Visiting Sean with gifts

After work today, I went to buy a new cage for Sean.  He's so playful, the foldable one is all distorted now. 

Hi Sean!  He was all excited to see me and greeted me happily at the gate. 

Sean is oh-so-friendly, I dont think he would ever bark at anyone!

Mum came downstairs and said Sean has been on a tearing spree all day.  He even tore up the rolled-up newspapers, supposedly his "training tool".

Well, puppies will be puppies!

I opened up his new toys for him - the two balls and the stringie thingie.  He wasn't interested.  Ahh...just like children.  They throw the toy aside and play with the box or the rubber bands! 

Mum asked Sean to catch the ball...

You mean this green thingie?  Er...not interested.  I prefer plastic mugs that I can tear to pieces (the forbidden fruit is always sweeter, don't you know?)

Mum showing me that Sean could shake hands.

Sean's totally devoted to mum.

I bought a packet of Royal Canin for Sean as a treat.  After all, he needs good nutrition now.  He loved it so much when I fed him by hand.

He wasn't interested in his old kibbles after that, but lapped some up as well, later.

Sean saying "thank you" in his typical sitting style.

He's a very courteous dog and greeted dad as he came down.  He sure knows his manners very well.

We went upstairs to chat, and while we were at it, we heard the bell on Sean's collar ringing and the plastic mug being flung around.  Well, we heard all sorts of little noises that sounded like he was having LOADS of fund.

When I finally came down to go home...

SEAN!!

(Heh, Suki the 2nd?)

Puppies will be puppies.

Be happy, Sean, but don't be too mischievous too. 

We can't be cleaning up after you all day, ok? 

Sean is discharged, and....

After coming back from HUKM, I phoned Dr Edmund, and was told that Tara is responding to the treatment while Sean, our 007, can already be discharged. 

Now, where can I put Sean for fostering so that he has at least another 2 weeks of proper care?

Since Tara still has to be at the clinic for at least another week, I called my mum and asked if she could foster Sean during this period.  Mum said she definitely wants Tara to come home, but doesn't mind fostering Sean until then. 

So, off I went to Puchong.  This time, I thought I'd try the road Ainey taught me. 

Horrors of horrors, I got absolutely and totally lost in Puchong and thought I would never be able to find my way to Dr Edmund's when I took a sudden turning and voila...would you believe it?  I recognised the Haier building and there was the clinic, right there.  I don't know where I was, but the important thing is that I actually found the clinic, approaching from a totally different direction.  And it was 15 minutes to closing time....

Divine guidance? 

Must be.

After checking everything with Dr Edmund, collecting Sean's oral medications, buying him a pack of kibbles, and a quick hello to Tara, Sean was all set to go to mum's house.

Tara, still with the e-collar and still on drips.

Get well soon, Tara.  I'll be taking you home next.

The clinic assistants and Dr Edmund's father helped me recline the back seat of the MyVi (my daughter's car) and the cage fitted right in.  Perfect, we're all set to go now.

The ride from Puchong to Bukit Rimau was quite long, especially with the traffic jam.  Barely ten minutes into the ride, Sean decided to poo in the cage!  Oh well, never mind, I'm quite used to that already.  Otherwise, the journey was alright, with Sean and me listening to Natalie Cole belting out oldies.  I drove very slowly as I did not want Sean to get car-sick.  In certain stretches, the road was extremely bumpy.

We reached Bukit Rimau and Sean was initially reluctant to come out of the cage.  None of us (me, mum and dad) were strong enough to carry the cage out of the car, so I had to carry Sean out first. 

We put Sean on a leash with dad while mum and I cleaned the cage.  We then let Sean have a free run of the driveway and he felt perfectly at home.  "I've lived here all my life", he seemed to say.   

 

Something was wrong with the cage, so dad had to get his toolbox out to fix it.  While this was going on, Sean busied himself around us, trying his best to "help".

We spent some time with Sean on the driveway, letting him get used to the place.  Here's Sean with dad.  Both mum and dad took an instant liking to Sean and mum said if I cannot find any adopter for Sean, and provided he did not fight with Tara, maybe Sean could stay on. 

Hooray!   

Can I stay, please, please, please?

While we weren't looking, Sean even went upstairs!  But the moment I noticed he was on the landing, he scuttled down, as though he knew he wasn't supposed to go up.

Mum said poor Sean had been boarding in clinics (three, actually) for three weeks now, so we should let him run free for now, around the porch and driveway. 

Then my husband and son, Jia-Wen, arrived and Sean said hello.

Of course when we all went upstairs, guess who went up too?

I'll make myself comfortable, thanks. 

This is where you guys eat, is it?

And that's the bedroom, I presume?

Er...I can't go in?  Why not?

"Sit, Sean..." mum said, and Sean sat.

Jia-Wen, my husband and mum went out to buy dinner back and Sean went downstairs with them.  He was put back into the cage while they drove out.  Sean made a really pitiful whining sound as the car drove off. 

We had our dinner and there was no noise from downstairs. 

Then, mum gave Sean some rice mixed with soup, and he polished everything up.  Before that, he also polished off the kibbles.  It is pure joy feeding Sean. 

As we came down the stairs, Sean was waiting at the door...

Aww...

So, Sean will be staying with mum and dad for the time being until Tara returns. 

Then, if Sean behaves and doesn't fight with Tara, mum says he can stay.

Let's hope Sean behaves!

You be good now, Sean. 

Note:  Sean and Tara both have distemper.  While Sean seems to be very perky now, and he was, even throughout the last 3 weeks while he was supposedly "down" with distemper, we can only hope and pray that this indicates that he has a strong immune system.  I am well aware that a relapse of distemper can occur within the next few months.  But what matters is not "what will happen then?" but what is happening NOW.  Sean is happy now, and each day that he is alive and well, and cheerful is a great blessing for us.  After all, life is not permanent, we only have moments.  If each moment can be filled with joy and wellbeing, we ought to be very grateful.  And when death comes (and it will), we carry these joyful memories with us, on to our next existence.  
  

Tara meets Sean

Tara seemed very down, and she stopped eating today.  So, it's off to the vet's again.

Ainey visited Tara this evening, and Tara is now on two antibiotics and is put on drips (since she isn't eating).  But when fed AD, she ate it all up (that's a good sign).

Tara at the vet's.

Tara, after examination.

Sean says "hello".  It is also a coincidence that they both look alike!

Sean is as happy as a lark, as usual, and eating very well. 

We hope both of them will recover soon.

Please send healing energy.

Sean's progress

Here's Pravinn's updates on Sean:

According to the vet's assistant, Sean's recovering very well. He's still coughing a little, though. Aside from that minor setback, Sean looked very excited to see me and Bala, the moment we walked in. We fed him some rice and meat which he seemed to enjoy thoroughly. If his appetite is anything to go by, I would say he's doing excellent.


Once he was done eating, we played with him for awhile. He seemed slightly wobbly but he was quite responsive. He made it extremely difficult for us to leave by crying out the moment we shut the door of the enclosure he was in. With heavy hearts, we eventually left.


The vet's assistant also said that he might be having some trouble digesting the chicken bones as he vomitted it out the other day. Fortunately, we opted to bring meat today.

Pravinn with Sean

Bala with Sean

Sean and his food!

We hope to rehome Sean after he has recovered.  Preferably it should be a house with no other dog unless Sean can be separated from your other dogs (must be vaccinated). 

Sean looks very young.  He is active, playful and is a very happy and loving dog.  He has a full life ahead of him and we really want to give him this chance. 

If you can help foster him for a few months, it would also be very helpful.  Please contact me at 012-6935870 or Pravinn at 012-2584015, if you can help. 

Sean...in a new bathroom!

Guess our 007 Sean has to live in a bathroom for a little while longer.

We transferred Sean from his old bathroom to a new bathroom now, where he is upstairs, further away from other dogs.  This is a more proper "isolation ward", so to speak. 

According to the vet, Sean looks good and only needs to be treated for his cough. 

Hey, Sean.  Hang in there!  You'll be well soon.

Updates on Sean

Our 007, Sean, has been transferred to an undisclosed location today due to undisclosed reasons (!!).  No, actually, it's so that he can be boarded at a proper isolation ward.  I've been waiting for a slot at this clinic ever since we brought Sean back.

However, Sean is open for fostering or adoption.  He only has a bit of cough, and is otherwise very active and lively.  He might fare better if he has love and care in a home.  

If interested, please contact me.  It is advisable that it is a home without any other dogs.    

Tara, Tara, Tara...!!

I went over to visit Tara at my mum's place today, and brought her chicken breast meat.  

Here's Tara, lying very contentedly in the porch.

We think Tara is just an extremely choosy eater.  Right now, her current favourite is sardines with rice.  She eats the chicken as well.  

 

That's her eating up the remnants of her lunch.  I can see she is slowly filling up (no more skin and bones).  But there is still some nasal discharge.  The cough has stopped. 

Updates on Tara

My mum had been giving me very regular updates on Tara.  A few days ago, we were all worried sick that Tara was going down - she stopped eating and her breathing became laborious. 

Then, mum's friends from Ipoh came a-visiting and Tara had so many (fairy!) godmothers looking after her, cheering her on. 

When Tara refused to eat, we tried everything and failed.  Finally we found out that she liked raw chicken meat (but only the meat, not the neck or liver). 

Mum says Tara is extremely well-behaved.  She is incredibly smart too.  Now, she knows her routine so well, she recognises the plate mum uses to put her medicines and would obediently wait to be given her medicines which she takes without any fight or struggle. 

Today, Tara even ate some kibbles for dinner.  She had sardines and rice for lunch.  She is starting to perk up now, and everyone is cheering her on. 

Mum feeds her four times a day, and spends time talking to her. 

Tara is a really adorable girl.  After going through hell at the pound, rescued and brought to Bentong, diagnosed distemper positive, thought to have had no hope, possibly just deliver her babies and lost them all, she deserves the 5-star treatment she is getting now. 

Get well, and eat up, Tara girl. 

We're all rooting for you!

Updates on Tara

According to my mum, Tara appears to be much better today.  We hope she will recover in time.  I asked Dr Khor and he said it all depends on the immune system of each dog.  Some recover more quickly than others.  Some succumb later.  Distemper is tricky, but there is hope. 

As long as there is life, we will give any dog a fighting chance to heal. 

Visiting Tara

We visited Tara this evening.  She seemed very quiet and calm.  Mum said her appetite has not been too good.  I brought a new type of antibiotic for her. 

Hi Tara!

I fed her her medicines and she obediently took of all it without making any fuss.  She is incredibly obedient.  Mum says she has learnt to only do her business in one particular spot that is easy to clean.  And she never dirties her cage. 

Mum thinks she had just given birth as her teats are very enlarged.  Poor Tara.  She must have been separated from her puppies and that may be why she seems very depressed. 

She snuggled up onto my lap and I held her for more than half an hour, chanting softly to her.  Occasionally, she would look up at me, with "that look". 

There was no nasal discharge this evening.  But she seemed very quiet and tired. 

Get well soon, Tara. 

Let's all send her positive healing energy. 

Urgently required - fosterer for Sean

Sean is one of the two dogs with distemper (from the Klang rescue).  The other is Tara and my parents have adopted her, and is nursing her now. 

Sean is presently boarding at a clinic, but the clinic has told me they would like Sean to be discharged after three days' treatment (today is the third day).  I found a fosterer for Sean yesterday, but he just told me "no" a few minutes ago.  Looks like he has changed his mind.    

Please help me look for a fosterer for Sean.  It should ideally be a home without any other dog.  The fosterer needs to feed Sean, give him his medicines, and make him feel he is loved (I believe this helps tremendously in boosting recovery).  

Many vets would say recovery from distemper is very slim and they recommend euthanasia.  But our panel vet has seen enough cases and he says the chances of recovery for local breed is good (one even recovered after having gone into the seizure stage).  So has Wani - she says some puppies tested positive for distemper recover without even displaying any symptoms.  

I want to give Sean a chance, but I need your help.

Please help me look for a fosterer for Sean.

Thank you.