In memory of Mum: 14 Feb 1938 - 23 May 2012

In her younger days, Mum is known for her rebellious nature and fiery temper. Not one to conform to social norms, she had often spoken her mind, much to the distress and frustrations of her elders. Over the years, she had mellowed down so much that it is so difficult to imagine how she is like when she was younger.

She is a great cook and many of us are going to miss her cooking. The boys used to call her to cook dishes that they craved for, and she would gladly obliged. These dishes can and will never be replicated.

Mum had lived comfortably till the last 1-2 weeks before her death. Other than her cataract operations, she was never in need of surgery. She was able-bodied, fully independent and mobile till the flu bug got her 2 weeks ago. If she had sought medical attention promptly, perhaps she will still be around. Perhaps she will be well just like before, or perhaps she may live to suffer. Whatever it is, she made her decision and moved on. I pray that she is happy.

Mum: 14 Feb 1938 - 23 May 2012 Part 2

The funeral was finally over. The weather was nice and cool, just the way Mum would have liked. There were just the few of us to send her off: Hubby, myself, Bryan, Eric, Qiu Mui, Asmond, Susan, Helen, Margaret, How Mong, 4th Aunt, Danny and Lilian.

The journey to Bright Hill was long and lonely. Images of the past kept playing in my mind like a broken down recorder. Soon, we reached the crematorium. After verification of Mum's details, the prayers started and then her casket was wheeled into the crematorium.

It was then back home to settle bills, have lunch and freshen up before returning to collect her ashes at 130pm. It felt so strange to hold Mum's bones... Co-incidentally, there was an empty space next to Dad's urn at the columbarium - was it reserved for Mum? We decided to book it to place Mum's urn.

While this marks the final full stop for Mum, the rest of us will need to continue with our journey in life. May we be strong to take on whatever challenges life throws at us.

Mum: 14 Feb 1938 - 23 May 2012 Part 1

Mum passed on last evening, alone at home.

When calls to her were unanswered, Hubby decided to check on her with Bryan. The flat was quiet and dark. From the window, Hubby could see her outline on the floor. But she did not answer their calls. Sensing something amiss, they unlocked the gate but the door was latched from inside. After a few tries, Bryan finally kicked the door opened.

Mum was seated on the floor, her body slumped forward. The paramedics came and informed that she had passed on around 5pm. As there were no signs of foul play, the police suggested that we arrange for a GP to certify her passing if we do not wish for an autopsy to be performed on her.

The undertakers came to collect her body around midnight. The wake will take place from 24 - 27 May 2012.

Hot dogz

Shades for a sunny morning!

Uno: Post-op Day 2

Glad that Uno's op site is healing well. He is to abstain from raw diet until wound is fully healed. He has been eating steamed salmon since Friday as it is soft and easy to eat. Fed steamed pork n pumpkin for dinner tonight, seems like he is coping well wif d tougher meat texture ;)

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: