Out of The Woods

WE'RE FINALLY OUT OF THE WOODS!!
It's been four days post-surgery and its not difficult to recognize Joy. Our Fa is lively and doing well. She's wears the biggest smile for me when I go to visit her and the time we spend on our walk or just catching up.

Fa just chilling after our walk
she tires easily as surgery was only yesterday when this photo was taken

Surgery went as well as we could have hoped. The problem was identified and removed skillfully by the vet. Sadly what we found was a botched job by the first vet who performed her spay procedure. For whatever reason that still escapes us, the first vet did not remove the necessary reproductive system in the spay operation. As a result, the parts left behind become infected with pyometra. Had the vet not suggested exploratory surgery, the moment we took Fa off antibiotics, she would have fallen seriously ill again and didn't have a chance of survival.

Fa isn't too fond of being caught on camera with her liz-collar

I've been making endless calls for the past few days trying to seek professional advice on how to pursue this case of gross professional misconduct. Having called so many agencies, government and professional associations, you get a better insight to the host country. I also found an amazing forum participated by practicing vets, some very senior in an open dialogue with members of the public. I find it quite commendable that these veterinary professionals will even take the time to try and explain medical concerns in a forum and the standard of content is not what you'd dredge for at the bottom of the river.

I've tried to contact the first vet but she got on the defensive and started the name calling game which for me is soooo un-cool so that's the end of that avenue. My hope is that this follow-up will lead to preventing another case of gross professional misconduct. We almost lost Fa's life twice. To me she is not a street dog. To me she is a Dog. And she is precious.

Today I managed to speak to the President Elect for the Malaysian Small Animal Veterinary Association (MSAVA) and it's made my day. There is a way forward!! I will be pursuing this.

Fa's barking Friends
I've been visiting Fa at the vet's for the past 2 months and have made some new friends out of Fa's barking companions who are also boarding at the vet's. Ftom being shouted and growled at, I now share an enjoyable snack and companionship time during my visits.

Here's Murphy, his bark is worse than his bit! the longest resident boarding for the last 6 months and with no end in sight. apparently his home is being renovated and there's no place for him while it's being done-hmmm

Fluffy, a street dog- the Ice Queen and pretty snappish at first but really warm and loving. street dogs are often defensive with strangers and shouldn't be quickly judged by their cover.
she was brought in when she was pregnant. her pups have been re-homed and she's found a new home to go to soon

Chubby, the beautiful lab was found abandoned and suspected to have been a breeding machine before. just gave birth to similarly chubby pups all hoping to be re-homed

Lastly this is Hope. She occupies the enclosure next to Fa. A gentleman on the street observed children pelting her with stones and others pouring water over her even though both her rear legs are paralyzed and shows not on once of aggression or defensiveness. She has some spinal injury that's led to the paralysis of her hind legs. She was found severely emaciated because she could not search for food. Her skin looked moth-eaten.

I found it difficult to look at her at the beginning but as soon as Fa was on the mend I had more time to look around and talk with the other dogs. Hope didn't seem so scary any more when I started petting her and bringing her treats.

From the medical point, she's getting supplements that are meant to work on nerve rejuvenation. Other than that, she's healthy but she's not being over fed as she's immobile and cannot get exercise. The biggest immediate concern for her is her pressure sores. Stage one is a red pressure mark which makes the skin look pink. Stage 4 is when there's cell death and flech necrosis. She's suffering Stage 1 on one shoulder and Stage 4 on the other shoulder and both hips as her joints are protruding and painfully thin from muscle atrophy.

Two days ago I started the PROM for her. Not much fun as a prom might suggest but I'm confident it gives her the tiniest spark of life in her days of lying down. The PROM- Passive Range of Motion exercise is especially for spinal injuries and only requires manipulation by the therapist.

Yesterday I rigged up a sling (home made and fashioned from a nylon fabic duffle bag), which was strapped under her belly and hug from the bars on top of her crate to have her in a fully supported standing position. Thankfully I had the assistance of two other gals who dropped by at the right time. This was to ease the pressure off her bed sores. Also in my philosophy that the soul plays a part in healing heals, this was to help her remember her normal life before and perhaps slowly give her the will to hep us work towards getting her to walk again.

Like a lot of our hopes, here's Hope, bundled with the whole reality deal. But it is still Hope.