Where Guppy and Diesel live,

(Guppy now deceased), there had come a pair who strangely also look like Guppy and Diesel. Similar colouring and markings.

More unfortunately, one of these young boys has fallen ill and deteriorated in the past few days. Lost his appetite. Bloated abdomen. Coughing. Puking foamy white fluid. Lethargy. Looking miserable.

Dread: heartworms like Guppy.

Today, after visiting Jr and Ginne, we drove to their farm and this time, Diesel Junior (he looks like a smaller version of Diesel) has hidden himself at the back part of the farm. Personally, he has not been very familiar with me and for the past times I was there, he would just allow me to lightly touch his nose and cheeks and nothing more.

Today, he looked dull and miserable. Head held low. Gloomy eyes. Unsmiling lips.

As I walked up to him, he simply stood there, eyeing me without wariness but neither was there exact friendliness. With the farm uncle's help, I managed to carry him into the car without any fuss from him and he sat in quietness all the way to the vet.


Diagnosis: the dreaded heartworms.

Heartworms sometimes cause an enlarged abdomen, in this case, which makes it very uncomfortable to take in any food, thus the appetite loss.

The vet has drained the excess fluid from his abdomen and put him on drip. He needs to recuperate his strength in the next few days before heartworm treatment can commence, which entails injection of medication to kill off the adult worms lodged in his heart and lungs. Treatment carries great risk, especially for a weak animal, as the dead worms may dislodged from the heart and lungs and then obstruct the blood vessels that could lead to immediate death. Therefore, treatment must be closely monitored and the animal must remain quiet and confined.
Here it is again.

The expected debate of whether to treat or not to treat. To let the dog die at the farm, as the farm uncle said, "Cannot be saved already..."

It is always easy to be an armchair commentator. I would probably think that way too from the comfort of home. But being out there on the farm, walking the same ground and seeing the same scenes, holding the animal in my arms, leaving him to die when hope is round the corner just doesn't makes sense to me.

Yes. Diesel Jr may not make it. But then again, he might. And being neutered, he can then live out many more good years on the farm. So long as he is not caught and culled, which is an area quite out of our control for now.

Where we can bring hope and healing, we will. So for this simple reason, Diesel Junior is recuperating at the vet clinic now. His health will be monitored for the next few days until the vet deems him ready for heartworm treatment.

* We appreciate your kind support in Diesel Junior's treatment. For donation details, pls email us at projectjkteam@yahoo.com.sg Thank you.