Today is an extremely sad day for us.
First thing in the morning, I received the text message from Meiji that the more seriously-ill dog had passed away in the night. The other one is still fine, and eating very well.
Second, while at work, I suddenly received a call from our panel vet. The moment I saw the call, I knew it was bad news because he never calls me unless necessary.
Mdm Sundari’s dog whom we sent for spaying yesterday, had gone into shock in the morning. The vet put her on drips, but she was not responding and by the time the vet called me, he told me she was already dying. I told the vet to do everything possible to save the dog.
I was really shocked because I checked on her yesterday evening, after the operation, and she was fine. She was sitting down and looking very well. Mdm Sundari had told me she would like the dog to be boarded for a night.
I had planned to collect the dog and return her to Mdm Sundari after work today.
I rushed off from work, and headed straight to Mdm Sundari’s house to tell her the disturbing news. I asked her if she would like to visit the dog. Understandably, she was very upset.
Well, so was I. Maybe, even more upset and more in shock.
Mdm Sundari could not go with me, so from her house, I rushed over to the clinic. It was too late. The dog had just passed away.
We are shocked. The vet cannot pinpoint exactly what had gone wrong with the dog suddenly because a physical examination was conducted before the surgery and she appeared to be fit and healthy to undergo the surgery.
The vet asked if I’d like a post-mortem to be carried out. I decided it would not be necessary because nothing can bring the dog back to life now.
It was…”one of those things”. In all surgeries, there are risks. There always are.
This is our very first casualty in spay-neuter. Of more than the hundred odd dogs and cats we have helped spay-neuter at our five panel vets, there has not been a single fatality. All our panel vets use gas and not injectibles (to minimise the risks). For older dogs, a blood profile is done first to determine the health condition of the dog. Dogs that do not look well physically are not put through the surgery at all.
We feel very sad that this happened, and we share Mdm Sundari’s grief. Our vet had done everything possible to save the dog.
With Mdm Sundari’s permission, we have arranged with the vet to do the burial of the dog.
The pressing problem now is the 7 puppies (about 2-3 months old). As per requested by Mdm Sundari, we will do our best to get them rehomed.
The vet has offered places for 3 of the puppies to be put at his clinic for adoption. I have spoken to Mdm Sundari and asked her to consider this offer.
Mdm Sundari cannot cope with looking after 7 puppies because she is in ill health.
It is a very sad day for us.
Please help us rehome these puppies, if you can.
There IS suffering in life….
We do what we can, and we know our intentions were wholesome. But accidents do happen. Some things are just beyond our control.