Uno: Post-op Day 1

Hallo everypawdy, I'm feeling much better todae. Ate, pooped, teh-ed... I even chased Abby around the house

Uno: Pre-op 18 May 2012

On my way to the vet to remove the growth on my gumline, wish me luck!

Epulis: Part 2

Yay! Uno cleared the retest for his liver enzymes reading! Dr Tan managed to squeeze in an surgical appointment for Uno tomorrow to remove the epulis. Praying that it is only fibromatous and that the op will go without complications.

Epulis: Part 1

Noticed a growth on Uno's gums about 2 months ago. It is the same color as the gum tissue, is firm and has a smooth surface. It used to be just a tiny size but has grown big enough to block his tooth. Dr Lee had diagnosed it as epulis and surgery is the only way to get rid of it.



An epulis is the most common benign tumor of the mouth in dogs. It is usually located in the gum tissue near the incisors or canine teeth. It originates in the connective tissue that holds the teeth to the bone of the jaw. The literal translation of "epulis" is "gum boil."

There are three types of epulides (the plural for epulis):
. Fibromatous: Consists of tough, fibrous tissue.
. Ossifying: In addition to fibrous tissue, also contains bone cells. These may transform into cancerous tumors.
. Acanthomatous: More invasive, growing into the normal bone around it and destroying it, but not metastasizing.

Only a biopsy can tell if the tumor is malignant or benign, and which type it belonged to. The cause of epulides is unknown, but they do occur more commonly in older dogs and Boxers. They occur equally in both sexes.

However, Dr Lee was reluctant to op on Uno due to his elevated liver enzymes reading. I have been flushing around the epulis every night as part of Uno's oral hygiene. Last evening, I found a little ulcer at the back of the epulis, don't quite like the look of it :( Decided to bring him to see Dr Tan to retest his liver enzymes as well as seek 2nd opinion on other alternatives to manage the epulis. Whether surgery or not, hopefully he clears the retest.

Heat Exhaustion

Uno seems very intolerant of heat. After an hour at the dog run this morning, his breathing became very heavy and shallow, as if gasping for air. This has happened twice, the first time at Punggol Waterfront. Both episodes lasted 45 mins. His breathing normalised only after drinking iced water and a bath upon reaching home. So does my heartbeat. Sleep tight sweetheart.

Acupressure for Dogs

Read that acupressure is helpful to manage dog's overall well being. It is a hands-on, fingertip therapy that works by applying pressure to various identified points on your dog's body. It originated over 3,000 years ago as part of a holistic healing system called Traditional Chinese Medicine (or TCM). Chinese medicine holds that all animals have a "life force" called qi that moves through the body through pathways called meridians. Specific points on these meridians that are located close to the surface of the body, then, can be accessed to re-establish balance in the movement of the qi.

Source: Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog


Hopefully the acupressure sessions are helpful in bringing down Uno's liver enzymes reading:

Kelco Super Sterilization Shampoo

Used Kelco Super Sterilization Shampoo on both pooches today. Not much lather, easily rinsed off and leaves a pleasant fragrance. Unlike some shampoos, the lather kind of 'disappeared' after a while. Coat felt smooth and easy to comb. Abby's coat looked fluffier after use. Not much scratching observed after bath.