Thurs 22nd Sept: Vet bills, vet bills

Benedict was one of today's Ap Lei Chau dogs

We had a surprise stand-in driver today as Hing agreed to help out after the disappearance of our new-and-already-gone recruit.  It was nice to see an old and familiar face who didn't need any training or directions, especially as we had a lot of dogs to ferry around.  At my end I had to take one of the new puppies back to AFCD to have a microchip inserted, the first one having come out as happens too often.  I also had an emergency case of tick fever in an older dog, not one of my long-termers but a relatively new boy who had come to Lamma rather than Tai Po because of his already advanced age.  With old dogs that you don't know it's sometimes hard to know if they are ill or just acting their age, but this old boy really was sick.

Everyone comments on Marsha's lovely nature

Marsha and Xavier were two of the Tai Po dogs I was able to say hello to again at Acorn, and they are both really wonderful characters.  Marsha's turn will come soon I'm sure, and whoever takes her home will be very lucky.  Xavier is sweetness personified, but he is still very skinny and need to gain a considerable amount of weight so we're doing out best to achieve that.

Xavier makes your heart melt

There was a whole crowd of little ones from Ap Lei Chau also visiting the vet for one reason or another, and as I checked out the pile of crates being loaded into the van at the end of the consult sessions I was mentally adding up the cost of the day's treatments.  The old boy, Larry, needed a blood transfusion so that already meant a hefty bill on its way, even without adding the ten-plus others.

Momo isn't at all well

Over in Sai Kung where another old boy, golden retriever Momo, is being treated, there was more bad news as he too seemed to have tick fever on top of his already-confirmed heartworm.  A test revealed that it wasn't tick fever so now we have to start further tests to find out what the problem is, although realistically at his advanced age it could be that he's simply at the end of his life.  Of course all of our dogs get the treatment they need and there's never a question of anything being too expensive if it's necessary, but the costs add up at a frightening rate.

Bramley has had  an ear infection his whole life

Scottie Bramley will probably end up having surgery to remove his ear canal after years of chronic infection have left him with resistance to all antibiotic ear drops, and the breeder poodle with the dislocated elbow will have (experimental) surgery to see if the leg can be saved before going ahead with amputation.

Vet bills are one of our highest monthly outgoings and as you can imagine contributions towards those costs are very gratefully received.  If you would like to help you can either sponsor a specific dog's costs, pay directly into our account at the vet clinic (Acorn Veterinary Hospital, or for Momo Pets Central in Sai Kung) or make a donation to our HSBC Hong Kong Dog Rescue account 502-423825-001.  Donation receipts will be issued whichever method you choose.