15. Low-class vets

"Only low-class vets do vaccinations," the experienced dog breeder interrupted a lady who asked me whether I was still doing extension work by going to the breeding farms to vaccinate puppies for breeders. I used to do that for some 2 years and knew all the dog breeders in Singapore. I was so surprised to hear a breeder's point of view.

I was in Pasir Ris to buy a big bag of K/D prescription diet for an 8-year-old Golden Retriever with a gigantic armpit tumour. The dog had been treated by a vet for some 2 months with antibiotics and prednisolone 5mg twice per day. "Vet 1 is near my house," the old classmate said to me. "So, I consulted him. But he did not want to operate. Now I find that my dog stumbles and drags his right fore paw. What should I do? Should I just do nothing and put him to sleep later when he can't walk?"

The owner had rented a van to bring his dog to see me 2 days ago. His car was smashed when he sped up and turned a road junction to give way to an ambulance behind his car. The ambulance was flashing the headlights at him. "As I turn the junction, a speeding car rammed into my left side," the man said. "My whole car was a wreck. The other car's bonnet was crushed inwards. Fortunately, my wife was not in the car."

"What happened after the accident? Did you suffer injuries?" I was so shocked to hear this retiree's news. He pulled down his peak cap and said, "The ambulance stopped and the driver asked me whether I needed help!"

I remained serious looking. An ambulance over-turned or hitting another car would be possible. I just can't imagine an ambulance causing an accident indirectly. Now, this retiree had no car and hired a van at $40.00 per day to transport his old dog to consult the vet.

"Do a blood test first to see if the dog is fit for surgery," I advised. The blood urea was high indicating a kidney disorder. The dog drank a lot of water and peed a lot. So what should I advise now?

The owner brought his dry dog food for the dog being warded. The Crude Protein % of this attractively packaged food was over 40%. So, I had to get the prescription diet for the dog first as I was out of stock and the sole distributor based in Pasir Ris, only delivered every Thursday.





Since I was at Pasir Ris, I visited some dog breeders and learn what changes have occurred during the recent recession. There are more new dog breeders and around 3 vets servicing them.

The owner accepted the risk of surgery. Will the blood urea drop after cessation of Vet 1's drugs? Were they the cause of high blood urea? Only time will tell and the Golden Retriever does not have the luxury of time as his tumour grows explosively every day.




I am still surprised that a dog breeder and probably more don't seem to rate vets who service them at the lowest and cheapest rates positively and gratefully. Well, if vets solicit for business from others, it will be one of those reactions. Soliciting puts bread on the table. What is one disparaging remark? Personally, I don't wish to solicit business from breeders but the reality of private practice may brush off such idealism. It is easy to be idealistic when one has bread on the table daily.