MJ’s arm is amputated (an update from Liang Soak Peng)

Ref: https://animalcare.my/2023/10/06/mj-is-adopted-an-updates-from-liang-soak-pengs/

We gave our neutering aid of RM120 for MJ’s neutering and another RM400 medical aid for the medical treatment of her arm. Subsequently, MJ was adopted by a loving family!

On 19th November 2023, Ms Liang updated us that MJ’s parents have decided to get her arm amputated since that is the better and wiser option for her.

From Ms Liang:

The parents decided to amputate her arm. Because she is very active playing, jumping n running with her siblings so even her mom puts ointment for her daily, friction will tend to happen. So her paw was swollen so they think it’s time… as can’t stop Mj from playing n Mj is still young. Discharged d yesterday.

Based on whatever little that I know, this is the better option since a physiotherapist has already assessed that there is no more response from that arm, and yes, it will be subject to pressure sores which could lead to infection later on. So, a clean cut is the wiser option and wouldbe better for MJ. She will learn to cope well with three legs.

This reminds me of what a very senior vet explained to me a long time ago when we had to make a decision to amputate the leg of a rescued dog named Jenny. We have to understand this from the animal’s perspective. For an animal, they don’t care about cosmetic appearances. They just want the pain to go away.

Since the arm was giving MJ pain, she would be thankful that the pain is gone. Four-legged animals can cope very well with 3 legs, just as Jenny did (she lived a full life until her natural passing). In fact, she was so happy after the amputation (at last, the pain is gone!) that she started eating voraciously!

If we anthropomorphise (put our values and insist that animals feel as we do), that’s when we might make the wrong decisions for the animals. We have to understand what they want, not what we want. This is where the Golden Rule fails (do unto others what you would want done unto yourself); the Platinum Rule rules (do unto others what THEY want done unto them (not what you want, but what THEY want)).

No more pain and discomfort, MJ! You will feel so much better now.


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