Wordy Updates on Our Tummy

Dear All,

We are sorry for the lack of updates for the past two weeks. Since the start of this year, the dogs took turns to fall sick and it doesn’t help when I’m not feeling that well either. The vet detected the existence of bacteria from both Sugar’s and Posh’s poo sample and it makes me wonder if the bacteria were spread among the dogs (and maybe even me) to fall ill.

I guess I have to stop the dogs from interacting too much with each other, share water bowls, share food bowls (both of them have their own food bowls, but they always have this impression that the other dog is having a better deal of the meal) and toys, so as to end the vicious cycle of them suffering from diarrhoea episodes. I too, have to pay more attention to personal hygiene, especially after handling them but this proves to be a challenge because as long as I’m at home, I touch and kiss them ever so often and in return, they will shower me with their love in the form of slobbers and saliva.

Ever since Posh had her diarrhoea, she was prescribed two different kinds of antibiotics for two times a day. It’s been a challenge to not miss a single dose. Each morning, I have to feed her medication and food (as antibiotics are acidic and not recommended to be fed on an empty stomach) before I rush off to work. I am thankful that my parents for helping me when I woke up a tad too late to medicate and feed Posh.

I was really glad when her course of antibiotics ended. However, my happiness was short lived. Posh started having diarrhoea the very next day after her course of antibiotics ended. I decided to monitor her condition as on most days, it was a ‘one time off’ thing.

But things took for a bad turn. Posh diarrhoeaed a total of 6 times yesterday and off we go to the vet. What a ‘nice’ way to celebrate Valentines Day. The vet could not identify the exact cause of her diarrhoea.

There are three possible reasons.

1. Posh’s stomach could not function optimally as the previous courses of antibiotics had killed both the good bacteria (that aids digestion etc) and bad bacteria in her guts.
2. It could be the bad bacteria (that Posh probably picked up from licking off the ground and rubbish from the trash bin).
3. The surgery had taken a toll on Posh’s digestive system.

The vet has decided to not prescribe another course of antibiotics, just in case it was the lack of good bacteria that caused the problem. Moreover, too much antibiotics do more harm than good to her body. Instead, the vet prescribed antacid, charcoal, probiotics, enzymes and another medication (to stop diarrhoea).

We left the vet $163.90 poorer, and two paper bags filled with medicine and prescribed diet (both canned food and kibbles.)

I fed all of Posh’s medication except for the one that stops diarrhoea as she did not diarrhoea after we left the vet’s clinic. I did not want to feed her too much anti-diarrhoea medicine just in case she got constipated and at the same time I was half hoping that she will pass out all the bad stuff that was causing the diarrhoea.

Meanwhile, it is a good sign that Posh is still active, bright and alert. We are keeping our fingers crossed that Sugar will not be affected, if Posh’s episode of diarrhoea is related to bad bacteria. I really want to break the vicious cycle of my dogs taking turns to diarrhoea.

I am so sick of queueing up at the vet, collecting the dogs’ poo samples, feeding medicine, monitoring their conditions, checking their progress and making sure they are fine. I want to spend my time pampering my dogs with treats, bringing them out for long walks, swimming with them in the sea and playing with them just like any other dog owners would. I want my dogs to be happy and healthy, not gloomy and sick.

Sighs. On top of that, the amount of money we spent on the dogs’ medication since December last year is scary; it’s a four figure sum! I have yet to calculate the exact ‘damage’ done to our pockets.

I am so thankful that my parents helped me to pay most of the bills, otherwise I will have a hard time coping with the expenses all by myself. At times, I really wish that my dog’s hospital bills can be deducted via my Medisave (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medisave) account.

Love,

A Very Tired Rane

On behalf of Sugar & Posh