted to go home. "He is an attention-seeker," the webmaster told me as he answered a phone call saying he would be back soon. "It's my mum who wants to see the dog," he said to me. I thought it was his girlfriend or wife. The webmaster decided to microchip his dog and get a dog licence too.
Anaesthestic reactions to isoflurane
I used Domitor 0.1 ml IV via the IV drip. The dog was intubated but he just would not be fully anaesthesized after intubation. He kept moving when he should be asleep soundly as in the previous case of the Shih Tzu with cornea ulcerations and 3rd eyelid flap surgery. I had given this dog xylazine 20 @ 0.2 ml IM, masked with isoflurane gas and then intubate and maintain with the gas. The dog slept like a log as I did the 3rd eyelid flap for two eyes.
"There are a few dogs that just cannot be fully anaesthesized by isoflurane gas," I explained to my assistant Mr Saw when the Bichon Frise was still moving. "It is something like drug resistance from certain bacteria. Or an allergic reaction. You need to take out the endotracheal tube and use the mask to deliver the anaesthesia. If you continue, the dog may vomit out fluid and get inhalation pneumonia when the vomitus flows into his lungs."
I took out the endotracheal tube and use the mask. Mr Saw nodded his head. He had picked up much knowledge working in Toa Payoh Vets which is a small practice and so he could be hands on in various aspects of the practice.
He had ambitions to be his own boss and start his own veterinary practice in Myanmar and I expect him to do well. Mr Saw had told me yesterday that the anaesthestic machine was malfunctioning as a dog anaesthesized by my associate Dr Jason Teo was not fully asleep. Yet he saw the Shih Tzu sleeping very well just before the Bichon Frise and therefore the anaesthetic machine was operating normally.
As for the webmaster's Bichon, only the left upper premolar 3 had roots exposed. I had it extracted as this may be the cause of him feeling the pain and moody when the Chihuahua approached him to play. Nobody really knows but the webmaster suspected that this could be the problem.
Difficulty in brushing the back teeth
Many dog owners in Singapore have difficulty in using the finger tooth brush to clean the dog's teeth. The dog would just run away or refuse to open his mouth or bite.
TIP:
I advised him to use something the dog like, put it on the finger tooth brush as the dog had been avoiding him whenever the dog sees his finger brush and the canine tooth paste. "Use some food the dog likes e.g. cheese and put on the toothbrush. So the dog looks forward to tooth brushing every day." Human beings are devious creatures.
I told the webmaster that the tartar will build up again and bad breath will return after a year if he does not brush his dog's teeth daily or at least 3 times per week.
P.S
On Jun 19, 2010 at 1.38 am, I tried www.asiaone.com and do "dog dental scaling" search. The results were <1 second at:
rednano.sg/sfe/allsearch.action?allsearch=true&view=dir&querystring=dog+dental+scaling
I could see, on the right column, the following:
Marine Pet Image - One-Stop Pet Shop in Singapore:...
Visit PGA Website dog dental scaling before dog dental scaling after CHARGES Toy $80-$100 Med $100-$120 LG ...
www.marinepetimage.com/Dental.htm - 13k
20080816Fistula_Oronasal_Dog_ToaPayohVets v...
...of 3 year old dog having dental scaling. An annual dental...9-year-old dog having dental scaling and check up... Try to get dental scaling done when your dog is less than 5...
www.bekindtopets.com/dogs/20080828Dog_Dental_Problems_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.htm
- 35k
031208ASingapore Toa Payoh veterinary dog c...
...2005. Regular dental scaling means that the dog's teeth will...plaques as the dog grows older...than never to do dental scaling. If there is...drop off. The dog just can't...
www.toapayohvets.com/surgery/050609periodontal_disease_cat_dog.htm - 31k
You need to go to "Web" section to do your search correctly. If you go to the "News" section, you will get no satisfaction. It seems that asiaone.com is worth considering when one looks for Singapore businesses.
Updates are at www.toapayohvets.com
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), MRCVS
Date: 19 June, 2010
toapayohvets.com
Be Kind To Pets
Veterinary Education
Project 2010-0129
Friday Jun 18, 2010 6.38 pm.
In the morning of Jun 18, 2010, I received an e-mail:
Hi, i have a 5 year old Bichon that is having tartar build up in his mouth. i would like to fix an appointment with you to have his tooth clean/ extract due to the bad odour coming from his mouth, please feel free to contact me at (tel and name given) so we can see to this problem ASAP
Regards
I asked my assistant Mr Saw to phone the dog owner. I was surprised that this bespectacled young man who would be in his early 30s really got his dog down to the Surgery in the afternoon for dental work. When he came for his dog at 5 pm, I sought feedback from him as to how he had tracked me down.
The young man said: "I use asiaone.com inserting "dog dental scaling" to find a vet who could do dental scaling for his dog and found your website. I then e-mail to you."
I usually "google" for webpages and had never considered asiaone. However I switched on asiaone.com to check its efficiency in search by using "dog dental scaling". The free-lance webmaster of 5 years had highly recommended this search engine as it specialises in locating local webpage searches.
I log in via Firefox but the search had problems loading. So I tried again for another 5 minutes and switched from Firefox to Internet Explorer. I had this unreliable Starhub internet USB plugged into my desktop as the Toa Payoh Industrial Park in Lorong 8 was not wired and could not receive wireless internet. So, the problem might be my internet connection. Just as I was about to give up, the search results via the "Web" search page displayed
toapayohvets.com/surgery/050609periodontal_disease_cat_dog.htm. This was the webpage the webmaster said he saw "pictures of dogs doing dental scaling." At first I could not understand what he meant till I saw pictures in this webpage.
It was a pity that asiaone takes a long time to download this evening at 6.49 pm. I google "dog dental scaling" and the search results came out within 0.23 seconds. I found
bekindtopets.com/dogs/20080828Dog_Dental_Problems_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.htm
on the 2nd page.
Many young people search for info on the internet. This webmaster research everything he needed to know about dog dental scaling, including anaesthetic risk and other worries. I had a good chat and learnt much about the pros and cons of online data base (Access recommended by him), domain hosting in Singapore v. in the U.S (he prefers Singapore) and fees for setting up a website (varies from $500 to $50,000).
The webmaster's 5-year-old Bichon Frise kept pawing him while we talked, as if the dog wanted to go home. "He is an attention-seeker," the webmaster told me as he answered a phone call saying he would be back soon. "It's my mum who wants to see the dog," he said to me. I thought it was his girlfriend or wife. The webmaster decided to microchip his dog and get a dog licence too.
Anaesthestic reactions to isoflurane
I used Domitor 0.1 ml IV via the IV drip. The dog was intubated but he just would not be fully anaesthesized after intubation. He kept moving when he should be asleep soundly as in the previous case of the Shih Tzu with cornea ulcerations and 3rd eyelid flap surgery. I had given this dog xylazine 20 @ 0.2 ml IM, masked with isoflurane gas and then intubate and maintain with the gas. The dog slept like a log as I did the 3rd eyelid flap for two eyes.
"There are a few dogs that just cannot be fully anaesthesized by isoflurane gas," I explained to my assistant Mr Saw when the Bichon Frise was still moving. "It is something like drug resistance from certain bacteria. Or an allergic reaction. You need to take out the endotracheal tube and use the mask to deliver the anaesthesia. If you continue, the dog may vomit out fluid and get inhalation pneumonia when the vomitus flows into his lungs."
I took out the endotracheal tube and use the mask. Mr Saw nodded his head. He had picked up much knowledge working in Toa Payoh Vets which is a small practice and so he could be hands on in various aspects of the practice.
He had ambitions to be his own boss and start his own veterinary practice in Myanmar and I expect him to do well. Mr Saw had told me yesterday that the anaesthestic machine was malfunctioning as a dog anaesthesized by my associate Dr Jason Teo was not fully asleep. Yet he saw the Shih Tzu sleeping very well just before the Bichon Frise and therefore the anaesthetic machine was operating normally.
As for the webmaster's Bichon, only the left upper premolar 3 had roots exposed. I had it extracted as this may be the cause of him feeling the pain and moody when the Chihuahua approached him to play. Nobody really knows but the webmaster suspected that this could be the problem.
Difficulty in brushing the back teeth
Many dog owners in Singapore have difficulty in using the finger tooth brush to clean the dog's teeth. The dog would just run away or refuse to open his mouth or bite.
TIP:
I advised him to use something the dog like, put it on the finger tooth brush as the dog had been avoiding him whenever the dog sees his finger brush and the canine tooth paste. "Use some food the dog likes e.g. cheese and put on the toothbrush. So the dog looks forward to tooth brushing every day." Human beings are devious creatures.
I told the webmaster that the tartar will build up again and bad breath will return after a year if he does not brush his dog's teeth daily or at least 3 times per week.
P.S
On Jun 19, 2010 at 1.38 am, I tried www.asiaone.com and do "dog dental scaling" search. The results were <1 second at:
rednano.sg/sfe/allsearch.action?allsearch=true&view=dir&querystring=dog+dental+scaling
I could see, on the right column, the following:
Marine Pet Image - One-Stop Pet Shop in Singapore:...
Visit PGA Website dog dental scaling before dog dental scaling after CHARGES Toy $80-$100 Med $100-$120 LG ...
www.marinepetimage.com/Dental.htm - 13k
20080816Fistula_Oronasal_Dog_ToaPayohVets v...
...of 3 year old dog having dental scaling. An annual dental...9-year-old dog having dental scaling and check up... Try to get dental scaling done when your dog is less than 5...
www.bekindtopets.com/dogs/20080828Dog_Dental_Problems_Singapore_ToaPayohVets.htm
- 35k
031208ASingapore Toa Payoh veterinary dog c...
...2005. Regular dental scaling means that the dog's teeth will...plaques as the dog grows older...than never to do dental scaling. If there is...drop off. The dog just can't...
www.toapayohvets.com/surgery/050609periodontal_disease_cat_dog.htm - 31k
You need to go to "Web" section to do your search correctly. If you go to the "News" section, you will get no satisfaction. It seems that asiaone.com is worth considering when one looks for Singapore businesses.
Updates are at www.toapayohvets.com
Thursday, June 17, 2010
102. Dwarf Hamster has a cystic right paw
Young couple.
"The right paw shrinks and swells over the past month," the fair complexion young lady held the 15-month-old hamster in the palm of her hand for me to examine.
This is an uncommon case. The right paw had a plastic bag of light yellow fluid.
"What is the cause?" she asked.
"It is probably an embedded foreign body," I noted that the right paw was inflamed because the hamster had been trying to lick away the cyst. Whenever the cyst was broken by bites, it shrank. Then the bite wound closed and the cyst swells again.
So is there a permanent cure?
I advised the young couple: "It is difficult to know what is the exact cause. I have to cut the cyst under anaesthesia, check for abnormal tissue and and drain away the contents inside it. Hopefully, the foreign body -- probably a splinter would be removed."
I used a small sized scalpel blade to cut the cyst from toe to over the wrist for a length of 1 cm. There would be no point doing a small cut as the cyst would form again. Yellowish fluid shot out. It would be 1 ml but seemed to be 3 ml as the fluid scattered onto the operating table.
"This hamster is overweight," I was worried about the high risk of anaesthesia in plump pets. The hamster also had a red wart below the left paw. So, there would be two surgeries in one.
5% issoflurane gas anaesthesia using a plastic container enclosing the dwarf hamster was sufficient to prevent pain. "Don't wait for this hamster to close the eyelids," I said to my assistant. "By then, it would be dead." Fat hamsters are very high risk. The owner expected nothing but a hamser alive at the end of the day.
The surgical anaesthesia seen in the dog and cat cannot be observed in hamster anaesthesia. However, the pedal reflex was present in the case when the anaesthesia was lighter than needed. The hamster just pulled back its front paw as I incised. More gas for less than 5 seconds. Repeat. Incise. Cleaned up wound.
The surprising finding was a large vein from the left to the right across the carpus. Could there be an obstruction of this vein, leading to exudate from the vein into the subcutaneous tissue, causing a big cyst to form?
The wart was easily removed. Lots of bleeding but not life threatening.
The hamster seemed much more active after its right paw was back to normal size. I did not stitch up the wound. The skin was reddish and soft. "Just use a facial cotton and clean warm water to clean the wound," I advised when the gentleman asked whether he should use saline. Hamsters don't like saline or dettol onto its body.
I advised not giving the bread to reduce the weight of the hamster. Worm meals and sunflower seeds should be cut down too. 64 grams should be reduced to 54 grams for this dwarf hamster.
"The right paw shrinks and swells over the past month," the fair complexion young lady held the 15-month-old hamster in the palm of her hand for me to examine.
This is an uncommon case. The right paw had a plastic bag of light yellow fluid.
"What is the cause?" she asked.
"It is probably an embedded foreign body," I noted that the right paw was inflamed because the hamster had been trying to lick away the cyst. Whenever the cyst was broken by bites, it shrank. Then the bite wound closed and the cyst swells again.
So is there a permanent cure?
I advised the young couple: "It is difficult to know what is the exact cause. I have to cut the cyst under anaesthesia, check for abnormal tissue and and drain away the contents inside it. Hopefully, the foreign body -- probably a splinter would be removed."
I used a small sized scalpel blade to cut the cyst from toe to over the wrist for a length of 1 cm. There would be no point doing a small cut as the cyst would form again. Yellowish fluid shot out. It would be 1 ml but seemed to be 3 ml as the fluid scattered onto the operating table.
"This hamster is overweight," I was worried about the high risk of anaesthesia in plump pets. The hamster also had a red wart below the left paw. So, there would be two surgeries in one.
5% issoflurane gas anaesthesia using a plastic container enclosing the dwarf hamster was sufficient to prevent pain. "Don't wait for this hamster to close the eyelids," I said to my assistant. "By then, it would be dead." Fat hamsters are very high risk. The owner expected nothing but a hamser alive at the end of the day.
The surgical anaesthesia seen in the dog and cat cannot be observed in hamster anaesthesia. However, the pedal reflex was present in the case when the anaesthesia was lighter than needed. The hamster just pulled back its front paw as I incised. More gas for less than 5 seconds. Repeat. Incise. Cleaned up wound.
The surprising finding was a large vein from the left to the right across the carpus. Could there be an obstruction of this vein, leading to exudate from the vein into the subcutaneous tissue, causing a big cyst to form?
The wart was easily removed. Lots of bleeding but not life threatening.
The hamster seemed much more active after its right paw was back to normal size. I did not stitch up the wound. The skin was reddish and soft. "Just use a facial cotton and clean warm water to clean the wound," I advised when the gentleman asked whether he should use saline. Hamsters don't like saline or dettol onto its body.
I advised not giving the bread to reduce the weight of the hamster. Worm meals and sunflower seeds should be cut down too. 64 grams should be reduced to 54 grams for this dwarf hamster.
101. Domitor vomiting. Left eye ulcer.
Some dogs, despite fasting for over 12 hours, do vomit yellow liquid as in this case.
Old Maltese. "Keeps rubbing the left eye," the owner complained. "What's the problem?"
I showed the owner that there was a corneal ulcer at 4 o'clock by lowering the lower eyelid. It was not obvious as it was a recent injury. The ulcer was 3 mm in diameter and deep.
A 3rd eyelid flap would be the treatment of choice. No point just prescribing eye drops or e-collar to save the owner some veterinary costs as the outcome is unsatisfactory. The dog would continue rubbing his eyes and the owner would just seek another vet for help, while cursing the first vet.
However, the old dog needed to be put under anaesthesia. This would be risky for any old dog (over 5 years). Sedation and isoflurane gas is the safest form of anaesthesia for old dogs in general. This is what I used:
Bodyweight: 5 kg
Domitor 0.1 ml IV.
Waited 5 minutes
Isolfurane gas by mask
Dog started to vomit bright yellow fluid, dirtying his mouth.
Took away the mask. Clear the vomitus from the mouth.
No intubation was necessary in this situation.
The sedation was good after washing. Isoflurane gas by mask for a few seconds. The surgical anaesthesia was excellent. The 3rd eyelid flap was stitched. The dog also had several abscessces below the upper eyelid of the right eye. I used needle to puncture the abscesses.
Some vets prefer to give the Antisedan antidote to Domitor to get the dog to wake up immediately. I do not see the need to use it as the dog would need the sedation to rest after surgery. The dog woke up within 5 minutes anyway. Antisedan does work very well as the dog would wake up immediately when given at same dose, ie. 0.1 ml.
Several abscesses on the upper eyelid do occur in hamsters. This condition is uncommon in dogs.
Pictures taken for record purposes.
Old Maltese. "Keeps rubbing the left eye," the owner complained. "What's the problem?"
I showed the owner that there was a corneal ulcer at 4 o'clock by lowering the lower eyelid. It was not obvious as it was a recent injury. The ulcer was 3 mm in diameter and deep.
A 3rd eyelid flap would be the treatment of choice. No point just prescribing eye drops or e-collar to save the owner some veterinary costs as the outcome is unsatisfactory. The dog would continue rubbing his eyes and the owner would just seek another vet for help, while cursing the first vet.
However, the old dog needed to be put under anaesthesia. This would be risky for any old dog (over 5 years). Sedation and isoflurane gas is the safest form of anaesthesia for old dogs in general. This is what I used:
Bodyweight: 5 kg
Domitor 0.1 ml IV.
Waited 5 minutes
Isolfurane gas by mask
Dog started to vomit bright yellow fluid, dirtying his mouth.
Took away the mask. Clear the vomitus from the mouth.
No intubation was necessary in this situation.
The sedation was good after washing. Isoflurane gas by mask for a few seconds. The surgical anaesthesia was excellent. The 3rd eyelid flap was stitched. The dog also had several abscessces below the upper eyelid of the right eye. I used needle to puncture the abscesses.
Some vets prefer to give the Antisedan antidote to Domitor to get the dog to wake up immediately. I do not see the need to use it as the dog would need the sedation to rest after surgery. The dog woke up within 5 minutes anyway. Antisedan does work very well as the dog would wake up immediately when given at same dose, ie. 0.1 ml.
Several abscesses on the upper eyelid do occur in hamsters. This condition is uncommon in dogs.
Pictures taken for record purposes.
Monday, June 14, 2010
100. Large Cheek tumour in an old Schnauzer
June 14, 2010 4.30 pm.
Completion of a mouth tumour surgery in a fat old dog with purplish tongue.
Dog: Schnauzer X, Male, Not neutered, 11 years old. Born: 1999
Complaint: Bad breath.
June 8, 2010 Admitted
12.6 kg, 38.9 deg C.
Blood test, Grooming, Baytril and drip.
Liver SGOT/AST above normal.
Urea and Creatinine below normal.
Jun 9, 2010 Dental
Anaesthesia Domitor 0.2 ml IV. Isoflurane gas. Extracted 15 rotten teeth
Jun 14, 2010 Right cheek tumour excision - bigger than 50 cent coin size.
IV drip
For Old Dog
Domitor 0.2 ml IV
Wait
Zoletil 100 0.1 ml IV
I saw dog trembling slightly
Atropine 0.65 mg/ml given 0.5 ml IV
No tremors.
Surgical Anaesthesia last around 30 minutes
Electro-surgery
Lots of bleeding.
2/0 stitch up mucous membranes of hard palate to cheek.
Tumour is much less swollen and rounded due to antibiotics. More disc-shaped. Easier to excise now than if done on Jun 8, 2010.
Antisedan 0.2 ml IV. Dog woke up as if nothing had happened.
Completion of a mouth tumour surgery in a fat old dog with purplish tongue.
Dog: Schnauzer X, Male, Not neutered, 11 years old. Born: 1999
Complaint: Bad breath.
June 8, 2010 Admitted
12.6 kg, 38.9 deg C.
Blood test, Grooming, Baytril and drip.
Liver SGOT/AST above normal.
Urea and Creatinine below normal.
Jun 9, 2010 Dental
Anaesthesia Domitor 0.2 ml IV. Isoflurane gas. Extracted 15 rotten teeth
Jun 14, 2010 Right cheek tumour excision - bigger than 50 cent coin size.
IV drip
For Old Dog
Domitor 0.2 ml IV
Wait
Zoletil 100 0.1 ml IV
I saw dog trembling slightly
Atropine 0.65 mg/ml given 0.5 ml IV
No tremors.
Surgical Anaesthesia last around 30 minutes
Electro-surgery
Lots of bleeding.
2/0 stitch up mucous membranes of hard palate to cheek.
Tumour is much less swollen and rounded due to antibiotics. More disc-shaped. Easier to excise now than if done on Jun 8, 2010.
Antisedan 0.2 ml IV. Dog woke up as if nothing had happened.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
99. A bi-sexual toy poodle
YOUNG PEOPLE DOING INTERNET RESEARCH AND DIAGNOSIS
Sunday's Unusual Case Highlighted:
Toy poodle, female, spayed at 6th month, 6 years old. 3.9 kg (trim).
Neck had 3 itchy patches of ringworm infestation. Very itchy.
Complaint:
For the past few weeks, she would stretch her front legs forward, lower her body and maintain this posture for several seconds.
"My poodle is suffering from pancreatitis," the young man phoned me. "Do you do blood test to check this condition?"
Sometimes the young people diagnose their own dogs.
The couple whipped out the handphone and showed me the picture of the poodle in this pose. Seeing is believing.
"Is the dog eating well?" I asked today. "Very well," the owners said. I palpated the abdomen. There was not a touch of pain. So, I advised them to wait as the dog was being treated for ringworm and the results would not be accurate.
If owners request a blood test, it should be done. How does the vet know what is occurring inside the body system but a dog with good appetite is unlikely to have any medical problems. If the vet does not do a blood test on request and the dog becomes ill some days later, he may be liable for professional misconduct. So it is wiser to do the blood test.
In this poodle, my examination discovered an unusually large clitoris. It was about 4 mm in diameter. I asked the couple to hold the poodle. The dog had been spayed in Hong Kong at 6 months of age. On further detailed examination of the vulval area, there was an unmistakeable miniature structure resembling a male organ with the body of the penile organ being 1 cm long and 5 mm in diameter. The whole mucosa was a deep red suggestive of inflammation.
It was difficult explaining to the lady in Mandarin. She could get the idea of what I was trying to explain. As for treatment of the posture, there was none. As for the large bald patches on the neck between the shoulders, anti-ringworm medication would take several weeks to work. This must be explained to the owners.
Sunday's Unusual Case Highlighted:
Toy poodle, female, spayed at 6th month, 6 years old. 3.9 kg (trim).
Neck had 3 itchy patches of ringworm infestation. Very itchy.
Complaint:
For the past few weeks, she would stretch her front legs forward, lower her body and maintain this posture for several seconds.
"My poodle is suffering from pancreatitis," the young man phoned me. "Do you do blood test to check this condition?"
Sometimes the young people diagnose their own dogs.
The couple whipped out the handphone and showed me the picture of the poodle in this pose. Seeing is believing.
"Is the dog eating well?" I asked today. "Very well," the owners said. I palpated the abdomen. There was not a touch of pain. So, I advised them to wait as the dog was being treated for ringworm and the results would not be accurate.
If owners request a blood test, it should be done. How does the vet know what is occurring inside the body system but a dog with good appetite is unlikely to have any medical problems. If the vet does not do a blood test on request and the dog becomes ill some days later, he may be liable for professional misconduct. So it is wiser to do the blood test.
In this poodle, my examination discovered an unusually large clitoris. It was about 4 mm in diameter. I asked the couple to hold the poodle. The dog had been spayed in Hong Kong at 6 months of age. On further detailed examination of the vulval area, there was an unmistakeable miniature structure resembling a male organ with the body of the penile organ being 1 cm long and 5 mm in diameter. The whole mucosa was a deep red suggestive of inflammation.
It was difficult explaining to the lady in Mandarin. She could get the idea of what I was trying to explain. As for treatment of the posture, there was none. As for the large bald patches on the neck between the shoulders, anti-ringworm medication would take several weeks to work. This must be explained to the owners.
99. Sunday's highlighted case: Oro-nasal fistula 15 years old
Date: Sunday, Jun 13, 2010
Case on a Sunday: Maltese X, Female, Not Spayed, Weight 5.5 kg. 37.9 deg C. Active and eating.
Complaint: Pus below right eye. Rubs right side of face onto bed sometimes.
3 Owners: 2 young men and a lady all around late 20s.
History: Had consulted Vet 1 who prescribed oral Baytril 50 mg antibiotics 1/2 tablet two times a day from May 16, 2010. But the owners gave the dog 1/2 tablet one time a day as they deemed that the dog would be overdosed. The pus in the facial wound disappeared after 2 days. However the medication finished after 20 days and pus re-appeared in the wound below right eye during last 2 days.
Diagnosis: Owners knew the diagnosis of oro-nasal fistula as they had researched the internet.
Prognosis: "It is very high risk and the dog may die on the operating table," I advised the owners to get a blood test done to screen her health. The vet must inform the owner and the owner is free to reject the advice. Since the owners did not want a blood test, it was hard to estimate the anaesthetic risk. In any case, such an old dog would be very high risk.
I checked the dog's heart. It was OK. The dog was in good bodily condition and had good body weight. So I gave a 50:50 chance of success. Usually the chances are less than 50%.
Pre-op:
1. Antibiotics IV with the drip or return after 5 days of antibiotics for surgery.
The owners chose the IV drip.
Anaesthesia:
1. Isoflurane gas by mask. Intubate. This dog was not able to sleep fully. When a loose tooth was extracted, he would wake up partially and moved. So, I took out the endotracheal tube, put on gas by mask and repeat the intubation. After 3 episodes, I decided just to give isoflurane by gas mask. 6 teeth extracted including the right and left premolars. Dental scaling done. If the dog had been sedated, he would have a smoother anaesthesia. However, sedation may cause low blood pressure or kill the dog and so in this case, I used isoflurane gas only as it is much safer for an old dog. This would also take a longer time to anaesthesize the dog.
Surgery:
1. IV drip with antibiotics baytril was given before surgery. The dog bit off the drip line before surgery.
2. Loose teeth were extracted. I was surprised to see thick pus actually lodged in the roots of the right upper pre-molar. Like a wallet full of cheese. I used the forceps to scrape out the light yellowish pus.
Post-Surgery :
1. Two hours later, the owners came to bring her home.
2. No solid food for the next 3 days so that the big holes from the extracted teeth would close . Just give soup, milk or honey water for 3 days.
3. Antibiotics for 20 days.
This dog should live to a ripe old age of 20 years. "No more white coat," the young man said. "As she grows older, her coat colour became brown." I asked: "Did you use yellowish shampoo?" "Yes," the owner said. "The shampoo colours the coat over the years," I explained. "If you use a "white-dog shampoo", the coat will not become stained yellowish brown for a white coated dog."
All ended well for this well loved dog. I asked the young man to sit on a chair and hold the dog and opened her mouth. The dog kept moving her head. After 15 minutes, he could open the mouth and was surprised to see a bleeding hole over 1 cm in size where the right upper premolar was extracted. "I thought the pus come from the front teeth or the fangs," the young man was indeed surprised that the source was from the root of the premolar 4. Fortunately, he could open the dog's mouth so that he could see the hole and I could snap a picture to educate readers.
This must be one of the oldest dogs in Singapore to have an oro-nasal fistula. At this age, most teeth had dropped off.
UPDATE ON JUNE 14, 2010
The owner phoned to say that the dog was coughing. "This coughing was due to the irritation of the throat during the many times of intubation, " I said. "It should clear up within 2 days. Continue giving the antibiotics." No further news from the owner after this.
VET PHARMACOLOGY FOR VET STUDENTS
Baytril 50 mg (5mg enrofloxacin/kg bodyweight) is advised by the manufacturer to be 1 tablet per 10 kg bodyweight once daily or as a divided dose twice daily for 3 to 10 days with or without food.
For this dog weighing 5.5 kg, the dosage should be 1/2 tablet once daily or 1/4 tablet 2x/day. It seems that Vet 1 advised double dosage at 1/2 tablet 2x/day.
In any case, the owners felt that the dog did not need so much antibiotics. So they gave 1/2 tablet 1x/day (which is what the manufacturer recommended) from May 16 for 20 days till Jun 4, 2010.
Baytril was effective as the pus discharge occurred only on Jun 11, 2010 (2 days ago). "What did Vet 1 advised?" I asked the owner. "Vet 1 said that the wound would not be going to heal and would come back again. She advised dental work after the antibiotics."
In this case, the owner was informed about the need for "dental work" and that the wound would return again. They were also informed about the high risk of anaesthetics and had cancelled a dental scaling one year ago. However, in the case of oro-nasal fistula, they had no choice. They were fortunate that the old fawn coloured Maltese X survived.
What is an oro-nasal fistula?
It seems that the internet had much information for the young owners, and so I did not need to elaborate. Basically, it is a wound in the face connecting the sinus to the roots of the pre-molar 4 tooth. It is also known as carnaissal tooth abscess.
A non-healing facial wound below the eye
Extraction of the carnaissal tooth is the only solution to cure the condition known as oro-nasal fistula or carnaissal tooth abscess
Case on a Sunday: Maltese X, Female, Not Spayed, Weight 5.5 kg. 37.9 deg C. Active and eating.
Complaint: Pus below right eye. Rubs right side of face onto bed sometimes.
3 Owners: 2 young men and a lady all around late 20s.
History: Had consulted Vet 1 who prescribed oral Baytril 50 mg antibiotics 1/2 tablet two times a day from May 16, 2010. But the owners gave the dog 1/2 tablet one time a day as they deemed that the dog would be overdosed. The pus in the facial wound disappeared after 2 days. However the medication finished after 20 days and pus re-appeared in the wound below right eye during last 2 days.
Diagnosis: Owners knew the diagnosis of oro-nasal fistula as they had researched the internet.
Prognosis: "It is very high risk and the dog may die on the operating table," I advised the owners to get a blood test done to screen her health. The vet must inform the owner and the owner is free to reject the advice. Since the owners did not want a blood test, it was hard to estimate the anaesthetic risk. In any case, such an old dog would be very high risk.
I checked the dog's heart. It was OK. The dog was in good bodily condition and had good body weight. So I gave a 50:50 chance of success. Usually the chances are less than 50%.
Pre-op:
1. Antibiotics IV with the drip or return after 5 days of antibiotics for surgery.
The owners chose the IV drip.
Anaesthesia:
1. Isoflurane gas by mask. Intubate. This dog was not able to sleep fully. When a loose tooth was extracted, he would wake up partially and moved. So, I took out the endotracheal tube, put on gas by mask and repeat the intubation. After 3 episodes, I decided just to give isoflurane by gas mask. 6 teeth extracted including the right and left premolars. Dental scaling done. If the dog had been sedated, he would have a smoother anaesthesia. However, sedation may cause low blood pressure or kill the dog and so in this case, I used isoflurane gas only as it is much safer for an old dog. This would also take a longer time to anaesthesize the dog.
Surgery:
1. IV drip with antibiotics baytril was given before surgery. The dog bit off the drip line before surgery.
2. Loose teeth were extracted. I was surprised to see thick pus actually lodged in the roots of the right upper pre-molar. Like a wallet full of cheese. I used the forceps to scrape out the light yellowish pus.
Post-Surgery :
1. Two hours later, the owners came to bring her home.
2. No solid food for the next 3 days so that the big holes from the extracted teeth would close . Just give soup, milk or honey water for 3 days.
3. Antibiotics for 20 days.
This dog should live to a ripe old age of 20 years. "No more white coat," the young man said. "As she grows older, her coat colour became brown." I asked: "Did you use yellowish shampoo?" "Yes," the owner said. "The shampoo colours the coat over the years," I explained. "If you use a "white-dog shampoo", the coat will not become stained yellowish brown for a white coated dog."
All ended well for this well loved dog. I asked the young man to sit on a chair and hold the dog and opened her mouth. The dog kept moving her head. After 15 minutes, he could open the mouth and was surprised to see a bleeding hole over 1 cm in size where the right upper premolar was extracted. "I thought the pus come from the front teeth or the fangs," the young man was indeed surprised that the source was from the root of the premolar 4. Fortunately, he could open the dog's mouth so that he could see the hole and I could snap a picture to educate readers.
This must be one of the oldest dogs in Singapore to have an oro-nasal fistula. At this age, most teeth had dropped off.
UPDATE ON JUNE 14, 2010
The owner phoned to say that the dog was coughing. "This coughing was due to the irritation of the throat during the many times of intubation, " I said. "It should clear up within 2 days. Continue giving the antibiotics." No further news from the owner after this.
VET PHARMACOLOGY FOR VET STUDENTS
Baytril 50 mg (5mg enrofloxacin/kg bodyweight) is advised by the manufacturer to be 1 tablet per 10 kg bodyweight once daily or as a divided dose twice daily for 3 to 10 days with or without food.
For this dog weighing 5.5 kg, the dosage should be 1/2 tablet once daily or 1/4 tablet 2x/day. It seems that Vet 1 advised double dosage at 1/2 tablet 2x/day.
In any case, the owners felt that the dog did not need so much antibiotics. So they gave 1/2 tablet 1x/day (which is what the manufacturer recommended) from May 16 for 20 days till Jun 4, 2010.
Baytril was effective as the pus discharge occurred only on Jun 11, 2010 (2 days ago). "What did Vet 1 advised?" I asked the owner. "Vet 1 said that the wound would not be going to heal and would come back again. She advised dental work after the antibiotics."
In this case, the owner was informed about the need for "dental work" and that the wound would return again. They were also informed about the high risk of anaesthetics and had cancelled a dental scaling one year ago. However, in the case of oro-nasal fistula, they had no choice. They were fortunate that the old fawn coloured Maltese X survived.
What is an oro-nasal fistula?
It seems that the internet had much information for the young owners, and so I did not need to elaborate. Basically, it is a wound in the face connecting the sinus to the roots of the pre-molar 4 tooth. It is also known as carnaissal tooth abscess.
A non-healing facial wound below the eye
Extraction of the carnaissal tooth is the only solution to cure the condition known as oro-nasal fistula or carnaissal tooth abscess
Saturday, June 12, 2010
97. Puppy shreds papers and soiling herself
E-MAIL TO DR SING DATED JUN 11, 2010
Dear Judy,
I juz got a cockapoo for 1 wk. She is 2mths old now. Currently we
placed her in a big playpen w toys, hanging water bottle & a security
towel. There is also a corner in e pen where she pees n poops
successfully on everytime. I bring her out in short intervals abt 3
times a day, allowin her to play ard the living room. Her pen is in a
corner of the living room by the way. After playin, when I put her
back to the pen, she will pee on the papers. The problem is, she also
likes to lie on the papers, clean or soiled, when she is playin alone
w her toys, n when she starts to shred and eat the papers when bored.
I've given her toys n pushed her away when I c her on e papers. But
without supervision, she ends up on it again. When we wake up in e
morning, e soiled papers will be shredded, her toys on her urine, n
her body reeks of urine smell. What should we do? Why does she do
that? Should I expand her pen furthur? I await your kind advice. Thank
you!
Thanks & regards
Name of Owner
Sent from my iPhone
E-MAIL REPLY FROM DR SING DATED JUN 12, 2010
I am Dr Sing for Toa Payoh Vets. Thank you for your e-mail.
From your description, the puppy pees on the papers at a corner of the playpen. But she also shreds the papers. Paper shredding is a common complaint of confined puppies. As to why they do it, it is likely to be fun.
Here are some suggestions:
1. Just do not make a fuss when you see the puppy shredding papers
2. Change the soiled papers without scolding the puppy or making any comments. Your reaction makes the puppy repeat her paper shredding to get you to pay more attention.
3. Tape the 4 sides of the newspapers onto the floor (the corner of the playpen). This may not be fool-proof.
4. I saw an invention by some people at a Singapore pet shop some time ago. It is a clip-on rectangle to hold the papers tightly so that the puppy cannot shred them (in theory). This invention was not marketed well and is hard to find. Maybe you can make one with 4 pieces of wood or metal rods (which holds newspapers in the library).
5. Some owners buy the "puppy diapers or pads" which have tapes to stick it onto the floor. The puppy may or may not shred it.
6. Paper training takes a lot of time. When the owner pays a lot of vocal attention to this misdeed, it is hard to stop the puppy shredding. The puppy just loves attention and the owner keeps scolding. This is attention to the puppy. Therefore be silent.
7. Soiling herself overnight. This puppy has no "clean" instinct. Check how she was housed in the previous place (seller). Was she housed in a grate + pee pan. If that is the case, don't expect her NOT to enjoy shredding papers as she had no previous paper experience.
8. Please e-mail me 3 pictures of top views and side views of the playpen and puppy (newspapers in the corner) as sometimes, I can provide advices better after seeing the housing floor plan.
Dear Judy,
I juz got a cockapoo for 1 wk. She is 2mths old now. Currently we
placed her in a big playpen w toys, hanging water bottle & a security
towel. There is also a corner in e pen where she pees n poops
successfully on everytime. I bring her out in short intervals abt 3
times a day, allowin her to play ard the living room. Her pen is in a
corner of the living room by the way. After playin, when I put her
back to the pen, she will pee on the papers. The problem is, she also
likes to lie on the papers, clean or soiled, when she is playin alone
w her toys, n when she starts to shred and eat the papers when bored.
I've given her toys n pushed her away when I c her on e papers. But
without supervision, she ends up on it again. When we wake up in e
morning, e soiled papers will be shredded, her toys on her urine, n
her body reeks of urine smell. What should we do? Why does she do
that? Should I expand her pen furthur? I await your kind advice. Thank
you!
Thanks & regards
Name of Owner
Sent from my iPhone
E-MAIL REPLY FROM DR SING DATED JUN 12, 2010
I am Dr Sing for Toa Payoh Vets. Thank you for your e-mail.
From your description, the puppy pees on the papers at a corner of the playpen. But she also shreds the papers. Paper shredding is a common complaint of confined puppies. As to why they do it, it is likely to be fun.
Here are some suggestions:
1. Just do not make a fuss when you see the puppy shredding papers
2. Change the soiled papers without scolding the puppy or making any comments. Your reaction makes the puppy repeat her paper shredding to get you to pay more attention.
3. Tape the 4 sides of the newspapers onto the floor (the corner of the playpen). This may not be fool-proof.
4. I saw an invention by some people at a Singapore pet shop some time ago. It is a clip-on rectangle to hold the papers tightly so that the puppy cannot shred them (in theory). This invention was not marketed well and is hard to find. Maybe you can make one with 4 pieces of wood or metal rods (which holds newspapers in the library).
5. Some owners buy the "puppy diapers or pads" which have tapes to stick it onto the floor. The puppy may or may not shred it.
6. Paper training takes a lot of time. When the owner pays a lot of vocal attention to this misdeed, it is hard to stop the puppy shredding. The puppy just loves attention and the owner keeps scolding. This is attention to the puppy. Therefore be silent.
7. Soiling herself overnight. This puppy has no "clean" instinct. Check how she was housed in the previous place (seller). Was she housed in a grate + pee pan. If that is the case, don't expect her NOT to enjoy shredding papers as she had no previous paper experience.
8. Please e-mail me 3 pictures of top views and side views of the playpen and puppy (newspapers in the corner) as sometimes, I can provide advices better after seeing the housing floor plan.
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