58. Don't overburden your aged mother with a urine-marking dog

"Thank you," the 60-year-old home-maker woman surprised me with thanks, as I put the urine-marking Maltese into the crate in preparation for neutering.

We are from the baby-boomer generation but had travelled different paths to become senior citizens of Singapore (anybody over 55 years old are in this category). She became a mother at a young age while I was still studying. Her children are grown up and working while mine is still studying.

"Women have a lot of children at that time, in the seventies," I said.

"Not possible because of a law requiring women to be sterilised if they had more than 2 children. Did you know it?"

"I remember about the law controlling the number of children," I said. "Were you ligated?"

"Yes," she said. "Not only were home-makers affected. A school principal also had her fallopian tubes tied up too. Otherwise, her 3rd or 4th child would be forced to be schooled far away from home. It was just too expensive and stressful to send 4 children to 4 separate schools."

"Yes, it was a 2-children-policy with penalties. Are you angry at the government now? "

"It was necessary to control the population explosion at that time," she said.

"Too much work," she said when I asked about the urine-marking of the male Maltese. "8 times a day or more mopping the floor and walls and furniture."

I faced the daughter who is a professional. "Why do you make your aged mother do work when she had already cleaned up your bottom when you were a child? Shouldn't she have time for herself instead of cleaning up after a dog? This dog should be neutered earlier at 6 months of age."

The daughter said, "It is my younger brother's dog. I will talk to him about neutering."



The good daughter left with her mother. That was a few days ago. I did not expect any response as Singaporeans seem to be against neutering of male dogs (in my opinion).

Surprisingly, the brother agreed. I understood the meaning of "thank you" from the mother. It meant that she had more time for herself if the Maltese reduced or stopped urine-marking.

To alleviate the work load of the senior citizen mothers, grown up children must neuter the male dog if he starts to urine-mark. The operation is not so effective at 2 years of age. It should be done at 6 months of age. But it is better late than never.

At least the aged mother can spend her golden years doing things she liked. Not everybody has maids. So, grown up children need to free their aged mothers of extra chores.

The Shih Tzu's poops facing the best view and was given Restricted Water intake.

Unusual case of water restriction with no apparent health problems in this Shih Tzu.

"Incorrect card," I said to my veterinary assistant as the Chinese name on it did not match the ethnic origin of the client with the Shih Tzu.

"That card is correct,' the single lady who brought the female, 3-month old Shih Tzu puppy home 2 weeks ago said. Life is full of surprises. I have been mistaken for a Sikh because of my surname "Sing". Many clients think my name is "Singh". But this is the first time I had a non-Chinese client with a Chinese name.

Another surprise was that the owner restricted water intake to the two times a day as she found that the puppy got wet in the face. The puppy loved to put her face into the water bowl. "Actually, a water bottle would be better for Shih Tzus," I said. "The long ears don't get wet."

This puppy seemed to be single-minded. On day 1, she chose the best view of the high-floor condo --- the marble flooring of the living area near the window (floor to wall glass) to poop. Subsequent days, she would only poop there.

The career lady said "Poop here" pointing to the newspapers placed on a plastic pee pan. Newspapers had been sprayed with commercial urine spray. The puppy would pee on this pee pan whenever the owner placed her onto the pan, but she will still poop on the marble flooring near the window.



"Any accidents?" I asked.

"2 times. It was my fault," she said. "Once I put the pee pan inside the bedroom, so the puppy could not find it. Another time, I forgot to put the pee pan to its usual place. I use a separate mop, water and Dettol to clean up the urine spots.

Fed 2 x/day. Breakfast and dinner. Poops a lot, 10 min after eating.
Water bowl removed soon after drinking. The puppy puts her face inside the bowl and play with the bowl.

Peeing a lot of times. Morning 2x. Afternoon 2X if the owner is at home. Evening 2X. Soiled newspapers changed. Peed overnight. The puppy sleeps in her own room.

Had kennel cough for the past 2 weeks.

COMMENTS.

1. The puppy was put inside the playpen during cleaning up as she was active and played with the mop.

2. Water should be available at all times. Water can be stopped at 10 p.m. Maybe a water bottle in this case?

3. Train the puppy to poop onto the tray. May be difficult now.

4. "Accidents" 2 x in 2 weeks, due to the fault of the owner, is rare. It is good to prevent "accidents" rather than training the puppy after "accidents." Maybe the taking away of the water bowl resulted in less urination?

A follow up would be good.